Aug. 20, 2019
In 2015, the U.S. Hickory Open was held at Miami Valley Golf Club in Dayton, Ohio. The historic course, which has hosted the Western Open, was a delight to play. The membership and the club’s president Neil Hazel, asked whether the SoHG would consider a return in 2019, to help the club celebrate its centennial.
Ed Ronco, then the USHO committee chairman and the current president of the SoHG was happy to comply. Early in August, Ronco assembled a group of 23 hickory golfers who traveled to Dayton for the festivities conducted over two days, Aug. 16-17. Some 17 MVGC members joined the group for a Friday scramble and individual medal play on Saturday.
During a Friday celebration at the club, Hazel treated the golfers and guests to a 20-minute presentation on the history of the club. It is a rich one. The 1931 Western Open won by Ed Dudley over Walter Hagen, and the 1957 PGA Championship (the last held at match play) was won by Lionel Herbert over Dow Finsterwald 2-1) were hosted at Miami Valley GC. Exhibition matches played at the historic club included such legends as Bobby Jones, Bryon Nelson, Sam Snead, Tommy Armour, and Babe Didrickson Zaharias. Miami Valley’s history reaches into the life of fellow SoHG and Golf Heritage Society member John Fischer III, whose father was low amateur in the 1931 Western Open.
For the current celebration, the Friday scramble winners were Rick Snider, Bob Glass, Alan Thompson (all from MVGC), and Larry Pinchback (Oakland, Mich). Their net 57 topped everyone else.
Saturday’s Individual awards were won by Jason Kronenberger whose 73 took the gross title, followed by John Cova with 77. In the net category, Bob Glass and Bill Ellington tied with 70.
Just as in 2015, Miami Valley Golf Club was a gracious host and the event served to verify why hickory golf today is such a great sport and the best one to celebrate any club’s centennial.
Miami Valley’s Neil Hazel, left, and Ed Ronco confer at the 2015 U.S. Hickory Open.
Michigan golfer Dave Lipa couldn’t wait to get started at the Miami Valley GC centennial outing. So, where is everyone else?