The U.S. Hickory Open is moving to Dayton, Ohio, for 2015.
The premier hickory golf tournament in the United States will be held at the Miami Valley Golf Club, July 19-21. The SoHG Board approved the move at a recent meeting.
Miami Valley is a Donald Ross course that was completed in 1919. It has hosted such important events as the 1931 Western Open (won by Ed Dudley over Walter Hagen) and the 1957 PGA, the last held at match play. Players such as Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Tommy Armour, Byron Nelson, and Babe Didrickson Zaharias have played exhibitions there. The graceful old clubhouse opened in 1930.
SoHG President Hamp Munsey, who visited the course along with Mike Just, Bill Geisler, Tim Flynn, and Chris Deinlein, said the members are excited about having the tournament at their club.
“They are very happy to have us and the facilities are very amenable to our trade show and receptions,” he said. “The course is in great condition.”
A look at mean temperatures, for those who recall the heat of French Lick, are expected to be in the mid-80s.
As yet, no decision has been made on hotels. Munsey said the USHO committee will be at work over the next several weeks to finalize hotel options as well as the many other details that go into making the USHO both a fine competitive event and one to socialize with friends old and new.
The announcement on the 2015 USHO was late in coming due to a change in ownership at the Country Club of Asheville. It had been thought of returning to this venue, which most in the 2014 field thought near perfect. But the ownership change has precluded this return visit.
Munsey had been approached by members of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce to visit the Miami Valley course as a possibility. With Asheville out of the picture, Dayton became a likely candidate. The city also has a long golf connection with MacGregor, the golf club manufacturer, that dates to 1897. The company moved to Cincinnati in 1946.
Miami Valley is a few miles northwest of Dayton proper, about four miles south of the Dayton International Airport, and two miles west of Int. 75.
Hotels, travel notes, and the many other details of the 2015 USHO will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
Meanwhile, mark your calendars.
