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Epcc chap4

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54 El Paso Country Club
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Page 1: Epcc chap4

54 El Paso Country Club

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4Chapter“The El Paso Country

Club continued to grow in all areas including

membership, revenue, and reputation.”

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56 El Paso Country Club

The Rejuvenating Seventies

Tom Fernandez Sr. (left) and Gibbs Taylor, 1977 Sunland Swingtime.

It was on May 21, 1969, that the Rehabilitation Plan was presented to the Board of Governors. The Trust Deed debt now owed would be paid off and the renovations would follow.

The plan was divided into six phases. Phase I included renovation of the dining facilities and men’s locker room in the amount of $34,360; Phase II called for refurbishing portions of the lower level and new posting units for payroll and payables for a total of $19,000; Phase III, for relocation of the golf shop and caddie facilities, and the development of a new driving range for $43,000; Phase IV totaled $58,000 for a new grill with food facilities for sandwiches, salads, and desserts. This phase also included golf course equipment. Phase V specified the rebuilding of five new greens for a total of $30,000; Phase VI included the construction of a relocated swimming pool, snack facilities, locker rooms, showers, and the development of an area east of the parking lot as a recreational area for children for a total of $114,200. The grand total was $300,000, and the goal was to provide members with a first-class country club in all respects, and to provide the highest standards of social and recreation enjoyment. Phase I of the plan began in 1970, with improvements in the men’s locker room and grill as the first step. The following year, the mixed grill was designed as a “members’ dining room.” It was on October 13, 1971, that the Board of Governors celebrated the start of actual construction. By 1972, the membership committee was pleased to announce that because of the continued

growth and improvement of the club, many new members had joined and many who had left had returned.

By the mid-seventies, the membership had increased considerably, and the mixed grill had been modernized to attract more club activity. The now-completed tennis courts were always occupied, and it was recommended that a few more courts be built to accommodate the need. The greens committee reported that rebuilding the greens was receiving favorable reports from players, but that everyone should “pray for rain.”

In 1975, Jackie Guadagnoli Yetter, a premier player, was hired as the club’s first tennis professional. Jane Dundas and Alton Setliff followed Yetter as our tennis pros. Tennis program improvements were instrumental in bringing in members. A new pro shop was built in 1980, and now eight lighted courts have constant heavy play. Tennis memberships were almost at their maximum under the direction of Scott Nichols. His children’s tennis program began with a handful of aspiring tennis greats and grew to include more than one hundred children. Today, under the leadership of Lee Elliott, there is even more interest. The Women’s Tennis Association was formed so that women tennis players could be rated and play in day and evening leagues. Currently, the association has eighty players. The Ocotillo Invitational is a club-sponsored citywide tournament and is now touted as one of the best in the city.

To attract prospective members who may have considered joining the Coronado Country Club and the new Santa Teresa Country Club, many incentives were developed. These included offering new members a $50 credit on their club bills, plus four dinners at the club, and the installation of a “happy hour” with drinks at half price.

Toward the late seventies, renovations were almost complete but not without financial woes. Members resisted having dues raised to accommodate needs, and the Board of Governors was at odds as to how to get the money needed to finish the club’s rebuilding plan.

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Below: Dining in the Vista Room. (EPCC)

Left: Cocktails in the Gold Room. (EPCC)

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58 El Paso Country Club

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Hole No. 1The opening hole is a daunting challenge

to start the round. One of the longer par 4s on the course, it demands an accurate and lengthy drive. A gentle dogleg to the left with trees on both sides of the fairway. A large fairway bunker lies on the right side of the fairway to swallow up any drive that strays to the right. A well-positioned drive will leave you facing a very difficult green. Pin locations on the back and on the back left sides of the green demand absolute precision from the fairway. A large greenside bunker guards the front left side of the green. Walk off this green with a par and you have a good start to your round.

Hole No. 2The second hole is a dogleg right par 4.

The dangers on this hole lie in the drive and near the green. From the tee, the right side is lined with trees. Players that challenge the corner of the dogleg could find themselves chipping back out to the fairway. Even if you find the fairway, you will be left with a difficult second shot. The right side of the green is protected by a water hazard; the left side of the green is well bunkered and there is a false front. The second hole demands solid course management.

Golf Course Hole Descriptions

Hole No. 3Number 3 is the shortest par 3 on the

course, but do not let its lack of distance lull you into a false sense of confidence. The number 3 green is one of the most challenging greens on the course. Three large bunkers divide this green into three distinct sections. Land in any of these bunkers or land in the wrong section and there will be lots of work left for your par.

Hole No. 4As you walk to the fourth tee, you see a

rather mundane hole. A straightaway par 4 with a large fairway and green is usually how this hole is described. Number 4 does have some tricks up its sleeve. Right about where everyone lands his or her drive, a mogul complex juts into the fairway, cutting the landing area in half. Because of the trees that line both the right and left sides of the fairway, it is almost impossible not to challenge the moguls and rough that appear in the fairway. Number 4’s length leaves you with a longer-than-normal second shot. Be aware of the bunker on the left side of the green and be especially cautious of the back left pin position.

