From today's East Valley Tribune:
July 4, 2007
Papago Park course subject of new book
Bill Huffman, For the Tribune
There have been many books written about golf courses, but most of them are about the game’s most-storied settings — Pebble Beach, Augusta National, Winged Foot and Pinehurst No. 2.
Now along comes the book “Papago Park: The Golf Course and its History’’ by Phoenix author William Godfrey. Granted, it’s a niche book for the locals who play the course that borders Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe. But there also is a lot to learn about one of the most-cherished public golf courses in the East Valley, and Godfrey tells the story well.
Asked why he decided to dedicate two years of his life to the project, Godfrey said his mission became twofold. First, a professor named William O’Donnell at the University of Phoenix challenged him to do such a project upon Godfrey’s graduation in 2004. The second reason was more out of the blue.
“I woke up one morning and asked myself, 'Who owns the course record at Papago?’ I didn’t know,’’ explained Godfrey, who had been a member of the Papago Men’s Club for 15 years. “Turns out it was the legendary Johnny Bulla, who I had played golf with once upon a time.’’
Bulla had carded a 61 via 11 birdies and seven pars on July 29, 1964. An incredible round that has not been equaled or bettered in more than 40 years, Godfrey noted, with one big exception.
“I began checking out a rumor that Johnny also had tied his record later that year — playing left-handed!’’ Godfrey noted. “Well, I talked with his son, and it turned out to be true.
“Can you imagine that? And that right-handed, left-handed thing got me going and really motivated me to do the rest of the research.’’
Godfrey said most of the book was gathered through 50-some interviews, and with help from the Arizona Historical Society and U.S. Golf Association. His wife, Wendy, was his editor.
“The most amazing thing to me was discovering how the best players in Arizona golf all played at Papago back in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s,’’ he said of the course that was built in 1963 by architect William Bell.
“People like Bulla, Billy Mayfair, Heather and Missy Farr, Joe Porter, Ken Kellaney, John Jackson, Arch and Scott Watkins, Joe Huber and the amazing Tina Huiskamp, who won the club championship 16 times. Even the touring pros would go out and play a game or two at Papago when they were in town.’’
That magic is what inspired Godrey to write his first book. That, and people like Mary Lou Skok, the only surviving member of the original Papago Women’s Club that was founded in 1966.
“She was an incredible interview,’’ Godrey said. “She not only told me about the club’s early years, but also about her career as a swimmer on the U.S. Olympic team at the 1936 Games in Berlin. I was fascinated.’’
Among the other topics Godfrey covers in his 112-page hardback (Xlibris, $20.99) are the history of the park dating back to 1914; the genius of Bell, who also built other well-known layouts like Torrey Pines; the 1971 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, which was held at Papago; and the future of the golf course.
That last subject is dear to Godfrey’s heart, as he hopes by revisiting the course’s illustrious history there will be a future. It is no secret the City of Phoenix-owned municipal has fallen on hard times in recent years.
“That’s really the big question: Can they bring it back to the way it was in its glory days?,’’ said Godfrey, noting that three private groups have an interest in such a face-lift.
“It’s really too good of a golf course to neglect, so what does the future hold?’’
For those who have questions or answers, or even seek an autographed copy of the book, Godfrey can be reached at willgodd@aol.com.
Here is a picture that I took last year:
