Golf: Mound hosts old-school tournament

If you read this column regularly, you might be aware that the Mound Golf Course in Miamisburg held a nine-hole Hickory Sticks tournament on June 23 as part of its recent 75th anniversary celebration.

They played nine holes with wooden-shafted golf clubs and used the gutta-percha golf balls that were used in the days of the hickory shafts. Tyson Phillips, head golf pro at Shawnee State Park Golf Resort near Portsmouth, provided the clubs and golf balls for a fee. Phillips also had knickers and argyle socks available for rent.

Brothers Jeff and Adam Geuthiel won the two-man, best ball event with a score of 40.

Mike Riley, general manager at the Mound, reported that not a single club was broken and most of the players he talked with said they didn’t notice much difference in the length of their shots.

Riley said Phillips told him that he can drive a modern golf ball 260 yards but can hit the rock-hard gutta-percha only 210-220 yards.

On one day that week, there was a contest in which the course was played backward. Riley said that may become an annual event.

Bernard among Metro entrants: Michael Bernard, who won the Metropolitan Championship when it was played at Miami Valley Golf Club in 2009, has entered the 2014 tournament which returns to Miami Valley July 25-28.

The Metro has drawn more than 100 entries the last three years, and Miami Valley Golf Association executive director Steve Jurick expects another 100-plus entries this year. If the interest keeps growing, it might be necessary to hold qualifying competitions in future years.

Senior deadline drawing near: Those planning to enter the City Men's Senior Match Play Championship at Madden Golf Course July 11-14 must enter by July 7.

The deadline for both the Senior Men’s Stroke Play Championship (Aug. 8-9) and the Men’s Stroke Play championship (Aug. 8-11) at Community Golf Course is Aug. 4.

Hall of Fame forms due on Monday: Dayton Amateur Golf Hall of Fame nomination forms are in the pro shops at many local golf courses. If you know of someone you think is deserving of this recognition, you must submit a completed form by Monday. The biennial induction ceremony will be held on Sept. 29.

Mitakides earns PGA Tour visit: Andrew Mitakides, who grew up in Centerville, spent the past week working at the PGA Tour's AT&T National event at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.

Mitakides is an assistant golf pro at East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, D.C. He was one of two professional golfers from the D.C. area invited to teach spectators at the tournament as part of the PGA’s Get Golf Ready program. Golfers are taught in five short lessons everything they’ll need to step onto a golf course and play with confidence.

Mitakides is a graduate of Centerville High School (2003) and Hampden-Sydney University.

Madden hosting best ball event: The Madden Men's Association and the Fairway Golf Club are co-sponsoring a four-man best ball team event on July 20 at Madden Golf Course. The three best scores, including handicap, will be counted on each hole.

The entry fee is $15 plus green fees and cart fee. Prizes will be based on total entries. It will have a shotgun start at 9 a.m.

Call Jesse Norris 937-267-1227 or the Madden pro shop 937-268-0111 for more information.

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