GOLF COURSES LISTING
CLARK COUNTY:
B.P.O.E. Elks #51 Lodge (semi-private), 1536 Villa Road, Springfield. Phone: 937-399-2304. Web: www.elks.org (look for Elks #51, then click the "golf" tab)
Locust Hills Golf Course (Red and Gold courses), 5575 N. River Road, Springfield. Phone: 937-265-5152. Web: www.locusthillsgc.com
Mitchell Hills Golf Club (private), 5350 Morris Road, Springfield.. Phone: 937-206-4922. Web: www.mitchellhills.com
National Golf Links, 7676 E. National Road, South Charleston. Phone: 937-568-9660. Web: www.nationalgolflinks.org
Reid Park Memorial Golf Course (North and South courses), 1325 S. Bird Road. Phone: 937-324-7725. Web: www.ntpRoadorg/golf
Rocky Lakes Golf Course, 3950 Springfield Xenia Road. Phone: 937-322-3211. Web: N/A.
Springfield Country Club (private), 2315 Signal Hill Road, Springfield. Phone: 937-399-4215. Web: springfieldccoh.org
Sugar Isle Golf Course, 2469 Dayton-Lakeview Road, New Carlisle. Phone: 937-845-8699. Web: www.sugar-isle.com
Windy Knoll Golf Club, 500 Roscommon Drive, Springfield. Phone: 937-390-8898. Web: www.windyknollgolfclub.com
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY:
Indian Springs Golf Club, 11111 State Route 161, Mechanicsburg. Phone: 937-834-2111. Web: www.golfindiansprings.com
Lakeland Golf Club, 1772 Kiser Lake Road. Phone: 937-663-4707. Web: www.lakelandgolfclub.com
Urbana Country Club (private), 4761 E. U.S. Highway 36, Urbana. Phone: 937-653-1686. Web: www.urbanacc.net
Woodland Golf Club, 4900 Swisher Road, Cable. Phone: 937-653-8875. Web: www.golfwoodland.com
* Courses are public, unless otherwise noted
Many area golf courses had a good year in 2015, thanks to favorable weather during the last half of the season, and golf pros at those links hope that success will continue this year.
This season will be highlighted by many changes, new promotions and a 50th anniversary celebration at area golf courses.
Locust Hills Golf Course in South Charleston will celebrate its golden anniversary in 2016 with many renovations and a full slate of special events. Rich, John and Dick Kitchen originally opened the course on a whim.
“The story is that we had a family picnic out here and someone said, ‘This would be a good layout for a golf course,’ and as my dad would say, we were too stupid to not do it,” said Andrew Kitchen, the course’s PGA professional, with a laugh. “Our family had zero knowledge of golf. We just decided to build nine holes, and here we are today.”
The course, known among golfers as “Low Cost Hills” for its reasonable golf rates, has grown to 36 holes and is planning for a memorable milestone year.
“We are going to add a deck to the clubhouse,” said Kitchen. “We’ll be starting it any week now. And we have a new entrance into the clubhouse, which is re-carpeted throughout.
“You always want to have a good image, to look like you are always progressing and always trying to improve the golf course, especially with the 50th anniversary,” he added.
As for the course itself, about 300 trees, many of them ash trees, were removed, and many of its bunkers have been converted to mounds. The result is a more open and eye-appealing feel, according to Andy Kitchen. Also, a “more aggressive” effort in promoting youth golf is planned.
Locust Hills is planning a 50th anniversary golf outing May 7, which will include the original pork chop dinner it has become known for. The entry fee of $10 includes dinner, prizes and small gift and golf is $30, with shotgun starts at 8:30 a.m. for a four-person scramble and 2 p.m. for a two-person scramble. The course is also planning a special promotion each month, including one in April when 18 holes and cart will be just $19.66, in honor of the year it was built.
