https://www.miamivalleygolf.org For Golfers of Note with a connection to the Miami Valley en-us 1440 FlexWeb https://www.miamivalleygolf.org/about/archive/historical/springfield-muni-golf-part-1-4853c8063.html?LayoutID=306 Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:00:43 GMT Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT 4853 The Birth of Public Golf - Spring 1921 Public golf in Springfield began in the spring of 1921 when several interested residents and local businessmen raised $3,000 to construct a municipal golf course. Springfield City Manager Mr. Parsons was tasked with creating the plans for the new “Municipal Golf Course.” The selected site was Snyder Park, bordered by Buck Creek to the east, the Old National Trail (U.S. 40) to the south, the Mad River to the west, and the Erie Railroad to the northwest. Construction began in March 1921, and in a remarkable span of just fo [...] Courses https://www.miamivalleygolf.org/about/archive/historical/bob-sowards-4372c8063.html?LayoutID=306 Fri, 19 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT Fri, 19 Jan 2024 14:15:22 GMT Fri, 19 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT 4372 Bob Sowards Playing Record - Researched 1/19/24 - PGA Director of Instruction at Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club. Won the 2004 PGA Professional Championship at Longaberger Golf Club in Nashport, Ohio. Has played in 11 PGA Championships, tied for second all-time among PGA Club Professionals. Winner, 2014, ‘05, ‘04, ‘03 PGA of America PGA Professional Player of the Year. Winner, 2023 ,'22, ‘21, ‘19, ‘18 PGA of America Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year. His nine national PGA awards are the most in the history of the Asso [...] People https://www.miamivalleygolf.org/about/archive/historical/janet-beardsley-4319c8063.html?LayoutID=306 Fri, 17 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT Fri, 17 Nov 2023 16:31:38 GMT Fri, 17 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT 4319 A Dayton Legend View Playing Bio - Born in Dayton August 12, 1918, Janet Shock and her brother Don had a distinct advantage. They grew up around the golf business. Her father was the manager at Community Golf Course. Moraine Country Club professional, Alex Campbell, taught Janet to play. Mr. Kettering gave Mr. Campbell permission to use the property adjacent to what is now Kettering Memorial Hospital to give lessons. Obviously, Miss Shock was one of his better pupils. In 1933, business teacher, Dick Sommers, asked Janet to join the first golf team at Kettering [...] People https://www.miamivalleygolf.org/about/archive/historical/elhannon-collins-3832c8063.html?LayoutID=306 Fri, 18 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT Fri, 25 Nov 2022 16:43:00 GMT Fri, 18 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT 3832 EL COLLINS - Born on April 3, 1935 in Hazard, Kentucky, El Collins grew up playing golf on the nine hole Hazard Country Club where in his early years he caddied for his dad who was a good golfer in his own right. After a four-year stint in the Navy, he attended Eastern Kentucky University, once graduating he started his golf career as an Assistant Golf Professional at Lancaster CC, in Lancaster, OH before beginning his Head Professional Role at Sharon Woods in 1962 then moving onto Moundbuilders and finally settling in Springfield, OH, first at the Old Reid Park Golf Course in [...] People https://www.miamivalleygolf.org/about/archive/historical/oscar-ock-willoweit-3395c8063.html?LayoutID=306 Thu, 22 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT Sat, 15 May 2021 08:40:27 GMT Thu, 22 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT 3395 OSCAR "Ock" Willoweit Bucky Alber's Obituary from Dayton Daily News from 1988 ‘Ock’ Willoweit was in at start of golf in U.S. Oscar Gustavus "Ock" Wllloweit always referred to himself as The Dutchman. His friends, poking fun at his penchant for talking too much, called him The Silent Dutchman. It was a name that was never appropriate until now. Willoweit, one of Dayton's best known golf professionals, died Sunday afternoon after a two-year illness. He was 85. “He was the