One would not normally associate the sport of golf in a community composed mainly of lumberjacks and sawmill workers like Westwood back in its hey day. However by 1920, the golfing phenomenon swept through Northern California and this lumber town was no exception.
The “divot diggers” as they were affectionaly known then took a little longer to take hold at Westwood. By the early 1920s, Susanville could boast three golf courses, albeit crude by modern day standards. Even Chester, then just a mere hamlet, had a golf course.
As early as 1921, Westwood’s golfing enthusiasts began the debate to establish a golf course. Yet, they just could not generate enough momentum to pull it off. This all changed in 1929 when Westwood’s golfing community organized a club. Those original duffers consisted of Ross Morehouse, Gene Huggins, Bob Pullman, F.W. Koerner, F.M. Jayne, Bill Corbett, Dan Taylor and C.C. Baptie.
Of course, the first order of business was to create a golf course. They found a convenient location near town and adjacent to Old Town. The property consisted of a meadow, and Red River obliged to allow the golfers to plot out their course. As Emmett Doering recalled, it was a nine-hole golf course with “oil greens” those being composed of a mixture of oil and sand. Doering also noted the course had to be routinely raked of pine needles, otherwise the golfers would lose their golf balls.
With a club and course this generated more interest in the community. More improvements were made to the course, and the meadow was routinely cut. The Westwood Golf Club could even boast its clubhouse. In 2013 it was still standing, but I do not know its status a decade later.
Like many organizations, the Westwood Golf Club experienced its peaks and valleys in interest. In October 1940, when the season’s last tournament was held only twelve players showed up, which included two faithful members who carried the organization through good and lean times—Al Foster and Truman Claggett.
Even during World War II the golf club continued, though it struggled like so many organizations of the era, with the variety of government imposed rationing and restrictions. The first casualty of operations was after 1942 maintenance to the course was minimal. Even so, in 1944, the club could boast a membership of 53.
In 1945, with hope on the horizon that World War II was coming to end, brought new life to the organization. On May 16, the following officers were installed: Bud Morrison, President, J.T. Clagett, secretary-treasurer; and J.R. Bartlett, vice-president. Elected to the board were G.H. Kersley, W.C. Corbett, Robert Ebenhack and Arthur Bates. A rules committee was organized and consisted of Bert Bingham, Robert Attaway, Jerry Lawton and Jack Connelly. A season membership cost was $10.
While new interest was generated, the golf club had certain obstacles that always hampered its development. While nearby golf courses were evolving wherein the crude meadow grass was replaced with actual grass, and greens, made those places more appealing for golfers. Even if the Westwood Golf Club had the financial means to make those upgrades to its course, the property owner, Red River, had the final say, which a developed golf course was not in its future.
While the Westwood Golf Course lacked the nice amenities found elsewhere, it nonetheless provided a place to practice. In 1952, a part time “semi-pro” was hired to take care of the golf club. It was thought this might generate interest, where there was someone who could offer tips and skills to the members. While in concept it was a great idea, it just happened to backfire. As it turned the hired hand was more interested in selling golf clubs, etc, where he would earn a commissioner, than to dispense advice. The episode was a final blow to the Westwood Golf Club.
On February 6, 1953, in an effort to woo back the dwindling disgruntled membership, two of the club’s officers, Orrin Hoffman and Chet McBride, penned an open letter to the Westwood golfing community: “We are planning a meeting Monday night, Feb. 9, at 7p.m. in the Westwood High School. We are looking forward to a good season and the weather so far looks like we’ll have an early opening.
“This year, we are going to keep control of the course within the club. There will be no high pressure salesmen. You may practice all you like. A membership in the club entitles you to a full year of golf, prizes included. If you want play a few times, just pay the green fees.
“No bills will be sent out. Our objective for the year is to have members with whom to play golf and not to make money from them. We have problems to discuss at the meeting that will interest you and you may help solve them. Will you please be present? Thank you.”
Unfortunately, there does not appear to be a record as to what transpired at that meeting or whether Hoffman and McBride were the only attendees. One item for certain is that Westwood Golf Club went by the wayside and drifted into oblivion.