It consumes six acres below the club’s pool-fitness center and adjacent to the No. 2 hole on the club’s North course.
Designed by renowned golf architect Michael Hurdzan of Columbus, the free form facility has five target greens which collectively consume 14,000 square feet. It has several bunkers of various size and shapes.
NCR has spacious putting greens near the first tee on both of its courses, so the new facility is primarily for approach shots of many lengths from fairways, bunkers and rough grass.
“You have the potential to practice any shots of under 125 yards,” NCR golf professional Eric Eby said. “Any shot you can envision.”
“We’re pretty proud of it,” said NCR general manager Steve Bolerjack. “I think it’s going to be a great addition.”
Tony Elieff, director of instruction at NCR, will use the facility for his teaching, and it is possible to lay out a five-hole par 3 course for junior competition.
Finding new homes: Jim Awsumb, 60-year-old former head professional at Jamaica Run (1992-2001) and Community (2001-2012) golf courses, has been hired as head pro at Green Tree Golf Course near Lebanon. Awsumb had worked as an assistant at Moraine Country Club the last two years.
Awsumb’s playing record includes both Dayton City and Miami Valley PGA match and stroke play championships.
Moraine professional Brent Sipe, who lost assistant Marty Miller to the the insurance business last fall, has hired two assistants, Derrick DeHart and Jim Neff.
DeHart, 30, a native of Asheville, N.C., was working at Chattanooga (Tenn.) Country Club when he heard about the Moraine opening. He was familiar with Sipe and Moraine and was eager to work in Dayton for family reasons.
A 1999 graduate of Western Carolina University, he also has been employed at Biltmore Forest in Asheville, Starmount Forest in Greensboro, N.C., Gasparilla Golf Club in Boca Grande, Fla., and Scioto Country Club in Columbus.
Neff, 57, a native of Kettering and a Wright State University graduate, worked for Dick’s Sporting Goods after serving for many years as head professional at Meadowbrook Country Club and Windy Knoll Golf Course. In recent years he gave lessons at Heatherwoode and Walnut Grove.
Like Awsumb, Neff has won both the City Men’s Amateur stroke and match play championships and the Miami Valley PGA stroke and match play titles.
PGA pro Joey Clendening has replaced Tom Abrahamson has administrator of the Wright-Patterson AFB golf courses. He will supervise activities at Prairie Trace Golf Course and Tony Stritenberger will be in charge at Twin Base Golf Course, replacing Tom Timmons.
Urbana Country Club did not renew the contracts of pros Pat Delaney and Jack Pawelkoski. They have been replaced by Chris Diodoardo and John Wilkinson.
Mark Robart, who spent many years as head pro at Piqua Country Club, has been hired by Troy Country Club as its head pro. TCC is looking for a general manager to replace Nathan Combs, who has left the golf business.
Chip shots
• The Miami Valley Golf Association will hold its season-opening Spring Better Ball event May 2 at Miami Valley Golf Club.
• The MVGA’s board of trustees has four new members: Ryan Flick, Paul Day, Chris Coleman, and Chris Wells. Bob Rice is the new secretary.
• The Dayton area’s Ohio Amateur qualifier will be held earlier than usual, on May 16 at Country Club of the North.
• Sugar Valley Country Club is hosting an American Junior Golf Association tournament this weekend. The three-day event ends today.
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