The Eastmoreland website states "Eastmoreland Golf Course was the brainchild of Superindendant of Parks, James A. Conville and T. Morris Dunne." Of course, it was this very brief summary of the events, that drove Eastmoreland 100 Project to discover the story behind this brief explanation. From the City archives we also have the Paul J. Keyser's account which states that T. Morris Dunne was the "father of the scheme." Dunne approached James A Conville with the idea that Portland needed a municipal golf course to further recreational opportunities of the citizens. T. Morris Dunne because a member of the M.A.C. since 1901 known then as the Multnomah Amauter Athletic Club. His first record in the M.A.C. archives is appearance before the board for alleged misconduct. From that dubious beginning, he "reformed" to become a prominent member, future M.A.A.C. President and advocate of amatuer athletics. When Portland hosted the Lewis & Clark Exposition in 1905, a national event to celebrate the explorer's "discovery" of the West, T. Morris Dunne was crowned the champion handball player at the 1905 Lewis & Clark Games. Handball remains one of the more popular sports - with regular matches continuing with Olympic Club in San Francisco to this day. T. Morris Dunne's involvement in the 1905 games wasn't only as a competitor, he was a key volunteer and discovered a talent for administration role. Through the next 30 years he would take a lead role in amatuer athletics, representing the region as a delegate in the Olympics in 1904 in St. Louis in which H. Chandler Egan won the gold medal in golf for the U.S. T. Morris Dunne would remain active in the U.S. Olympic teams and many of the athletes from his era that trained and represented membership with the M.A.A.C. club are due in part to his support and advocacy. T. Morris Dunne is arguable the most important advocate for athletics and recreation in the history of Oregon. He lead committees at M.A.A.C. for handball and track and field, though his first foray into the public affairs was the push for a bond measure to build more playgrounds in Portland. Below is the editorial he wrote in the Oregonian on June 1, 2013 to convince voters that playgrounds is a necessity. Paul J. Keyser often points to this cause as one of the milestones for Portland Parks and key change in public opinion on how investing in the community welfare by proving avenues for healthy recreation can make the city thrive. Take a moment to read the article in which he explains that municipalities that invest in recreation and playgrounds see a significant drop in juvenile delinquency which would provide an overall savings to the city. At the time the Portland Parks system was anything like we see today, more of an afterthought, with only Peninsula Park as a recreation area planned. It was through the dogged determination of leaders like T. Morris Dunne that spurred the citizens to invest in recreation for the citizens. The providing of adequate park and play space facilities is just as important as pure water, clean streets, and a public schools system and is just as much an obligation. |
The M.A.C. history notes that T. Morris Dunne was an avid golfer, though from my research in the historical newspapers, he competed mainly in Hand Ball and Tennis. That said, golf wasn't really a well organized sport for the public until "The Greatest Game" U.S. Open of 1913. T. Morris Dunne however was ahead of the curve, as six months before the epic match captured the imagination of the nation, he proposed having indoor golf in the M.A.C. gymnasium. Speaking for myself, I learned the game indoors hitting into nets, it's a great way to start learning the swing and focusing on contact and feel without worrying where the ball ends up. I will note, however, that T. Morris Dunne is far more often noted for organizing track and field meets and boxing matches. His name never appears on any roster until the 1st M.A.A.C. golf tournament held at Eastmoreland in 1921. |
Indoor Golf at the M.A.C. was probably to help manage the golf bugs working downtown deal with the rainy Portland winters.
Paul Keyser helps tell the origin story that the newspapers did not document. T. Morris Dunne as an abassador of amatuer athletics in Portland, and often competing for events with his contemporaries in Seattle, very likely was frustrated by the public recreation facilities sprouting up North. The Franklin Park municipal golf course opened in Seattle in 1915 with much public fanfare and immediately showed positive revenue and enthusiasm from the public. The sport section of the Oregon Journal and Oregonian report on golf almost every issue, from the results at the private clubs to a regular feature on golf etiquette, to news of the national tournaments and rise of recognizable golf professionals. Imagine the frustration of the public that would like to try the game and have no outlet without a private membership that was restricted not just to top echelon of wealth, though also by means of status and family background.
Further, he was also tuned to the rise in the popularity of golf and the potential need for the M.A.C. to cater to this new sport. A municipal golf course would be a boon to the M.A.C. members who might not otherwise have the resources to join the private clubs. Later, once the golf course was built, the initial Eastmoreland Golf Club membership was comprised primarily of M.A.C. members who stood the most to gain from the new course and clubhouse. As will be detailed further, the clubhouse was built with private funds from the sale of lockers comprised almost entirely of M.A.C. members.
Over the next decade, the popularity of the municipal course surged and new private club sprang up in the 1920's, beginning with Alderwood, Columbia Edgewater and Riverside. The M.A.C. itself funded their own course in 1927. This course is lost to history as it was unable to survive the coming financial collapse of the Great Depression and the M.A..C. was forced to split the Private Club from the regular business of the athletic club. This move precipitated the beginning of the end of that golf course which fell into bankruptcy and sold for housing developments.
Eastmoreland Municipal Course did survive the Great Depression through the sale of Lifetime Memberships.
T. Morris Dunne recognized the disconnect between the value that sports to a community and the willingness of civic leaders to invest in sports infrastructure. Given his track record, he was the person who got things done on an administrative level. One note, he helped build a world class track and field stadium which Coach Bill Bowerman 1st track team from Franklin High School. Bill Bowerman of course is Phil Knight's mentor and the creator of the Nike's first waffle shoe. T. Morris Dunne was instrumental in creating the athletic infrastructure and organized competition for track and field and his legacy can be traced to the birth of sneakers loved by millions.
Further, he was also tuned to the rise in the popularity of golf and the potential need for the M.A.C. to cater to this new sport. A municipal golf course would be a boon to the M.A.C. members who might not otherwise have the resources to join the private clubs. Later, once the golf course was built, the initial Eastmoreland Golf Club membership was comprised primarily of M.A.C. members who stood the most to gain from the new course and clubhouse. As will be detailed further, the clubhouse was built with private funds from the sale of lockers comprised almost entirely of M.A.C. members.
Over the next decade, the popularity of the municipal course surged and new private club sprang up in the 1920's, beginning with Alderwood, Columbia Edgewater and Riverside. The M.A.C. itself funded their own course in 1927. This course is lost to history as it was unable to survive the coming financial collapse of the Great Depression and the M.A..C. was forced to split the Private Club from the regular business of the athletic club. This move precipitated the beginning of the end of that golf course which fell into bankruptcy and sold for housing developments.
Eastmoreland Municipal Course did survive the Great Depression through the sale of Lifetime Memberships.
T. Morris Dunne recognized the disconnect between the value that sports to a community and the willingness of civic leaders to invest in sports infrastructure. Given his track record, he was the person who got things done on an administrative level. One note, he helped build a world class track and field stadium which Coach Bill Bowerman 1st track team from Franklin High School. Bill Bowerman of course is Phil Knight's mentor and the creator of the Nike's first waffle shoe. T. Morris Dunne was instrumental in creating the athletic infrastructure and organized competition for track and field and his legacy can be traced to the birth of sneakers loved by millions.
T. Morris Dunne continued a career of service for the people of Oregon in 1935, following the historic signing of the Social Security Act by President Roosevelt to provide relief for Americans out of work. He became the first Chairman of the Oregon's Unemployment Compensation Commission, designed to help administer the public funds available for relief as well as find employment for job seekers. To learn more about the early history of Oregon's efforts to provide a social net in the midst of the economic calamity, please read more about the history here
Facilities for the game as yet confined to 3 country clubs: Waverly, Portland and Tualatin. There was also the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club giving expression to a wide variety of amateur indoor and outdoor games and sports and now became ambitious to provide golf toward a wider spread in membership. Directors of the three above mentioned country clubs were sold on the idea that public Links Golf would also help build and sustain their memberships. And so a delegation from the Multnomah Club aided and abetted by the “Silk Stocking” clubs approached the city council with an overture looking toward working Public Links Golf into the parks system, offering, as a core patronage, to recruit and maintain a group membership of 100 active fee paying players.
The two members representing the Athletic Club called together representatives of the three Golf Clubs and Chandler Egan, and promotion of what was projected. Out of this huddle came a committee of 4 who solicited a fund of some $3,000.
The colors are beautiful in the magic hour - Steve Rutherford
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of touring the course with Steve Rutherford, a professional photographer who has a passion for landscape portraits.
Steve and I met through a mutual friend and school teacher, Chris Heckman, at a local BBQ party and we all played a few 9's together. Chris is just learning the game which Steve play lots of golf back in his hometown of Salt Lake City and spoke highly of the public courses there. That was years ago and he only recently began to pick the game up again since moving to Portland.
We only have played the front 9 together, so it was a bit of a special treat to tour him around the back 9 which is by far the more scenic of the two halves.
Steve professional work is for designers for product photoshoots, so it was a special treat for us both to explore what his lens could capture in the "magic hour" before sunset. I just love how the sun's majestic rays carve through the trees on the October evening with a play of light and shadow.
We really had a blast together, with me as the impromptu model - (apparently I take direction well) along with the golfers racing to squeeze in the final holes before the sun slumbered over the west hills. Enjoy the gallery below... followed by a quick golf story.
Steve and I met through a mutual friend and school teacher, Chris Heckman, at a local BBQ party and we all played a few 9's together. Chris is just learning the game which Steve play lots of golf back in his hometown of Salt Lake City and spoke highly of the public courses there. That was years ago and he only recently began to pick the game up again since moving to Portland.
We only have played the front 9 together, so it was a bit of a special treat to tour him around the back 9 which is by far the more scenic of the two halves.
Steve professional work is for designers for product photoshoots, so it was a special treat for us both to explore what his lens could capture in the "magic hour" before sunset. I just love how the sun's majestic rays carve through the trees on the October evening with a play of light and shadow.
We really had a blast together, with me as the impromptu model - (apparently I take direction well) along with the golfers racing to squeeze in the final holes before the sun slumbered over the west hills. Enjoy the gallery below... followed by a quick golf story.
"How many balls did they just it into the water?!?" Steve asks incredulously
During our shoot we came upon a threesome of players of Korean-Americans, that have been playing Eastmoreland "for years and years." As they approached the signature hole of Eastmoreland the 17th, a par 3 over the Crystal Lake. The original distance was from the forward tees so around 125 yards (now the Red Tees) and with the White tees about 145 yards and the Blue tees usually around 165 yards. It's a formidable shot, no too difficult provided you give it enough club. Though like so many golfers before that approach this hole, the water, like the lady in the lake, beckons every player that approaches. She sings a song like siren that too often distracts the mind and results in topped, shanked, flubbed, hacked, duffed shots all to a watery grave.
Steve perhaps for the first time witnessed first hand the struggle of these three men, all seniors aged from 60 years to 80+ attempt shot after shot after shot. Dutifully shouting in disgust as each new attempt failed to make the green and returning to their bags to reload. While not surprised as Steve by the relentless willingness to launch another ball into the lake (at least 11 between the three of them). What warmed my heart was the grit to keep going until they got a ball onto the green.