Hole No. 5Bunkers are the theme to this short par

4. A large fairway bunker on the left side of the fairway catches your eye from the tee as it reduces the landing area for your drive. After successfully navigating your drive, you face a well-bunkered, two-tiered green. Make sure you’re on the right level to have a solid chance for your birdie or par.

Hole No. 6One of the most challenging tee shots

awaits you as you approach the sixth tee. Water lines the entire right side of the hole, and a bunker on the left side of the fairway penalizes those who bail out to the left. The green you face is well protected. Deep bunkers protect the entire right side of the green while a water hazard grabs any shots that go over the green. There are many challenging pin positions on this green, making number 6 one of the more difficult holes on the course.

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60 El Paso Country Club

Hole No. 7To go or not to go? A question you must ask

when deciding what club to hit from the tee. Number 7 is a fairly long par 4, but with a twist. A large canal cuts the hole in half. Only a well-struck driver will carry over the canal. Leave the driver in the bag and be left with a long, but dry, second shot of nearly two hundred yards into the only green not protected by a bunker. Your success on this hole depends mainly on your decision on the tee.

Hole No. 8A short par 4 is in order after the last two

holes. Only trouble is that you are playing number 8. Off the tee you must navigate several fairway bunkers on the right and trees on the left. When in the fairway, you must be aware of where the hole is cut on the green. Play to the wrong side of this green and a three-putt is in order. Also be aware of the hole locations on the left side of the green and your proximity to the large cottonwood tree near the green. That tree has a habit of swallowing up second shots.

Hole No. 9The lone par 5 on the front nine is not the

longest par 5 in the region, but it has teeth. Your drive must avoid water, sand, and trees. Only a well-placed drive will give you an opportunity to go for this green in two. For those forced to lay up, your work has just begun. Large trees in the middle of the fairway demand that you place your second shot in the proper location in the fairway. The green is well bunkered, and you must respect the back left hole location.

Hole No. 10The second par 3 starts you off on the

back nine. A water canal runs along the left and back of the green awaiting any shot that is slightly pulled to the left. There are two bunkers that protect the right and left side of the green. Any shot that finds the green on this long par 3 is a good shot.

Hole No. 11This dogleg left par 4 is a challenge from

tee to green. From the tee, you must shape your drive around several fairway bunkers. To achieve success on the green, your second shot must find the correct section on the green. Any errant second shots will leave you in one of the more difficult green side bunkers or collection areas.

Hole No. 12Number 12 is the last par 3 you will face.

It plays as long as 220 yards. This hole’s difficulty is in the pin placement. The twelfth green is a two-tiered green with three distinct sections. Find yourself in the wrong part of the green and watch out. In some cases, you are better off missing the green in the region of the pin versus hitting the wrong side of the green.

Hole No. 13The second of the course’s two par 5s. It

is the only par 5 I know of where I can hit the green in two without hitting my driver off the tee. The reason for this is that this hole runs alongside number 7. And so just like number 7, a water canal splits the hole in two. This canal forces a number of lay-ups to its edge. Only a carry of more than 300 yards can guarantee a successful carry over the canal. At the canal’s edge, you face a very difficult decision—whether or not to go for it. You are left with nearly 250 yards onto a very well–defended green. Several bunkers

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protect this green, and certain pin positions are very difficult to access. Lay up, and your wedge shot in must also be on target to find any success on this hole.

Hole No. 14When you step up the tee on this hole, two

things grab your eye—the water on the right and the out-of-bounds fence on the left. There are no real bailouts on this hole because the water and the out-of-bounds run the length of the entire hole. If you do happen to find the fairway, you must ensure you understand and respect certain hole locations. Pins cut in the front, back, and right of the green are on slopes that run away from the center of the green. Miscalculate your second shot, and you could be facing one very difficult up and down.

Hole No. 15This drivable par 4 is a hole that likes to

bite back. You can challenge this hole from many different angles. Large trees split the fairway into two distinct sections. Take the left line from the tee and you must carry several fairway bunkers; take the right side and you must maneuver around several trees and fairway bunkers. After dealing with your drive, you face a green affectionately called the “potato chip.” This small and narrow green has no level spot. Every hole location is a headache waiting to happen. There are also no bailouts around the green. Fall short and end up in a deep bunker; go long and

watch your ball roll forever down the back of the green. Number 15…just because it’s short doesn’t mean it won’t bite.

Hole No. 16Wait before you pull out your driver. See

the out-of-bounds to the left? What about the trees on the right? This hole demands placement over power, especially since the trees on the right can hinder your approach shot into the green. The sixteenth green is one of the most severely sloped greens on the course. It is well bunkered, and precision is a must if you decide to challenge one of the protected pin locations.

Hole No. 17 Have you ever seen so much water? That

is what comes to mind when lining up your tee shot. Number 17 is a dogleg left par 4 with water all along the left side. A total risk-reward situation as you decide how much of the water you will try and carry to reduce the distance you have for your second shot. If you decide not to challenge the water, be aware that the right side is no picnic either. A large complex of fairway bunkers and trees guard against a free pass on the right side. The second shot you face is into a long, narrow green that runs north-south to the player. It is well bunkered on the left side of the green, and the fringe runs away from the green on the right side. Any shot missing the green just a little left or right will leave you with a difficult up and down.

