Courses · United States

Ohio public course Bent Tree announces permanent closure for 16 November after 37 years

Bent Tree Golf Club near Sunbury, Ohio, says it will close permanently on 16 November 2026. The announcement was made on 2 November; the club has not stated a reason.

Ohio public course Bent Tree announces permanent closure for 16 November after 37 years
Photo source and credits

Archive photograph of another course, Ohio State University Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio; it does not depict Bent Tree or its closure. Pi.1415926535, 6 October 2024, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Reduced to 1,280 px. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aerial_view_of_Ohio_State_University_Golf_Club,_October_2024.JPG ; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Closure announced, not yet completed

Bent Tree Golf Club, an 18-hole public-access golf course in Delaware County, Ohio, announced on 2 November 2026 that it plans to close permanently on 16 November. As of 3 November, that is a future closure date, not evidence that play has already stopped.

The Columbus Dispatch reported on 3 November that the club had shared a message on social media thanking golfers and employees for more than three decades of memories. Local outlet Step Out Columbus also reported that customers had received an email announcement. The club invited players to return for one final round while it remains open.

A public course north of Columbus

Bent Tree stands at 350 Bent Tree Road, near Sunbury in Berkshire Township, north of Columbus. According to the Ohio Golf Association and property manager KemperSports, the course opened in 1989 and was designed by Denis Griffiths. The 18-hole layout is par 72, with a published course length of 6,642 yards.

Bent Tree is a public course rather than a strictly members-only facility. Golfers could use its practice amenities and clubhouse and take part in regular events. The planned loss therefore affects local access to recreational golf as well as established members and staff.

A final event — and unanswered questions

The club's published calendar still lists its Chili Open for 14 November, a four-player scramble. Event availability and final tee times should be confirmed directly with the operator.

A KemperSports spokesperson confirmed the decision to The Columbus Dispatch and thanked the golfers and employees who had been part of the club. No official reason for the closure has been given. Although some local reports discuss past course-maintenance issues, those observations do not establish why the decision was taken.

There has also been no verified announcement of a new owner, a confirmed redevelopment project or a reopening timetable. As of 3 November 2026, what is confirmed is the announced 16 November closure date, not an already completed shutdown.

Tags:
#Bent Tree Golf Club#Ohio#Sunbury#golf course closure#public golf#Denis Griffiths
Continue Reading

Read more on this topic