Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 7, 1974)
Heppner, Ore., Gazette-Times, Thursday, Mar. 7, 1974 Willow Creek Country Club Page 3 Recreation, fellowship for 75 local families By GLENN MORRISON The cry of "fore!" and the click of the putt means Palm Springs or Miami to some, bat to golf enthusiasts in Heppner it means the Willow Creek Country Club. The club was founded in 1956 when several interested per sons in the area banded together and established a plan for a golf course. Construction of the course began later that year when the newly formed club leased land from Tom Wells and initial work was done. After months of hard work, all of which wa? volunteer labor, the group was soon able to begin playing on a crudely laid out 6 hole course. The start of that original course is now where the 9th hole area is. The course at that , time had dirt "greens" which allowed Heppner's duffers to bogey their way around the course with only a minimum of grassy areas. The dirt "greens" had to be swept with a piece of carpet in order to keep the surface around the holes playable. In the early years Frank Turner bought the present clubhouse from Union Pacific Railroad and then donated it to the country club. The house was moved and remodeled inside and out to end up with the present facility. In the early 1960s the property was purchased from Tom Wells and the course was further modified and ex panded. Many of the club's early members were instrumental in establishing the present course. A partial list of those who contributed much of their time are Clint McQuarrie, Harry O'Donnell, Lowell Cribble, John Williams, the late Phil Mahoney and the other early country club members. Their work and mainte nance care made the course v m so to"- r. "a it i 1 ,.,. , This smalt wooden bridge Joins the two swtioni of the course which are divided by Willow Creek. New books at library Several hundred books have been added to the Heppner Library recently. Many are new books, such as Margaret Truman's bio graphy of her father, Erich von Daniken's "Chariots of the Gods?" about two dozen recent mystery books, several outstanding books about Ore gon and the Northwest, new children's books, and a va riety of adult fiction. Some helpful non-fiction publica tions are also ready to be circulated. The librarian appreciates the volunteer help that has helped her catalog the new books, and hopes more volun teers will continue to aid with the processing of several hundred volumes that have been donated to the library. what it is today. Dee Cribble, an early member of the club and its present director of women's golfing at the course, remembers times when lost golf balls were commonplace. She describes places on the early course layouts where "weeds and alfalfa patches were as high as your head." Gradually the weeds were cut down and the greens were seeded and cared for to produce thick, even putting surfaces and fairways where balls are easily found, not swallowed as in the course's earlier days. Soon electric carts were seen on the course and a barbecue pit was placed next to the putting or practice green. Originally the maintenance such as mowing and watering were done by the club, but now it is able to hire the basic work done. All other major main tenance is done on a volunteer basis by committees appoint ed by the club. The present 9 hole course covers an area of approxi mately 30 acres, spanning both the Union Pacific Rail road tracks and Willow Creek. To keep the course dry the club had to divert many of the hillside runoffs which cut through the playing area. An Ruth chapter, Order of Eastern Star, will have a regular meeting Monday, March 11, 8 p.m . at the Heppner Masonic Temple. All Eastern Star members in the area are invited to attend. Ed Gonty has submitted his resignation as a member of the City Planning Commis sion. : v - - i i rropeny aaies uo., inc. irrigation ditch was moved in the course of construction and many low areas were filled and leveled. Occasionally Wil low Creek will run over Its banks leaving a messy sedi ment over the greens and fairways of the course. One afternoon of volunteer labor is usually all that is needed to bring the course back to good playing condition. Current Willow Creek Coun try Club President Dennis Martin estimated the number of paid memberships around 75 families and a few single members. Although it is a private course the club wel comes new members. The club has several invitational meetings with the other courses in the area every year. Groups from the courses in Kinzua, Echo, McNary, Condon, and other Eastern Oregon towns participate in these gatherings. Although the club doesn't sponsor any tournaments during the year it does have some inter-club competition. Martin said the size of the club prohibited any large sponsorship of teams, tourna ments, or professional facili ties such as a pro shop or expanded entertainment fa cilities. "The club is one of the cheapest priced family en- "Take your finger out of your ear and listen to me!" I If i ' ' v 'i vrfiK 'it' ' Beaverton, Oregon Needed: Morrow County Wheat Ranches We have buyers who want to secure wheat ranches in this area. We are prepared to program the time of the sale to your convenience. Call collect or write Jack Merrill, formerly of Heppner, and he will arrange a meeting with you. 12195 S.W. Canyon Rd. Beaverton, Oregon 97005 Phone: 646-1188 Hugh Salter sinks a putt during an afternoon of golf at the W illow Creek Country Club. I n fhings WOT to j give up for Lont. T I ilf ... Jtfl April h ! I Hawaii! L Paris!! j 1 --z : m 3 Roman J Fiesta Bravo ii Holiday! Spain! s CAREFREE TOURS & TRAYEL SERVICE Ml S W- lit DnirrAU 27621 Benefit for Bill Gates Family Sunday, March 10 at lone Cafeteria and Gymnasium Spaghetti Dinner served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. $1.50 adults and high school students $1.00 6th graders and under $5.00 family ticket Evening will include a cake walk, white elephant auction and an exhibition basketball game, featuring lone High School girls vs. the Un-Players. Sponsored by lone Cardinal Club Proceeds will be used for medical expenses. Cash donations may be sent to Bill Gates Benefit, in care of Mary Ann Palmer, lone. HANK OF jEastem Oregon lone MEMBER. FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION tertainments in Heppner," he said. Membership in the club is easily obtained by contacting one of the officers of the club which this year include, Mar tin as president; John Ed mundson, vice-president; and Conley Lanham, secretary treasurer. Martin said beginners are welcome to join as the club can assist them in selecting equipment through various sports equipment catalogues the club receives. In recent years the club has assisted the local school district in setting up a golf program at the high school. The district currently pays a set fee to the club for use of the facilities by the school. For the past several years Hepp ner High School has had a golf team, and this in turn has helped the club grow by teaching young people the sport. Martin says many senior citizens from the area use the course to great advantage. Since golf is not as highly physical as many games it becomes a perfect sport to be played by people of all ages. Throughout the year the club holds picnics and barbe cues and organizes various social gatherings. Although the group has no current plans for expansion It does hope to increase its facilities as the membership grows. The Willow Creek club offers much more than just a golf game for those who want to relax. The clear waters of Willow Creek carve a path through the arching willows which divide the course. White wooden ornamental benches grace the shaded knolls where weary golfers can relax be tween holes. And when the game is done, the club house offers a place to rest, change shoes, store equipment and discuss the sport with other interested club friends. Willow Creek Country Club has come a long way since its first dirt "greens" and sage brush fairways, but the future holds other improvements to the already beautiful grounds. r 0 0 0 Good News Now appearing in the ELK'S LOUNGE . . . 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