The Trout Club

The Trout Club sits in Newark, Ohio, approximately thirty miles east of Columbus in the rolling terrain of central Ohio. Designed by Jack Kidwell and opened in the mid-1960s, the course occupies land that features the moderate elevation changes and wooded corridors typical of the region. Kidwell, an Ohio-based architect active during the post-war golf boom, created a layout that works with the natural topography rather than imposing dramatic earthwork on the property. The routing moves through a mix of open and tree-lined holes, with several playing along or across water features that give the club its name. The design reflects the practical, playable approach common to many American courses built during this era—strategic bunkering, greens with modest but meaningful contour, and a variety of hole lengths that reward accurate iron play. The property's mature trees now frame many fairways and add definition to the course's character. The Trout Club functions as a private facility serving the Newark community and surrounding Licking County area. It represents the kind of mid-century club that became a social and recreational anchor for many smaller American cities during the 1960s and 1970s. The course provides a straightforward test of golf suited to regular member play, with enough variety in its holes to maintain interest across different skill levels.