07/01/2025
Brook Hill Golf Course Celebrates 50 Years!
Sunday, June 29th, Brook Hill Golf Course celebrated 50 years! You heard that right! Brook Hill Golf Course has celebrated 50 years of loyal customers, a fun golfing experience, and several owners who have done their best to keep this course thriving. Located up on Reservoir Road, Brook Hill is an 18-hole course with a brand new clubhouse and barn, which is used for either storage or parties if the capacity is maxed out. Numerous teams lined up the main cart path as they lined up to celebrate, and everyone was ready to have an enjoyable day. The weather was nice, not too hot, drinks were available, and the course was full of good vibes.
Back at the clubhouse, staff members prepared the lunch for all participants, which consisted of pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, cole slaw, and rolls. For dessert, two sheets of brownies that were beautifully decorated laid on the display table. It was here that numerous photos and old newspaper clippings were hung up to show the history and evolution of Brook Hill Golf Course over the past 50 years. These were provided by Steve Renaker and his two daughters, Maddie and Brooke.
As all of the contestants finished up the course and began to arrive back at the clubhouse, the staff members were quick to start serving drinks and ready the plates and silverware so everyone could eat. They were efficient in their setup, accommodating to everyone, and worked hard with Jill, the director of Brook Hill.
Jill Mergenthal welcomed all participants while they enjoyed their meal. She thanked everyone for coming out, and for all of the incredible support they have shown Brook Hill over the past 50 years. She also highlighted the long-standing members who have been at Brook Hill every step of the way, especially during the clubhouse repairs.
She thanked all of the sponsors, her staff, the members, and the community for helping to keep Brook Hill thriving for so long, and how she hopes to see Brook Hill continue to thrive moving forwards. It was then that Jill announced the winners of the tournament (see below), before introducing Steve Renaker, son of Allan Renaker and founder of Brook Hill Golf Course.
Steve took the time to thank everyone for coming out and showing Brook Hill so much love over the past 50 years. His speech was the sentimental story of Brook Hill as follows:
My Dad, Allan Renaker along with a friend acquired the Chevrolet dealership in Brookville in 1956 and operated it until 1970. He had moved his family (wife Jane, two daughters, Joyce and Carol, and me from Dayton, Ohio. Our family lived at 1032 Cliff Street. Dad and Mom were very involved in the community hosting a Children’s Christmas party every year at the Morin theatre. The children in Brookville were shown a Disney movie and each child received a bag of candy and a toy from Santa Claus. I mention this because Brookville was full of people who gave it to the benefit of the residents of the community. If there is a better hometown, I cannot imagine it. An example was the flood of 1958 when the community pitched in to move thirty cars at the dealership out of the flood waters from the bottom of Main Street hill.
Dad’s best friend was an associate at the dealership, Ted Ritter. Ted and Dad had grown up in Dayton with Ted being an exceptional athlete. Ted went on to become a great golfer and won the Dayton City amateur championship in 1967. Dad took me to watch Ted play and that was our introduction to golf.
Earlier in 1961, Dad had purchased a farm of 125 acres on Reservoir Road. He raised Shetland ponies and Hereford cattle, and we moved up on “the hill’ in 1965. There were very few homes (less than 20) compared to what it is today. Dad decided to sell the cows and build a Golf Driving range and miniature golf course on the farm in the early 1970’s. An old schoolhouse on the property served as the check-in counter and about fifteen tee locations where golfers could hit balls both day and night. Then in 1974 he had an idea to abandon the driving range and build nine holes of golf. I watched as he read everything he could on what it took to build and operate a course. He hired Gary Kerns, a young golf course architect from Indianapolis, to design the layout on our uneven ground. He hired John Rigsby from Union County to move dirt and shape the holes. Our family all pitched in as well as friends in the community to seed the fairways, roughs, and tees. We used a special sand for the greens as Dad knew they were the most important aspect of the course. Everything was seeded in the fall of ’74 and we were giving our thanks when a huge storm came and washed away topsoil and much of the seed that had been laid. It especially affected Hole number 3 (current #10) as large ruts were left all down the fairway. Many of the holes had to be reseeded which delayed the fall growth. When spring of ’75 came around, the grass was weak, but we opened to the first rounds of golf in Brookville. My memory is not the greatest, but I remember Harold Geis, Mark Walters, Hube Brack, Jim Huffine, Keith Tebbe, Gene Stewart, and Paul Gardner as playing that first day. Gene could hit the ball a mile in addition to being a basketball legend in town.
