Tour Events on Munis

« **on:** February 18, 2004, 10:03:18 AM »

I was recently looking into some facts on US city courses and tournaments held there. I was able to find very little. Most know about Harding in LA which once had the PGA and was famous for Palmer's collapse on the final hole. Probably less know is the Baltimore city course called Mount Pleasant which hosted Amatuers, Open qualifiers, regional PGA events and the PGA's Eastern Open for 5 years in the 50s (site, ironically, of Palmer's first US pro victory).

Any other city courses out there with similar resumes?

JC

« **Reply #1 on:** February 18, 2004, 10:06:56 AM »

JC - I am reticent to do this because you are damn straight the most well-travelled golfer I know, but....

Harding is in San Francisco - newly-renovated, years ago held a tour event, likely will again soon....

The course in LA is Rancho Park.

« **Reply #2 on:** February 18, 2004, 10:12:25 AM »

Brown Deer in Milwaukee is owned by the county. Site of the GMO

« **Reply #3 on:** February 18, 2004, 10:13:40 AM »

Brown Deer Park in Milwaukee is one. A fine example of how the tour picks it's venues.

And don't forget Torrey. I remeber as a ssmall boy (

) being in awe of how they were able to get the pro-like conditions, on such an overly played Muni, every year.

« **Reply #4 on:** February 18, 2004, 10:20:24 AM »

All,

I was at Harding last week, and I can assure you that the course is looking for a tour event ( I heard the US Open is on there agenda)... they have already relocated the clubhouse in order to accommodate stands up the last fairway!

Also, I was playing behind the famed Thomas Byorn and his brother up there?? read into that whatever you want, but it seems strange that a player of his caliber would play Harding with those courses around??

Purely IMO!

« **Reply #5 on:** February 18, 2004, 10:24:22 AM »

How about En Joie in Endicott, NY, home of the BC Open?
The En-Joie Golf Course is proudly owned and operated by the Village of Endicott. www.enjoiegolf.com

Steve

« **Reply #6 on:** February 18, 2004, 10:26:12 AM »

I believe Cobbs Creek in Philly hosted some events many years ago

« **Reply #7 on:** February 18, 2004, 10:28:35 AM »

My tail is between my legs! I've been to Harding and know well where it is! SORRY!! Huck is absolutely correct. I typed Harding thinking Rancho Park. J

« **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2004, 10:33:14 AM »

That's ok, JC. You are human after all, although your god-like accumulation of golf course knowledge would usually say otherwise.

BTW, they keep saying a deal is almost done for the American Express (world golf championships) event to be held at Harding, but yet an announcement still hasn't been made... apparently due to persnickety and doddling San Francisco lawyers.

And JJSE, you troll for accompaniment down south, but no mention of your journeys here until after the fact... are we NorCals that unappealing?

« **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2004, 10:39:59 AM »

The tour has a long and varied history of playing on munis...some have already been mentioned here.

Another one that comes to mind is Bayou Oaks (fka City Park GC) in New Orleans. The NO Open used to be played on a course that is stilll largely the Wisner course there. Byron Nelson won there, if I recall.

Rancho Park in LA is another.

And yes, Cobbs Creek in Philly held a regular tour stop in the 50s.

« **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2004, 10:42:00 AM »

Belmont Golf Course in Richmond, VA hosted the 1949 PGA Championship won by Sam Snead.
Back then it was Hermitage Country Club, but Hermitage moved to the suburbs shortly after that and Henrico County took over the management of the course.

« **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2004, 10:42:53 AM »

Quote from: Mike_Cirba on February 18, 2004, 10:39:59 AM

Another one that comes to mind is Bayou Oaks (fka City Park GC) in New Orleans. The NO Open used to be played on a course that is stilll largely the Wisner course there. Byron Nelson won there, if I recall.

Really?
I have played exactly one golf course in the great state of Louisiana, and that is it. It was the closest course via cab to the hotel I was at for a convention, and thus is where I played. Loved it. Bought a sweater there that I would still proudly wear to this day it it hadn't, er, shrunk.

I never knew I had such historic taste.

« **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2004, 10:50:08 AM »

Yep, Tom...you didn't know you were treading in the footsteps of giants.

The better part is that I think I paid something like $8 to play it about 10 years ago.

« **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2004, 11:02:00 AM »

Jonathan:

You may have been subliminally thinking about the Harding course at Griffith Park in LA. I believe the PGA played the LA Open 3 times there in the 1930s. Quite frankly, it could have been the other course (Wilson), but I can't remember.

« **Reply #14 on:** February 18, 2004, 11:08:02 AM »

Dammit Pete, I wasn't gonna give him that out! First time he's ever made a mistake and my friend JC was gonna be allowed no excuses.

But you're right, there is a Harding in LA as well - it's one of the two full-size courses in the Griffith Park complex, and the other is indeed Wilson. I don't know if any tour events were ever held at either, but it wouldn't surprise me.