Hole No. 18Just because it’s the last hole doesn’t

mean you are going to be able to let down your guard. This difficult dogleg left par 4 is a tough test from the start. Out-of-bounds and several trees penalize any shots that stray left. The right side of the hole is well defended by trees. Since the green is protected by a water hazard that lines the front and left side, it is paramount that you find the fairway from the tee. Once in the fairway, you face a rather large green with a steep slope in its first half, almost a false front. The back left and right hole locations are protected by rather large bunkers that will swallow up any shots coming up short. To find success on this green, you must be precise with your distance and direction from the fairway.

Hole descriptions provided by Vernon Vane.

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62 El Paso Country Club

The Energetic EightiesImprovements to the golf course were the

board’s main area of concentration during the early eighties. A golf course architect (Ronald Fream) from California was chosen to design and rebuild the course.

In 1981, the El Paso Country Club celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary, and the course underwent a massive change in 1983 as every tee and green was torn up and redesigned. The resulting 6,781-yard course was vastly improved and elevated to a true championship layout. LeRoy J. Foltz was named general manager in 1984. Under his leadership, the club enjoyed new levels of profitability.

By 1985, the golf course renovations were completed, but not without an anticipated 10 percent membership drop because of heavy dues assessments. Under Lee’s direction, a full-time staff member was hired for membership development and outside party solicitation to generate more income.

Mike Georges became pool manager in 1985. The swimming program, under the direction of Randy Hambrick, currently has more than one hundred young people participating in it, and has produced many city champions over the years. By the end of the eighties, the upstairs area of the clubhouse was again completely remodeled, creating an elegant atmosphere. Along with the continued membership development program, it was reported that 1989 was the best year for the Food and Beverage Department.

Cuco Lujan—caddie master at EPCC for more than fifty years.

Left: Tommy Alva on the day of his retirement from fifty years of caddying at EPCC. (EPCC)

Above: Marie Eichelmann (left) and Carolyn Driver during the 1983 golf course reconstruction. (EPCC)

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On Saturday night, December 31, 1989, just moments before the eighties dissolved into the nineties, a group of Country Club New Year’s Eve revelers pushed their way through the heavy glass doors to the balcony, and looked out over the frost-glazed fairway before them. While shivering and laughing, they descended the stairs, and crunched across the frozen Bermuda grass to tee box No. 1. Huddled together, beer bottles and glasses were raised to the ink-blue El Paso sky, and toasts were made to a new year and a new decade.

Just hours later, on New Year’s morning, the sun rose against a crystal clear El Paso sky, welcoming another gorgeous winter day in El Paso. Near the Pro Shop, several golfers sipped coffee, waiting patiently for the greens to defrost. Those ready to play tennis were warming up, and soon the pinging sound of balls against rackets could be heard. It wouldn’t be long before sweaters and jackets were peeled off as the cold morning air turned warm.

Members of the El Paso Country Club had plenty of reasons to rejoice. The club manager stated that December 1989 was the “busiest month ever” in regard to food and beverage revenue. And it was reported that the general financial condition of the club was “good,” most notably was a significant increase in Member’s Equity. At the beginning of the nineties, the El Paso Country Club continued to grow in all areas including membership, revenue, and

reputation. Although El Paso’s economy had stumbled when the peso dropped in the mid-eighties, the club remained steady. After all, it had already endured two World Wars, the Depression, Prohibition, and various other regional and national economic changes. In 1991, to commemorate ninety years, a history of the club was published, and in 1996, a few members initiated a weekend-long celebration.

To encourage new membership, an inherited certificate number was no longer a requirement to join, and the Board of Governors voted to offer Junior and Intermediate memberships, which allowed an affordable option for a younger age group. These changes were timely for the club after Congress implemented the NAFTA agreement on December 8, 1993. As in international building block, NAFTA revived commerce with our sister city, Juarez, and the result was a refreshed union in the flow of

The Nifty Nineties

border economics and a marked expansion to the region.

El Paso was now positioned as a turnkey hub for international trade and communications, and with it came a surge of multinational newcomers. In January of 1993, just a few miles from the club, the Santa Teresa port of entry opened between the states of New Mexico and Chihuahua. Land developers and homebuilders were rapidly constructing subdivisions on what were once cotton fields and grazing pastures. New strip centers were popping up on Doniphan and just north of the Rio Grande, and the Upper Valley was no longer considered the outskirts of town.

This was an exciting and energetic decade for a club that had always been thought of as a “golf club.” The El Paso Country Club stood in the heart of the Upper Valley’s expansion. Recognizing the opportunity

Left to right: Carol Stone, Betty Boyd, Chris Boyd, and Harry Stone.

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64 El Paso Country Club

for growth, the Board of Governors offered more suggestions for Courtesy Clubhouse memberships. These memberships were awarded to key individuals and businesses in the community with the intent to promote the club as a diverse yet exclusive establishment.

The El Paso Country Club now was known not only as a premier golf club but also boasted strong increases in tennis, swimming, and social memberships. Capital improvements were approved for fence installation, court

expansions, and improvements to the pro shop and grounds.

The club’s beautiful pool area attracted new members seeking a cool reprieve from the intense El Paso sun. As the swimming and social memberships grew, so did the Barracuda swim team. Led by dedicated coaches, the team ranked at the top in city, regional, and state swimming events. Each year in the nineties, the Board of Governors unanimously approved the recommendations from pool managers and committee members, especially in regard to the Snak Shak, restrooms, and grounds. The club welcomed private poolside parties, and the club’s event staff coordinated evening events during the season.