The gentlemen noticed us waiting to take some photography and asked me to come and hit one over. Armed with a 7 iron from the whites, it wasn't the club I would choose so I hit a low punch that actually flew like on a rope to the mid center of the green. (Which by the way, is the play, don't be tempted by sucker pins in the front right near the lake edge) They gave me a clap and slap on the back of approval - cheering for the success of overcoming the water.
While golf is competitive and we often play matches against one another, these players reminded me of the camaraderie that comes with success against the true foe - the natural landscape devised by Chandler Egan. We all together play against the puzzles he designed from the natural lay of the land and water.
Steve perhaps for the first time witnessed first hand the struggle of these three men, all seniors aged from 60 years to 80+ attempt shot after shot after shot. Dutifully shouting in disgust as each new attempt failed to make the green and returning to their bags to reload. While not surprised as Steve by the relentless willingness to launch another ball into the lake (at least 11 between the three of them). What warmed my heart was the grit to keep going until they got a ball onto the green.
The gentlemen noticed us waiting to take some photography and asked me to come and hit one over. Armed with a 7 iron from the whites, it wasn't the club I would choose so I hit a low punch that actually flew like on a rope to the mid center of the green. (Which by the way, is the play, don't be tempted by sucker pins in the front right near the lake edge) They gave me a clap and slap on the back of approval - cheering for the success of overcoming the water.
While golf is competitive and we often play matches against one another, these players reminded me of the camaraderie that comes with success against the true foe - the natural landscape devised by Chandler Egan. We all together play against the puzzles he designed from the natural lay of the land and water.
“Did anyone famous ever play Eastmoreland?” I ask Rob Cumpston, who along with his older brother Clark, managed the Pro Shop some 40+ years.
“Well, Michael Jordan once played here in 1986.” he replies nonchalantly.
I nearly spit out my drink. “What!!? His Airness?”
“Well, Michael Jordan once played here in 1986.” he replies nonchalantly.
I nearly spit out my drink. “What!!? His Airness?”
This seems absolutely bonkers knowing he’s the most famous amatuer golfers of present day, playing with Tiger, President Obama. He's a top competing amatuer in Pro Am events much like the great boxing champion Joe Louis in the 1950’s and 60's (who also played Eastmoreland).
It’s all true, and here’s the story:
In 1986 on cold March weekday morning in Portland, Oregon in walks the NBA's Rookie of the Year, future captain and MVP of the Chicago Bulls 6-Championships, by all modern accounts the greatest basketball player of all time.
It’s all true, and here’s the story:
In 1986 on cold March weekday morning in Portland, Oregon in walks the NBA's Rookie of the Year, future captain and MVP of the Chicago Bulls 6-Championships, by all modern accounts the greatest basketball player of all time.
“Wait … March... isn’t this during the NBA season?”
Yes, it was a turn of fate, or at least a turn of the ankle, that lead Jordan to Eastmoreland in March. He's 23 years old, same as his jersey number, and was healing from a broken a bone in his foot in late November 1985. The injury resulted in him missing the next 64 games and almost the entire season. See “Broken Dreams: 85-86 Bulls derailed by Jordan’s injury.”
Yes, it was a turn of fate, or at least a turn of the ankle, that lead Jordan to Eastmoreland in March. He's 23 years old, same as his jersey number, and was healing from a broken a bone in his foot in late November 1985. The injury resulted in him missing the next 64 games and almost the entire season. See “Broken Dreams: 85-86 Bulls derailed by Jordan’s injury.”
Jordan was in town for a trip to see a leading Orthopedic surgeon from Eugene. The appointment set up by Phil Knight and Nike team who were equally adamant as Jordan getting approved to play for the remainder of the season. This was necessary because the Chicago Bulls front office publically decided to be cautions with the injury and bench their star for the remainder of the season. The visit had been mentioned in the news, as Jordan publically aid he was ready to play, and sought a second opinion. Jordan would win this battle, like so many on the court, and return to help the Bulls make a historic last minute run for the Playoffs. Then in the first series he leads the Bulls and lights up theBoston Celtics for 63 points in Game 2, an NBA record for most points scored in a single postseason game. Just a taste of the post-season domination ensuing a few years later as 6 title championship run of the Chicago Bulls.
What kind of day was it?
“The weather was just god awful, dumping rain. Nobody, and I mean nobody, was playing golf that day. Well, except for a few of the oldtimers that play everyday, the place was empty”
So in walks one of the most famous athletes of all time Michael Jordan. The first person to recognize Michael was the Byron Kelly, who was working in the restaurant. He looked wide eyed at Michael coming in and moved in the direction to follow him towards the pro shop.
Rob Cumpston recognized Michael right away as well. “I knew him from watching college basketball. Michael was already a huge star, and then since his deal with Nike everyone thought he could be drafted by the Trailblazers. Rip City fans still gnash teeth about picking the tall center Sam Bowie as the number 2 pick just before Jordan was drafted by the Bulls.
Rob continues, "So just like any other guy walking on, he asks if can get out and play 18.... which wasn’t a problem at all. Nobody was on the course in the downpour. He would practically have the course all to himself."
“The weather was just god awful, dumping rain. Nobody, and I mean nobody, was playing golf that day. Well, except for a few of the oldtimers that play everyday, the place was empty”
So in walks one of the most famous athletes of all time Michael Jordan. The first person to recognize Michael was the Byron Kelly, who was working in the restaurant. He looked wide eyed at Michael coming in and moved in the direction to follow him towards the pro shop.
Rob Cumpston recognized Michael right away as well. “I knew him from watching college basketball. Michael was already a huge star, and then since his deal with Nike everyone thought he could be drafted by the Trailblazers. Rip City fans still gnash teeth about picking the tall center Sam Bowie as the number 2 pick just before Jordan was drafted by the Bulls.
Rob continues, "So just like any other guy walking on, he asks if can get out and play 18.... which wasn’t a problem at all. Nobody was on the course in the downpour. He would practically have the course all to himself."
Jordan played by himself in the rain?
Yup, this was 1986. The prior season the Air Jordon 1's had been banned for violating the color requirements. Before the iconic Air Jordon 3 were a twinkle in Tinker Hatfield's creative eye and launch Air Jordan to the stars. Apparently before Michael would have specially assigned guides and handlers to accompany him. Well, he did have one that day, no other than Peter Moore was the driver who dropped him off at the club. Yeah, that Peter Moore, the top executive at Nike who directed the Jumpman photoshoot and designed the Air Jordan 1. A few years later we would leave Nike to start Adidas America, also headquartered in Portland. Tinker Hatfield and Michael Jordan's collaboration on the Air Jordan 3 would begin as a result of this rift and the rest... as they say, is history.
It's really cool to imagine the conversation that morning or the nght before. (Note: I am imagining this ; )
Yup, this was 1986. The prior season the Air Jordon 1's had been banned for violating the color requirements. Before the iconic Air Jordon 3 were a twinkle in Tinker Hatfield's creative eye and launch Air Jordan to the stars. Apparently before Michael would have specially assigned guides and handlers to accompany him. Well, he did have one that day, no other than Peter Moore was the driver who dropped him off at the club. Yeah, that Peter Moore, the top executive at Nike who directed the Jumpman photoshoot and designed the Air Jordan 1. A few years later we would leave Nike to start Adidas America, also headquartered in Portland. Tinker Hatfield and Michael Jordan's collaboration on the Air Jordan 3 would begin as a result of this rift and the rest... as they say, is history.
It's really cool to imagine the conversation that morning or the nght before. (Note: I am imagining this ; )
"Welcome back to Portland" says Phil picking up Jordan from the airport. "Tonight let's get you settled downtown at the Heathman. We'd love to have you come by the office you can meet some of the designers and marketers, we will have a series of meeting with Weiden Kennedy our advertising firm. Then we will make a trip down to Eugene, we have a great house you can stay the night before we go by the doctor's office. He really is the best, worked with track stars at Eugene and closely with our show designers.. Bill Bowerman swears by this doctor, says he truly understand the biomechanics of the foot."
"As long as he says I'm good to play."
"We're confident"
"Cool. Cool. Oh and how about I skip the office meetings tomorrow, I'd rather go play golf."
"Michael, it's 50 degrees outside and probably going to rain all day."
"Great should be a quick round then. Where should I play?"
Phil and Peter exchange a look.
Phil nods and says "Eastmoreland is closest to downtown. It's Championship design by Chandler Egan."
"My kind of course"
"OK I'll drive you there in the morning on my way downtown"
Hold on - why would Michael Jordan choose to play Eastmoreland (and not a private club)?
The answer likely very simple - Eastmoreland the best golf course nearby. Nike offices were scattered around SW Portland, I believe, as the construction and opening of the worldwide Beaverton Nike campus would not be open until 1990. Same for Pumpkin Ridge the famous track built by Gay Davis, the Eastmoreland and Cleveland High Alum, and the staging ground for the Phil Knight's love affair and courting of Tiger Woods the "Michael Jordan" of golf.
It may also come from a recommendation by Phil Knight himself, who like Gay Davis, also grew up in the neighborhood named after the golf course. Phil is a golfer himself, purchasing a home at the La Quinta Golf Course close to Palm Springs. It's unlikely he played much golf because he was an avid cross country racer and track star in high school. I've met Phil's cousin Doug Houser, who played golf at Eastmoreland growing up and he doesn't recall playing with Phil as a kid on their neighborhood course. There are a few passages in Shoe Dog where Phil is golfing with his Japanese bankers at very critical points in Nike history. Phil does not specify which golf course they played together, so Eastmoreland is a possibility... maybe one day we will know for sure.
The other truth is getting on a private club is a difficult without a member's invitation, even for pro athletes. Only 30 years ago Joe Lewis was not able to get a round on the private clubs at all, even with his superstar fame. This was the underlying reason the municipal golf course was built - to provide a place for out of town businessmen to play a round of golf.
Eastmoreland served it's true purpose. It's a golf course for the people open to anyone, all you need to be is crazy golf nut to go out there and walk 6 miles in the pouring rain.
The answer likely very simple - Eastmoreland the best golf course nearby. Nike offices were scattered around SW Portland, I believe, as the construction and opening of the worldwide Beaverton Nike campus would not be open until 1990. Same for Pumpkin Ridge the famous track built by Gay Davis, the Eastmoreland and Cleveland High Alum, and the staging ground for the Phil Knight's love affair and courting of Tiger Woods the "Michael Jordan" of golf.
It may also come from a recommendation by Phil Knight himself, who like Gay Davis, also grew up in the neighborhood named after the golf course. Phil is a golfer himself, purchasing a home at the La Quinta Golf Course close to Palm Springs. It's unlikely he played much golf because he was an avid cross country racer and track star in high school. I've met Phil's cousin Doug Houser, who played golf at Eastmoreland growing up and he doesn't recall playing with Phil as a kid on their neighborhood course. There are a few passages in Shoe Dog where Phil is golfing with his Japanese bankers at very critical points in Nike history. Phil does not specify which golf course they played together, so Eastmoreland is a possibility... maybe one day we will know for sure.
