Heatherwoode Golf Club (Springboro, OH)

I played Heatherwoode during a practice round for the Ohio Left-handers Golf Championship more than twenty five ago. My friend played in this tournament several times, and we would take notes on how to play each hole. I found those notes and wanted to comment on this course. 

Heatherwoode was designed by Denis Griffiths in 1991, two years after he did Bent Tree up in Sunbury.  Unlike Bent Tree, the driving lines are very important to understand.  Several ponds and creeks guard the landing areas off the tee, so one must have a game plan when to hit driver, what shot shape to hit, and when to club down. More times than not, the water is on the right side so a fade that’s cutting too much will be in for a long day. 

If one is driving it good, then the rest of the shots are less demanding. The big greens are flat with subtle breaks. There’s less pressure on hitting it close. In fact, my notes alluded to 20 footers being a makeable distance. I do recall us making multiple long putts during our round. 

Holes of note:

Hole 4 530/493 par 5: This par five has water off the tee on the right, then it has water down the left that fronts the green and guards most of the fairway. For the long hitter, it’s reachable in two but it’s all carry to a small green. 

Hole 5 420/396 par 4: This hole is similar to Bent Tree’s fifth. The player lays up off the tee short of the creek, and then hits a 180-200 yard shot into the green. The hole narrows close to the green so hitting from the fairway is a must. 

Hole 14 421/395 par 4: This cape hole has water all down the right side. Picking the correct line from the tee is the key to making par. Bailing left and playing left should make bogey the worst score you’ll write down. This is a real card wrecker if you get careless. 

Hole 15 394/351 par 4: This is a dogleg left with the creek fronting the green. A drive that reaches the lower fairway will leave a mid to short iron shot. Don’t be too aggressive on the approach otherwise you’ll end wet. A four is a good score. 

Hole 16 451/432 par 4: The longest par four on the course has the creek all down the right side. Playing it like a par five is not a bad idea. It demands a strong drive and an accurate long iron or hybrid to secure a par. Whoever can play these three holes (14-16) in even par will gain a strokes. 

Heatherwoode held the Nike Miami Valley Open for six years from 1993-1998. The pros never struggled here and the winning score was usually high teens or low twenties under par. In 1998, Doug Dunakey shot a 59, becoming the fourth player to break sixty on a major tour. 

Nowadays, Heatherwoode is the home course to Wright State University. It’s still holding tournament golf and the doing well against the college players. Needless to say, the course is always in great condition and is one of the best in the Dayton area. I give it a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play).