The goal is to complete the facility by next April, before the Aug. 25-28, 2022 U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship, which is at NCR, said Don Kiley, president of K&A Architecture in Kettering.
The new building would allow golfers to hit from any of six indoor bays out to the current driving range, said Kiley, NCR’s agent in this case.
It would use technology “that monitors your swing and the ball and the distance of the ball,” he said. “Each bay will be outfitted with that so you will be able to watch your swing. It’s going to be a great teaching facility because you’ll be able to monitor your swing and make adjustments.
“But they’ll be hitting balls out into the range, except for when it’s really too inclement,” Kiley added. “Then they can do it all virtually inside as well.” Kiley declined at this time to give a cost estimate for the proposed site, which would also include a putting area.
Kiley said it would use systems manufactured by TrackMan, a company specializing in golf-related technology. The price of its Trackman4 is about $20,000, according to the company’s website.
The facility would be built on the western edge of the outdoor driving range nearest Southern Boulevard, according to Kettering records.
The golf course is considered a conditional use because it is in a residential area, city officials said. An amendment to that use was approved Monday night by the Kettering Planning Commission.
The approval is contingent meeting requirements to be outlined in a future compliance agreement, and addressing issues involving landscaping and new nets to protect neighboring properties.
The application meets all of the city zoning requirements, said Kettering Planning & Development Director Tom Robillard. The brick materials and colonial style of the proposed site match NCR’s current facilities, he added.
NCR would like to start construction within 60 days of development plans being approved by the city, Kiley said.
“It’s a nice-looking building, (matching) the architecture of the clubhouse,” he said.
The USGA event set for next summer, Kiley said, would be “an incredible platform to put Dayton and NCR on the national map yet again.”
The country club hosted the 1986 U.S. Women’s Open, which was won by Jane Geddes in a playoff over Sally Little; the 1998 U.S. Mid-Amateur, which was won by John “Spider” Miller; the 2005 U.S. Senior Open, won by Allen Doyle; and the 2013 USGA Women’s State Team Championship, won by New Jersey.
The course was also the site of the 1969 PGA Championship, won by Raymond Floyd.
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