8 important dates in Weatherwax Golf Course history

Here are eight important dates in the history of Weatherwax Golf Course, which is closing Sunday.

1969: Weatherwax is built on land purchased from W.W. Sebald to be used for a golf course and public park. A $75,000 donation by Bessie Weatherwax, in honor of her husband Russell S. Weatherwax Sr., is used for landscaping the course.

1972: The four nine-hole courses, designed by Arthur Hills, open and Tour professional Tony Jacklin plays the first round. Funding for the construction of the course is through a 20-year bond that's retired in 1995.

1996: The entire 36 holes and the driving range are reconstructed with bunkers, tees and fairways. Another 20-year bond is used to fund the work. As a result, the course rises from a three-star rating to a four-star rating and is a top-10 ranked public course in Ohio from 2002 to 2006.

2014: City of Middletown sells Weatherwax to Hamilton auctioneer company for $1.6 million. Myron Bowling leases course to Jim Kraft, who signs a one-year lease with a one-year option.

2015: Kraft plans to accept option year and operate Weatherwax as golf course through 2016.

Sept. 23, 2015: MetroParks of Butler County announces its purchase of Weatherwax and plans to combine it with the adjacent Sebald Park to create the new Elk Creek MetroPark. The golf course will cease operations after the current lease expires, according to MetroParks.

Nov. 6, 2016: The last round is to be played at Weatherwax.

Nov. 18, 2016: An auction is scheduled to sell off all the maintenance equipment and golf items.

SOURCES: City of Middletown records; Journal-News archives

About the Author