The Club has been in existence for 50 years. The modern location of the Archery Club is located on the east side of state Route 222 southeast of the intersection of state routes 125 and 222 midway between the villages of Bantam and Hulington.
Larry Van of New Richmond has been a member of the club since 1990. He is the club president and the chairman of the archery council that is an eight-person club council.
Van pointed out that Golden Hawks is a 30-target course with the distance between targets covering up to a distance of 50-yards.
“We’ve been an archery club over all the years,” he said. “We’re a family-oriented club. We service all kinds of archery styles or archery compounds.”
Van explained that the archery styles include bows with wheels and sights and modern day archery, and traditional long bows. Also included is 3D archery that is shooting at animal targets, not real, live animals. These targets include beaver, turkey, deer, elk, leopard, lion, caribou, and bear among others.
“Archery is more of a participation sport that a spectator sport. It is more of a doer sport.”
He pointed out Golden Hawks teaches classes for youth 8-12 years of age and younger and youth (teenage years).
“You get to shoot against your peers,” he said.
“The biggest class is the Hunter Class. It is for hunting equipment only. The senior class is for those 50 years old and and older and the masters’ class is for those 60 and older.”
The International Bowhunting Organization (IBO) is the largest such organization of its kind in the United States and Golden Hawks is very proud that five of its membership are representatives in the IBO.
Golden Hawks has a very loyal membership. Chris Turner who once lived in Goshen now lives in Bowling Green, Ky. He enjoys the atmosphere so much he returns every Wednesday night to shoot in the Golden Hawk League.
“I come to other Golden Hawk shoots, too,” he said.
The Turner family, some of whom live in Goshen and some in Bethel come to the club with great regularity.
“We all like to hunt and this is a great place to play and practice,” said Jerry Turner of Bethel.
“I like the competition,” said Gary Turner of Goshen.
“I love to come here to practice for the hunting and competition,” said Ellen Turner of Bethel whose talent has taken her to Africa and New Zealand to compete.
Many of the club’s members prepare themselves for the Triple Crown of the International Bowhunters Association that takes place in Bedford, Ind. (May), Erie, Pa. (June) and Nelsonville, Ohio (July).
All agreed that it is “all for bragging rights.”
Dustin Burdine of Williamsburg is the owner of Broken Rack Archery shop in that community. The members agree it is a superb place for archery business and he says, “Coming to Golden Hawks I can get out and meet new people and I always enjoy my time in getting outdoors.” For more information on Broken Rack Archery call (513) 625-0148.
Terry Walters of Amelia, Roger and Diana Smith of Hamersville, and Mike Shepherd of Hamilton County agreed with their mutual remark of “People come here for enjoyment. We have a lot of good friendships and coming here is always like a family reunion.”
Van is very proud that “We have a lot of national and world champions from here.” This includes Van, Mike Grant of Amelia, Branden Van of New Richmond, Bill Epeards of Goshen, and Ben Trees, Roger and Diana Smith of Hamersville.
Members of the Golden Hawks Archery Club who will be competing in the 3D Archery National Championship this year will be Epeards, Joe Burns of New Richmond, Larry Van, Bob Gibson of Bethel, Chuck Kammerer of Anderson Township, Jamie Strunk of New Richmond, Amy Sharkey of Greater Cincinnati, and Diana Smith.
Bill Epeards is a former three-sport star of the old Clermont County League who graduated from Clermont Northeastern High in 1970. He has added archery to his wide variety of athletic talents.
He said, “I love it here. This is the most family-oriented club there is. This place is for people of all ages, old and young alike. I like the fellowship.”
Lori Kammerer, who is also a member, said “To me this club is a brotherhood.”