Willow Run Golf Course

Willow Run Golf Course sits in Pataskala, a small city east of Columbus in central Ohio's Licking County. Designed by Jack Kidwell and opened in the 1970s, the course represents the work of an architect who developed numerous public and semi-private facilities across Ohio and the broader Midwest during that era. Kidwell's designs typically emphasized playability for everyday golfers while incorporating the natural terrain available on each site. The course occupies rolling farmland characteristic of this part of Ohio, where gentle elevation changes and mature tree lines frame many holes. Water features come into play on several holes, reflecting the "Willow Run" name and the presence of streams or drainage corridors that shape the routing. The layout serves primarily as a daily-fee facility accessible to Columbus-area golfers seeking affordable rounds in a suburban setting. Willow Run functions as a neighborhood course where local leagues, outings, and casual play dominate the tee sheet. The design offers straightforward golf without severe hazards or extreme length, making it suitable for players across skill levels. Like many municipal and public courses in Ohio's smaller communities, it provides recreational golf within a modest operational framework, maintaining its role as a community amenity rather than a destination layout.