Pacific Northwest Golfer, May 2012 - Oregon Insert

GolfO R E G O N

May 2012

Golf Oregon is a regular insert of Pacific Northwest Golfer magazine

A look backward,A move FoRWARDWaverley Country Club invests in its future by uncovering the past

GOLF OREGON | MAY 20122

Golf Oregon

on thecover

by Jeff Shelley

WavERLEy COuNtRy CLub bOasts ONE OF thE OLdEst COuRsEs iN thE REGiON. indeed, the Rose City institution is one of the five founding clubs of the Pacific Northwest Golf association.

the club, which began with a perfunctory nine-holer at 26th and division in downtown Portland, moved to its current location alongside the Willamette River in 1898. Jack Moffat laid out the original 18-hole course; a year later, the scotsman became Waverley’s head pro.

but Waverley took a major step forward in 1912 when Chandler Egan designed a new course on the same site. Egan was one of the most storied amateurs in history and a noted course architect during golf’s “Golden age” in the early part of the 20th century. While living in Chicago, Egan won u.s. amateur titles in 1904 and ’05. the very first time – and only instance until the game was reinstalled for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio – golf was an Olympic event in 1904 in st. Louis, a favored Egan was upset by 46-year-old Canadian George Lyon in the gold medal match.

Egan moved to Medford, Ore. in 1910, where he began his design career in earnest. Many of his works in the region – Eastmoreland, Oswego Lake CC and Riverside G&CC in the Portland area, and West seattle – remain today. Egan also gained fame when he partnered with alister MacKenzie in the widely-praised 1929 renovation of Pebble beach Golf Links.

Egan’s mastery of course design is seen in early-day aerial photos of Waverley. unfortunately, many of the elements he created

were lost over the intervening decades, primarily due to the encroachment of maturing trees and the gradual eroding of green surfaces by peripheral bunkers. Waverley began with 90 bunkers, but by 2009 there were only 50 remaining.

the tree problem has afflicted other great courses in the Northwest – and elsewhere around the u.s. “We had these early courses here that were spectacular and, ironically, they changed dramatically because members

didn’t want changes,” Waverley general manager scott Julien keenly observes.

Waverley interviewed several modern-day architects such as tom doak and then-partner Jim urbina, scotsman david McLay Kidd (who now lives in bend), tom Fazio, and restoration specialist Gil hanse, who wasn’t very well known in the golf world until he was selected – over several “bigger” names – for the plum job of designing the new course for the ‘16 Olympics.

according to Julien, all the architects interviewed thought Egan’s original course was a “gift of classical design.” hanse was selected, in part, because he, along with hawk shaw Construction out of New york, had just completed a much-heralded restoration of the George C. thomas-designed North Course at Los angeles Country Club; thomas is also responsible for designing fabled Riviera Country Club.

hanse knew about Egan and was thrilled to get the chance to put back Waverley’s original design elements. “Egan was a big fan of the work of Charles blair Macdonald, focusing on that scottish model of grass-face bunkering, depth,

scale and character, not necessarily always as aesthetically beautiful as MacKenzie or George thomas, but yet effective and certainly classical and traditional in and of itself,” hanse notes. “Egan moved us beyond just hacking a shot out of the rough by creating play off tightly-maintained turf around these elements, requiring a lot more imagination, a lot more skill and a lot more thought. yet, one can still pull the putter out and try to putt it up there. this is the spirit that Egan worked to create.”

hanse, working with the club’s Golf Course Master Plan and Green committees and Waverley’s talented course superintendent brian Koffler, recommended restoring the layout’s original strategy, variety and beauty. the club spent the better part of two years communicating the project to the members, who approved the full project by a resounding 84 percent vote.

“there was zero divisiveness; not a single member has quit the club because of the project – our membership is very healthy right now,” says Julien.

because tree-plantings over the years had pinched the fairways and greens, hanse recommended that 13 percent of the trees be removed in an attempt to create “islands of trees” instead of the lines that had blocked sunlight, air circulation and views of the Willamette. the work, which began in august 2011 and allowed nine holes to remain open for play throughout the project, has created “river views all over the place,” according to Julien.

Larry Gilhuly, the director of the usGa Green section’s Northwest Region, concurs. “after seeing all the tree removal my first comment was, ‘Welcome back Willamette River!’” he enthuses. “there were two very positive changes. First, hanse modestly minimized the severity of the

mAsteRpiece ReFineDWaverley Country Club heads into its second century with newly retro golf course

H. Chandler Egan

All photos courtesy Waverley Country Club

LEFT: The clearing of trees and the re-established bunkering are clearly evident on Waverley’s 13th hole. ABOVE: In this aerial photo from 1925, it is evident how many bunkers, and how few trees, were on Waverley.