During the nineties, as the membership base grew rapidly, the Board recognized the need to put a stronger focus on cosmetic and structural improvements to the building and the grounds. A new maintenance building was constructed in 1993, and concrete cart paths were built in 1996. Renovations in the kitchen, locker rooms, and upstairs dining areas improved the quality of the club’s amenities, and revenues from parties and club-sponsored events continued to increase.

As the oldest private golf club in El Paso, there were many internal areas that needed renovation or improvements, such as the kitchen, laundry facility, and golf buildings. Also, with each wave of new members, additional locker space was added, and locker rooms for both men and women were remodeled or expanded.

Young members enjoy swimming in the current El Paso Country Club Pool. (EPCC)

Left to right: Kristi Albers, Carolyn Overley, Sonja Van Nortwick, and Mary Ann Heard.

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90s Celebrations

66 El Paso Country Club

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68 El Paso Country Club

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Over the next few years, the lower dining area was completely remodeled, the administrative offices were refurbished, new carpet was placed throughout the building, and new mechanical equipment was purchased. A new elevator was installed in the entry for all handicapped guests. Remodeling continued with the completely redesigned men’s grill, locker room, and billiard room at a cost of about $l75,000, all paid through donations by golfing members.

In addition, the weight room was doubled in size, and all brand new equipment was installed. The tennis courts were resurfaced and two courts were completely rebuilt, adding to the quality of the club’s tennis facility. A state-of-the-art water slide was installed in the swimming pool area, drawing support among many of the club’s younger

Flood damage to the golf course caused by the flooding of 2006. (Neil Baker)

The Significant 2000s

members. Resurfacing of all parking areas, installation of new lighting, and landscaped islands were completed in 2007.

In 2005, the board ordered the construction of a lake between No. 6 and No. 14 fairways to ensure the availability of an adequate water supply for irrigation of the golf course. This lake, built under the supervision of Phelps Davee and with the generous assistance of C. F. Jordan Company, covers approximately four acres and has a capacity of about ten acre feet. In addition, three wells have been drilled to supply the three lakes on the premises. The golf course equipment, which has been replaced as needed, is state-of-the-art and is well short of its expected lifespan.

Activities for the youth of El Paso Country Club have grown tremendously in the last ten years. More than 120 young people participate every summer in the golf program. In addition,

there are tennis, swimming, and golf camps. Parties include the traditional Easter egg hunt, Halloween costume, Christmas with Santa, movies and dances by the pool, and golfing with parents, making this a very family-oriented country club.

The biggest issue came in 2006 with the one-hundred-year flood that the city of El Paso and the club had to endure in August. The club and the west side of the city had more than fourteen inches of rain in a five-day period, which caused much damage to the drainage ditch that runs through the golf course. The flood washed out three cart crossing bridges and two walking bridges. Plans are underway at this writing to repair the damage.

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70 El Paso Country Club70 El Paso Country Club

A Lifetime of Memoriesby Mary Hoover, an El Paso Hall of Fame

and Tennis Champion

I learned to swim at age five under the instruction of Byng Armstrong, who was the lifeguard and my teacher. From then up to the age of twelve, my mother, in her silk stockings and high-heeled shoes, drove her three girls to the club regularly from Louisville Street, over the winding Scenic Drive, through Kern Place, to Mesa, which was then a two-lane road full of hills and more curves. We experienced carsickness regularly in the hot air-condition-less car.

The mothers, all dressed up, sat on the screened-in porch overlooking the 20' x 45' pool, north of the building. (Years later, the screened porch was enclosed and used as the stage for bands in the upstairs ballroom.) From there, they could watch their children do flips from the low board and dive from the high dive, a wooden structure that looked like a windmill without the panes. There were cries of “Watch me!” from all the kids. All played tag, and the comers had to be cut (jumped into and out of). It was a wild game, and there was running allowed.

Late Sunday afternoon, they would begin draining the pool for cleaning. By then, the sides and bottom had a thick green film. By Monday, the pool could be scrubbed with brushes till the green was gone, and the filling would take till Tuesday afternoon for another week of swimming. It was a lot of work to have that fine pool. The pool

location changed to the east (back) of the building in 1954, and back to its original location later, complete now with wading pool, diving board, and colorful slide. Lanes make it possible to have super swim meets for the children of members.

In 1947, I came home from college and saw at once that I had to take up golf—Joe Hoover played with a large group of his friends on Sunday afternoons (Greg Ramsey, Elliot Shapleigh, Louis Scott, and Tommy Mayfield), and with Barbara Curlin, Patty Tuller, and Carolyn Lee, we had a picnic at

“The Rocks” on the bank of the Rio Grande.

Wally Harden taught me enough to join the group, and I was able to attract Joe’s attention and marry the love of my life. I did not like golf—I was a tennis player—but I liked the end result! As young marrieds, we attended many formal parties at EPCC, such as Junior League charity balls, Los Viejos costume balls, New Year’s Eve parties, Sun Carnival parties, Cotton Council festivities, and many, many wedding receptions.

