Recently, Bill Steele & I played Moraine County Club in Kettering OH (near Dayton). Moraine opened in 1930 and hosted the 1945 PGA Championship, won by Byron Nelson. The course was designed by Alex “Nipper” Campbell. Dick Wilson made alterations in the early 50s when he was building Moraine’s neighbor, NCR.
Cornish & Whitten credit Campbell with over 30 designs, but Moraine is the only course that they list. “Nipper” was a native of Scotland and came over to the US to be the professional at The Country Club in Brookline, where he is credited with having “discovered” Francis Ouimet. His nickname supposedly came from a fondness for a “nip” or two of whisky to get his day started. According to Labbance’s “The Old Man,” Campbell was the original choice to design Cape Arundel, but when he didn’t show up, Walter Travis was hired instead.
Campbell was brought to Dayton by Ohio’s governor to serve as professional at Miami Valley. After Moraine opened, Campbell served as the club’s professional until his death in 1942. There were supposedly very few trees on the interior of the course when it opened, but over the years it sounds as though the trees and brush took over the corridors between holes.
In 2006, Moraine hired Jason Mahl, who was the first assistant superintendent at Pine Valley. Mahl convinced the club to hire Keith Foster to develop a master plan. Over the past few years, the maintenance staff has worked to remove trees and brush growth to open the course up. Thus far, they have not actively implemented the rest of the master plan, which is described on Foster’s website: elements will include tree removal, green pad work, drainage, bunker, and tee programs.
On to the course:
Hole 1 – par 4. 401/376
The first tee shot is pretty straightforward. The fairway is 35-40 yards wide, with still more room between the trees so there is plenty of landing area (though still not enough for me).
Beginning around 260 yards from the tee, the fairway starts to be more rumpled.
The first green is one of the most difficult ones. There is a pretty significant back to front slope, and being above the hole is is a good way to start out with a three-putt. This photo from the second tee does not do the slope justice. Also, note the drop-off on the left side of the green – most greens have something similar on at least one side.
Hole 2 – par 3. 224/204
The green on the second hole also slopes from front to back. It is also tilted from right to left, which is confusing as the fairway goes the other way.
Hole 3 – par 4. 419/365
I thought the tee shot on the third was a comfortable one. The fairway slopes from left to right, with enough slope that the OOB did not concern me.
The original third tee was recognizable behind the second green. Both the tee and green for this hole have been moved to the right.
An uphill approach that is pinched in by bunkers in the front.
From the fourth tee.