Hamilton’s Municipal Golf Courses have long been a source of pride
As the long nights and harsh winds of winter subside, the thoughts of long days and warmer days start to invade the mind. Some minds dream of swimming pools, kids look forward to months away from school, but the Hamilton golfer can’t wait to pull out the sticks and get back to either Twin Run or Potters.
Whether it be the city’s golf tournament held every summer on Father’s Day weekend, or it’s just a casual Sunday afternoon these two courses in a way represent exactly what the City of Hamilton strives to be– classic, beautiful, and full of character.
The story of the first of the two city courses starts in the roaring twenties. On the southern side of New London, stretches Potter’s Park. The 100 acre plot was donated in 1925 by successful New York businessman and native Hamiltonian, Ellis Potter.
Though Potter himself never played the gentleman’s game, he insisted that the land donated be developed into a course. He personally enjoyed the wooded areas of New London as a boy.
Two years later after the original donation of the land, Hamilton was able to raise $15,000 to develop the course. In the spring of 1927, Potter’s Park opened its doors and they haven’t been closed since. For the first four months, the course operated with just nine holes. On October 5 the final nine holes opened. For the past 90 years you can’t mention Hamilton courses, without talking about Potters in the same breath.
The course has gone through some renovations, and certainly doesn’t look the same as it did nine decades ago. Of note, hole 11, a short par three, has moved greens in recent decades. Now, it sits alongside a pond and tucked near the woods. The former green sat up on the hill near number 12’s tee box.
Potter’s has also stamped its own piece of history, not only in Butler County golf but with the sport as a whole. The Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, came down to Hamilton in 1954 to compete in the Tri-State tournament. At the mere age of 14, Nicklaus scored a 64, five under par at Potter’s. Of course, he went on to win the tournament– one of his first wins in a storied career.
Also on the west side of the city of sculpture, sits Potter’s younger brother, Twin Run. Opened nearly 40 years after Potter’s, it sits atop of Eaton hill. As you turn into the driveway, you drive a half mile being covered by the overhand of trees. Eventually you open yourself up to the beautiful 18 holes of the course. Though the style of the two courses vary, their history is very similar.
In 1960, local businessman Dwight Thomson donated part of his Contentment Farm to the City of Hamilton. Thomson was Chairman of the board at Champion paper mill, of which his final year in that position was 1965. The donation of land included 220 acres, a two story residence, a one story guest house and a barn. The residence served as the original pro shop. June 22, 1963 the golf course officially opened to the public.
The course hasn’t seen drastic changes over the years, besides the front and back nine flipping within the past 10 years.
The city of Hamilton no longer runs the golf courses, they’ve passed that bill to the non-profit Parks Conservancy. Though golf seems to be more popular than ever, golf courses across the country continue to close– not Potter’s and Twin Run.
It’s a testament to the operations staff that keep the wheels turning and the passion of the residents of Hamilton– who cherish the two courses as their own.