EPCC hosted the Women’s Southwestern Golf Tournament in 1960, which I watched, and the following year, I went to Albuquerque for my first Southwestern. I went with Billie Nance, and the most important part of the trip was the clothes we took for the parties. I qualified for the Championship Flight and played for thirty-five straight years after that, winning twice. I definitely had the attendance record.

Winning golf at El Paso Country Club began with Reba Armstrong, who won the

Southwestern every year it was in El Paso. The tournament location rotated between Albuquerque, Tucson, Phoenix, and El Paso, so every four years she won.

The incomparable Agatha Lee came next and won at virtually every level for forty years. She was an ageless player whose long career includes eighteen EPCC championships and seven Texas Senior titles. A real champion!

In those years, there were an average of sixty to seventy players every Tuesday, and the championship tournament was a four-days-in-a-row match play event. In the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, there were forty ladies, tops. Sandy Aaronson won a stunning eighteen times in a row, beginning in 1980. Now only twenty-four to thirty ladies play on Tuesday mornings—not many young golfers play; working wives are common today. Terri Massey, with four club championships in the twenty-first century, is our leading player today.

Other golfing events were the Border Golf monthly play days, 1957–2007, and Intercity play days.

An extraordinary event on Tuesday Ladies Day occurred on the bridge crossing the ditch playing No. 13. Sissy Weidner’s ball stopped on the bridge. She determined that it would be possible to play the ball from that spot, and forthwith took a mighty swing at the ball. In so doing, she flung herself off the bridge and into the reed-filled muddy drain!! To the amazement of her playing partners, Sissy crawled out of the drain,

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Mary Hoover accepts the trophy for the 1963 Club Championship. (EPCC)

dried herself off, and completed the 18-hole round. Amazing!

Currently, an outstanding golf program is the Junior Girls and Boys Summer Experience, where they are instructed not only by our golf pros, but also by local high school golf coaches. Tennis has a similar program for juniors. The tennis courts evolved from two asphalt courts to eight beautifully constructed Plexipave beauties.

Card games have flourished among the ladies as well as the men. There is a Tuesday poker group that Nancy Marshall has played in for more than fifteen years. “The wilder, the better,” she says. Card games played after Tuesday golf began with Liverpool rummy and have expanded into poker as well. That game is played in the golfers lounge on a new poker table with six chairs. Regulars are Angie Tanzy, Susie Best, Claudia Barry, Nancy Baillie, Val Brown, Barbara Hyatt, Mary Lee Pinkerton, and other part-time players.

A mahjong group plays with tiles, a magical game begun locally by Mary Ann Owen. Bridge games are steady. About fifteen years ago, Marchel Leek taught some bridge lessons that helped begin a Wednesday bridge group of five to six tables. Virginia Fisk started the bridge sessions, and Barbara Gorman has managed the duplicate game since its inception. At their “parties,” there are as many as twelve tables.

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72 El Paso Country Club72 El Paso Country Club

to the original idea. This led Baker back to the drawing board where he produced a more appropriate symbol—a caddie with a much cleaner look and larger bag. So far, however, apparel suppliers have not utilized the new version.

The only other issue with the logo arose in 2004 when a number of members became apprehensive about the use of the “Caddie” because of the ethnic implications. Their concern was brought to the attention of the

Board of Governors, and it was suggested that the art be revised by replacing the “Caddie’s” sandals with cowboy boots. The request was refused because the original intent of the symbol would be meaningless. “We have never had cowboy caddies,” stated Neil, a fifty-year member of the club.

The “Caddie”The “Caddie,” El Paso Country Club’s

golf logo, is among the most unique and recognizable in America. Created in 1965 by Neil Baker, it was originally used as the symbol for the SWGA men’s tournament hosted that year by EPCC.

Baker was asked to produce a brochure for the tournament. Since one of the distinctive assets of the club was availability of caddies on an everyday basis, he chose a cartoon character of an obvious Hispanic caddie as a theme for this particular event. It proved to be an instant success. In fact, the SWGA directors liked the idea so much that they had the “Caddie” embroidered on their blazers for a few years.

Later, in 1970, Neil and Bill Eschenbrenner were having lunch in the men’s grill, and the subject of a new logo for the golf course came up. After seeing a sketch of the SWGA caddie on a paper napkin, Bill thought this would be a perfect symbol. Because of several factors, such as no protection or compensation for the artwork, Baker agreed to use his creation for the club, and so it came to be the principal identity of EPCC.

Over the years, the “Caddie” has gained national notice, but through alteration and interpretation of various apparel and equipment suppliers’ art departments, it has become less and less akin

Simply stated, the “Caddie” is synonymous with El Paso Country Club.

Note: Neil Baker also designed the El Paso Country Club’s Centennial logo.

EPCC Junior Golf logo

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The Friday GameEvery Friday, and sometimes on other

weekdays, at 12:30, there is a group game. Although the game is open to anyone with a handicap, it has attracted a good number of strong players and some hacks who provide liquidity. Typical Friday attendance in recent years has been eight to twelve players, although holidays may attract sixteen to twenty, which was common a few years ago. The field is divided into two equal groups according to handicaps, and a ball is drawn from each hat to determine the two-man teams. The breakpoint between high and low hats has been as low as plus one.

