West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
GOLF COURSE

Early in the spring of 1927 there was talk of golf and the possibilities of a course here. One day at Rotary,C. H. McDermott said, " I'm going to play gold this summer and I think it is possible for West Liberty to have and support a course." This started things ; a committee was appointed to look about and see what the possibilities were and they finally decided that the John Taylor pasture north of town would be a fine place. But it was rented by Vinton Holmes as a pasture.

In May 1927 a committee: C. H. McDermott, R. W. Hinkhouse, Ben Rowlen, Irwin Mosher, Ivan Luse, and L. E. Lewis contracted Ivan Noland, agent for the Taylors, and arrangements to take over the Holmes lease, possession to be given July first.

Some fifty men were ready and willing to do their part, so they started cleaning up the forty acres, covered with heavy timber and tall grass. Linn Birkett, Dale Hazelett, Everett Richards and Louis Whitacre soon had an entrance to the course made and finally in the latter part of June the course was laid out by Cliff Rasley of Tipton, Jim Records of Iowa City. Mr. Oakley, a pro at the Muscatine course, and a representative of the MacGregor sporting goods house.

The first officers were C. H. McDermott, president; Ivan Luse, vice president; C. J. Mackey, secretary; and Irwin Mosher, treasurer.

In 1928 the Eastern Iowa Golf Association was formed by Tipton, Maquoketa, West Liberty, Marion, Anamosa and Monticello, which is still operating and the tournament will be held at West Liberty this year.

In the summer of 1928 new greens were made under the direction of Ben Rowlen, and Paul Anderson made the first " hole in one," getting his ace on No. 2 green. Later in the year Earl Hawker got his on No. 6.

Year after year the course has been improved and beautified, a well was put down in 1931 and the expense was borne largely by the ladies of the club.

The first annual club tournament was held in 1927, Carroll Preiss winning the cup in the finals with Fred Tiffany. Similar tournaments have been held each year, some of the winners being Earl Hawker, Harry Lewis, W. L. Watters and Ed Nay.

Of the 110 original members, 40 have either moved away or died. Membership at this time is 90. The fees have never been changed, no assessments have been made and the club is an established success.

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