2/16/2006
Golf courses, the early years
Marilyn Dodgen
Golf is one
of the more popular sports to be enjoyed by both men and women, and
even youngsters, if encouraged by an adult golfer, can master the
game by the time they reach their teens.
Golf has been played in Humboldt County for many years, getting its
start at least as far back as 1913. And this was a long time after
the game was organized as a sport overseas.
Although official golf tournaments didn't come about until the late
1800s, when the first national golf tournament was held in Scotland,
most encyclopedias claim that golf originated in the mid-15th
century in Scotland, where King James II prevailed on Parliament to
deemphasize the game so people would devote more attention to
archery, a skill important to the defense of the country. Other
sources claim that the Romans played a similar game called paganica
in the streets, using a bent stick and a leather ball stuffed with
feathers.
Other historians trace the game played by the Dutch called herkolven,
a Belgian game called chole, a French game called jeu de mail, and
an English game called cambuca. All of these games apparently used a
stick of some kind to hit a ball or similar object. The theory about
Scotland seems to be the most popular and the more often claimed by
today's world of golf.
The first organized golf club, The Honourable Company of Edinburgh
Golfers, was established in 1744. They set down the first written
rules of the game of golf. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St.
Andrews was founded in 1754, as the Society of St. Andrews Golfers,
and was the leader of setting golf rules and standards, including
setting the standard round of golf at 18 holes.
Popularity of golf spread from Scotland to England and beyond. The
Royal Calcutta Golf Club was established in India in 1873. The first
North American golf club was the Royal Montreal in Canada, organized
in 1873.
The British Open dates back to 1861; the British Women's Amateur
championship started in 1883; the British Men's Amateur in 1885; the
Canadian Amateur in 1895; and the Canadian Open in 1904.
America was a bit late starting their own tournaments, with the U.S.
Open for men and the men's and women's Amateur tournaments
inaugurated by the USGA (United States Golf Association) in 1895.
The Open Championship for women was first held in 1946 and has been
sponsored by the USGA since 1953.
Golf's appeal is universal. Of the approximate 20 million persons
throughout the world who play golf, at least half are Americans. The
United States alone has more than 20,000 golf courses.
A paragraph found by local historian, Pat Baker, in the late Russell
Campbell's study entitled, "The Des Moines River," states that golf
was first played in Humboldt County on the west side of the river, a
bit south of the dams, in a farm pasture identified as the Munson
place, but a plat book indicates this property was actually owned by
a Chamberlain. Munson could have been a renter.
Merton Chantland, who will be 100-years-old in March, related the
story of Edna Munson, who used to row a boat across the river to the
east bank and walk into town for groceries, then put her purchases
into the boat and row back to the west bank.
To quote Campbell, "About 1913, just north of the Munson buildings,
as the river bank turns west, were three lovely homes that faced
north. They were owned by the Stearns family, the Pinney family and
the Russell family. Also, back behind the trees was a field that was
tillable that was the first Humboldt Country Club. This was later
moved to the Volberding Hill where it remained until 1928, when it
was moved to the present location. My father farmed that ground the
last time it was farmed in 1927."
It was actually the first golf course. Humboldt Golf and
Country Club was not organized until 10 years later, after the move
to the site east of Dakota City.
According to a historical overview written by R.J. Mullins in 1926,
the first organized country club was located east of Dakota City, in
the lower pasture area across the road on the south side of what is
commonly known by long-time residents as Volberding Hill. The
property had been owned by Abraham Ketman (1902), who had a large
"K" on his barn and the hill was then called Ketman Hill.
By the mid-20s, it had been sold to the Martin Thompson family and
was a grazing area for his cattle. The Thompsons' daughter, Eva, was
born in the farmhouse, married there in 1917, and continued to live
there when she married Duke Volberding. Her parents moved from the
farm to Humboldt in 1920. The hill had become Thompson Hill during
the years the country club leased the land, and eventually became
the Volberding Hill as it is known today.
It was also the highway that took traffic to Fort Dodge, south 15
miles. The Humboldt County Historical Museum is located north and
around the curve to the west from the bottom of that hill. Former
Historical Association member, the late Archie Goodell, once related
the story about having been hired as a teenager by the Lindhart
Garage owner, along with several friends, to lay flat wooden planks
up that hill in the spring when the frost went out of the ground and
turned the surface to slippery mud. This enabled vehicles to make it
up the hill.