I grew up playing those courses... the Roosevelt 9-holer nearby is very cool also... Tommy N. has waxed eloquently about these several times.

« **Reply #15 on:** February 18, 2004, 11:53:48 AM »

Brackenridge Park in San Antonio and Randolph in Tucson are a couple that came to my mind. Both hosted PGA Tour events for many years.

« **Reply #16 on:** February 18, 2004, 12:14:48 PM »

Houston's Memorial Park Golf Course..

The Memorial Park Golf Course began in 1923 as a 9-hole sand green course built near the hospital at Camp Logan for use by convalescent soldiers. When the hospital closed, the course was opened to the public.

In an ambitious effort to enhance parks across the city, the Parks and Recreation Department began construction to turn the 9-hole course into an illustrious 18-hole golf course. In July of the following year, the first ball was teed off on what architect John Bredemus called his "greatest golf course ever."

Through the years, Memorial Park Golf Course hosted many famous golfers such as Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Jimmy Demaret. It was also the home of the Houston Open from 1951 to 1963.

« **Reply #17 on:** February 18, 2004, 02:17:18 PM »

Memorial Park puts the aforementioned LA munis to shame.

Some of the holes lack, but for the most part it's one of the best truly affordable public tracks I've ever played.

Tom

« **Reply #18 on:** February 18, 2004, 02:42:12 PM »

Keller Golf Course in St. Paul, owned by Ramsey County, hosted the St. Paul Open for years, going back to the '30s, I believe, and ending in the late '60s or early '70s. It's a very nice track, beginning to come back from years of indifferent upkeep (I woldn't say nglect; it's always been busy and fun to play, but its conditions have varied.)

The small, old-fashioned clubhouse is lined with photos of all the greats who played in the St. Paul Open -- Hogan, Snead and Palmer come to mind, but I doubt than any significant pro of that era did not play there at least once.

I'll try to post a few photos of Keller this summer. If it's in good shape, it's still one of the better public courses in the Twin Cities, without having been significantly modified since the pros used to play there.

« **Reply #19 on:** February 18, 2004, 03:16:24 PM »

Jonathan- Can you elaborate on why you were searching for such things?

Is there a bias where the pga tour plays their golf? Is that bias the ol boys network? ergo fewer muni's more owner/operator courses.

« **Reply #20 on:** February 18, 2004, 03:26:39 PM »

Rick's right. Keller's a very nice old public course.

To add to its pedigree: Keller was also the site of the 1932 PGA, the 1954 PGA, and the 1949 Western Open.

I wonder, Rick, what people will think of the Stupid (?) Tree on No. 4 -- a HUGE tree dead-center of a wide, shallow green, on a par-3 of (what?) 145 yards.

I like it, personally -- though not if they haven't trimmed it in the couple of years since I've played there.

« **Reply #21 on:** February 18, 2004, 03:33:11 PM »

Tom,

I'm struggling (with my British translation of your post) to understand what you said or what you are asking? - could you please retype the post, thanks.

James

« **Reply #22 on:** February 18, 2004, 03:34:48 PM »

How about the tree blocking the par-3 4th hole at Keller?

I don't like either one of them. Personally, I would call them Stupid. Those were two of the holes I was going to photograph and post here this summer. Should be good for at least three pages of pro and con comments.

But it's the idea of those trees I dislike more than the way they actually affect play. You can loft a shot over either one of them without too much difficulty. I just can't figure out why you should have to.

« **Reply #23 on:** February 18, 2004, 03:37:57 PM »

JJSE:

You mean this:

"And JJSE, you troll for accompaniment down south, but no mention of your journeys here until after the fact... are we NorCals that unappealing?"

Ok, that is pretty poor wording.

I was just giving you a hard time, for posting "is anyone around" about you being in Palm Desert (that is, looking to meet up with people there) while doing nothing of the sort regarding your time here in NorCal, although you were here sampling our finest for a good amount of time as far as I can tell. Just having some fun with you, given there are several Bay Area residents who regularly post here...

Some times lines work, sometimes they don't.

« **Reply #24 on:** February 18, 2004, 03:41:40 PM »

Tom,

Thats ok...

What do you mean though by "nothing of the sort"?

I wanted to meet some so GCA ers who regularly post views on the courses I/we visited.. we were shown around by the superintendents and they could have accomodated a few more if "anyone was around"

News:

Jonathan Cummings

THuckaby2

SL_Solow

A_Clay_Man

James Edwards

Steve_ Shaffer

mike_malone

Jonathan Cummings

THuckaby2

Mike_Cirba

ChasLawler

THuckaby2

Mike_Cirba

Pete Buczkowski

THuckaby2

JohnV

Steve Lang

Thomas_Brown

Rick Shefchik

A_Clay_Man

Dan Kelly

James Edwards

Rick Shefchik

THuckaby2

James Edwards

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