The other truth is getting on a private club is a difficult without a member's invitation, even for pro athletes. Only 30 years ago Joe Lewis was not able to get a round on the private clubs at all, even with his superstar fame. This was the underlying reason the municipal golf course was built - to provide a place for out of town businessmen to play a round of golf.
Eastmoreland served it's true purpose. It's a golf course for the people open to anyone, all you need to be is crazy golf nut to go out there and walk 6 miles in the pouring rain.
Rob continues... "Then he rents some clubs…."
OK hold the phone - Michael Jordan rented a set of clubs!? At Emo? Playing with rented clubs is just not something most golfers will do. It’s why we drag our clubs all over the country, keep your primary set in the car, have a backup set at your folks house in Florida. We can only imagine the type of set that would be available for rent in 1986. Persimmon woods for sure, probably MacGregor golden bear blades from the 1970's or just a hodge podge set from the lost and found. Would he be even able to play with standard clubs, given his 6'6" stature? I did some homework, to learn more about Michael Jordan and discovered that he plays clubs that are only about 1" longer. Apparently it's because his arms are so long he doesn't need long clubs. The issue the size of his hands which are 10" are larger than Lebron and second only to Shaq. He needs oversized grips to properly hold the club - as you can see in the photo to the right. |
“What was he wearing?” Was my next question, and Rob doesn’t recall exactly what Michael was wearing, some type of rain jumpsuit, probably a predecessor to the rain gear we all wear today. It was likely from Nike running or athletic side, since this Nike had barely entered the golf apparel market. Rob does recall that he may have worn pair of shoes called “Air Turnberry” which was like a football upper designed for rain. Though he wasn't positive about that either, but the Turnberry was a hot seller, though I'm not sure the guy with the coolest kicks on the planet would be going for the doily looking lace cover. (Note: the pictured Air Turnberry is the women's version - though I owned a similar pair in the 1980's with lace guards)
Rob’s biggest regret is that he didn’t ask Michael to sign a pair of the Air Turnberry in the shop. He knew that would have been cool to show off to the other patrons. The NBA Rookie of the Year plays Eastmoreland just like you! If he comes back he should sign a pair of the Nike Lunar Vaporstorm - perfect for golf outing in Portland in March.
Rob’s biggest regret is that he didn’t ask Michael to sign a pair of the Air Turnberry in the shop. He knew that would have been cool to show off to the other patrons. The NBA Rookie of the Year plays Eastmoreland just like you! If he comes back he should sign a pair of the Nike Lunar Vaporstorm - perfect for golf outing in Portland in March.
"How did he play?" Eastmoreland is in about the worst shape of the year. If he comes back he should sign a pair of the Nike Lunar Vaporstorm - perfect for golf outing in Portland in March. Even if the sun peeks out from the clouds for the day, the course itself is more like a scottish bog that the sandy links. Plenty of emerald green grass for sure, however the fairways with squish and puddle with every step.
Every shot will plug meaning it impacts into the mud like an asteroid crater. Even a low punch shot will “plop” into the earth. Toss a wedge onto the green and it will stick like glue, so best to shoot right for the exact distance.
Green reading becomes an art the turf will actually will shift as players walk on the green. Depending on the amount of rain the last day or two, you can see your footprints for a few moments, the green seems to ripple like a waterbed on a bog. It’s for this reason, Justin Ball one of the better putters in the club has said, there isn’t a single straight 10 foot putt anywhere on Emo. All the myriad of footprints and waterlogged days makes the entire green complex ripple with character like an Oregon Pinot Noir. It’s literally never the same week to week and year to year.
Only the courses, like Waverley and Colombia Edgewater that have layer upon layer of sand as a soil base for drainage manage stay playable all year. If only we at Eastmoreland had the budget for the such luxuries like…. sand.
Ultimately - Michael Jordan coming to play 18 holes at Eastmoreland in cold downpour by himself shows he's a true golfer.
Here's a great interview I found that was filmed only a few weeks after the 1986 playoffs... at the end 6 minutes in Michael describes his intention to play golf through the off season and retire from basketball at age 32 to play on the PGA tour!!
Every shot will plug meaning it impacts into the mud like an asteroid crater. Even a low punch shot will “plop” into the earth. Toss a wedge onto the green and it will stick like glue, so best to shoot right for the exact distance.
Green reading becomes an art the turf will actually will shift as players walk on the green. Depending on the amount of rain the last day or two, you can see your footprints for a few moments, the green seems to ripple like a waterbed on a bog. It’s for this reason, Justin Ball one of the better putters in the club has said, there isn’t a single straight 10 foot putt anywhere on Emo. All the myriad of footprints and waterlogged days makes the entire green complex ripple with character like an Oregon Pinot Noir. It’s literally never the same week to week and year to year.
Only the courses, like Waverley and Colombia Edgewater that have layer upon layer of sand as a soil base for drainage manage stay playable all year. If only we at Eastmoreland had the budget for the such luxuries like…. sand.
Ultimately - Michael Jordan coming to play 18 holes at Eastmoreland in cold downpour by himself shows he's a true golfer.
Here's a great interview I found that was filmed only a few weeks after the 1986 playoffs... at the end 6 minutes in Michael describes his intention to play golf through the off season and retire from basketball at age 32 to play on the PGA tour!!
Golf is often seen as a sport for old men... though what is often unnoticed is that it really a sport for old athletes who crave the thrill of competition based on mental and physical skills. Michael, like Joe Lewis before him happened upon the game by chance without having much exposure and within a few days became golf obsessed and spent every hour that he was not perfecting his basketball skills, on the golf course and practice range working on his golf game.
True fact - he was introduced to golf just after his final college game by Davis Love III who was on the UNC golf team. Michael only drove the cart for the first 18 holes then asked to play the next time and finished the round with a par on 17th hole and was hooked for life. He would return to North Carolina every summer to work with a golf teacher and managed to get his handicap from a 10 down closer to scratch. As described in the video above, Michael was very serious about his desire to play for the PGA Tour one day. You have to wonder is there is a twinge of jealousy watching Steph Curry nearly make the cut in his first Web.com Tour Event. Though I'm sure Michael would make Step's hands shake over money match, as his intensity on the course matches his intensity on the court.
From PGA Tour Magazine: "How Michael Jordan became a golfer"
... when he gets a chance on the 18th green – watch out.
“Maybe Jack Nicklaus has more birdies on the 18th hole, but Jordan is pretty close,” Ibarguen says. “He’ll be losing all the bets, he’ll press all the bets and somehow or another he will end up dropping a 16-foot putt for birdie on 18.
“How many seconds were left when he hit that shot in ’82? 17 seconds? He says all the time when you’re playing with him and he makes a big putt, he’ll go 17 seconds. He loves the pressure of when it means something. He really, really takes joy in that.
“It’s that sort of spark that he misses as an athlete in retirement -- and golf has replaced that.”
My one wish - would be to ask him if he remembered the course and how he played. I'd be really curious to know what was going on for him those weeks and how going out in the rain to play golf was obviously important to him.
I'm sure the Eastmoreland Wolves ot the 1980'a would have wished they had been there that day or recognized him in the pro show, because Michael would have taken the action. If he reads this, he's welcome to come back anytime and we'll set up a Wolves match 8 ) He'd be right at home.
I'm sure the Eastmoreland Wolves ot the 1980'a would have wished they had been there that day or recognized him in the pro show, because Michael would have taken the action. If he reads this, he's welcome to come back anytime and we'll set up a Wolves match 8 ) He'd be right at home.
Rabbi Jonah B Wise often referred to as Dr. Jonah B Wise in the local papers, was a key early supporter and member of the leadership team that raised private funds and assisted in the building of Eastmoreland Municipal Links. Rabbi Wise was specially suited for this role as prominent leader of the local Jewish Community. Born in Cincinnati in 1881 the son of Rabbi Isaac Wise, an early leader of the Jewish Reform Movement (liberal) and founder of Hebrew Union College. Rabbi Wise followed in his father's footsteps and was ordained in 1903 before moving to Portland to lead Congregation Beth Israel, Portland’s oldest and most prestigious synagogue, from 1907 to 1926. Rabbi Jonah Wise adhered to the Reform movement's emphasis on the compatibility of Judaism with modern life, including many traditional practices like strict observance of the sabbath. See Oregon Encyclopedia Jonah B Wise (1885-1959)
In my research I found just the most perfect example of his devotion to his congregation and to.... golf:
In my research I found just the most perfect example of his devotion to his congregation and to.... golf:
Bernice Feldman (1896-1985)
Recorded by Eve Rosenfeld 1874 for Oregon Jewish Museum
FELDMAN: Jonah Wise was our rabbi and we were very devoted to him. And yes, I always enjoyed working with Sisterhood too.
Rosenfeld: What are your recollections of Rabbi Jonah Wise?
FELDMAN: [Chuckles] Well, just what everybody else’s are, I guess. He was a perfectly marvelous person - very, very intelligent. And, I think, really deeply religious, although sometimes it didn’t come out that way.
Rosenfeld: What do you mean?
FELDMAN: Oh, I meant, for example he would have his robe over his golf clothes because he was going to leave for a golf game.
Yup, he's a golfer alright. If I had a moment with Bernice, I would suggest that his golf game is evidence of religious devotion. After all what greater test of faith then lining up a 20 foot putt to save par, with four foot of break. It's only by the divine providence that such a putt should ever find the cup. When they did, I'm sure the playing partners of Rabbi wise chalked up those putts to his close relationship with God.
He would wear his golf clothes under his robe because [after service] he was going to leave for a golf game
Rabbi Jonah Wise was an original founding member of Tualatin Country Club. As often described in the Oregon Jewish Museum oral histories, the golf club along with other downtown social clubs, like the Concordia Club, were created out of the necessity that Jewish people in the community were often excluded from the other golf clubs. At the time, there was only one golf club in Portland across the river, so their loss was the city's gain as motivated prominent Jewish members built a new golf course with open membership. Interestingly the Tualatin founders almost purchased the land at the future site of Portland Golf Club. They chose Tualatin, even though it was further out, because there was a rail line from downtown to Tualatin. Remember this is in 1912, so no one really owned automobiles for everyday transportation. See Oregon Jewish History - David Finkelstein (1895-1979)
Rabbi Jonah Wise would have certainly been open to the early efforts by T. Morris Dunne, who lead the efforts to install playgrounds and promoted the benefits of recreation. By joining the Eastmoreland leadership team gave the three private clubs an opportunity to do community work together, despite their past differences. After all all the members were very active members of the business community and certainly were involved in many levels of the city affairs.
Rabbi Jonah Wise was prominent figure at the official grand opening of Eastmoreland Golf Course on June 16, 1918. The above photo shows him along side (Left to Right) T. Morris Dunne (committee member), Paul J. Keyser (Parks Superintendent), Dr. Jonah Weiss, Rudolph Wilhelm, Northwest Champion and W. G. Pringle, who coaxed the grass and leveled the greens.