The game is always played from the back tees, and two balls are allowed off the first tee. If a player opts to hit a second ball, he must play that ball.

There are three standard bets: a $20 medal, a two-man quota for $5 three ways against every other two-man team, and a big team that varies in size and format between each group. The quota system awards four points for birdies, two for pars, and one for bogeys, which favors better players, and that is probably one reason they are attracted to this game. Most players also have individual bets, and there are inside games within groups. In recent years, the most popular inside game has been Vegas in both four- and five-player formats, although some players believe the Vegas game has caused a decline in participation within the group.

Good players have led to good scores, with the course record 60 having been shot

at least three times, once each by Todd Fields, Nathan Fritz, and J. P. Hayes. On one occasion, Nathan Fritz was 12 under after seventeen holes, and with his tee shot on eighteen barely in the right rough one hundred yards from a front pin position, it appeared he might shoot 58. Sadly, though, he hit his approach into the center of the pond and had to get up and down for bogey to score a 60. On the other hand, Rich Beem shot a pedestrian 70 on the Friday between his win at the International and the 2002 PGA National Championship.

The Sunday GameAround 1978, the Sunday Game came into

existence. The original members of the group were Saul Frank, Allen Borschow, Rick Amstater, Mike Miles, and Cliff Eisenberg (aka The Jewish Mafia—sorry Mike). Over the years, a number of other club members have participated including Gil Holland, Jamey Boone, Omar and Ernie Koury, Brent Harris, Bill Word, Chris Hunt, David Candelaria, Edward Davis Jr., Kenny Clarence, George Elias, Henry Ellis, and Sam Livingston. This group has gained the reputation as the

“Biggest Game at the Club” because of the number and size of the various wagers. (Just ask Junior Crowson how big a check he had to write the one time he played in the Sunday Game because Nancy forgot to set the clock ahead for Daylight Saving Time and he missed his early morning tee time.) Sometimes, it takes almost an hour after the completion of a Sunday round to balance the books and

settle up. Despite the amount of wagering involved, the group engages in considerable bantering, teasing, and joking during each round. During most tournaments, the group divides into two or more teams, usually

by pulling names from a hat, and develops unique betting strategies to make the tournaments even more interesting and exciting.

Perhaps the funniest story about the group occurred one Sunday morning when Mark Pelletier, in an effort to increase awareness of speed

of play, put a big, brand new green clock off to the left of the first tee, out of the way of any conceivable shot. The Sunday group was probably the second or third group off that day, and Allen Borschow commented that if anyone hit the clock on their tee shot (not intentionally), they would collect $10 from each of the other members of the group. Allen didn’t really think it was possible. Rick Amstater took a mighty swing and hit the clock dead square with a shot that never got more than two feet off the ground. The ball stuck right in the face of the clock. After ten minutes of laughing, the rest of the group teed off. Mark stored that clock in the club storage area where it still remains today, stuck on 8:11 a.m., the time Rick killed it. Rick did not collect the $10 from each of the other players; he was too embarrassed.

The Sunday Game continues to this day. The players are getting older but still having the same amount of fun and laughter each week, and, oh yeah, the betting continues.

Frank Redman & Jackie Harden

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College All-America Golf ClassicThe College All-America Golf Classic

at El Paso Country Club, founded by Bill Eschenbrenner in 1974, was an instant suc-cess story about which a separate book could be written. It has served as a showcase and

“Who’s Who” of the very best undergradu-ate players, a prized event whose alumni have won twenty U.S. Amateurs, thirty-eight major championships, and $911 million in PGA earnings.

Additionally, twenty-seven American participants and two Europeans have com-peted in the Ryder Cup a total of eighty-one times. These startling statistics began with the tournament’s first winner—Jerry Pate of Alabama, the reigning U.S. Amateur Champion. Pate (202), who won the 54-hole All-America by eight strokes, went on to capture eight PGA TOUR events, including the 1976 U.S. Open. He had set a high stan-dard for future All-America participants, but it was only the beginning of a long line of excellence.

Scott Simpson (1976), Davis Love (1984), and David Duval (1991) would match Pate’s feat of winning the All-America and a major championship before the phenomenal Tiger Woods took over. Woods, the Stanford sensation, won the 1995 All-America with a birdie on the first extra hole after tying Fredrik Soderstrom of Tulsa at 211. The rest is history, as he went on to win three U.S.

Amateurs before turning professional and adding an incredible thirteen major champi-onships through 2007.

Meanwhile, there are fifteen All-America participants who failed to win but did achieve major championship triumphs. They are Mark Brooks, Ben Curtis, John Daly (2), Steve Elkington, Jim Furyk, Todd Hamilton, Tom Lehman, Justin Leonard, Phil Mickelson (3), Mark O’Meara (2), Corey Pavin, Craig Stadler, the late Payne Stewart (3), Curtis Strange (2), and David Toms.

Who’s next? Obviously, there is no way to predict the future, yet the alumni of the All-America must be considered. Perhaps the next star will be Chris Kirk of Georgia, the 2006 All-America champion after his record 65-66-64—195 total of 18 under par. Or could it be Luke List of Vanderbilt, who opened defense of his 2005 title with a 62 in an effort to match Chris Patton (1988–89) of Clemson as the sole two-time All-America winner?

Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure. The All-America Classic has lived up to the highest expectations since its founding by Eschenbrenner with help from Stu Hammond and Herb Wimberly.

It has always been a feature presentation of the Sun Bowl Association and received strong corporate backing over the years from Rolex, John Hancock, Savanne, and the current title sponsor, Western Refining.

Another major reason for the tournament’s success has been the ongoing support from presenting sponsors and individual El Paso Country Club members who are both spon-sors and hosts. College coaches and players have embraced this prestigious event, look-ing forward to El Paso’s competition and hospitality. Over the past thirty-two years, 125 schools have participated and received $600,000 in golf scholarships for their col-lege programs.

Also very worthy of mention are the recipi-ents of the Eschenbrenner Award, which was established in 2003 to honor individuals for their contributions to the sport and the All-America Classic. The first person honored was Cricket Musch, who played in the inau-gural event and continued to be involved as UTEP golf coach and Sun Bowl executive director. Other winners of the award are Don Van Pelt (2004), Arizona golf coach Rick LaRose (2005), and Mack Massey (2006).

Executive Director Bernie Olivas and President John Folmer head the Sun Bowl Association, with Steve Kauitzsch as tourna-ment chairman and Bob Kimble as tourna-ment director, working with El Paso’s head professional, Mark Pelletier.

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Georgia Tech’s David Duval won the 1991 Golf Classic by one stroke over New Mexico’s Tim Herron. (Sun Bowl Assn.)

Furman University’s Brad Faxon finished third at the 1982 Golf Classic. (Sun Bowl Assn.)

From left, Claude Jones, Greg Ramsey, Jim Furyk (Arizona), Katsunori Kuwabara (Aichi Gakuin), Tony Lama, and Jack Mahoney at the 1990 All-America Golf Classic. (Jack Mahoney)

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Lee TrevinoHonorary member Lee Trevino is the

greatest golfer ever to come out of El Paso and one of the world’s very best of all time. His accomplishments, including six major championships, are too many to list here; conversely, it would be gross negligence not to summarize some of his achievements:

· Twenty-nine PGA TOUR victories· Twenty-nine Champions Tour victories· Ten other senior victories· Two U.S. Open victories· Two British Open victories· Two PGA victories

In addition, Trevino was PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year in 1967; Player of the Year in 1971 when he won the U.S., Canadian, and British Opens; Vardon Trophy winner for a record fifth time in 1980 with a scoring average of 69.73 (the lowest since Sam Snead’s 69.23 in 1950); a member of six Ryder Cup and two World Cup teams; captain of the 1985 Ryder Cup; and winner of numerous honors, including the 1980 Ben Hogan Award.

The Hogan Award, voted by the Golf Writers Association of America, was given to Trevino because of his comeback from a series of physical problems. He had been hampered by a bad back for years before undergoing surgery for a herniated disc in 1976, a year after being struck by lightning in the Western Open. These were not the only obstacles Trevino overcame in this Hall of Fame career. The first obstacle was obtaining his PGA card despite working as an assistant professional at Horizon (Emerald Springs) in El Paso and competing in regional PGA

tournaments. Simply stated, certain PGA officials would not give Trevino credit for his experience because they were prejudiced. However, El Paso Country Club professional Bill Eschenbrenner staunchly supported him. Eschenbrenner eventually offered his own PGA membership card as insurance that Trevino would be a model PGA member. It worked, and the rest of the story is history. A good example of this is Trevino’s first PGA TOUR triumph, the 1968 U.S. Open at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, when he became the first person in the tournament’s history to play all four rounds under par and in the 60s.

Left: Lee Trevino and Orville Moody. (Frank Redman)

Above: Lee Trevino, honorary member, winner of six major championships. (EPCC)

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Landmark DecisionsDuring the past twenty-five years, there

have been two landmark decisions regard-ing the El Paso Country Club’s history—one involving course design and the other con-cerned with the clubhouse’s future. Both of these important decisions were not without controversy, especially the latter.

The first decision to completely redesign the golf course in 1982 meant suspending play for a year and resulted in a 10 percent membership loss. It proved worthwhile in the long run, as renowned architect Ronald Freem oversaw a masterful job of blending a combination of old and new features into a truly championship design.

In 1991, some of the old outlived cot-tonwood trees were taken down, with one exception. That exception was a tree in the middle of the first fairway at approximately 170 yards out. One member of the Board of Governors suggested the strategic and troublesome tree be painted purple, and it was. Some members wanted to paint other trees in other vivid colors. It finally came to a vote of certificate-holding members. The decision to paint the trees was overturned by a vote of 147 to 118. The purple tree came down, and no others were painted.

However, later in that year, the course was further beautified with the planting of 275 trees, including 125 live oaks, 100 red oaks, and 50 pines. The net result was a vastly improved course, which attracted former and new members.

Conversely, the second landmark decision (about the clubhouse’s future), during the late 1990s, threatened to destroy much of the existing membership. The club was deeply divided over either building a new clubhouse or remodeling portions of the venerable 1922 structure. This was perhaps the most pivotal stage in EPCC’s one-hundred-year history, and the membership was split over the expenditure of $2–4 million for the cost of a new building. This figure did not include the additional cost of the club being shut down for over a year and the resulting loss of great deal of revenue.

