Private course golf guide for 2011

Brown’s Run Country Club

6855 Sloebig Road, Middletown

Phone: (513) 423-9401

www.brownsruncc.com

Holes: 18 Course rating: 73.1/133

General manager: David Baril; Director of Golf: Dale Fetter; Head golf pro: Rob Robinson.

Yardage: 5,001 (red), 5,947 (white) 6,384 (blue), 6,831 (gold)

Directions: Take I-75 south to Exit 44. Turn right on Ohio 725 and proceed to Ohio 4. Turn left on 4 and right on Thomas Road. Veer to left at stop sign and proceed through fork in road before turning left on Sloebig Road.

Description: Rural backdrop and abundant wildlife. Course offers a pleasant golfing experience on bent grass fairways.

Golfing members: 160. Membership: Initiation fee: None. Two-year monthly fees range from $250 to $150. Monthly food minimum: $40.

Country Club of the North

1 Club North Drive, Beavercreek

Phone: (937) 374-5000

www.countryclubofthenorth.com

Holes: 18 Course rating: 72.2/132

Club manager: Paul Malonson; Director of Golf: Kent Stevens; Head pro: Rik Cramer.

Yardage: 5,178 (red), 5,877 (green) 6,377 (white), 6,713 (blue) 7,071 (gold).

Directions: Take U.S. 35 east to Factory Road. Turn right on Factory about a mile to Indian Ripple. Turn left on Indian Ripple. Go 2/10ths of a mile and turn left on Signature Drive, and make another left on Club North Drive.

Description: Upscale club with a Jack Nicklaus Signature course. Excellent practice range. The 43,000 square-foot clubhouse is extraordinary. Hosted LPGA event from 1994-2001.

Waiting list: None. Membership: 362. Initiation fee: $11,500. Annual dues: $5,868. Monthly food minimum (10 months): $59.

Dayton Country Club

555 Kramer Road, Dayton

Phone: (937) 294-2735

www.daytoncountryclub.com

Holes: 18 Course rating: 71.1/133

Club manager: Walter Schaller; Head professional: Keith Fisher.

Yardage: 5,136 (red), 5,884 (white), 6,285 (blue)

Directions: Take Main Street south to Schantz. Turn right on Schantz, left on Kramer.

Description: The DCC course is relatively short, but its hills, narrow fairways, well-placed timber and tricky greens can make a round of golf difficult.

Golfing members: 235. Waiting list: None. Membership: Prospective member must be recommended by four members. Initiation fee for golfing membership is $14,000 up front or five-year payment plan at $15,000. Family-social dues are $245 per month and family golf is $450.

Eaton Country Club

100 Morton Road, Eaton

Phone: (937) 456-6922

www.eatoncountryclub.com

Holes: 9 Course rating: 65.9/103

Pro shop manager: Jim Williams

Yardage: 2,783 or 2,805

Directions: Take U.S. 35 west through Eaton and swing left onto Ohio 122 at a fork in the road. Turn left on Morton Road.

Description: Designed by Nipper Campbell and built in the 1920s, the course is tight and hilly with small bent grass greens. Fairways and tees are bluegrass.

Golfing members: 150. Membership: Initiation fee: None. Annual dues: $1,070. Monthly food minimum: $20. (Note: Public can play Fridays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.)

Forest Hills

791 Fourth Ave., Middletown

Phone: (513) 423-4797

Holes: 9 Course rating: 71.9/130

www.foresthillsclub4me.com

Owner/manager: Roland Lutz

Yardage: 4,206 (red), 4,491 (white), 4,762 (blue) for 18 holes

Directions: Take I-75 south to Ohio 122, go west on 122 to Main Street. Turn left on Main, go one block and turn right on Fourth.

Description: Tough nine-hole course with four par 4s and five par 3s for a par of 31. Course record is 4-under 58 for 18 holes. Greens are small. First holes were built in 1911 in what was the back yard of George M. Verity, founder of Armco Steel.

Golfing members: 220 (estimated). Waiting list: None. Initiation fee: None. Annual dues: $956.25 (family), $770.31 (single).

Greene Country Club

920 Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd., Fairborn

Phone: (937) 767-5621

www.greenecc.com

Holes: 18 Course rating: 73.4/130

Club manager: Patty Dorn; Head pro: Ben Stewart

Yardage: 5,624 (tan), 6,511 (black), 7,100 (gold)

Directions: Take U.S. 35 east to I-675. Go north on I-675 to Dayton-Yellow Springs Road and turn right. Club is on left after Ohio 235 intersection.

