Miami Valley - Ohio - USA
3311 Salem Avenue,
Dayton,
Ohio (OH) 45406,
USA
+1 937 274-1133
4 miles NW of Dayton
Members and their guests only
Greg Ingersoll
Cameron Williams
Championships hosted:
PGA Championship,
Western Open
Historians of all stripes will find something to appreciate on the property at the Miami Valley Golf Club: Fans of American history will appreciate that the treaty opening westward expansion of the United States was signed on the property during 1802, while lovers of golf history will appreciate that the last PGA Championship in matchplay format was played here during 1957.
Those who appreciate more simple aspects of golf course architecture will enjoy that this is a Donald Ross course that just passed its centenary. Evidence of the famous Scot’s involvement can be seen in many of the route’s angled hazards. Both Nos. 9 and 18 feature Ross’s famous cross bunkering, angled to offer a better distance to the green for those willing to take the most risk, while the par five at No. 15 uses a stream to accomplish the same effect.
The relatively landlocked property doesn’t have much hope for hosting PGA competitions in the future, but its 6,700 yards continue to provide a blend of relaxation and strategic challenge for members.
Reviews for Miami Valley
Kyle Harris
Happy to see Miami Valley included in this list for Ohio. It is worthy.
I normally will not comment on a golf course I've only played once, however, Miami Valley is both that good and I also wanted to ensure that comments are enshrined forever here. Played here on a late August day that included a morning at Moraine and an an afternoon round at NCR South. That Miami Valley held up on such an epic 54 hole day (not to mention all three being former PGA Championship venues!) is about as much praise as I can heap on a golf course.
The whole feel of the club and course is of a membership that doesn't quite know what they have and doesn't quite know what they do with it so they spend the money they don't have to do nothing. Apparently the greens have seen little in terms of purposeful changes in their history and what is in situ feels like it confirms this. The routing is a stock Ross routing of both sides staking claim to half the site and features the usual Ross trick of using shorter holes to traverse the more severe part of the property at differing points in the routing, in this case from 12 green to 15 tee and then again from 16 green to 18 tee. The course more than makes up for a tame tee-to-green presentation with putting surfaces that demand precision due to fall offs and edges that confound the golfer at all angles. The 4th and 7th, in particular pose vexing questions to even the most elite ball striker. The bunkers, where used and prominent, are attractive and command attention. The complex on both 9 and 18, as mentioned are visually striking and perhaps are more a mental challenge than an actual physical challenge to today's golfer and equipment. All the same, they are functional.
One quirk here I always enjoy encountering is an uphill 1st hole and a downhill 18th hole.
While any ranking (rightfully) would have Miami Valley a distant third in the trio I played on that August day, this remains my *favorite* of the three because the quality was such a surprise to find despite the anticipation of the other two.
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