
Safari Course
Safari Golf Club
About this course
Safari Golf Club sits in Powell, a suburb northwest of Columbus, Ohio, and represents one of Dr. Michael Hurdzan's residential-community designs from the region where he built much of his early reputation. Hurdzan, an Ohio State graduate who earned a doctorate in turfgrass science before turning to architecture, has long emphasized environmental sensitivity and playability across skill levels in his work. Safari reflects this approach with routing that works within the property's natural topography rather than imposing dramatic earthmoving. The course serves a private residential community and features the rolling terrain characteristic of central Ohio, with mature tree corridors defining holes and occasional elevation changes providing strategic interest. Hurdzan's design philosophy typically incorporates multiple tee sets to accommodate different playing abilities, and his agronomic background often results in courses with strong turf conditions and sustainable maintenance practices. The layout likely emphasizes strategic options off the tee and around greens rather than penal hazards, consistent with Hurdzan's broader body of work. As a community-centered club in suburban Columbus, Safari functions primarily as a family-oriented facility where members balance recreational golf with social activities. The course provides a home venue for local players without the formality or extensive tournament history associated with the region's older championship layouts. It represents the type of thoughtful, environmentally conscious design that became Hurdzan's signature across numerous projects in the Midwest.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in OH
Quick facts
- Location
- Powell, OH, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1967
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Dr. Michael Hurdzan
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,845 yards
- Difficulty
- 72.2/121
- Course Vaults score
- 5.8
Getting there
Safari Golf Club sits just north of Columbus in the suburban landscape of Powell, Ohio, most easily reached via Columbus International Airport (CMH), roughly thirty minutes south by car. The drive north from the airport traces the I-270 corridor before transitioning into the quieter residential and commercial zones of Delaware County, where the club's distinctive African-themed architecture and manicured grounds emerge as an unexpected sanctuary amid Ohio's rolling terrain. For those arriving by private aircraft, nearby airfields serve the central Ohio region, though the club's proximity to Columbus makes commercial travel both practical and seamless. The final miles unfold through Powell's tree-lined streets, a gentle decompression from highway pace that leads directly to Safari Golf Club's welcoming entrance.

FAQ
Common questions about Safari
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Safari has a Course Vaults score of 5.8 out of 10 based on 44 logged golfers.
Safari was designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan.
Yes. Safari is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Safari is 72.
Safari plays 6,845 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Safari is 121.






