The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1922-09-07
GOLF COURSE
SOON REALITY
TUESDAY WILL BE DEDICATION DAY
Members Will Assemble to Break Ground
and Initiate Work on One Of
Vests Best Links


River Country Club in the Oak Grove
district is now being shaped into a
nine-hole golf course, and when the
warm suns of next spring begin shin
ing. the links. according to experts
who have inspected the new grounds,
| will be as appealing as any to be found
the length of the Pacific coast. The
new golf course, it is declared, will
form a new appeal for those who motor
to the midi Columbia to see the dis
trict's scenic attractions. 1t is ex-
pected that it will bring many new
guests to the Columbia Gorge Hotel,
with reference to which it is conven-
iently located. The country club ranch
is only 81 miles from the big tourist
hostelry. A good county road, pene-
trating orchards and scenes of pleasing
pastoral life, connects the two.
The farm purchased by the country
club from Herman Pregge. pioneer
rancher of the district, lies on the ex-
treme west side of the community
productive orchards. The high foot
| form protection against the strong
winds that prevail along the Columbia
gorge and in the more open sections of
/
rolling, a Typographical feature de-
clared idealistic by golf experts. The
| initial unit of nine holes will be so
arranged that an additional nine may
be added without any disarraDgement
of plans or Inconvenience to players.
The Oak Grove farm has a prodigal-
ity of water, and by the system of
irrigation that will be utilized, the
fairways may be kept green the entire
year. The soil it is said, is adapted
to lawn building, and the putting
greens will be as rich and velvety as
any city lawn in the land. Chandler
Egan, ex-Ameriean amateur golf
champion. of Medford, who has charge
of building the links and who has
studied the ground thoroughly. grew so
enthusiastic after returning home that
he wrote A. w. Peters, one of the pro.
moters of the course, declaring that
the Hood River folk are to be congTat-
ulated on their choice of club home.
Mr.. Egan says the Hood River golf
course will compare favorably with
any links on the Pacific coast. The
scenic surroundings and evergreen fair.
ways are characterized by him as
features that will insure the new links
a popularity from the beginning.
Numerous Portland men and women
have inspected the home IF the Hood
River Country Club, and invariably
their praise of the site and their COM
ment on possibilities have been graft
fying. Rabbi Wise, OF Portland, who
is an enthusiastic golfer. visited the
Oak Grove ranch on a beautifully clear
day in early summer. At a point on
the course, where one of the holes will
be located, the golfer has an oppnrtun-
ity of beholding both Mount Hood and
Mount Adams. The golf links are al
most equi-distant from the shimmering
snow peaks. Rabbi Wise stopped with
party of friends.
"Gentlemen, he said, 81 would like
to say something, but / do not feel
that my vocabulary is adequate. This
is one place where | am rendered
speechess by the magnifcence of
things of nature that God has placed
around us. am inspired to silence"
Rabbi Wise"s brief comment and
silence are considered the greatest
compliment the Hood River golf course
has ever had.
The new country club and golf
course are being financed by the sale
of $40, 600 in debenture bonds, all of
which have already been subscribed.
Officers of the club are: A. w Peters.
presidents Fielding S. Kelly, vice
president, and c. N. Ravlin, secretary
and treasurer. Other members of the
directorate are: Truman Butler, f. O.
Blanchar, E. r. Pooley, and S. L.
Banks. Ninety resident members are
now on the roster.
On Tuesday, September IL, dediea-
tion day will be held. Members from
the city and rural sections will turn
the first sod in preparation for the
faiTways and putting greens in shape.
Ii will be made gala day, and a large
delegation of Portland men and their
families are expected here. Orchard
ist members of the club have promised
to have 10 tractors on the grounds, and
various other implements will be
available.
The Hood River Tennis Club will
unite with the new organization and
will move its courts 10 the country
club grounds. Development Of the
second nine will be delayed for a time.
Mr.. Egan, writing to Mr.. Peters.
tells, as follows. what he thinks Of the
course and of the various holes of the
first nine:
There are two big outstanding fea-
tures that stand out IN my mind re-
garding the site you all have chosen
for the Hood River golf course. First,
the gorgeous view afforded from nearly
every tee and. second, the adsptability
of the natural topography Of the place
to golfng purposes
ITO most players half the fun Of the
game Is in the enjoyment of being out
doors and nothing can add more 10 the
enjoyment of being outdoors than
beauty of landscape. That is why
every designer Of golf courses today
at least tries to be a landscape gar
dener as well as an expert in placing
tees. greens and hazards. With the
tremendous natural advantages you
possess in your partially wooded bill
side land with its commanding view of
Mount Hood and your fertile valley
the only work you fellows will have in
building your course will be in keep
ing the beauty that is already yours.
mean by that that you should take
care TO make al your greens and haz-
ards and fairway contours as informal
and natural in shape as possible.
Looking at yOUr proposed course
from a purely golfng standpoint Of
view, given the support that you
should have, which means opportunity
properly to develop your natural re-
sources, ! see 10 reason why your first
nine holes should not equal anything in
the Northwest As ] visualized them
while walking over the ground with
you ] could think Of no nine holes that
r1ouI1 hp more eunrfv more interest