By the way that photo in the bottom right - that's the fourth hole, guarded by trees bridge and water. As some long time readers may recall, the author hoped to find a photo of this long forgotten bridge on the fourth hole in the article about the Golf Ball Eating Salmon Roaming the Municipal Links.
By the way that photo in the bottom right - that's the fourth hole, guarded by trees bridge and water. As some long time readers may recall, the author hoped to find a photo of this long forgotten bridge on the fourth hole in the article about the Golf Ball Eating Salmon Roaming the Municipal Links.
Here's where everybody with a golf stick may play the game to his heart's content.
I really appreciate Rabbi Jonah Wise involvement in Eastmoreland Municipal Links as part of the Jewish community that shaped so much of what we know and love about Oregon. Research shows the Eastmoreland committee meetings were held at the downtown cafe in the Meier & Frank building, owned by the prominent families who belonged to the same congregation and golf club as Rabbi Wise. Take some time when you have an hour to learn all about "The Jewish Frontier" and how Oregon proved a land of opportunity especially for Jews immigrating from Germany where their professions were often limited. These early pioneers were later met with other waves of Jewish immigrants from all over Europe melting together in a diverse community tapestry we have today.
I do want to take a moment to also highlight some other achievements of Rabbi Jonah Wise, before we delve deeper into his golf game check scores on his matches he played, contemplate is swing and whether he'd have been a good partner for a small wager.
Rabbi Jonah Wise life is a story of community and fighting for equality, fairness and I like to think that he may have prompted the headline in the quote above about having a golf course for all to play, though any member of that committee may have been the source as they were united in their devotion to the common good.
Where Rabbi Wise's life takes on larger than life turn, was his involvement in national policy with regards to the plight of immigrant and refugee Jews. Per the Oregon Encyclopedia he fervently promoted progressive causes of education and social equality while condemning prejudice and intolerance. He was a staunch supporter of Women's rights and the Council of Jewish Women. Rabbi Wise was known as a defender of labor, advocating collective bargaining, an eight-hour day, and other workplace reforms
America in the 1920's along with Portland faced a backlash following the war, of nativism and the rise of prejudice against immigrants. Rabbi Jonah Wise collaborated with Catholic leaders who were both the targets of Tiki-Torch wielding members of the Ku Klux Klan. As Oregon Jewish History - David Finkelstein (1895-1979) member recounts the anti-semitism got very bad into the late 1920's and 1930's and Rabbi Wise was instrumental in bringing together the targeted groups, primarily Jews and Catholics, though certainly African Americans, Chinese Americans and Japanese Americans as well.
His most prominent involvement in social political affairs came from a trip back to his ancestors home in Germany:
Rabbi Jonah Wise life is a story of community and fighting for equality, fairness and I like to think that he may have prompted the headline in the quote above about having a golf course for all to play, though any member of that committee may have been the source as they were united in their devotion to the common good.
Where Rabbi Wise's life takes on larger than life turn, was his involvement in national policy with regards to the plight of immigrant and refugee Jews. Per the Oregon Encyclopedia he fervently promoted progressive causes of education and social equality while condemning prejudice and intolerance. He was a staunch supporter of Women's rights and the Council of Jewish Women. Rabbi Wise was known as a defender of labor, advocating collective bargaining, an eight-hour day, and other workplace reforms
America in the 1920's along with Portland faced a backlash following the war, of nativism and the rise of prejudice against immigrants. Rabbi Jonah Wise collaborated with Catholic leaders who were both the targets of Tiki-Torch wielding members of the Ku Klux Klan. As Oregon Jewish History - David Finkelstein (1895-1979) member recounts the anti-semitism got very bad into the late 1920's and 1930's and Rabbi Wise was instrumental in bringing together the targeted groups, primarily Jews and Catholics, though certainly African Americans, Chinese Americans and Japanese Americans as well.
His most prominent involvement in social political affairs came from a trip back to his ancestors home in Germany:
After traveling to Germany in 1933 and returning with dire warnings and eyewitness accounts of Nazi rallies and persecution of Jews, he led a campaign to raise money to assist Jews in leaving Germany. In 1938, President Franklin Roosevelt selected him as a delegate to the Evian Conference, an international meeting in France that attempted—unsuccessfully—to address the Jewish refugee problem. Although he remained an anti-Zionist until the early 1940s and was a founding member of the anti-Zionist American Council for Judaism in 1942, the scope of the Jewish crisis during World War II soon led him to abandon this position.
...
[To spread his message] he began a long-running weekly radio show, Message of Israel, heard nationally from 1934 until shortly before his death in 1959. Oregon Encyclopedia
As this point I'd like to tip my cap and give thanks to the Oregon Jewish Museum volunteers for the foresight to collect the stories of the Jewish community members. The website is a treasure of personal stories as immigrants, as citizens and as Jews who witnessed, even from afar, the tragedy and terrible crimes of the Holocaust.
I may the only person in the history of the Oregon Jewish Museum to ever search the term "Golf" and found delightful tidbits and references by all sorts of people they interviewed. Yet I spent more time reading the full accounts and learned as much or more from these stories as I had from "The Jewish Frontier." Bernice Feldman who so graciously shared the little memory of Rabbi Wise wearing golf clothes (knickers and argyle socks, most likely) also shared this poignant memory from the WWII era
I may the only person in the history of the Oregon Jewish Museum to ever search the term "Golf" and found delightful tidbits and references by all sorts of people they interviewed. Yet I spent more time reading the full accounts and learned as much or more from these stories as I had from "The Jewish Frontier." Bernice Feldman who so graciously shared the little memory of Rabbi Wise wearing golf clothes (knickers and argyle socks, most likely) also shared this poignant memory from the WWII era
Rosenfeld: And then as we got into the 30s, what was the attitude of people you knew toward the plight of Jews in Western Europe, in terms of Hitler and all that was happening?
FELDMAN: I think that everyone was horrified, just horrified. I think that as the newcomers came to Portland… Is that what you want me to talk about? I think the Council did a terrific job. They used to meet them, meet the people, settle them, keep…
Rosenfeld: [We were talking about] the response of the Jewish community to the plight that the Jews [who were Holocaust refugees] found themselves.
FELDMAN: Yes. I think there was a tremendous lot of raising of funds. That wasn’t the Council. The Council participated and I believe that after Israel was established… Is that what you want me to speak of? Everybody. I don’t know of anyone who didn’t feel that it was a tremendous haven. But there was a great deal of difference of opinion on the settling of Israel when it came to the political situation. However, I think as time went on - I never shall forget, because we spoke of Jonah Wise before, I never shall forget when he came back at one time. He was head of a large group that was very interested in Israel. While he was never a Zionist (maybe he became one eventually, but he wasn’t to start with) I never shall forget his coming to our temple and giving a very, very fine lecture, which moved many, many people. Among the other trite things that he said was “there before the grace of God go I.” I never have forgotten that particular sermon, even though it was a trite thing that he said. It’s always been so true to me in so many instances, and that was one of them.
There before the Grace of God go I - Rabbi Jonah B Wise
Rabbi Wise is now joined my "dream foursome" of playing a 18 hole round with anyone, and I'm sure that I would have million questions and could glean so much wisdom from man such as him.
Going forward, we will dig more deeply into the the connections of Eastmoreland golfers and World War II. A time of great crisis where the bell of liberty was a call to action for God and country. Many of the Eastmoreland Wolves and the Leisure Hour Club the Nisei Golf Club and the Chinese American Golf Club would find themselves caught up in the throes of war. Some serving on distant shores, others building Freedom Ships in Kaiser Docks to supply the troops and some others rounded up into internment camps.
Going forward, we will dig more deeply into the the connections of Eastmoreland golfers and World War II. A time of great crisis where the bell of liberty was a call to action for God and country. Many of the Eastmoreland Wolves and the Leisure Hour Club the Nisei Golf Club and the Chinese American Golf Club would find themselves caught up in the throes of war. Some serving on distant shores, others building Freedom Ships in Kaiser Docks to supply the troops and some others rounded up into internment camps.
Golf as a popular sport began in the wide eyes of those young boys who would practice putting and chipping from behind the caddy-shack waiting for the next loop. Why on earth, would a bunch of children yearn to play the game of these urban capitalists???
For very same reason the game was invented in the first place! Swinging a club or stick to hit a ball or rock, is a uniquely human skill that was probably done since the very early days of humankind. Now to hit that ball with precision and send it into a hole requires the skill of a practiced champion... or just dumb luck, as the case may be. Unlike baseball, golf is game you play by yourself, often against yourself, unencumbered by any need for a team.. Of course, having a partner to take on a small wager would certainly make the game a bit more interesting, wouldn't you agree?. It’s like a game of marbles on a grand scale.
For very same reason the game was invented in the first place! Swinging a club or stick to hit a ball or rock, is a uniquely human skill that was probably done since the very early days of humankind. Now to hit that ball with precision and send it into a hole requires the skill of a practiced champion... or just dumb luck, as the case may be. Unlike baseball, golf is game you play by yourself, often against yourself, unencumbered by any need for a team.. Of course, having a partner to take on a small wager would certainly make the game a bit more interesting, wouldn't you agree?. It’s like a game of marbles on a grand scale.
So it's fitting that the first great American Golf Hero was a caddy who gained entry to the 1913 U.S.Open held in Boston Massachusetts. As documented in the historical fiction book “The Greatest Game Ever Played” the 1913 Open was a big deal because of the entry of great English golf professional Harry Vardon. Vardon won the 1900 US Open on his first trip to America and spent most of the decade dominating all the tournaments and revolutionized the game with the "Vardon Grip" and the first sponsored ball the "Vardon Flyer" from Spaulding. Little did the champ know, he would soon meet his match in for the form of the unknown 19 year old underdog and former caddy Francis Ouimet.
I highly recommend reading the full story as told by Mark Frost in The greatest Game Ever Played. He sets the stage for this epic match that was like the shot heard round the world and set the fire of imagination for Americans. Francis embodied the American dream with a foundation that anyone with the determination and practice can make it to the very top. though while the papers and fans loved the story, the truth is Francis' journey was not easy, his ability to play golf regularly was often thwarted by the fact he was not born privileged and his entry in the US Open was uncertain even a few weeks before the tournament began.
I highly recommend reading the full story as told by Mark Frost in The greatest Game Ever Played. He sets the stage for this epic match that was like the shot heard round the world and set the fire of imagination for Americans. Francis embodied the American dream with a foundation that anyone with the determination and practice can make it to the very top. though while the papers and fans loved the story, the truth is Francis' journey was not easy, his ability to play golf regularly was often thwarted by the fact he was not born privileged and his entry in the US Open was uncertain even a few weeks before the tournament began.
Above is a great old movie clip of Francis Ouimet swing and to the right we see the closely following gallery on the final 18 hole playoff match. With the US Open and golf still fairly new phenomenon the crowds can be seen walking side-bu-side with Francis and his pint sized caddy - Eddie Lowry. The photos of Eddie really point to the actual caddies of the day, who for the most part were young boys, who looped on the weekends and everyday during the summer.
Harry Vardon was household name in his home country of England and loathed in Scotland. In America he found a the people more embracing of his professional lifestyle, which in England was considered uncouth for gentleman to play sports for money.