He said they hauled the planks from town on a flatbed truck, and
once the ground dried up, they would retrieve the planks and haul
them back into town.
Once the property was leased for use as a golf course,
Thompson would move the cattle across to the north pasture below his
house and barns, so the golfers could safely golf without worrying
about sharing the field with livestock. There were a lot of trees at
the top of the hill and members gathered there to enjoy picnics
during the summer months.
A very old record book, dating back into the 1920s, shows the
progress made by a group of businessmen to secure that piece of land
so they could organize the first Golf and Country Club. They finally
made arrangements to lease the property, one year at a time, and
were there five years.
Each fall, the club would collect the $25 dues for the following
year, in advance, to clear expenses for the current year. The last
year there was probably the most successful due to being able to cut
out some of the expenses by using horses to pull the mower instead
of a tractor. There is no indication in the minutes that any type of
shelter was ever erected on the site.
When Dr. J.K. Coddington or other members golfed and needed to be
contacted, someone from town had to go to the golf course and
find them, since there was no electricity or telephone there.
Unfortunately, after five years, Mrs. Thompson decided she didn't
want to lease the land any more and the board had to look elsewhere
for a more permanent home for their golf and country club. Officers
at that time were: President R.J. Mullins; Secretary Maurice
Stanhope; board members, Ted White, Otto Matthies, Lorenzo Housel,
Franklin Jaqua, and Dr. James K. Coddington.
Harold Jensen purchased property to the south of the former golf
course, several years ago, and says he still occasionally plows
up a golf ball. His parents, Theodore and Cecile Jensen, farmed
about a mile south of the golf course. Merton Chantland
worked for the railroad back in the 1920s and said he and other
railroad employees picked up a lot of golf balls along the tracks
back then.
Leonard Kirchhoff, whose farm is south on Lone Tree Road, says he
remembers the golf course being there when he was in high
school. He said that some of the men wore knickers and townspeople
referred to their game as "cow pasture pool."
In their search for a new site for their club, they found a 65-acre
farm property, half of which was heavily wooded, located along the
east side of the West Branch of the Des Moines River. It was owned
by an Axelson and was available for sale.
After much discussion, investigation and serious consideration, the
club decided to purchase this land so they could develop a proper
country club and golf course for Humboldt County. They voted
to sell shares of stock to the club members. It was the intention of
the club to lay out lots along the riverfront, giving every
stockholder the use of a lot for erection of cottages.
About 500 trees, including walnut, butternut, hickory nut, and
others were removed to clear an area for the fairway. The first
year, four holes were laid out, giving the players a chance to keep
in practice playing into tree hazards. The minutes told of the
purchase of 400 pounds of Blue Grass and 200 pounds of Red Top, to
be seeded 50 pounds to the acre (2/3 Blue and 1/3 Red). All land not
in the fairway was to be seeded with Timothy. Hugh Westfall was
hired to move some outer buildings, for $25.
The farmhouse, which served as a clubhouse, received new wallpaper
and paint and a new roof. A porch was added later on in the 1940s.
The women organized parties and more than 75 people crowded into
that farmhouse to attend. Board members at that time were: President
Mullins; Secretary M. Stanhope; Garfield, Parker, Otto Matthies, H.E.
Passig, Lawrence Jaqua, Franklin Jaqua, George Bicknell, C.W.
Garfield, E. Hopley, L. Winne, A.J. Parker, A.H. Duncan, E.H. Riley,
K.J. Smith and E.O. Nervig.
By the mid-1930s, electricity was brought onto the grounds and they
even had a telephone. Members purchased stock that they could sell
back to the club in case they moved out of town.
The club assigned lots to members who wanted to build cabins along
the bend of the riverfront, extending almost to the highway bridge.
Ownership of the land remained with the country club. Some of those
early members who took advantage of this project were: T.G. White,
Elmer Lindhart, Clark Lane, Sr., H.E. Passig, Gib Ruse, Clem
Garfield, and Don Pierson. The White cottage was later moved to
Hatcher Hill.
Elaine (Mrs. Roger) Heiter's grandfather, L.E. Chambard, who was a
depot agent, had a country schoolhouse moved onto one of the lots to
use as a cabin. This was in the '30s, and Elaine said she enjoyed
the summers there. There was also a cabin constructed of cement by
Don Pearson.
