Elks Run Golf Club

Some of the best elevated tees in southern Ohio. A test of golf but fair well positioned hazards. Plays first class.

They were not able to mow for a few days so the course was even more challenging than normal. The rough felt like the US Open. Some of the prettiest holes in Ohio without a doubt. Wish they would add collars to the greens and cut the 'heather'back a few yards on each hole. That might help pace of play a little.

I LOVE THIS PLACE.

I live up north of Kings Island and its a hike to get to Elks Run, but man its in awesome shape. Its more difficult this year than it was last year. the far outside rough is much taller and the first cut is thick and healthy. I play many courses in Cincinnati and most are dry and brown, not Elks. Fairways are very healthy and so are the greens. The only negative i can say is the greens seem really slow, as compared to other years...but not bad at all. I played Thursday and did 18 holes in under 3.5 hours, but thats a weekday... weekends i know are much busier.

I've played Elks Run GC a number of times now, and the course is almost always in great condition (and I'd never consider it poor). It's a challenging layout that is not very forgiving, but plays to a manageable distance if you can keep it straight. This one stays on the list of 5-10 course I regularly play around the area. The value can't be beat.

Over all the course is great. No a trace of dead grass anywhere, the greens are great, and the rough is up. The only areas for improvement would be making the greens a little quicker. They were slightly inconsistent and slow. Other than that they are fixing a few water mains that requires the fair ways to be torn up on no 3 and one of th holes on the back but the damage is minimal. This course has done a complete 180 in the last couple of years and I love aging it and can't wait to get out there again soon.

I know this course has just recently been reopened, but I expected much better conditions. The greens had no fringe and the fairways still have weeds in them, not to mention the sand traps are terrible. I know that it takes a lot to bring a course back that has sat vacant for some time, but it will probably take another couple years to get the course back to one of the best tracks in tri-state area. Just hopefully they don't have to overprice the course like the old days to cover the necessary price of getting the course to wear it should be. With that being said it is still one of my favorite layouts anywhere and this is from a guy who has played over 100 different courses.

This was the first time I have been here. This is a pretty good track, but on my visit the greens were running pretty slow, maybe 7.5 stimp so you didn't get the real feel of the greens. This course looks like it is right out In front of you, but many of the holes are slight doglegs and if you don't pick the right line you can get in trouble. If you are spraying to ball at all you are going to waste a large number of ball that will be lost to natural grasses that line just about every hole. There are a couple of really short par 4's in the 300 range, and now that I have seen the course once, I could take some more risk. Nice little course.

The course is a bit of a drive for me but the serenity was well worth it. The only real complaint I have and it's kind of a big one, is no yardage markers, anywhere! Not on the tees for several holes and pretty much none to be found in the fairways.
The back nine is quite a challenge without knowing landing area yardages, etc.
I played with three guys, one who works there and he was as helpful as could be. I'll make the 45 minute drive to play it again when I sharpen my game up a bit.

Great course. The fairways are wide but the rough and heather provide a true penalty if you don't hit the fairway.

Greens could have been faster but they still rolled true.

Great course layout. Very well maintained. Tall heather really penalizes when tee shots don't find the fairway.

The course is well maintained and the staff is friendly. In addition the course has a challenging but fair lay out. The main issue that is presents difficulty is a abundance of the very thick and high heather that defines and dominates the course.

I have been playing Cincinnati courses for the past 16 months and this is the best course I have found. It is very challenging and I would not necessarily recommend it for a high handicapper 20+. But for the low to moderate handicap golfer it is a great challenge. Fairways were perfect. Greens were smooth and reasonable speed. Rough was thick and fairly deep. It was US Open quality rough. The staff was friendly and helpful. When we had an issue with a group playing slow and holding up several groups the ranger immediately addressed it. Overall I highly recommend this course.

Beautiful setting
Friendly staff
Wonderful conditions
Challenging course

Played here on May 12, 2013 and the course is in really great shape. The greens were a little slower than normal but in great shape. The rough is up pretty high off the fairways, so accuracy off the tee i paramount.

Some of the heather needs to be cut back to speed up pace of play. For instance, #13 is a long and tight driving hole with trees down the right side. In order to have a shot to the well protected (creek and bunker) green, you have to favor the left side of the fairway. There is some nice banking down the left side which would feed the ball back into play but because the heather is 3 feet tall, very thick and just 10 feet from the fairway, it is a lost ball almost every time. Get the weed eaters out, cut some of it back and it will make for a much more enjoyable hole. More distance markings (sprinkler heads, par 3 tees, distance to creeks and bunkers) would also help speed up play.

Overall, this course is an awesome layout and well maintained. The staff is very friendly and go out of their way to insure you have an enjoyable golf experience. This is by far one of my favorite tracks in Cincy!
For more course reviews check out bestofcincy.com.

Great course. Playing another round in the morning

The course was playing longer than usual because of all the rain they have had. They were a little behind on their mowing because of all the water. But the course is still a very beautiful course and has a great layout. It is hidden gem out in Clermont County that is a great course for the value.

Great course for the price. Good shape. Lots of character and no two holes alike.

Greens and fairways are in great shape. Tees are good but many unrepaired divots. Traps are pretty firm and I would say in average condition. The course is long and nicely spread out with many interesting holes, lots of water hazards and woods. Not too narrow in most places. It is a fair test of skill. One of my favorite 10 courses near Cincinnati.

Pace of play was not monitored by ranger. Overall excellent design and will become very challenging after to flowery grass on the greens die.