Harry himself was once a caddie, who grew up alongside the golf links, his family home displaced by new Royal & Ancient Links being established in his home island of Jersey along the Britain coast.
Harry himself was once a caddie, who grew up alongside the golf links, his family home displaced by new Royal & Ancient Links being established in his home island of Jersey along the Britain coast.
Ted Ray was another fascinating character. Born on the same Isle of Jersey as Harry, an English island just north of the coast of France, was previously famous for the origin of the Jersey dairy cow. It was a farming and working mans island which only became a golf haven after the industrial revolution decimated the boat building culture. He followed in Harry's footsteps as a caddie and learned the game for the intention of escaping the island as a professional golfer.
Ted Ray was known as a basher with a long ball. He liked playing very fast, and golfers that spent too much time over the ball annoyed him greatly. When asked for advice on, for example, the drive, his main contribution consisted in the words "'it 'em 'ard, mate, like I do." If the pupil complained that he did hit hard but still did not obtain the desired result, Ted's comment was, "Well, then, 'it 'em 'arder." See original article
Ted Ray was known as a basher with a long ball. He liked playing very fast, and golfers that spent too much time over the ball annoyed him greatly. When asked for advice on, for example, the drive, his main contribution consisted in the words "'it 'em 'ard, mate, like I do." If the pupil complained that he did hit hard but still did not obtain the desired result, Ted's comment was, "Well, then, 'it 'em 'arder." See original article
Francis performance is both miracle and something as natural pure golf shot. Harry Vardon and Ted Ray were true professionals, and the young up and coming hot shot Water Hagen would finish a distant fourth before he would go on to win a series of US Open Championships and become the "Harry Vardon of America" by winning a British Open leading new breed of golfers to what was known as the American invasion. The advantage of Harry and Ted was the ability to play under tournament pressure, which any golfer knows can snakebite the best of us with jerky swings and big numbers.
Francis had two advantages himself. First and most importantly, the US Open was played on the club he grew next to, so he had caddied and learned the game on the very course he would compete. Second, as he was a very late entry, and a total unknown, there wasn't the type of pressure many of the the other players like Walter Hagen. Yet, soon as the tournament approached the final day, everyone knew who Francis Ouimet was and his gallery grew and grew. Harry would later remark, “he played like a seasoned professional.”
Francis became the America’s hero for retaining the U.S. Open cup and Harry and Ted for their demonstration of good sportsmanship in congratulating the winner.
Francis had two advantages himself. First and most importantly, the US Open was played on the club he grew next to, so he had caddied and learned the game on the very course he would compete. Second, as he was a very late entry, and a total unknown, there wasn't the type of pressure many of the the other players like Walter Hagen. Yet, soon as the tournament approached the final day, everyone knew who Francis Ouimet was and his gallery grew and grew. Harry would later remark, “he played like a seasoned professional.”
Francis became the America’s hero for retaining the U.S. Open cup and Harry and Ted for their demonstration of good sportsmanship in congratulating the winner.
Golf as an organized sport, was barely 25 years old before it was first played on Oregon coast in 1888 in Gearhart a small vacation village just a few miles from the Astoria seaport. The first British Open to crown a Champion was played in 1860 organized and eventually won by the Ol' Tom Morris. The US Open would not begin for another 7 years in 1895. Oregon's first golf links was set up by Scotsman who owned a few clubs and directed his children to bury some tomato cans out in the fields and mark with a stick and rag. To say that many thought him a fool or worse is an understatement. Yet, the grandkids complied with grandfather's request and together they created a 3-hole course along the seaside meadows and dunes of Gearhart Resort, a short train ride from downtown Portland near the towns of Astoria and Seaside. We can only imagine the sound of that first crack of the hickory sticks, undoubtedly imported directly from Scotland brushing the sandy grass of the Oregon dunes.
His inspiration? Why the nature of the rugged seaside meadows of grassy dunes that “links” the land to the sea. The sandy underfoot of the dunes proved not suitable for building or farming, and in ancient Scotland to the present was reserved for recreation and enjoyment of the people. With all the land essentially owned by the King, or otherwise leased by fee to certain families through the generations, the “links” represented the few public open spaces where anyone could enjoy. The links were characterized as ill-suited for economic exploitation, no crops could grow in the sandy salt, save for the natural dune grasses. Constructing building were ill advised as the footing would shift. The very most it would benefit was the occasional shepherds allowing sheep to graze on the grasses and gatherings of townsfolk and lovers enjoying romantic walks along the ocean, and secluded places to place a blanket and lounge together.
His inspiration? Why the nature of the rugged seaside meadows of grassy dunes that “links” the land to the sea. The sandy underfoot of the dunes proved not suitable for building or farming, and in ancient Scotland to the present was reserved for recreation and enjoyment of the people. With all the land essentially owned by the King, or otherwise leased by fee to certain families through the generations, the “links” represented the few public open spaces where anyone could enjoy. The links were characterized as ill-suited for economic exploitation, no crops could grow in the sandy salt, save for the natural dune grasses. Constructing building were ill advised as the footing would shift. The very most it would benefit was the occasional shepherds allowing sheep to graze on the grasses and gatherings of townsfolk and lovers enjoying romantic walks along the ocean, and secluded places to place a blanket and lounge together.
To put these 3-hole pioneers into perspective the oldest continual Golf Club in the United States was John Reid and his “Apple Tree Gang” who in 1888, broke ground for the St. Andrews GC (New York) the first 18-hole golf course continuously operated in the U.S.
A few years later, the “The Founder’s Club” went ahead with the construction of a original 9-hole tract at Gearheart in 1892, in the traditional loop - where the 1st tee start at the sea facing inland and loop back around with 9th green by the sea. Like the dunes on which they are build continually shifted in location and management, so the “The Founder’s Club” never fully established a USGA club to complete and maintain the full 18-holes layout. Gerhart remained a tourist amenity and summer destination for many years, continuing to this day.
It begins... the seaside game is brought home so the game can continue
Just 6 years later in 1894, the very same year the USGA was founded, the Tacoma Golf & Country Club formed and started building a complete 18-hole course up the coast a few hundred miles in Washington. Just a few years later, the founding members of Waverley Country Club, the oldest club in Oregon, came together in 1896 to construct the 18-hole course in Oregon along the banks of the Willamette River. While these river banks both clubs chose are not exactly traditional “links” locations, and certainly struggled with issues like mud, drainage and fast growing natural grasses, these properties are the closest approximation to the links by the sea. Waverley original location was in close proximity to the where Powell Boulevard bridge was a close approximation for the residents of Portland.
It should be added however that both clubs were were equally, if not more, passionate about horsemanship and polo teams as they were about the new fledgeling game of golf.
The second oldest club Eugene Country Club started in 1899, was the first to create a course layout based on what was available, rather than on the more traditional links, using the unsold lots of housing developments to map out a series of holes right through the heart of the subdivisions of what would become downtown Eugene. The Eugene Country Club more than any other club a way for the members to have a rollicking good time on the weekends and toil away at hitting golf balls through the neighborhood. One can only imagine the flustered frustration of homeowners on the right side of the fairway with sliced golf balls careening into the wood siding and roofs. It's a fair bet to say at least a window or two may have come crashing down on a marionberry pie cooling in the windowsill with a dollop of golf ball on top.
Organized golf continued to grow and more and more people began to populate the Northwest. The Clubs which started out with people that had disposable income to use towards recreation and building social status. Golf as a game was, by default, limited to the club players and their caddies. However the caddies were not scions club members, rather the boys who lived in the adjacent neighborhoods and towns and knew that a decent wage could be made by tending to the clubs and ball of the club members. Caddies at Waverley, along with most clubs, were given special training and had to learn the game so as to provide solid advice to the member of guest, or at the very least not get in the way.
In 1912, Waverley acquired new land for the development of a new golf course on it's present location. By this time golf was becoming a greater part of the American sport consciousness. The American golfers, lead by Chandler Egan had won the 1904 Olympic Gold Medal in St. Louis, the first and only year golf was played in the Olympics, until 2016.
The second oldest club Eugene Country Club started in 1899, was the first to create a course layout based on what was available, rather than on the more traditional links, using the unsold lots of housing developments to map out a series of holes right through the heart of the subdivisions of what would become downtown Eugene. The Eugene Country Club more than any other club a way for the members to have a rollicking good time on the weekends and toil away at hitting golf balls through the neighborhood. One can only imagine the flustered frustration of homeowners on the right side of the fairway with sliced golf balls careening into the wood siding and roofs. It's a fair bet to say at least a window or two may have come crashing down on a marionberry pie cooling in the windowsill with a dollop of golf ball on top.
Organized golf continued to grow and more and more people began to populate the Northwest. The Clubs which started out with people that had disposable income to use towards recreation and building social status. Golf as a game was, by default, limited to the club players and their caddies. However the caddies were not scions club members, rather the boys who lived in the adjacent neighborhoods and towns and knew that a decent wage could be made by tending to the clubs and ball of the club members. Caddies at Waverley, along with most clubs, were given special training and had to learn the game so as to provide solid advice to the member of guest, or at the very least not get in the way.
In 1912, Waverley acquired new land for the development of a new golf course on it's present location. By this time golf was becoming a greater part of the American sport consciousness. The American golfers, lead by Chandler Egan had won the 1904 Olympic Gold Medal in St. Louis, the first and only year golf was played in the Olympics, until 2016.
That same year of 1912, Chandler Egan was hired to help develop land for the new Tualatin Country Club first established in 1912. "Tualatin Country Club was established in 1912 in response to the exclusionary nature of other recreation retreats." see Tualatin Celebrates Centennial Specifically the club was formed by many prominent Jewish families who were an equal part in building key businesses, such as Meier & Frank, early cornerstones of fledgling city. As will be described later, the cafe in Meier & Frank downtown would be a center meeting place in the origin of Eastmoreland Golf Course!
As described in the post "The Greatest Game Ever Played..." 1913 was the turning point where golf captured the attention of all Americans. The young 19 year old Amartuer caddy had defeated the greatest professional golfer of his era (and arguably all time) Harry Vardon.
As we will detail in future post... Harry Vardon and Ted Ray had been touring the U.S. before and after the U.S. Open as ambassadors of golf. For the professional circuit was more a function of "celebrity matches" where the pros would come to match up against the best players in the area. In October 2013 after the U.s. Open Harry Vardon and Ted Ray come to play Chandler Egan at Waverley Country club and Portland officially caught golf fever.
Within a month the charter for the new Portland Golf Club was filed in 1913 and in 1914 construction began with the first 9 holes opening on May 13, 1914. According to the club's history
The present site was chosen due to its relation to the SP&S railroad’s interurban line that supplied frequent passenger service to the site, as automobiles and roads were scarce in those days. Members turned laborers and spent many a weary day burning brush, removing stumps, leveling fairways and forming greens. |
I'd love to have seen these early members out there working in overalls. It's likely there were a fair amount of actual laborers hired for the effort, yet I'm quite certain that part of the appeal for many members, and perhaps prospective members that would contribute additional labor (in lieu of cash?) to be out there moving stumps and preparing greens. Yard work is often a source of pride and solace for many professionals. Portland Golf Club would become leader of golf in the 1940's hosting the 1948 Ryder Cup as detailed in my blog post from last year.