Description: Built in 1959, the GCC course has matured into a challenging and comfortable track. An interesting variety of holes provides strong test of golf. Easily accessible via I-675.

Golfing members: 185. Waiting list: None. Initiation fee: $2,500 (waived with two-year commitment). Monthly dues: $336 (family membership), $293 (single). Food minimum: $750 annually.

Meadowbrook Country Club

6001 Salem Ave., Clayton

Phone: (937) 836-6353

www.daytonmeadowbrook.com

Holes: 18 Course rating: 72.9/133

Golf professional: Bill Williams

Yardage: 5,591 (red), 6,461 (white), 6,685 (blue)

Directions: Take Salem Avenue north. It’s on right, near Westbrook Road, after you pass the old Salem Mall area.

Description: Challenging course designed by Nipper Campbell. Narrow fairways require accurate drives.

Golfing members: 200. Initiation fee: None. Family membership: $1,800 annual. Individual: $1,500 first year. Monthly dues: $232 (family),

Miami Valley Golf Club

3311 Salem Ave., Dayton

Phone: (937) 278-7381

www.miamivalleygolfclub.com

Holes: 18 Course rating: 72.1/129

Acting manager: Mel Cloud. Head professional: Colin Miller

Yardage: 5,884 (red), 6,357 (white), 6,857 (blue)

Directions: Take Salem Avenue north. It’s about three miles from downtown.

Description: Donald Ross designed the course, which opened in 1919. Club hosted the last PGA Championship contested at match play in 1957. It was won by Lionel Herbert.

Golfing members: 220. Initiation fee: None. Golf dues: $358 monthly for 12 months. Food minimum: $500 annually. New member: $1,500 one year.

Moraine Country Club

4075 Southern Blvd., Kettering

Phone: (937) 293-6391

www.morainecountryclub.com

Holes: 18 Course rating: 74.7/141

Club manager: Phil Zwierzchowski; Head professional: Brent Sipe

Yardage: 5,247 (red), 5,656 (green), 6,539 (white), 7,074 (blue)

Directions: Take South Dixie Drive to Stroop Road. Turn left on Stroop, then right on Southern Boulevard.

Description: One of area’s best courses, recently lengthened to 7,074 yards. Designed by Nipper Campbell. Hosted 1945 PGA Championship won by Byron Nelson. Hosted Ohio Amateur fourth time in 2009.

Golfing members: 230. Membership: By invitation only. Initiation fee: $25,000. Annual dues: $7,500. Food minimum: $315 per quarter.

NCR Country Club

4435 Dogwood Trail, Kettering

Phone: (937) 643-6910

www.ncrcountryclub.com

Holes: 36 Course ratings: 74.5/141 (South), 73.0/131 (North)

Club manager: Steve Bolerjack; Director of golf: Eric Eby; Dir. of instruction: Tony Elieff

Yardage: South course: 6,223 (green), 6,630 (blue), 7,055 (black). North course: 5,225 (green), 6,075 (white), 6,344 (blue), 6,828 (black)

Directions: Take S. Dixie to Stroop, turn left on Stroop, right on Dogwood.

Description: The NCR courses, designed by Dick Wilson, are both excellent. The heavily wooded South course is the best known. Hosted 1969 PGA Championship, 1986 U.S. Women’s Open, 1988 U.S. Mid-Amateur and 2005 U.S. Senior Open.

Members: 530; Initiation: $20,000 (for non-NCR employees). Annual dues: $5,880; Food minimum: $210 per quarter.

Piqua Country Club

9812 Country Club Road, Piqua

Phone: (937) 773-7744

www.pcc1896.com

Holes: 18 Course rating: 72.6/128

Director of golf: Mark Robart

Yardage: 5,329 (teal), 6,048 (burgundy), 6,483 (gold), 6,835 (black)

Directions: I-75 north to exit 83. Turn left at Ohio 25A, go under I-75 overpass and make first possible right onto Country Club Road.

Description: Club was founded in 1896. Famed Donald Ross designed original nine holes. Jack Kidwell designed new nine in 1974.

Membership: Golfing members: 230. No waiting list. Initiation fee: None. Dues: $4,162 annual (family). Food minimum: $60 per month.