most generous person I ever met” said former Daytonian Bob Rickey, whose fat [...] People /_filelib/FileCabinet/2020/Paul_Runyan_stuns_Sam_Snead.pdf Fri, 2 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT Fri, 2 Oct 2020 17:43:13 GMT Fri, 2 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT 3304 In the 1938 PGA, two of the era’s star players, Paul Runyan and, Sam Snead, met in the final for the Wanamaker Trophy. Snead was the oddsmakers’ 10-1 favorite to win the match. He was tall, strong and with a model swing drove the ball among the longest hitters on the professional tour. The slightly built Runyan – about 5 feet 7 inches and 130 pounds – used an unorthodox loopy swing as one of the game’s shortest hitters.Runyan, who was raised in rural Arkansas, was introduced to golf as a caddie. He quit school after the eighth grade, and at age 18 became the head professional at Concordia Coun People https://www.miamivalleygolf.org/about/archive/historical/bob-zimmerman-3268c8063.html?LayoutID=306 Fri, 3 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT Fri, 3 Jul 2020 14:04:48 GMT Fri, 3 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT 3268 Bob Zimmerman Birthdate: November 1, 1940 High School: Fairmont (1958) Height & Weight: 5-foot-10, 158 College: University of Dayton (1958-x) The son of Bill “Bones” Zimmerman and Marion Zimmerman, Bobby grew up in a house on Melrose Avenue near Community Golf Course. His younger brother, Mike Zimmerman, also became a golf professional. He was head pro at Kittyhawk Golf Course in 1998 when he died in an auto accident. Golf Accomplishments: Won Dayton City Match Play Championship in 1957 at age 16, defeating John Blesi, 4 and 3, [...] People https://www.miamivalleygolf.org/about/archive/historical/bogie-busters-3256c8063.html?LayoutID=306 Thu, 4 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT Thu, 4 Jun 2020 20:26:31 GMT Thu, 4 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT 3256 The Bogie Busters Reprint of Original Article from Brendan Zdunek The Bogie Busters of Dayton, Ohio was an annual celebrity golf tournament that ran from 1967 to 1991.[1] Started by Dayton-area businessman Cy Laughter, the event brought together many celebrities and business and political leaders. The tournament was played at Dayton Country Club from 1967 to 1974 and then subsequently was played at the larger NCR Country Club.[2] Beyond the fame it brought, the tournament also played a key role in the construction of the University of Dayton Arena. Through Bogie Busters, UD A [...] https://www.miamivalleygolf.org/about/archive/historical/frank-marchi-3253c8063.html?LayoutID=306 Thu, 28 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT Thu, 28 May 2020 17:00:46 GMT Thu, 28 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT 3253 The Club Pro Miami Valley' s Frank Marchi fits the role By GARY NUHN Daily News Sportswriter (1977) The first time he swung at a golf ball, little, 9-year-old Frank Marchi figured he was going to hit it so hard; he'd knock it right on out of Columbus. So, let's see, grip tight, big backswing, let 'er rip. "I missed it and fell down in a heap and couldn’t get up” Marchi was remembering the other day”. “It turned out I had taken my knee cap out of place and I was laid up for two weeks” From those humble beginnings, one of Dayton' [...] People https://www.miamivalleygolf.org/about/archive/historical/gene-marchi-3251c8063.html?LayoutID=306 Tue, 26 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT Thu, 28 May 2020 17:01:00 GMT Tue, 26 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT 3251 Gene Marchi 1905 - 1969 - Thanks to the Marchi Family Providing this Material - Photos Below Gene Marchi's association with the golf business spans more than half a century. The last 40 years of it at Miami Valley Golf Club. As a lad of Ten years, he started as a caddy at Upper Arlington Golf Club in his hometown of Columbus. He toted bags at that 9-hole layout until moving to Scioto CC when it opened two years later. Gene stayed on as a caddy at Scioto throughout his high school days. After graduating from high school, Gene stayed at Scioto CC for two more years, wo [...] People