1914 the city hosts golf courses for members only but no play available for the public citizens of Portland!!
Thankfully the leaders of these private clubs are about to embark on plan to fix that problem once and for all!
Ferbuary 23, 1917 Portland's municipal links is already underway by summer of 1917. As newspapers will report in the fall, the City would come up with the $4,000 to match the fundraising efforts of the original foundering committee for new municipal golf links Victor A. Johnson - Current President of Waverley C.C. T. Morris Dunne - Multnomah Amatuer Athletic Club. (later the M.A.C.) Dr. Millard C. Holbrook - Portland Golf Club Rabbi Jonah B. Wise - Tualatin Golf Club The 151 acres of land of was donated by the Ladd's Estate Company by the famed developer Paul C. Murphy - and the initial construction was being led by Portland Parks Superintendent James T Conville and his protege Paul C. Keyser. The project as hinted in the newspapers and later retold by Paul Keyser himself, was that the construction was already underway well before the City COuncil agreed to fully back the project. The initiative of pioneering spirit that can assume the mechanisms of city government will find favor in this endeavor. After all it was only a few years earlier that T. Morris Dunne launched the successful campaign to secure the first Parks bond, to help ensure Portland could build playgrounds to keep up with the rival city of Seattle. The recreational race was on in full steam, with Jefferson Park in Seattle already enjoying it's third year of great success and positive revenue. The municipal golf course could hardly wait for the City politics, and so the committee led by Victor A. Johnson have publically announced their intention to get this project started with private funds. "Without much effort" they raised $1305 and now set out to raise the remaining $1800 to meet the $3,000 threshold set by the City for the matching $4,000 of funds. At this time Chandler Egan had already laid out a design for the full 18 holes. The construction would be focused solely on the front 9 and the back 9 acres were still being used by Reed College for a raspberry farm. J.O. Conville was also seeking donations for architectural drawings for a clubhouse, with the initial plans only for a small starter's shack. NOTE: While WW1 rages on in Europe, with more than 5 million military deaths and almost as many civilians. for America the war continues to be economic boon, with the Wool companies barely able to meet the demands for uniforms and coats in Europe. Victor A. Johnson happens to manage one of these woolen mills that would eventually be rolled up into Pendleton Wool. The U.S. will officially declare war on Germany on April 6, 1917 about five weeks from the date of this article. James. O Conville would have likely been tracking the war's progress, and would be signing up as an officer to serve with enlisted men from Oregon. It was through his war commission that he turns the Portland Parks Superintendent role to Paul C. Keyser. Reed College interestingly enough was known for it's pacifist stance, though when the war is declared they would turn all their efforts towards supporting the war effort through training of medical corps and operational support. The college would become a training ground for new enlisted soldiers,and likely some of them would be found later this winter on the very acreage that would become our beloved Eastmoreland Golf Course. |
Victor A. Johnson is one of the key founders the effort to bring municipal golf to Portland. His work coincided with his election as the President of Waverley Country Club which he served two consecutive yearly terms from 1915 to 1916. In 1917, was the appointed Chairman of the Committee for Municipal Golf and the key leader to the raising of private funds. Throughout the process, he is in attendance of every key meeting and would publish a regular list of people who donated money towards the design and construction of the course.
Born in 1971 in Minnesota, he attended LeHigh University and entered into the mining business, which lead him to Spokane, WA which was burgeoning region following the discovery of gold in the Coeur d'Alene region. Later he would transition to the grain business, the other main economic driver of the region.
In Portland Victor Johnson entered the woolen industry, which was also started in the prairies of Eastern Oregon and Washington, and he took over management for one of the woolen mills, much like the ones built just outside the gates of Waverley Country Club. It's quite possible these were located there for the express purpose of being close to the club.
However, Victor himself was not much of a golfer at all. Yes, he would play in some of the couples events with his champion caliber wife, though he was usually regaled to the 4th flight in most solo competitions, which means he rarely broke 90. Respectable, though not an impressive, scoring even by 1918 standards.
Victor's sport was Polo. He was the captain of the Waverley Polo team and oft quoted in the newspapers trying to rally their team to travel to nearby Tacoma CC or as far as the Western Polo Championship in Southern California. This, alas, was a trip they never made, probably on account of the immense costs and challenges it must have been to bring all those horses and players to California. Can you imagine? Riding more than 2 or 3 days on a train with all the riding gear.
Born in 1971 in Minnesota, he attended LeHigh University and entered into the mining business, which lead him to Spokane, WA which was burgeoning region following the discovery of gold in the Coeur d'Alene region. Later he would transition to the grain business, the other main economic driver of the region.
In Portland Victor Johnson entered the woolen industry, which was also started in the prairies of Eastern Oregon and Washington, and he took over management for one of the woolen mills, much like the ones built just outside the gates of Waverley Country Club. It's quite possible these were located there for the express purpose of being close to the club.
However, Victor himself was not much of a golfer at all. Yes, he would play in some of the couples events with his champion caliber wife, though he was usually regaled to the 4th flight in most solo competitions, which means he rarely broke 90. Respectable, though not an impressive, scoring even by 1918 standards.
Victor's sport was Polo. He was the captain of the Waverley Polo team and oft quoted in the newspapers trying to rally their team to travel to nearby Tacoma CC or as far as the Western Polo Championship in Southern California. This, alas, was a trip they never made, probably on account of the immense costs and challenges it must have been to bring all those horses and players to California. Can you imagine? Riding more than 2 or 3 days on a train with all the riding gear.
In Spokane he met his future bride, Miss Jessie McTavish, and they married in 1905. Miss McTavish of the local society in Spokane and crowned the the Derby Queen in 1901 Interstate Fair. She was very likely a member of the Spokane Country Club and may grew up playing golf (future host of the 1st US. Women's Open in 1946). This would help explain how, not long after their arrival in Portland in 1911, the Johnson's joined Waverley and she was winning the women's club championship in 1915 and 1916. She was also a competitor for the Oregon Women's Amatuer title for a number of years. While she never won and her best was runner up finish in 1922. Her golf game lived up to the Scottish heritage of her maiden name. | |
Why did Victor Johnson become so involved in the cause to bring municipal golf to Portland?
Why did Victor Johnson become so involved in the cause to bring municipal golf to Portland? Well there could be a great number of reasons. Many of the captains of industry at the time began to show a keen interest in civic improvements, especially around parks and recreation. Certainly he would have attended events with other leaders from the MAAC club like John C. Conville. It's also speculated in the newspapers at the time that his interest in geology and mining was a spark for the interest in golf course architecture and he may have simply caught the bug of a golf course builder following Waverley's redesign in 1912.
There's a practical reason as well - to provide an outlet for golfers that otherwise are not members of the club. Afterall, private clubs are by their nature private, and even avid golfers of considerable skill or professional success cannot simply play golf without a advance invitation. In 1912, Jewish businessmen, like the great department store Meier & Frank, and the fledgling groceries of Fred Meyer, were unable to join the only other club in town so they purchased land to build their own private club, Tualatin Country Club. It's very possible that Victor A Johnson took on the cause for municipal golf along with co-founder of municipal golf Rabbi Jonah Wise, as an olive branch to bridge the gap between the clubs, and do the citizens a good turn by providing a golf course where everyone could play.
There's a practical reason as well - to provide an outlet for golfers that otherwise are not members of the club. Afterall, private clubs are by their nature private, and even avid golfers of considerable skill or professional success cannot simply play golf without a advance invitation. In 1912, Jewish businessmen, like the great department store Meier & Frank, and the fledgling groceries of Fred Meyer, were unable to join the only other club in town so they purchased land to build their own private club, Tualatin Country Club. It's very possible that Victor A Johnson took on the cause for municipal golf along with co-founder of municipal golf Rabbi Jonah Wise, as an olive branch to bridge the gap between the clubs, and do the citizens a good turn by providing a golf course where everyone could play.
"Every little bit added to what you've got makes a little bit more" is the slogan of the Committee.
Checks may be made payable to Victor A. Johnson, treasurer, 406 Lewis Building.
Victor Johnson was named Treasurer at the start by the Superintendent James A. Conville for the $1,800 fundraising seed fund a necessary before the City of Portland would appropriate $4,000 towards the construction. He was also listed as the leader of PR, so when an article was published some three days later on February 25, 1917 we only guess that Victor A. Johnson had a hand in getting it published.
Future articles will more closely track the Committee's' progress and each of leaders contributions. What's clear is that for Victor A. Johnson, this cause was his most public to date as he's not regarded otherwise in direct participation with other efforts, public or political.
Quick note, he is also listed as one of the founding members of Oswego Lake, no doubt encouraged to help fund another Chandler Egan design and bring more golf to Portland just a short drive from his home club of Waverley.
He wasn't completed with his efforts to campaign for Eastmoreland Golf Links. In 1930, he along with many of the original members of the Committee would band together to petition the USGA to have Portland host the National Public Links at Eastmoreland. Their vision would soon host the very best amatuer players of public courses in 1933.
Future articles will more closely track the Committee's' progress and each of leaders contributions. What's clear is that for Victor A. Johnson, this cause was his most public to date as he's not regarded otherwise in direct participation with other efforts, public or political.
Quick note, he is also listed as one of the founding members of Oswego Lake, no doubt encouraged to help fund another Chandler Egan design and bring more golf to Portland just a short drive from his home club of Waverley.
He wasn't completed with his efforts to campaign for Eastmoreland Golf Links. In 1930, he along with many of the original members of the Committee would band together to petition the USGA to have Portland host the National Public Links at Eastmoreland. Their vision would soon host the very best amatuer players of public courses in 1933.
In 1923, the municipal golf program was in serious trouble from the bureaucrats in City Hall that were looking for scapegoats to sacrifice on the alter of fiscal responsibility. In fact, what was going on was the reneging of a promist for the city to purchase the land leased to the City by Ladd's Estate Company for the purpose of building Eastmoreland GOlf Course. As described in the Origin Story, the Tax Board was a group of career politicians that may very well had the ulterior motive to turn Eastmoreland into a private country club.
What we see on this particular article is that attendance and revenues have been steadily increasing. There is even a movement from the neighborhood citizens to turn the Rose City Speedway into a golf course (and spoiler - they succeed along with Paul Keysey to build Rose City in 1924) as well as a initiative to turn the old county poor farm (why it's called that will need some researching) for a west side course. This too would be successful and become the course on top of forrest park where the Zoo currently resides.
We know ultimately that Paul Keyser, hero to the public citizens and champion of recreation, was able to muster the courage to think outside the box, and achieve victory over those that would use the weapons of pessimism and fear to undermine the efforts to build a better Portland for all.