Prairie Trace Golf Club

Area A, Building 813, Wright-Pat AFB

Phone: (937) 879-5311

www.88thservices.com

Holes: 27 Course rating: 72.4/130

Manager: Buz Schweibold; Assistant golf pro: Tom Timmons

Yardage: 5,173 (red), 5,824 (yellow), 6,348 (white), 6,745 (blue)

Directions: Take Ohio 4 east to Ohio 444. Turn right on 444 and go to Wright-Patterson Gate 8C. It’s the first gate past the base hospital.

Description: WP has the challenging 18-hole West course and the nine-hole East. Greens on tree-lined West course all rebuilt in 2006.

Golfing members: Approximately 550. Membership: Limited to active and retired military personnel, civilian employees of the Department of Defense and contractors.

Snow Hill Country Club

11093 Ohio 73, New Vienna

Phone: (937) 987-2922

www.snowhillcountryclub.com

Holes: 18 Course rating: 71.8/129

Golf professional: Doug Ledford

Yardage: 4,950 (red), 5,806 (white), 6,449 (blue)

Directions: Take I-75 south to Ohio 73. Take 73 east through Wilmington. Club is 8 miles south of Wilmington.

Description: Founded in 1924, clubhouse once used as stagecoach stop. Par 70 course built on rolling terrain.

Golfing members: 120. Initiation fee: None. Annual dues: $800 (single), $1,100 (family); no minimums. Course open for public play, for $35 with cart. Seniors $30. Call for tee times. Call for updated rates.

Springfield Country Club

North Fountain Blvd., Springfield

Phone: (937) 399-0351

www.springfieldccoh.org

Holes: 18 Course rating: 72.6/137

General Manager: Craig Taylor; Head pro: Jimmy Logue

Yardage: 5,196 (forest), 5,957 (silver), 6,397 (white), 6.684 (black)

Directions: Take Ohio 4 into Springfield and turn left at Fountain Boulevard. Go north on Fountain until it dead-ends into club entrance.

Description: The SCC course is one of the best in the area. It was designed by Donald Ross in 1921 and is a favorite of many proficient players. It is known for its severe, undulating greens.

Golfing membership: 240. Initiation fee: Temporarily waived. Family golf dues: $426 monthly. Non-resident golf: $244 monthly.

Springfield Elks 51 Golf Course

1536 Villa Road, Springfield

Phone: (937) 399-2304

Holes: 18 Course rating: 71.3/127

www.northwoodhillscc.com

Head pro: Bob Urbano

Yardage: 5,198 (red), 5,320 (gold), 6,356 (white), 6,513 (blue)

Directions: Ohio 4 north to I-70. Go east to U.S. 68 and north to Ohio 334. Go east on 334 to Middle Urbana Road, then south for a mile to Villa Road. It’s on the right side of Villa.

Description: Opened in 1958 as Northwood Hills Country Club. Purchased by Elks Lodge 51 in December, 2009. Course is short and tight on rolling terrain.

Memberships: Available only to members of BPOE Lodge 51 and guests. Annual fees: $2,300 family, $2,100 senior family, $1,380 single. No public play.

Sugar Valley Golf Club

1250 Mead Road, Bellbrook

Phone: (937) 372-4820

www.sugarvalleycc.com

Holes: 18 Course rating: 71.9/123

Head pro: Doug Cartwright

Yardage: 5,257 (red), 5,925 (white), 6,511 (blue)

Directions: Take U.S. 35 east to Factory Road. Turn right on Factory, left on Indian Ripple Road, right on Shepherd Road, right on Upper Bellbrook Road and left on Mead Road.

Description: Privately owned, Sugar Valley opened in 1969. Its hilly, par-71 course plays longer than its yardage.

Golfing members: 225. Initiation fee: $1,000 (temporarily waived). Fees: Many categories (Call for details).

Sycamore Creek Country Club

8300 Country Club Lane, Springboro

Phone: (937) 748-0791

www.sycamorecreekcc.org

Holes: 18 Course rating: 72.5/135

Clubhouse manager: Lisa Long; Head pro: Bob Stephens

Yardage: 5,472 (red), 6,456 (white), 6,814 (blue)

Directions: I-75 south to Exit 44. Turn left on Ohio 725, then right on Ohio 741. Turn left on Lytle-Five Points, go two miles and turn right on Country Club Lane.

