History of Maketewah

Maketewah was founded in 1910 when a group of eight Cincinnati individuals, led by Barney Kroger and William Procter, filed papers for the incorporation of the Hamilton County Golf Club. They invited 300 prominent business professionals to join the Club and purchased a dairy farm at the present locations on Reading Road. Many members of the Avondale Athletic Club, located on Dana Avenue (site of Xavier University today), formed the nucleus of the Hamiliton County Goff Club. The Club changed its name to “Maketewah” in 1921.

Maketewah’s original golf course architect was Thomas Bendelow, one the preeminent course architects of his day. Among his most hostable designs were Medinah #3, site of three US Opens, and the East Lake Club, site of the PGA Tour Championship. The land for Maketewah’s present #2 and #3 holes (approximately 10 acres) was purchased for $10,000 in 1929. Before this, any balls hit the left of #4 were out of bounds. Prominent architect Donald Ross was retained to perform the architectural drawings for the new #3 and #4, as well as to refine other holes on the course. In addition, in 1929, the Board began construction on the current Clubhouse. The economy soon collapsed with the Wall Street crash of October, 1929. After the Crash, when many prominent indivduals had to resign from Maketewah, Otto Armleder stepped up and assumed the mortgage on the property. The construction of our beautiful clubhouse was completed under his supervision.

Past Club Names

Avondale Athletic Club 1897 - 1903 Avondale Golf Club 1903 - 1910 Hamilton County Golf Club 1910 - 1921 Maketewah Country Club 1921 - 1937 Hamilton County Golf & Country Club 1938 - 1940 Maketewah Country Club 1941 - Present