In the 1960s there was a movement to have a municipal golf course. In 1967, Rollin “Rollie” Doyle Emerson (1917-1976), sold a portion of the family ranch, near Richmond School, to the City of Susanville that the latter developed into a golf course. The Emerson family had owned that property since 1874.
Fast forward, in the spring of 2002, Todd Sickles, manager of the Emerson Lake Golf Course, requested that the City rename the golf course to Diamond Mountain. Sickles, who had a long-term lease of the golf course, cited that with the expansion of the course to 18 holes that he wanted to create a new image for the facility and enhance its marketability. Sickles also cited that the current name is at times misleading, as Emerson Lake is known to go dry, due to its usage for irrigation. This issue did spark some debate. Rollie Emerson’s son, Tro, acknowledged the problem with the dry lake, and requested that the family name remain intact and suggested Emerson Meadows. Sickles, in the meantime, offered to construct a monument in honor of Rollie Emerson for his early day activities with the golf course and in addition, the first nine holes would be known as the “Emerson Nine.” The City Council was divided on the issue. Those in favor of the name change stated that marketing and financial aspects should be a priority over the region’s heritage. On June 5, 2002, the City Council voted 3 to 2, and approved marketing over heritage and granted the name change to Diamond Mountain Golf Course.