There were many facets to the question. The clubhouse was in need of work, business was off, and membership was down during a recession. Several of the strongest support-ers of the club, including El Paso Natural Gas, were no longer available to participate to the extent that they had previously.

A long-range planning committee plus architects had been hired and fired as the debate raged. Finally, two meetings were held for the general membership, and they were both very well attended and emotional, especially among older members opposing a radical change of leveling the old facility and building a new one. The final vote for a new clubhouse failed, to the relief of many members.

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Tennis Anyone?“You’ve come a long way, baby” was part of a

slogan used by the ladies professional tennis tour years ago. The same can be said about the sport at El Paso Country Club where it currently flourishes under the leadership of Lee Elliott, director of tennis for the past five years. Now the club has eight lighted courts needed for a full slate of adult and junior competitions for every level of player from three years old and up. EPCC has developed some of the top junior players in the city, region, and country and hosted a prestigious national tournament in 2007—the USTA 14 and Under Open Championships.

The future is bright, and the sport has indeed “come a long way” since Margaret Varner (Bloss) and Walter Driver began playing on the club’s single cement court three generations ago. These two junior stars reached national prominence and are part of the club’s great tradition of tennis. Margaret used to ride her pony to the court

back in the 1930s and learned her lessons well. She not only became a world-class player in tennis but also in two other racquet sports during the 1950s. A member of the elite Wightman Cup Team and its coach in 1956, she also was the national squash racquets champion and winner of the Wodd’s Badminton Championship in 1954–55. In addition, Margaret played at Wimbledon from 1958 to 1962.

Driver also graduated from being an outstanding junior in the late 1930s to national fame. During his long and illustrious career, he won thirteen USTA Southwestern titles, beginning as a junior in 1938 and ending with the last of his thirty-five-plus crowns in 1965. He also was a member of the National Junior Davis Cup squad in 1941, a year after winning the Canadian Junior Singles Championship. Before entering the Army Air Force in 1943, Driver represented the University of Texas and teamed with John Huckman of San Antonio to capture the National Intercollegiate Doubles Championship.

Walter Driver, winner of thirteen USTA Southwestern titles, member of the National Junior Davis Cup squad in 1941, winner of the 1940 Canadian Junior singles, and, representing Texas University, teamed with John Huckman to win the 1943 National Intercollegiate Doubles Championship.

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El Paso Times.Finally, there is another longtime member

who achieved even greater success before coming to live in El Paso forty years ago. By then, Margaret Osborne Dupont had won no fewer than thirty-three major titles and is still regarded as one of the world’s all-time Hall of Famers. These impressive victories from 1942 to 1962 speak for themselves and include the following championships:

· Three (1948–50) U.S. Singles· Thirteen U.S. Doubles· Seven U.S. Mixed· One (1947) Wimbledon Singles· Five Wimbledon Doubles· One Wimbledon Mixed Doubles· Two (1946, 1949) French Singles· Three French Doubles

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A Family That Plays TogetherIn 1997, the Balsiger family became the second

El Paso family to have the United States Tennis Association honor them with the Ralph W. Westcott USTA Family of the Year award. Chris and Christy Balsiger and their four children were presented the award for their unparalleled involvement in tennis.

Members of the family have participated as past USTA tournament directors, the chairman of a search committee at EPCC, league participants, the director of Junior Team Tennis, recipients of the Southwest Junior Sportsmanship Award, the tennis instructor at the Beverly Hills Racquet Club, the director of a tennis summer camp at El Paso Community College, member of the varsity tennis team at Cathedral High School, member of Junior Team Tennis, chairperson of the Sun City Junior Open Tournament Packet Committee, member of the Loretto Tennis team, and as day-to-day volunteers.

Christy has put in many years as a member of the Southwest Board of Directors, serving as Greater El Paso Tennis Association president, Southwest Section vice president, president delegate. Feeling there was a strong need for more public tennis in El Paso, she formed the El Paso Tennis Development Foundation in 1996. With many hours of work and negotiation with the EPISD and a large fundraiser, the El Paso Youth Center was founded. Between 1999 and 2002, twenty-two courts were opened at the new El Paso Youth Tennis Center. She was the recipient of the prestigious USTA Eve Kraft Community Service Award in 2004 and served on the Executive Board of the National Tennis Association. El Paso Times, April 8, 1998.

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WildlifeOver the years, El Paso Country Club has been

an oasis for wild animal life, including parrots, foxes, skunks, owls, herons, egrets, ducks, squirrels, groundhogs, Mississippi kites, and raccoons. There also used to be some foreboding but harmless bull snakes.

In addition, there have been some troublesome “varmints,” notably beaver and a badger (who took up residence underneath the ninth tee). Our superintendents have captured all of these “critters” alive with help from other staff.

The latest problem was a seventy-pound beaver that Superintendent Phelps Davee snared while the

“critter” was trying to dam up a ditch. Before his capture and relocation to New Mexico, the beaver was creating havoc. Course night watchmen had been asked to be on the lookout for the culprit. One of the watchmen filed the following reports after two nights of being on alert for the beaver.

First night: “Saw beaver. Chased beaver in golf cart.”

Second night: “Saw beaver. Beaver chased me in golf cart.”

(Neil C. Baker)


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