The Golf Center at Kings Island

About the club

The championship course is called with great respect, the Grizzly, tying in naturally with Nicklaus nickname “The Golden Bear.” Desmond Muirhead’s influence is evidenced throughout the course by long multi-curved fairways with large trees retained as natural hazards. There are water hazards on all three of the final holes accompanied by plenty of bunkers. Nicklaus and Muirhead built the course in 1972. Jack Nicklaus initiated the idea of hosting a professional tournament at his new facility and became the first contestant for the PGA Tour’s Ohio Kings Island Open. The versatility of the Grizzly course allowed for a longer course for the PGA Tour men in 1973 through 1977, a reduced length for the LPGA women who followed in 1978 through 1989, and a challenging length for the Senior Tour who played here from 1980 through 2001.