What we see on this particular article is that attendance and revenues have been steadily increasing. There is even a movement from the neighborhood citizens to turn the Rose City Speedway into a golf course (and spoiler - they succeed along with Paul Keysey to build Rose City in 1924) as well as a initiative to turn the old county poor farm (why it's called that will need some researching) for a west side course. This too would be successful and become the course on top of forrest park where the Zoo currently resides.
We know ultimately that Paul Keyser, hero to the public citizens and champion of recreation, was able to muster the courage to think outside the box, and achieve victory over those that would use the weapons of pessimism and fear to undermine the efforts to build a better Portland for all.
Budget cuts, pruning knives, limited resources.... These are words and thoughts that like stormy weather that downs powerlines, crashing trees across the roadways and fairways. Obstacles become the way. For a golfer, it's like someone cuts a hole in your bag and you watch savings account of collected golf balls fall away and realize that you have to play the round with this one lone ball in your hand.
Just remember, when the chips are down, the game board is poised for brilliance. I just returned from the WWII museum in New Orleans and am often reminded on the heroics and perseverance against the odds. For example, the Battle of Britain is toasted as an early turning point and one of the greatest victories of all time because of the great odds against the Royal Air Force outnumbered by the Luftwaffe 5:1. As Winston churchill noted, it was the "few" who defeated the "many" and turned the tide of the war machine.
Just remember, when the chips are down, the game board is poised for brilliance. I just returned from the WWII museum in New Orleans and am often reminded on the heroics and perseverance against the odds. For example, the Battle of Britain is toasted as an early turning point and one of the greatest victories of all time because of the great odds against the Royal Air Force outnumbered by the Luftwaffe 5:1. As Winston churchill noted, it was the "few" who defeated the "many" and turned the tide of the war machine.
In local politics that war machine is bureaucracy, twisting itself into knots and despair of what can't happen what is impossible and lose sight on the goal and the belief that we own the power to change.
Presently, as many municipal golfers know, as some concerned citizens, The PP&R Golf Program is in under siege by the war machine of a budget crisis stemming from the bureaucracy of a fixed mindset. For many many years, the Golf Advisory Committee, volunteer citizens who represent the public utility ownership of the golf assets, was informed by city management that the increase in population along with the increasing popularity of the game would result in higher and higher demand. The Golf Fund, which was always in surplus though most of the 1980's and 1990's , even so far as making 7-figure loan to the ARTS program to fund the development of the Portland's Opera House. In the past 20 years, the trend has reversed though the Golf Program has made few, if any, adjustments other than (1) raising rates - impacting availability to the public it serves - and (2) reducing costs by cutting maintenance budgets - impacting the quality of the courses.
Thankfully there are people within the Golf Program that have the tenacity of Winston Churchill and the brave "few" who created a strategic plan to overcome. First and foremost the greenskeepers of the municipal golf program are some of the most talented, based on how great they keep the course in spite of constant budget cuts that limit resources and personnel. Some of the success can be attributed to newer and more efficient and environmentally friendly practices. Unlike many courses back east like Augusta, which sacrifices wildlife and bugs for the emerald green perfection (Yes the TV broadcast pipes in bird sounds like a laugh track) the Portland Municipal Courses has followed and even lead the way in minimizing the use of chemicals in favor of allowing the course to adopt to the native grasses. Interestingly, many of these practices have been pioneered in some of the oldest courses in Scotland, where the natural growth of the ground is hallowed and revered in it's imperfections. These are the purist conditions which cause "rub of the green" or random bounces and lies unlike the manicured perfection of many PGA tour events on private country clubs.
Secondly, even with golf rates inching upwards year after year, the Golf Program has maintained prices at the lower end of the market. The issue with the rates and revenue is actually three distinct and separate problems which I will review here
The Golf Program will "blame it on the rain" like some 1980's one-hit wonder. For the record deluge of 2017 there is no more obvious culprit for declining revenues. It's also a fair assessment on any month-to-month basis, though in the context of a 5 year strategic plan it would be helpful to see more revenue driving initiatives. The problem isn't just the rain, after all this is Oregon, and the golf program was self sustaining for decades. The challenge is the current revenue model is not built to withstand the weather changes that result in lumpy revenue as unpredictable as the weather. In business school, the goal would be to deploy solutions designed to smooth the model is essential to effective budget planning.
What the Golf Program has just started to follow golf market trends and offer more incentives for loyalty cards to golfers. Almost every public course offers loyalty incentives for regular players to purchase annual golf passes, either all inclusive or at special rates. Leadership initiated a program for a Centennial Golf Card, which for the few golfers who took the time to appreciate the offer, happily purchased one of the two options. However, many of the most avid golfers, who very likely would have benefited the most from the cards, were not sought out as customers.
Interestingly enough, when I attended the GAC meetings and on occasion spoke up, the strong rebuttal from the director of golf that these passes were a terrible idea "because golfers would play too much" Which to me was laughable given the fact that the GAC and Golf Program is designed to encourage recreation. Zoller pointed to the "lifetime card" as an example of great loss to the program, which is one way to look at it, because an equal case can be made that these lifetime golfers (only 200 mind you) actually saved the program from bankruptcy in a time of great need.
Remember the mission of Porltand's Public Golf Program: to offer recreational activities for all citizens of Portland under a model of financial self-sufficiency.
With the pessimistic mindset from the start - is it really surprising the program wasn't successful? It should be noted that golfers that make their primary home course of Eastmoreland and Rose City did step up to the cause. Had every course sold a similar proportionate amount then the program may have succeeded, or certainly come much closer. But the other properties of Heron Lakes, Redtail and Colwood, were lagging behind and negligible sales.
Why?
There appears to be two critical reasons
Thankfully the PP&R and City Council was able to provide funds to the Golf Program to help stem the tide. This is equitable for a few reasons. First, the golf program has supported the ARTS program and Swimming Pools over the century multiple times - as the only self sustaining Parks Program it's given far more than it's received over the years. Second, the purchase of the Colwood property was an initiative foisted on the Golf Program by city rezoning on the original Colwood 18 hole course. The need to maintain open space for wetland habitat preservation led the city to approach the Golf Program to acquire the property with enterprise funds earmarked for the Golf Program. While the Colwood property may prove to be a great addition, the GAC board minutes indicate there was great concern for using Golf Program Cash reserves, at the time, for the renovation of a project when there were more pressing issues at hand. This concern was precient as the Colwood GC remains unprofitable and will continue to weigh negatively on cash flow for the foreseeable future..
Conclusion: The future of the Golf Program requires new vision and collaborative leadership between Golf Program and the Citizens of Portland. The golf program leaders have indicated that the Centennial Annual Pass was a failed experiment and they are going back to discounting rates. The lesson is "if you try and fail, don't ever try again." Whereas, this author and many citizen leaders of the golf community agree the real lessons to be learned are
Look to the tenacity and the integrity of Paul J Keyser, the great director of PP&R and take heart in the truth that new leadership with a growth mindset can learn from the past to build a better tomorrow.
- Demographics: Following the recession of 2008-2010 there was a significant drop off in people playing golf, and many of the baby-boomers that would be entering their prime "golf years" dropped off. Golf has always benefited from the fact that it is the sport that all other athletes eventually come upon as a way to stay active and keep the competitive juices flowing. Baseball, Softball, Basketball, Football and even Soccer become more and more challenging to maintain past the age of 35-40. Many serious injuries to the knee, achilles, the foot and back because as the body ages these sports that have an element of reactionary intensity make it tough to keep up. The demographic shift coming as the much larger millennial generation passes 35+, (the average age when golfers really pick up the sport) means this demographic slump shall soon pass.
- Recreational Competition: Many point to the rise in alternative forms of recreation. Outdoor activities like hiking and skiing have always played a role in Portland recreation. I believe once many discover that golf is not a "good walk spoiled" but a hike that becomes a sporting experience, the tide will change.
- Weather: Portland's weather both the "best" and the "worst" and it's been that way for a very long time. In the very first month of the course opening the rounds were minimal because of the pouring rain... On the other hand, Portland has the ability to surprise us with absolutely beautiful weather in almost every month of the year. I love snapping instagram golf shots in February to the chagrin of all my friends back east. The challenge is the weather is random, unpredictable and prone to long bouts of the good and the bad. This past year for example was the wettest spring in history - I remember my first spring in 2003 was similar with the most consecutive days of rain in a row. Blaming the weather in Portland is a total cop out, in my opinion. Yes we can every year there's a chance we might get a bad draw (El Nino, El Nina anyone?) and go into another rain slump. It's not just luck, because over a 5 year period you can absolutely guarantee there will be at least one or more slumps during that period
The Golf Program will "blame it on the rain" like some 1980's one-hit wonder. For the record deluge of 2017 there is no more obvious culprit for declining revenues. It's also a fair assessment on any month-to-month basis, though in the context of a 5 year strategic plan it would be helpful to see more revenue driving initiatives. The problem isn't just the rain, after all this is Oregon, and the golf program was self sustaining for decades. The challenge is the current revenue model is not built to withstand the weather changes that result in lumpy revenue as unpredictable as the weather. In business school, the goal would be to deploy solutions designed to smooth the model is essential to effective budget planning.
What the Golf Program has just started to follow golf market trends and offer more incentives for loyalty cards to golfers. Almost every public course offers loyalty incentives for regular players to purchase annual golf passes, either all inclusive or at special rates. Leadership initiated a program for a Centennial Golf Card, which for the few golfers who took the time to appreciate the offer, happily purchased one of the two options. However, many of the most avid golfers, who very likely would have benefited the most from the cards, were not sought out as customers.
Interestingly enough, when I attended the GAC meetings and on occasion spoke up, the strong rebuttal from the director of golf that these passes were a terrible idea "because golfers would play too much" Which to me was laughable given the fact that the GAC and Golf Program is designed to encourage recreation. Zoller pointed to the "lifetime card" as an example of great loss to the program, which is one way to look at it, because an equal case can be made that these lifetime golfers (only 200 mind you) actually saved the program from bankruptcy in a time of great need.
Remember the mission of Porltand's Public Golf Program: to offer recreational activities for all citizens of Portland under a model of financial self-sufficiency.
With the pessimistic mindset from the start - is it really surprising the program wasn't successful? It should be noted that golfers that make their primary home course of Eastmoreland and Rose City did step up to the cause. Had every course sold a similar proportionate amount then the program may have succeeded, or certainly come much closer. But the other properties of Heron Lakes, Redtail and Colwood, were lagging behind and negligible sales.
Why?
There appears to be two critical reasons
- Cost: For public golfers, an expense of $495 - $795 is a sizable chuck of any golf budget. Even though the cards themselves are good for the year and mathematically pencil out, that can be a bit of an investment in one chuck. Further, this is a long term investment over the summer and the winter, and for many golfers they don't golf at all during the winter, so it was seen as a bad deal. For some older golfers, I know they sometimes wonder if they will even be around the entire year! So not having payment plans or creating plans for different seasons is an oversight. Further by limiting the sale of cards over 30 days with barely any rollout - there wasn't any time to truly learn how to listen to the customer and win their business. One of the drivers why costs is such an issue is that the Golf Program has been promoting 5 rounds for $100 every holiday (requiring carts to the chagrin of recreational golfers that want the benefit of walking) as well as regular "fire sales" of golf rounds on sites like GolfNow or other promotions. For those familiar with retail economics, the Golf Program has essentially trained it's most active customer base to become hyper-aware of the discounts and refrain from ever paying full rates, except when they are playing in the league play.