Trees a concern
Reid Park Memorial Golf Course in Springfield can attest to how the ash borer infestation is affecting many local golf courses. Over 350 trees will be removed from Reid Park’s North and South courses in 2016.
“That’ll change the layout a little bit,” said Tim Grieser, Reid Park’s Managing Golf Professional. “It will change the character. For example, there’s some trees on the North course that line a fairway. It will change the characteristics, look and feel of the course.”
Reid Park overcame a slow start in May and June of last year due to weather with a strong finish to “break just about even as far as rounds played is concerned,” Grieser said.
The Reid Park courses, which stay open year-round, have also benefited from a mild winter so far in 2016. One Sunday in February, the courses had 105 players.
“The last time we had rounds this early like this was four years ago with El Nino,“ said Grieser. “It is providing a little bit of revenue and giving us a little bit of a jump start. It’s all a bonus.”
Increase in fees
The National Trail Parks and Recreation District board has approved what Grieser called “a slight increase in rates“ for 2016.
Things are going very well at Windy Knoll Golf Course in Springfield, which made about $500,000 in renovations last year.
“We had our best year since we’ve owned the place,” said General Manager Dave Duffy. “The condition of the course is very good, and we did more rounds last year than we ever have.
“I contribute it to the quality of our product, the condition of our course,“ he continued. “Instead of an exclusive country club, we’re one of the best public courses around.”
Even if not everyone knows Windy Knoll is now a public course.
“One of the biggest problems we’ve had to overcome was the previous owners wanted it to be private,” Duffy said. “Many people still think we are private when we’re not. Anyone can play our course.”
Full-service restaurant
Windy Knoll added a full-service restaurant and doubled the size of its banquet facility last year, and both are doing well, Duffy added. The course’s spring special is 18 holes and a cart for $28.
New sand for bunkers
The 2016 season will bring several improvements at National Golf Links in South Charleston. New sand in the bunkers, eliminating some bunkers and a new fleet of carts are in the offing.
“We’re trying to focus on better customer service and making sure it is a good experience when folks come out,” said Brad Reid, National Links’ club professional. “We’re fortunate being located near the Interstate (I-70). We get a lot of rounds out of Columbus. The cost comparison is a lot better than the Columbus market.”
Reid also said course improvements have “spurred a little bit of interest” in the house lots that sit next to the clubhouse and overlook the National Golf Links course.
“We’ve sold three lots in the last year, and two of the three were built on this past summer,” he said.
The course is now hosting an annual PGA Junior Tour event, plus has added high-profile public events such as the Potter’s House Scramble and an Executive Women’s Golf Association event. Cart and greens fees will increase $1 and there will be several discounted holiday specials.
Major renovations
Sugar Isle Golf Course in New Carlisle made major renovations last year as well, including completely flipping the back and front nines.
“A lot of the players responded well to the changes,” said Sugar Isle General Manager Justin Stringfield, who added that he expects the rise in rounds player that started last fall to continue in 2016, citing national trends and customer response. “After 40 years of playing one way, it feels like a new course.”
Sugar Isle’s big special will be 18 holes and a car for $25 after 2 p.m. on weekends.
Hidden gem
In Champaign County, new Lakeland Golf Club general manager Pam Wells is working on exposing a little secret.
“I believe we’re a little gem here that hardly nobody knows about,” said Wells of the St. Paris course. “We have a full bar and grill, clubhouse … we have everything.
“We’re trying a few new things to promote the business,“ she continued. “We’re doing more tournaments, and we’re booked from June to the first week of October.”
Lakeland also boasts of its affordability, with its main special being 18 holes with cart on the weekends for $33.
Indian Springs in Mechanicsburg has also had to deal with the effects of the ash borer as well, but with 330 acres, it hasn’t made any negative impact.
“It has changed the course for the better actually,” said course manager Dan Long. “It did not impact play for the extremely talented golfer, but it has helped for average golfers like me.”
Indian Springs runs daily specials, including 18 holes and a cart for $29 weekdays.
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