Visalia Country Club

Last updated
Visalia Country Club
Visalia Country Club.jpg
Club information
Location 625 N Ranch Street
Visalia, California
Established 1922
Type Private
Total holes 18
Website Visalia Country Club
Course
Par 72
Length 6,668
Course rating 72 [1]

The Visalia Country Club is a golf only club in Visalia, California. [2] [3] [4]

Visalia, California City in California, United States

Visalia is a city situated in the agricultural San Joaquin Valley of California, approximately 230 miles (370 km) southeast of San Francisco, 190 miles (310 km) north of Los Angeles, 36 miles (58 km) west of Sequoia National Park and 43 miles (69 km) south of Fresno. The population was 130,104 as of a 2015 U.S. Census Bureau estimate.

Contents

It is a relatively flat course with medium-sized greens. The greens are traditionally known for being real smooth and fast. The oak and pine trees form tree-lines along the fairways. There are grass and sand bunkers around the greens and on the fairways. There are about four to five bunkers per hole. Water hazards (three ponds) come into play on six holes. The signature hole is #16, a 150-yard, par 3, requiring a tee shot over water to a green that is surrounded by trees and bunkers. [5]

History

On January 27, 1922 a meeting was held in the Visalia Municipal Auditorium for the purposes of organizing a golf club. Mr. Harvey V.E. Gilmer spearheaded the effort. The lack of awareness of the sport at that time made it somewhat of a challenge to arrange the initial subscriptions, but upon collecting twenty-five hundred dollars, property was leased from Dick Hyde. The first membership sold for fifty dollars, and the dues were five dollars per month.

The Visalia Golf Club began with three holes, still existing today as numbers 11, 12 and 13. "Greens" were oiled sand, which needed smoothing before every putt. The tee areas were asphalt slabs. In 1926, six more holes were added and the sand greens were replaced with grass greens. Two years later the original clubhouse was erected. Later in the year, a clubhouse building committee was formed; plans were drawn up & accepted. W.R. Spalding (whose house still stands today in downtown and serves as one of Visalia’s two B&B’s) donated lumber for the new clubhouse. Members were asked to provide additional donations, and were enthusiastically willing – even non-members donated. The original clubhouse and greens had been constructed for a cost of $6400. The original clubhouse measured 16 feet by 24 feet, and burned to the ground in 1927. It was re-built the same year.

Downtown Visalia is the central business district of Visalia, California, United States, which is located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. The area features an array of public art and unique shopping opportunities. The Downtown area is the hub for the city's public transport transit center.

In April 1942, during World War II, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Johnny Weissmuller and an outstanding amateur from Los Angeles, Johnny Dawson, played an exhibition golf match at the club. While no records survive to document the victor of the match, the real winner was the Visalia Chapter of the American Red Cross, to whom the proceeds were donated.

World War II 1939–1945 global war

World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The vast majority of the world's countries—including all the great powers—eventually formed two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. A state of total war emerged, directly involving more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. The major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history, marked by 50 to 85 million fatalities, most of whom were civilians in the Soviet Union and China. It included massacres, the genocide of the Holocaust, strategic bombing, premeditated death from starvation and disease, and the only use of nuclear weapons in war.

Bob Hope American comedian, actor, singer and dancer

Leslie Townes Hope, known professionally as Bob Hope, was a British-born American stand-up comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer, dancer, athlete, and author. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films, with 54 feature films with Hope as star, including a series of seven "Road" musical comedy movies with Bing Crosby as Hope's top-billed partner.

Bing Crosby American singer and actor

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. The first multimedia star, Crosby was a leader in record sales, radio ratings, and motion picture grosses from 1931 to 1954. His early career coincided with recording innovations that allowed him to develop an intimate singing style that influenced many male singers who followed him, including Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Dick Haymes, and Dean Martin. Yank magazine said that he was "the person who had done the most for the morale of overseas servicemen" during World War II. In 1948, American polls declared him the "most admired man alive", ahead of Jackie Robinson and Pope Pius XII. Also in 1948, Music Digest estimated that his recordings filled more than half of the 80,000 weekly hours allocated to recorded radio music.

The design of the fairways was determined in part by the famous Jennings Ditch which wanders throughout the entire length of the course. In 1950, Mill Creek, which supplied water for the Jennings Ditch, was diverted, leaving a dry ditch which is still visible throughout the course and particularly along the right side of the #9 fairway and the lake between #17 and #18. In that same year, the official name of the club was changed to Visalia Country Club. By 1952, the club added nine more holes to reach the present eighteen. In 1953, a new clubhouse was built at the site of today’s snack bar – the cost of the new clubhouse increased from that of the original to a reported $120,000, and was entirely financed voluntarily by donations from the members.

Mill Creek (Tulare County) tributary of the Kaweah River in Tulare County, California, USA

Mill Creek is a creek in Tulare County, California. It is a distributary of the Kaweah River. It is one of the four main creeks that flow through the city of Visalia.

From 1962 until 1965, the club hosted the Visalia Open on the LPGA Tour. [6] [7] Many famous women golfers played in the events, including Mickey Wright, [8] Betsy Rawls, Kathy Whitworth, Patty Berg and Judy Rankin. When the LPGA raised the required prize money to $15,000 the membership concluded the investment was too great and ended their relationship with the tour. [9]

The Visalia Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1962 to 1965. It was played at the Visalia Country Club in Visalia, California.

Mickey Wright American golfer

Mary Kathryn "Mickey" Wright is an American former LPGA Tour professional golfer. She became a member of the tour in 1955 and won thirteen major championships and 82 LPGA Tour career events. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Elizabeth Earle "Betsy" Rawls is an American former LPGA Tour professional golfer. She won eight major championship and 55 LPGA Tour career events. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The oldest Valley Oak Tree in Visalia sits right next to the #18 tee box. The estimated age of the oak tree is 276 years old. [10]

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References

  1. ↑ Visalia Country Club
  2. ↑ Visalia 1 Golf Course
  3. ↑ GNIS Detail - Visalia Golf Club
  4. ↑ World Golf: Visalia Country Club - Private
  5. ↑ Visalia Country Club - Course Profile
  6. ↑ Lpga in Northern California -SFGate
  7. ↑ lpga tournament chronology Archived June 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine .
  8. ↑ Looking back at Mickey Wright
  9. ↑ History of The Visalia Country Club
  10. ↑ Tulare County Historical Society

Coordinates: 36°20′05″N119°19′01″W / 36.334673°N 119.31706°W / 36.334673; -119.31706

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