In later years, a building that had been a drive-in in town was
moved there and re-modeled into a small cabin. Two permanent homes
have been built there in recent years and several of the cabins have
been insulated to allow for year-around living. Only recently have
owners of the cabins been able to purchase the land their cabin sits
upon.
In the 1950s, sand greens were replaced with grass on the nine
greens. The grass was planted on the greens by hand, by volunteers.
In 1958, a modern, new clubhouse was built.
On at least three occasions, proposal to purchase adjacent land and
extend the course to 18-holes came up for a vote, but as late as
1978, the membership voted against it. By that time membership had
grown into the hundreds, exceeding 300.
Several remodeling projects have taken place, and an addition was
added to the new building, extending its purpose including a bar and
restaurant. Over the years, many high school class reunions have
been held and special occasions, including Christmas parties, family
reunions, showers, and other social functions.
Today, the country club has 212 family and 26 single and junior
memberships. They have summer leagues for both men and women and
special golf activities throughout the season. The high school also
has a golf program in the spring.
The club no longer serves meals in their dining room, but have a bar
and grill service open to members and guests. The dining room is
still available for reunions and social events, as the country club
continues to function as an asset to the community.
Corporation officers are: President Jim Arndt, Vice President Mike
Adams, and Dr. Ryan Gidel is secretary and treasurer. Ray Fisher is
the club secretary.
Just over the county line, into Kossuth County, north of Livermore,
is the beautiful Spring Valley, 18-hole golf course. This
public course has been in existence since the late 1970s.
Another fine public golf course is located south of the
county line, in Webster County. Deer Creek Golf Course is set
among the hills and draws golfers from a wide area.
The first golf ball was a leather pouch packed with feathers, called
the feathery. This was followed in 1848 by a solid ball made of a
rubbery substance called the gutta-percha or the gutty. This was
replaced by a rubber core sac, filled with either water or another
liquid, and wrapped with thin rubber thread. This ball allowed the
player more control of the flight.
For less skilled golfers, there was a two-piece ball, with a solid
core, but no rubber threads. Both were covered with rubber or
synthetic materials. None of these balls went a great distance.
Finally, U.S. golfer Cobern Haskell came up with a design featuring
a solid core and a cover with dimples on the surface that increased
the distance a ball would go. Today's tournament golf ball must
weigh no less than 1.62 ounces and measure at least 1.68 inches in
diameter.
From crooked sticks to wooden shafts and finally metal shafts, the
golf club gained stature and weight. Clubs were first carried under
the golfer's arm and only the well to do thought to hire a caddy to
carry the clubs for them. The first golf bag was invented in 1870.
Bags were made in a variety of colors and materials, including
leather, vinyl, nylon, plastic, or canvas. More expensive models
were large enough to carry not only clubs, but also rain gear, hand
towel, Band-Aids, salt tablets, insect repellent, matches, gloves,
balls, and tees.
The pull or "caddie" cart was invented in the late 30s for golfers
to use on public links, who couldn't afford to hire a caddie. These
improved over the years after club owners complained about the big
wheels digging up their courses. They even made a model that folded
for easy storage and some had a swing-out seat.
Cushman Golf Cars, designed for players to ride in and propelled by
battery power, became popular in the southern states long before
they made it to Iowa. They cost $1,200 and had a lot of mechanical
flaws. Who actually invented the car is unknown.
E-Z-Go began making a cheaper car and eventually Cushman went out of
business in the late 1970s. E-Z-Go even had a factory in Poland make
cars for them for a while. Better batteries and better construction
finally produced a better golf car, and most clubs around the world
have golf cars for rent. The pull carts or golf cars were not
allowed in tournament play, with exceptions allowed only for
handicapped players.
Longtime Humboldt golfers agree that it was probably in the 1940s
when the first golf cars were used at the Humboldt Country Club.
Storage sheds were built, with battery chargers available for the
dozen or more cars owned by members in earlier years. Today, three
large metal buildings sit near the cabin area to accommodate at
least 100 cars.
To the east of the clubhouse are two more sheds, one older one that
has separate stalls and a newer metal shed with no dividers. These
are favored due to their location closer to the clubhouse and first
tee off to the #1 fairway and green. |
