The hardest golf courses in Dayton, Ohio
The hardest 18-hole golf courses within about 25 miles of Dayton, Ohio, ranked by USGA slope rating from each course's longest men's tees, with course rating as the tiebreaker. 13 courses have complete, verified tee data.
Also covers Springboro, Kettering, Lebanon, Beavercreek, Centerville and 2 more nearby towns.
TPC at Rivers Bend
Mainville, OH, USASlope rating 142, 74.9 course rating, TPC tees, 7,180 yds
PrivateArnold Palmer & Ed Seay
- 5.0Conditions
- 3.8Layout
- 3.3Scenery
- 4.2Facilities
This Arnold Palmer design is an absolute treat to play. The course is always in great shape, with rolling terrain, tight fairways, and water that comes into play just enough to keep you honest.
Written by
@TGUN312
- Driving range
- Fast greens
- Halfway house
South
NCR Country Club
Kettering, OH, USASlope rating 141, 74.0 course rating, Black tees, 7,048 yds
PrivateDick Wilson
- 3.0Conditions
- 4.2Layout
- 4.0Scenery
- 4.4Facilities
Very challenging on naturally undulating terrain. No holes off and green complexes are all unique and heavily protected.
Written by
@Wright Bro
- Driving range
- Must play
- Putting area
The Heritage Club
Mason, OH, USASlope rating 140, 74.3 course rating, Dye tees, 7,111 yds
PrivateP. B. Dye
- 3.5Conditions
- 3.0Layout
- 2.0Scenery
- 2.9Facilities
Heritage Club in Mason is one of those courses that feels like a solid, everyday play — nothing overly flashy, but always a good time. It’s a P.B. Dye design, and you can definitely see the family resemblance in the shaping of the greens and some of the bunkering.
Written by
@TGUN312
- Driving range
- Grass range
- Putting area
Pipestone Golf Club
Miamisburg, OH, USASlope rating 138, 72.7 course rating, Black tees, 6,939 yds
PublicArthur Hills
- 3.0Conditions
- 3.0Layout
- 3.0Value
- 3.0Scenery
- 2.8Facilities
Beavercreek Golf Club
Beavercreek, OH, USASlope rating 137, 73.6 course rating, Black tees, 7,030 yds
PublicFuzzy Zoeller
- 3.5Conditions
- 4.0Layout
- 4.0Value
- 4.0Scenery
- 3.3Facilities
I thought the layout was fun and the greens were fast and pure. The other thing I liked about this course was the creativity on the par 5s and the ability to play the ball on the ground.
Written by
@Young Tom Morris
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Halfway house
(Woodlands/Lakeside) Shaker Run Golf Club
Lebanon, OH, USA
Slope rating 136, 74.1 course rating, Black tees, 6,883 yds
(Legend/Vintage) Golf Club at Yankee Trace
Centerville, OH, USA
Slope rating 136, 72.5 course rating, Black tees, 6,836 yds
(Lakeside/Meadows) Shaker Run Golf Club
Lebanon, OH, USA
Slope rating 134, 74.2 course rating, Black tees, 6,944 yds
(North) NCR Country Club
Kettering, OH, USA
Slope rating 132, 73.0 course rating, Black tees, 6,828 yds
Moraine Country Club
Dayton, OH, USA
Slope rating 130, 69.6 course rating, Black tees, 7,270 yds
Heatherwoode Golf Club
Springboro, OH, USA
Slope rating 129, 72.8 course rating, Black tees, 6,754 yds
Dayton Country Club
Dayton, OH, USA
Slope rating 129, 70.7 course rating, Blue tees, 6,302 yds
Green Crest Golf Club
Middletown, OH, USA
Slope rating 122, 69.5 course rating, Black tees, 6,330 yds
How we rank
This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. City pages include courses within about 25 miles of Dayton, so nearby suburbs can appear. Rankings refresh about hourly.
FAQ
TPC at Rivers Bend is #1 on Course Vaults in and around Dayton, Ohio at Slope 142 (74.9 course rating · TPC tees · 7,180 yds). 13 courses qualify for this list.
This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. City pages include courses within about 25 miles of Dayton, so nearby suburbs can appear. Rankings refresh about hourly.
Slope rating is the USGA measure of how much harder a course plays for a bogey golfer than for a scratch golfer, from 55 to 155 (113 is average). Course rating is the expected score for a scratch golfer from the same tees.
Yes. It includes qualifying courses within about 25 miles of Dayton, not only courses whose address is in the city.
This page was last generated Nov 12, 2026, 3:49 AM EST. Scores and eligibility are recomputed about every hour.