Honestly, the course was difficult to play in the early years because of the damage from the storm. But, as Dad wanted, the greens were very good. Our barn that previously had held cattle and hay was now the Clubhouse with a Pro Shop/Snack Bar, Locker Room, and the Maintenance Facility all in one. Also, that first year the Men’s League was started with twenty teams playing. The league then and for many years following, was ran by two guys who would be instrumental in the future of the course: Hube Brack and Dave Chaddon.
In the early years, Dan Chaddon was our Superintendent with Charlie Mason, Marvin “Jeep” Handley, and Uncle Dale Renaker playing big roles in maintaining the golf course and especially after Dad passed away in 1984. Mom Jane was emphatic that the family would keep the course.
In 1994, with a number of new 18-hole courses planned in the area and being limited to just 9-holes, the idea of expanding was considered. To build an additional 9-holes (we built 11) and a new clubhouse, after many estimates, it was going to cost $1.4m. This also included the land purchases from Rollie and Millie Oglesby and from Irvin and Joy Hertel. We sought out investors by selling percentages of the course. They were David King, Reed Adelsperger, Richard Blessing, Lucille/Wes Widdows, Mike Blackwell/John Showalter, Ralph/Jeff McClure, Greg O’Brecht, and the Renaker family. We were fortunate to have legal assistance locally in David Barrett, a willing and supportive bank in People’s Trust (Mike Sorrells and Harold Geis), and accounting with Deffner/Tebbe firm, John Seale, and then for many years after, Brad Tebbe.
Our Staff was taking shape with the hiring of Wes Widdows as PGA Professional. Wes brought much experience in both the private club (Connersville Country Club) and public golf course (Bent Tree Golf Club) industry. He quickly established a teaching program for youth and adults providing one on one and group golf lessons. Larry Riebsomer, a BHS coach and teacher, also aided and lessons in the early years.
Another key was a 50-year contract we executed with the State of Indiana for unlimited water from the lake. We ran a pipe from the pump house over a mile to a skid pump in Brookville Lake which fed our irrigation lake on Hole #18. This was important in case of the droughts we always seem to have in the July-August timeframe. Prior to the State contract we even tried a couple “Water Witcher’s” who with a stick could locate potential water. There is a capped well we drilled over on Hole #12 that after we went down a couple hundred feet, only generated enough to fill a bathtub. Another funny story here; when we met with the State officials in Indianapolis regarding using the water from Brookville Lake, a state commissioner was worried we would lower the lake level. Another state official quickly spoke up and said, “the lake would have more evaporation in a day than Brook Hill would ever use in a year!” And that was the truth. The committee quickly approved our request. We were to pay $33 per million gallons used. This effort was led by our attorney, Dave Barrett. So, in 1995 Brook Hill opened with eleven new holes, a new clubhouse, and an unlimited water source.
Play on the course increased significantly as members and players seemed to enjoy the new layout. Brook Hill now could attract players from the Cincinnati area and communities outside of town. More importantly, the game grew locally in Brookville. The High School golf teams have grown. Wes’ Junior and Women’s Clinics specifically introduced golf to new players. Couple events became popular, and golf outings increased in numbers and size. Jim Brunner was also hired during this time as Golf Course Superintendent. Jim was from Liberty and had over ten years in course construction and working on and managing turf. He and Charlie Mason made a great team. Jeep Handley, Uncle Dale Renaker, Chuck Kuehn, Bill Higgs, Marty Hildebrand, and many others locally worked in the greens and maintenance department.
At the time we opened, we were the first course in the area that had been built in the past 17 years. Over the next few years and around the Millenium, many new courses were being built. There were over twenty new courses within an hour’s drive. The peak for play at Brook Hill during those years was in 2005 when over 30,000 (18 hole) rounds were played. Andy Anderson joined our staff as Head Professional and carried on the tradition that Wes established and that was professionalism and doing whatever was needed. Robert Chalker became Superintendent and did a great job. Play and activity went on until around 2015 when prices to play dropped to levels in the 1980’s and for us it made for difficult times making ends meet. Family members Brent and Christy Murrell came from Texas to support and run the course to keep the quality at a level our members deserved. It just became too much.