- Pessimism of Golfers: The regular golfers and league players consider golf program leadership as not listening and against their interest. For these golfers the reasoning to not purchase the card was simply - "To hell with the City" Now I know this because once I realized the golf program leaders weren't even going to bother approaching the very golfers who would make the most sense to purchase the card... I spoke to many and the pessimism was deafening. In part it's because at some courses, like
- Pessimism of Staff + Lack of Incentives: The Golf Program did not set up the program for success because it did not incentivize the key stakeholders to actively sell the golf cards. It did not reach out the the most active golfers, the league players. While some clubs were engaged, others were not, and thus explains why some properties sold a negligible number of cards. The question must be asked, why lack of effort on from three key properties? If this program was designed to make sure the golf program would stay solvent aren't the stakeholders the most important beneficiaries. If not, are the management contracts designed for golf program solvency?
Thankfully the PP&R and City Council was able to provide funds to the Golf Program to help stem the tide. This is equitable for a few reasons. First, the golf program has supported the ARTS program and Swimming Pools over the century multiple times - as the only self sustaining Parks Program it's given far more than it's received over the years. Second, the purchase of the Colwood property was an initiative foisted on the Golf Program by city rezoning on the original Colwood 18 hole course. The need to maintain open space for wetland habitat preservation led the city to approach the Golf Program to acquire the property with enterprise funds earmarked for the Golf Program. While the Colwood property may prove to be a great addition, the GAC board minutes indicate there was great concern for using Golf Program Cash reserves, at the time, for the renovation of a project when there were more pressing issues at hand. This concern was precient as the Colwood GC remains unprofitable and will continue to weigh negatively on cash flow for the foreseeable future..
Conclusion: The future of the Golf Program requires new vision and collaborative leadership between Golf Program and the Citizens of Portland. The golf program leaders have indicated that the Centennial Annual Pass was a failed experiment and they are going back to discounting rates. The lesson is "if you try and fail, don't ever try again." Whereas, this author and many citizen leaders of the golf community agree the real lessons to be learned are
- Make effort to reach out to listen to their customers and community
- Leverage the financial modelling experts on the GAC board to formulate a plan, to optimize revenue and recreation for specific customer segments (weekends, weekdays, off peak, 9 holes, New Golfers, etc.)
- Create a mutually beneficial plan and then share that with the community leaders, before it goes into place
- Leverage the community leaders to market and sell the program to active golfers
- Learn and adjust year after year, to build on success and keep improve
Look to the tenacity and the integrity of Paul J Keyser, the great director of PP&R and take heart in the truth that new leadership with a growth mindset can learn from the past to build a better tomorrow.
Eastmoreland Golf Course achieved Audubon Certification this year under the guidance of Superintendent Kathy Hauff with some help from Eastmoreland 100 volunteers. We were very proud to have helped Kathy in her efforts to document all the wildlife and community volunteer projects. Volunteers participated with three key projects (1) Salmon counting along Chrystal Spring (2) Building a butterfly garden to enhance and educate along the 10th tee and (3) Bird nest cleaning with Audon member Jan Knott and (4) golfers documenting wildlife sightings. (links and articles on each project are coming soon)
So yes, we golfers love and appreciate the wildlife as we trek the 5.8 miles 18-hole layout and volunteer to help preserve the open space for future generations.
So yes, we golfers love and appreciate the wildlife as we trek the 5.8 miles 18-hole layout and volunteer to help preserve the open space for future generations.
We who play the game also have a responsibility to help ensure that golf remains compatible with nature and that our courses are well-managed and in harmony with the environment. USGA "Environmental Principles for Golf Courses in the United"
This may come as surprise to those look at a golf course's manicured fairways and greens and think "Golf courses can't be good for the environment!"
Well it's time to think again, because golf courses (especially municipal courses) are essential for long term planning for environmentally sound open space and a key sanctuary and habitat for wildlife.
First, Golf courses are critical for water reclamation. According to the GCSAA "Healthy turfgrass is an excellent filter that traps pollutants, preventing them from reaching groundwater supplies. And golf courses can actually serve as catch basins for residential and industrial runoff. In fact, golf courses are effective disposal sites for effluent wastewater." Many courses, like those in the Portland Parks system use recycled water, and are important assets to maintaining environmental requirements for managing a city's waste.
Second, Golf courses offer key sanctuaries and habitat for wildlife for indigenous plants and wildlife within City limits. Golf courses are perfectly suited for terrain alongside rivers, lakes and oceans that prone to flooding. Without golf courses, these areas over time become targets for industrial and residential development that historically resulted in the destruction of the habitat.
Third, Golf courses offer citizens to appreciate and preserve the natural habitat. Many golfers love the game for the physical skill and mental creativity and emotional patience required to excel. We also love being outside, listening to the birds, seeing animals up close. When I share videos of friends swinging clubs, non-golfers all seem to remark on the sounds of the many birds and insects that fill the air. When tee it up on Eastmoreland's 12th tee everyone searches the tops of tall firs across Chrystal Lake for the bald eagles that have been nesting each year, stalking fish and the occasional goose. During peak season, each foursome is contributing $160 to the sustaining the environment we cherish.
Fourth, Golf courses are financially self-sustaining strategy to preserve public open space. Unlike most of the acreage that Portland Parks & Recreation must obtain, only the golf courses have a long history of self-sustaining requirement. During peak season, each foursome is contributing $160 to the sustaining the environment we cherish, as much as $15,000 per day in the summer. The millions of dollars contributed by golf revenue has enabled the program to expand and save more critical habitat. Every other parks property requires tax-payer dollars to fund the entirety of their operations. Not only that, surplus revenue from the golf program has been used to subsidise Arts Program during the 1960's through the 1980's. One substantial donation nearing $1 million to help fund the construction of the Portland Opera.
Well it's time to think again, because golf courses (especially municipal courses) are essential for long term planning for environmentally sound open space and a key sanctuary and habitat for wildlife.
First, Golf courses are critical for water reclamation. According to the GCSAA "Healthy turfgrass is an excellent filter that traps pollutants, preventing them from reaching groundwater supplies. And golf courses can actually serve as catch basins for residential and industrial runoff. In fact, golf courses are effective disposal sites for effluent wastewater." Many courses, like those in the Portland Parks system use recycled water, and are important assets to maintaining environmental requirements for managing a city's waste.
Second, Golf courses offer key sanctuaries and habitat for wildlife for indigenous plants and wildlife within City limits. Golf courses are perfectly suited for terrain alongside rivers, lakes and oceans that prone to flooding. Without golf courses, these areas over time become targets for industrial and residential development that historically resulted in the destruction of the habitat.
Third, Golf courses offer citizens to appreciate and preserve the natural habitat. Many golfers love the game for the physical skill and mental creativity and emotional patience required to excel. We also love being outside, listening to the birds, seeing animals up close. When I share videos of friends swinging clubs, non-golfers all seem to remark on the sounds of the many birds and insects that fill the air. When tee it up on Eastmoreland's 12th tee everyone searches the tops of tall firs across Chrystal Lake for the bald eagles that have been nesting each year, stalking fish and the occasional goose. During peak season, each foursome is contributing $160 to the sustaining the environment we cherish.
Fourth, Golf courses are financially self-sustaining strategy to preserve public open space. Unlike most of the acreage that Portland Parks & Recreation must obtain, only the golf courses have a long history of self-sustaining requirement. During peak season, each foursome is contributing $160 to the sustaining the environment we cherish, as much as $15,000 per day in the summer. The millions of dollars contributed by golf revenue has enabled the program to expand and save more critical habitat. Every other parks property requires tax-payer dollars to fund the entirety of their operations. Not only that, surplus revenue from the golf program has been used to subsidise Arts Program during the 1960's through the 1980's. One substantial donation nearing $1 million to help fund the construction of the Portland Opera.
“Achieving Audubon certification is a lot of work and well worth the effort" - Kathy Hauff
The course was designed in 1917 by Chandler Egan a former national amateur golf champion and leading golf course architect.
The course has many natural resources, such as Chrystal Springs Lake, Chrystal Springs Creek and Johnson Creek, wetlands, and woods with over 2500 trees.
Eastmoreland Golf Course provides habitat for a diverse wildlife population including deer, eagles, heron, osprey, hawks, salmon, otters and many other species.
Eastmoreland now joins Heron Lakes as the second golf course in Portland's golf program to become Audubon certified. Superintendent Jessie Goodling, who mentored Kathy during start of her career with Portland Parks, achieved the Audubon certification earlier this Spring for Heron Lakes. Heron Lakes has a special distinction of being built directly in a flood plain, adjacent to the Columbia, on the land that the great WWII city of Vanport.
Jessie led the way as the first course in the Portland metro to add Bentgrass to the greens system, thereby reducing the water and chemical usage. Kathy has since followed in his footsteps and helping add the new grass system to Eastmoreland to supplement the natural poa greens, native to the Northwest. Per the Portland Tribune "Unlike poa, bentgrass does not need to be cut every day with a fleet of gas-powered motors. Goodling estimates he saves about a gallon of gas a day, while reducing exhaust from the mowers."
Jessie led the way as the first course in the Portland metro to add Bentgrass to the greens system, thereby reducing the water and chemical usage. Kathy has since followed in his footsteps and helping add the new grass system to Eastmoreland to supplement the natural poa greens, native to the Northwest. Per the Portland Tribune "Unlike poa, bentgrass does not need to be cut every day with a fleet of gas-powered motors. Goodling estimates he saves about a gallon of gas a day, while reducing exhaust from the mowers."
"Heron Lakes Golf Course has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for preserving the natural heritage of the area by protecting the local watershed and providing a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property," said Tara Donadio, Director of Cooperative Sanctuary Programs at Audubon International.
"To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas," explained Tara Donadio, Director of Cooperative Sanctuary Programs at Audubon International. These categories include: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management. Courses go through a recertification process every three years.
The Portland Golf program is a leader in maintaining golf courses with a focus on natural habitats, local grasses with the goal to minimize use of chemicals. Golf courses all across America are all moving towards more environmentally sound policies as a result of the success of courses like Eastmoreland, Heron Lakes and Rose City. With a budget that is a fraction of the private courses like Waverley, Columbia Edgewater and Riverside, the Portland Parks maintenance crew provides a championship golf experience that rivals the private courses. Their efforts are even more worthy of praise when you consider they support more than triple the amount of rounds played in comparison to the private clubs.
“It’s difficult individually to change people’s perceptions,” Jessie Goodling says. “[Most] superintendents don’t want to think outside the box.”
Here's to the great work of Jessie, Kathy and their respective crews of the Portland Golf program, who are pioneers in golf maintenance with the goal of achieving environmental and financial sustainability. The entire community of golfers and future golfers should be grateful for their leadership as stewards of the land in harmony with Portland's community values.