Description: Built on gently rolling terrain accented by many huge sycamore and walnut trees, it is an excellent test. Celebrated 50th anniversary in 2009.

Membership: 318. Waiting list: None. Initiation fee: $6,000 ($4,089 in 2011). Dues: $375 monthly plus $55 annually for capital funding. Food minimum: $210 per quarter.

Troy Country Club

1830 Peters Pike, Troy

Phone: (937) 335-5691

www.troycc.com

Holes: 18 (par 70) Course rating: 68.6/121

Director of club operations: Paul Fobian

Yardage: 4,947 (red), 5,728 (white), 6,236 (blue)

Directions: I-75 north to Ohio 55. Turn right, go east to Peters Pike and turn right. Travel south about a mile. Club is on the right.

Description: Visible from I-75, the TCC course is a mixture of two nines — old and new. The front nine is wide open. The back is hilly with trees. Greens are fast and smooth.

Golfing members: 200. Initiation fee: None. Annual dues: (Call for pricing). Food minimum: $80 monthly.

Twin Base Golf Course

Area A, Building 893, Wright-Pat AFB

Phone: (937) 253-6181

www.88thservices.com

Holes: 18 Course rating: 71.7/128

Director of Golf: Buz Schweibold; Assistant pro: Mike Glendenning

Yardage: 5,177 (red), 5,592 (yellow), 6,418 (white), 6,903 (blue)

Directions: Take Ohio 4 east to Ohio 444. Turn right on 444 and go to Wright-Patterson Gate 16A.

Description: Front nine is wide open, back has tight holes. Each of the four par 5s is crossed by one of two creeks that meander through the course.

Golfing members: 550. Annual dues: $850. Course is open to active and retired civilian and military personnel, DOD base contractors.

Urbana Country Club

U.S. 36, Urbana

Phone: (937) 653-1689

www.urbanacountryclub.com

Holes: 18 Course rating: 73.3/134

Head pro: Pat Delaney

Yardage: 4,669 (forward), 5,556 (middle), 6,146 (back), 6,660 (championship), 6,849 (tournament)

Directions: I-70 east to U.S. 68 and go north to Urbana. Turn right at town square onto U.S. 36. The club is 5 miles east on 36.

Description: Back nine was designed by Paul Dye and built in 1922. It is cut into a woods and has many old trees. Front nine was designed by Dye’s grandson, P.B. Dye, and opened in 1993.

Golfing members: 180. No waiting list. Initiation fee: $3,000 (waived). Dues: $235 a month. Food minimum: $150 quarterly. Membership special: No initiation fee and half dues ($117.50) for two years.

Walnut Grove Country Club

5050 Linden Ave., Dayton

Phone: (937) 253-6451

www.walnutgrove.cc.net

Holes: 18 Course rating: 71.8/130

Head pro: Brian Tyra

Yardage: 5,111 (red), 5,902 (green), 6,371 (white), 6,659 (blue)

Directions: Take U.S. 35 east to Dayton-Xenia/Linden Ave. exit, turn left and make an immediate right turn into WG parking lot.

Description: Originally named Greenmont because it straddles the Greene and Montgomery County lines. Became Walnut Grove in 1935. Course was built in 1928, remodeled in 1964 and updated again in 1995, when two water hazards were added.

Golfing members: 235. Initiation fee: $3,000 (waived). Dues: $400 family, $350 individual (before $75 discount in 2011). Food minimum: $60 monthly. Different rates for members 20-39.

Wildwood Golf Club

Aberdeen Drive, Middletown

Phone: (513) 422-7138

www.wildwoodgc.com

Holes: 18 Course rating: 71.0/127

Club Manager: Ellen Nelson; Head pro: Larry King

Yardage: 4,963 (red), 6,001 (white), 6,400 (blue)

Directions: I-75 south to Ohio 123. Go west on 123 to Franklin. Turn left at the third light onto Riley Street. Turn left again at South Main Street. At intersection with stop light, turn right onto Manchester Road. Go three miles to Aberdeen Drive, turn left and go up the hill to Wildwood.

Description: Built in the 1920s and reworked by Arthur Hills 30 years ago, the course is traditional with small greens, tree-lined fairways and plenty of bunkers. It has five par 3 holes and no water.

Membership: 350. Waiting list: None. Initiation fee: None. Annual dues: $2,300. Food minimum: $75 per quarter.

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