At that point, the City of Brookville came forward to embrace the situation and the importance Brook Hill made to the area. Under the City’s guidance, Jill has done a great job, the staff now have the resources to make Brook Hill everything it can be. Our family misses Brook Hill but appreciates the community loving what meant so much to our family.
When thinking of Brook Hill
First, Dave Chaddon - Always there to support and always there to help. He was like a son to Mom, a brother to me, and I know how badly he is missed.
Hube Brack, his blade Nicklaus putter, and the fried chicken he would bring from the Dairy Cottage for golf outings. Jerry Teuful would always bring the famous “Nixie Burger.”
Paul “Gabby” Gardner; One of a kind.
The support of the Brookville Democrat who has always been there to cover events we held, promoting activities at the course and recognition of our members.
Greg and Geremy Graf- Handling all our concrete needs and watching them bring so many from the Cedar Grove area.
Wink Foster who really spread the word about our golf course and was always our best player. Coach Mark Foster followed in his footsteps with that great golf swing.
We were always so proud of Marissa Wilhelm Mears, who grew up at Brook Hill, became the winner of many tournaments, and went on to play college golf at one of the top women’s golf programs in the country, Ohio State University.
Taylor Erfman who lived on the course and has been so instrumental (along with Marissa) in the growth of our girls and women’s programs at the course.
Vic Hauberg, who was Guidance Counsellor at the High School, our first golf coach and loved golf more than anyone.
My favorite playing partners Keith Tebbe and Jack Lovins and granddaughter Kendyl Brack, my favorite student!
6:30am Tee Times for our regulars and we will never forget, Rusty Sprague, also the best.
Randall Ferguson, speading the word, and for just being himself, RP! Dad Henry was one of our first players.
Tim and Annetta Brack, need I say more.
The many staff members and apologize for not mentioning everyone.
Our two Class A PGA Professionals; Wes Widdows and Andy Anderson; Both brought professional organization, golf instruction, playing ability, and most of all, relationships with our members. When I think of both, they would do anything necessary to make Brook Hill better be it helping the grounds staff, food operations, or in relations with the State of Indiana.
Supporting those efforts was our Jason Allen who was also an Assistant Pro and very instrumental during the years of the Brook Hill transformation from 9 to 18 holes.
In the Clubhouse
Rusty Baudendistel who did everything from golf to the food operation. Debbie McQueen, Stephanie Shipman Ison, and Krista Sams to name a few who worked for many years.
On the golf course, our three Superintendents; Dan Chaddon, Jim Brunner, and Robert Chalker. They gave it all and loved Brook Hill. And of course, Charlie Mason who has put in more time and made more of a difference than anyone at Brook Hill.
I apologize for not mentioning everyone or missing someone.
Finally, my parents Allan and Jane Renaker, who risked everything to convert our farm into the beautiful Brook Hill and would be proud of 50 years. I remember them, my family members, the members and guests who have supported Brook Hill for the past 50 years, Brookville, Indiana, and 50 more years.
A huge thank you to the players/teams who came out: Alex Carlson, Josh Brock, Cory Boggs, Ray Browning, Cassy McDaniel, Ethan Orschell, Mike Strait Sr., Chris Martini, Tanner Thompkins, Jerry Northern, Vicki Young, Brandon Cowen, Taylor Erfman, Leroy Arvin, Jason Allen, Richard Spivey, Travis Mozena, Braydon Ertel, Kraig Holmes, Dylan Little, Zach Powell, Brady Meier, and Miss Ratz.
1st place went to Leroy Arvin, while 2nd place went to Ray Browning. Closest to pin #3 was Bill Kief and #11 was Brad Tebbe.
Congratulations to everyone who came out and participated, thank you to Jill and her staff at Brook Hill for running a smooth tournament and providing a delicious meal, thank you to Steve and his daughters for providing Brook Hill History, thank you to Brook Hill Staff who made rounds on the course, and overall, a huge thank you to all members over the years for keeping Brook Hill alive and well.
With the 50 years of Brook Hill celebration, everyone is encouraged to next show some love for Brookville Lake, which will also be celebrating 50 years on July 25th! Mark your calendars for the parade, the various music, the vendors, the good drinks and food, and great vibes! This is an exciting summer for Brookville with so many milestone celebrations and we don't want anyone
Photo Credits go to Town Council Member Bridget Hayes.
