Safari Golf Club Powell Road Powell Oh
If you’ve ever driven down Powell Road in Powell, Ohio, and done a double take because there’s a golf course next to the Columbus Zoo, you’re not lost. That’s Safari Golf Club...
If you’ve ever driven down Powell Road in Powell, Ohio, and done a double take because there’s a golf course next to the Columbus Zoo, you’re not lost. That’s Safari Golf Club, a public course that feels dropped into the middle of a family road trip. One minute you’re looking for the first tee, the next you’re wondering if that distant sound is a mower or a lion.
The name isn’t a gimmick. The course sits near the zoo, so the place has a playful, wild vibe without actual zebras crossing the fairway. It’s friendly, unpretentious, and exactly where a slightly wrinkled polo won’t get you side-eye.
What You’re Getting Into
Safari Golf Club is an 18-hole public course with a par 70 layout. It’s not a championship monster that eats golf balls for breakfast. It’s the golf equivalent of comfortable jeans: familiar, affordable, and good for a weekend round with friends.
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The fairways are lined with mature trees, and there’s enough water and sand to keep you honest. You won’t need a tour caddie, but you will need to keep your ball out of the rough. Here, the rough has a way of making your ball disappear like a sock in a dryer.
Powell Road Location, Zoo Adjacent
The address—4855 Powell Road, Powell, OH 43065—puts you just north of Columbus and minutes from the zoo. You can pair a morning round with an afternoon of watching actual animals. After 18 holes, the zoo might feel like a cruel sequel to your step counter.
If you live nearby, you know Powell Road can get busy. But once you turn into the course, the noise fades. That’s the point.
The Vibe: More Fun Than Fancy
This isn’t a country club where you need to know which fork to use for your post-round sandwich. It’s a public course, which means real people play here. You’ll see beginners, retirees, league players, and that one guy who “used to be scratch” twenty years ago.
You might get paired with a stranger who gives swing advice on the second hole. By the fifth, you’re laughing. By the ninth, you’re sharing pretzels.
SAFARI GOLF CLUB - Updated July 2026 - 10 Reviews - 4850 Powell Rd
The pace can vary, especially on weekends. If you expect a three-hour sprint, adjust your expectations. Bring patience, humor, and an extra sleeve of balls.
The course mixes open, friendly holes with tree-lined challenges. Some let you grip it and rip it; others ask you to aim like you actually know what you’re doing. Water hazards show up just often enough to make you nervous, not enough to rage-quit.
Par 70 means fewer par 5s, so you won’t get many chances to bomb it and brag. Instead, you’ll lean on irons, wedges, and putting. That’s a polite way of saying your short game will be exposed like a bad secret.
The greens are usually in good shape for a public track. They’re not glassy-fast, but they’re not shag carpet either. You can make putts, and you can also three-putt from fifteen feet, which is a beautiful democracy.
Practical Stuff That Helps
Book a tee time, especially on weekends. Walking is allowed, and riding is available if you want to save your legs for the 19th hole. The clubhouse is casual, so don’t stress beyond basic golf norms.
Safari in Powell, OH - Reviews & Course Info | GolfNow
Bring water, sunscreen, and bug spray in summer. Ohio weather loves to change its mind mid-round. You might start in sunshine and finish in a drizzle that feels personal.
If you’re new to golf, Safari is forgiving. If you’re experienced, it’s a fun place to knock off rust. If you’re just there for snacks and conversation, honestly, respect.
After your round, the clubhouse gives you a place to settle up, grab a drink, and lie about your score. You can replay every shot you “almost” made. It’s cheaper than therapy and involves more mulligans.
Then you head back onto Powell Road, probably behind a minivan. You’ll pass the zoo and think about that one par you saved with a ridiculous putt. That’s Safari Golf Club: not flashy, but it sticks with you.
So if you want an easy, affordable, slightly wild Central Ohio round, put Safari Golf Club on your list. Just don’t blame me when sand traps look like lion’s dens.
