Several local college programs opened their spring seasons at the Lake Jovita Invitational, hosted by Ball State in Dade City, Florida. Wright State’s Shane Ochs led the way, capturing individual medalist honors at 13-under par over three rounds, winning by two shots. His performance earned him Horizon League Player of the Week recognition. The University of Dayton also had a strong individual showing, with Victor Caliguri tying for third. As a team, Wright State finished sixth, while Dayton tied for 10th place.

Xavier University claimed the team title, led by former Wright State head coach Brian Arlinghaus. The victory marks Xavier’s third consecutive team win, dating back to the Miami Invitational at Moraine last fall.

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Looking ahead, Wright State travels to Texas for the Border Olympics on Monday and Tuesday, while Dayton heads to Hilton Head for the Wexford Invitational. The Lady Flyers begin their spring campaign in early March. Cedarville’s men open their season in a couple of weeks at Pawley’s Island, with the Lady Yellow Jackets starting in early March. Central State’s Marauders tee it up March 8 in Savannah to begin their spring schedule.

Doug Hill is a lifelong golfer whose passion for the game began at age eight when his father introduced him to caddying. A Toledo native and University of Toledo graduate, Doug moved to Dayton in 1983 to begin a 42-year career as a pharmacist with Walgreens. Over the past three decades, he has played regularly with a close group of friends across nearly every public course in the region, highlighted by two hole-in-ones and numerous golf trips to Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, and Mesquite. Married for 42 years with two daughters, Doug now channels his love for the game into volunteering with Miami Valley Golf, where he values the camaraderie, the opportunity to walk classic courses, and the chance to give back to the sport that has shaped so much of his life.

Behind every Handicap Index is a detailed, methodical evaluation of the golf course itself. Course Rating isn’t a guess or a quick calculation — it’s a structured process that measures how a course truly plays for golfers of different abilities. From yardage and elevation to bunkers, green complexity, and even psychological pressure, each element is analyzed to ensure fairness and consistency in scoring. Here’s a closer look at how Miami Valley Golf’s Course Rating Team does the work.

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Randy Leen, the only other golfer from our area to compete in the Walker Cup, has added another chapter to his career. Now 50, he qualified this past week for his first PGA TOUR Champions event and is in the field for this week’s Chubb Classic. This marks his first competitive round in 16 years, and he made it count—shooting 6-under to earn his spot at The Forest Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida. He advanced through the qualifier alongside Mathew Goggin and Andrew Johnson.

Randy will tee it up in the Chubb Classic this weekend, with coverage on the Golf Channel at 2:30 p.m. His son, Jack, will be on the bag as his caddie. You can tune in to watch and follow the scores here as Randy returns to competition on one of golf’s biggest stages.

There will be a Junior Golf Summit at Heatherwoode Golf Club this Sunday, February 15. It will be a focused half-day event designed to guide young players and families through every stage of junior golf development. The morning begins at 8:30 AM with coffee and donuts, followed by a 9:00 AM welcome from Alex and Ryne. Sessions include an introduction for those new to Drive Chip and Putt, PGA Junior League, instruction panel, mental performance training, and an overview of the SOPGA Junior Tour. The summit concludes with a college coaches panel to help players understand the path to competing—and winning—at the next level. It’s a clear roadmap from learning the game to chasing bigger goals.

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Winter doesn’t leave a golf course quietly. As snow recedes and spring approaches, superintendents and turf crews begin one of the most critical — and challenging — transitions of the year. Extended snow cover can create hidden turf issues that won’t reveal themselves until temperatures rise. In this article, we break down what courses should be watching for, what golfers may notice early in the season, and why patience and appreciation for turf professionals matter more than ever.

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First Cutt Golf Facility has announced that PGA instructor Brad Smith—widely known as The Golf Doctor—has joined its coaching team after transitioning from Heatherwoode Golf Club. With more than four decades of teaching and coaching experience, Smith’s move is centered on one priority: delivering elite, results-driven instruction powered by the most advanced technology in the game. His arrival, paired with First Cutt’s new 4K TrackMan technology, signals a new standard for golf instruction in the Miami Valley.

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Registration is officially open for the 2026–27 Drive, Chip & Putt qualifying season at DriveChipandPutt.com, welcoming boys and girls ages 7–15 from across the country to take part in this free, nationwide junior golf skills competition focused on driving, chipping and putting. The 13th season of qualifiers begins May 2 with 353 local events in all 50 states, and top performers will advance through sub-regional and regional rounds for a chance to earn one of 80 spots in the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club on April 4, 2027, held on the eve of the Masters Tournament. Online registration makes it easy for families to find a qualifier near them and sign up—no prior experience required!

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The Ohio Golf Course Owners Association Annual Education Conference returns on Tuesday, March 3rd at Westbrook Country Club in Mansfield. This conference brings together owners and industry leaders for conference on insight, innovation, and practical solutions. The 2026 conference is sponsored by Real Time Feedback and presented by Jonas Club Software. OGCOA members receive two complimentary passes per golf course, while non-members are welcome to attend by purchasing a pass.

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The Southwest District of the OHSAA Sectional and District Tournament Schedule is now available. Over a three-week stretch in September and early October, teams and individuals will compete in 17 Sectional tournaments and five District Championships, all with the goal of advancing to the OHSAA State Tournament. The schedule once again reflects the depth of competitive golf across the district and the collaboration required to stage postseason play.

A notable highlight is Heatherwoode returning as the District host, resuming the role after a brief pause due to a major irrigation project. In total, 22 postseason events will be contested, and we could not do it without the wonderful support of our host golf facilities. These courses include Echo Hills, Glenview, Miami Whitewater, National Golf Links, Pipestone, Reeves, Shelby Oaks, The Mill Course, Turtle Creek, Walden Ponds, WGC, and Heatherwoode. Their continued support is essential in providing student-athletes with a meaningful postseason experience.

Miami Valley Golf is now accepting nominations for the next class of the Dayton Golf Hall of Fame, scheduled for induction in late 2026. Established in 1978, the Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the game in the Dayton area, whether through exceptional playing careers or through significant service to the game. To date, sixty-nine men and women have been inducted into this distinguished group

Nominees must have an association with the Dayton golf community and demonstrate exceptional character, integrity, and impact at the local, state, or national level.

Nominations may be submitted by anyone using the online nomination form. Inductees and their families will be recognized at a ceremony toward the end of the 2026 season.

Nomination Resources:

• Nomination Submission

• Hall of Fame Members

Miami Valley Golf’s 2026 event registration opened Monday, and the Spring Better Ball filled within 16 hours. With strong early demand across the schedule, golfers are encouraged to register early.

4/27 - Spring BB – NCR South (Wait list Only)

5/4 - Masters #1-Dayton

5/11 - Shamble - Troy

6/15 - Masters - Miami Valley

6/22 -6/25 - Metropolitan - Beavercreek

6/29 - Twin BB - Piqua

8/10 - Masters - Walnut Grove

8/17 - Classic - Miami Valley

8/31 – 09/01 – Sr & Mid-Am - Dayton