Tom Allen and I played Miami View Golf Club today. The course is in Miamitown, OH on Cincinnati's west side. As home course advantage and pops were not enough, we started off the back 9. It was all a conspiracy to thoroughly confuse my opponent.
In a city of full-service country clubs, Miami View is a healthy change of pace. Tired of the public golf scene but not wanting a full-service country club, the founding members of Miami View set forth to form a private golf club that the average family could enjoy. Golf is the focus of Miami View. Its Spartan clubhouse is by design. Aside from the course, a nice driving range was installed in the mid 2000's. There's also a short game area, which will hopefully get expanded at a future date.
Miami View intended to replace its (perhaps) functionality obsolete clubhouse with a new build. While the building would still be modest in line with Miami View values, it wasn't going to come cheap. By the time the vote passed and we were ready to get bids, they were way higher thanks to a construction boom that was happening. Instead, we pivoted and voted on a much less expensive Pavillion building. This has been a huge hit with members. More people are eating/hanging out at the club, and the casual nature of the dining is more in line with the club's culture. Miami View has the cheapest regular member dues of any club in the Cincinnati area. The small infrastructure and focus on the golf course help to keep it this way.
The course was laid out by Bill Diddel in 1960, with the full 18 being playable in 1961. It's a solid Doak 3 of a course. One I wouldn't necessarily travel for, but one I do very much enjoy having as my everyday course. Good land movement, a good mix of par 3s, and required draw and fade shots keep things interesting.
A gentle handshake may be present at Miami View if the 470 yard par 4 1st becomes a 490 par 5, as the Hurdzan master plan dictates. For now, it's a slap in the face; followed by the 440 yard 2nd. After that, things do get easier. It's a mental hurdle first-time players must get over.
As mentioned, Hurdzan Group laid out a master plan, and some of it was executed against in the fall of 2018. I used this opportunity to talk Tom's ear off about all the changes, new and upcoming; further distracting him.
With a perfect weather day in Cincinnati on my home course, I prevailed 3&2.