Representative image Photo: Stuart Logan · CC BY-SA 2.0
Camargo Club
Indian Hill, Ohio, United States
18 Holes · Par 70 · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Parkland
— About
About Camargo Club
Camargo Club is a private 18-hole course in the Cincinnati area of Ohio, at 8605 Shawnee Run Road, and it is one of the strongest surviving examples of Seth Raynor's work. The course is par 70 and measures 6,659 yards from the back tees, modest by modern standards, so the defense rests on the ground around the holes rather than on raw length. The greens are huge and squared off, averaging roughly a quarter of an acre, which is more than 10,000 square feet. Raynor built his usual template holes here, including an Alps at the seventh, along with a Biarritz and a Redan. The par 3s are widely treated as one of the best collections in the world, and reviewers call them the finest on any Raynor course. Tom Doak later carried out a restoration. Camargo remains members-and-guests only, with no public play and no published green fee. Visitors may play only if a member hosts them, so an invitation is the only route, and there is no tee sheet to check.
- Seth Raynor designed the course, one of the best surviving examples of his template-hole work.
- The greens are huge and squared off, averaging roughly a quarter of an acre.
- The seventh hole is an Alps, one of the Raynor template holes copied from famous Scottish originals.
- The par 3s are regarded as one of the best sets in the world and the finest on any Raynor course.
- Tom Doak later carried out a restoration, and the par-70 layout still measures only about 6,659 yards.
History of Camargo Club
The Camargo Club was designed by Seth Raynor, an architect known for laying out versions of celebrated template holes on American ground. Camargo carries the standard set: an Alps at the seventh, a Biarritz and a Redan, and a strong group of par 3s. The layout has stayed compact, at about 6,659 yards and par 70, with its defense in the size of the greens rather than the length of the holes. Its best-known later work was a restoration by Tom Doak, who helped preserve Raynor's design intent by converting bunkers back to his original style and returning shrunken greens to their proper proportions. Camargo has stayed small and private, and the club does not publish a green fee or invite public play. That combination of Raynor's template holes, huge greens and a members-and-guests-only policy explains why it turns up so often on lists of the best Raynor courses.
Signature holes at Camargo Club
The seventh is the clearest marker of Raynor's approach here: an Alps hole, one of the template holes he took from famous originals, with a large green that tests the approach as much as the drive. The par 3s as a group draw the most praise, and reviewers describe them as one of the best collections in the world. Rather than one showpiece, Camargo builds its identity from a set of template holes that includes a Biarritz and a Redan. The greens tie it together: huge, squared off and roughly a quarter of an acre on average. Ask your host which holes to study before you play.
When to play Camargo Club
Cincinnati's golf season runs roughly April through October, with late spring and early fall giving the most comfortable rounds and best conditions. Summers are hot and humid, and greens of this size are at their firmest in dry weather. Because Camargo is private, the season only matters if a member has invited you. There is no public tee sheet to book, so agree the date with your host first.
Playing Camargo Club: tips
Camargo is a private club, and the only way to play is as a member's guest. The address is 8605 Shawnee Run Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45243. Confirm the route from your arrival airport with your host rather than relying on an estimate, because traffic varies. Check dress code and arrival time with your host, and ask whether the group will walk or take a caddie. The greens are large, so time on the practice green before the round is worth spending.
— Weather at Camargo Club
Approximate conditions · Observed · Open-Meteo
Visit Camargo Club
8605 Shawnee Run Road, Indian Hill, OH 45243
Indian Hill, Ohio, United States
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Camargo Club
Can the public play the Camargo Club?
No. Camargo is a private club open to members and their invited guests. It does not sell public tee times and does not publish a green fee, so an invitation from a member is the only route.
Who designed the Camargo Club?
Seth Raynor designed it, and it is one of his template-hole courses, with an Alps at the seventh and a Biarritz and a Redan. Tom Doak later carried out a restoration of the course.
How long is Camargo and what is its par?
Camargo plays to par 70 and measures 6,659 yards from the back tees. It is short by modern standards, and its defense comes from very large greens rather than length.
What are the best-known features of Camargo?
Its par 3s, which reviewers rank among the best collections in the world, and its huge greens, which average roughly a quarter of an acre. The seventh is an Alps hole.