GOLF OREGON | May 2012 3

by Bart Potter

If the oldest fir trees at the Tualatin Country Club could whisper down the wind, they would draw from a century’s worth of stories – of golf, of social change, of the founders and shapers, the players and the games they played.

Any odd details the old souls might miss, Curt Tigard could fill in most of the gaps.

Tigard, age 103, is three years older than the club where he caddied as a youth. Tigard joined Tualatin in 1962, which makes him the longest-tenured member of the club that ob-serves its centennial this year.

“It’s a nice golf course, a challenging golf course,” said Tigard, who figures he’s earned the right to be a fair-weather golfer, but still gets out as often as he can, walking the course, more often than not shooting his age or better.

Tualatin Country Club, 15 minutes south and west of the Portland city limits, was opened in 1912 by men who were barred at the gates of the established clubs in and around the city.

In those first days, barely a decade past the turn of the 20th century, Tualatin was “the Jewish country club.” Rabbi Jonah Wise and seven other founding members bought land in the Tualatin River Valley, near the new train station, and hired H. Chandler Egan to make it into a golf course.

Today, Tualatin is a multicultural club of more than 450 members. It’s been designated a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for its stewardship of wildlife on the property.

If it’s old – and it is, being the fourth oldest club in Oregon – it’s also fully relevant to the modern game of golf. The 103rd Oregon Amateur Championship this June will be played at Tualatin, the eighth time the state’s premier amateur event has been

contested here.Through the years, the golf

course has evolved, including a major makeover in the early 1990s. Randy Shults, the man who knows the grounds most intimately after 28 years as course superintendent, can easily tell you what’s been untouched and what’s been remodeled.

But the essential character of the place remains much as Egan, the original designer, envisioned it: tight, parkland-style fairways lined with stately, old-growth Douglas fir trees, playing into small and wicked-quick greens.

In short, a shotmaker’s course.

“You learn to punch out from under the fir trees and get up and down if you want to score out here,” said Greg McMurray, general manager at Tualatin for 15 years.

One hundred years of the settling of the earth under those small, fast greens has yielded understated breaks where none existed in 1912, said Sean Frederickson, now in his ninth season as Tualatin head professional. The tiniest of slantings and slopes then are now more severe, yet the effect is still subtle, visually and physically.

“I consider myself lucky to be able to putt on them,” Frederickson said. “If you can putt here, you can putt anywhere.”

In 1989, the club purchased 30 acres of land prior to the 1991-92 remodel by the John Fought-Robert Cupp architec-tural team. Twenty acres were given over to completely new 7th and 8th holes.

The Fought-Cupp work allowed the club to spread itself out to enhance safety and finish its cart path system.

The par-3 No. 14 was rerouted so it no longer played over the main road into the property, Shults said.

Recently, the club has hired designer Dan Hixson (Bandon Crossings, Wine Valley) to do a long-range plan, and instructed him to keep the old Egan-style look as much as possible, Shults said. Hixson’s biggest project to date is a reworking of the greens complex and fairway bunkers on No. 1.

Curt Tigard has been around Tualatin to see firsthand the greater part of its life. Beginning when he was 12 years old, he would walk on the railroad bridge over the river to caddie at the club – earning 25 cents a side.

In 1962, Tualatin’s members voted to open up the membership. Tigard and four others from nearby Tigard, Ore. (named for Tigard’s father) joined the club, becoming its first non-Jewish members.

Mr. Tigard is still standing – and walking, and playing golf.

Those old fir trees, though many of their brethren have fallen to wind and time, are standing tall, too, witness to the history of the golf club they call home.

Bart Potter has taught journalism at a public college and private university, and won awards for sports writing and news reporting as a daily journalist. He manages the golf and travel website www.greygoateegolf.com.

green contours to create more pin locations without noticeably changing the character or visual aspects of the greens. second, the removal of numerous trees has truly opened up the golf course from a visual and playing standpoint. bottom line is they have not compromised the difficulty of the golf course.”

before Waverley’s remodel there were no fairway bunkers. but that’s also a thing of the past since those 40 bunkers that were removed over

time have been reinserted. also added were about 300 yards to the course.

hanse also brought back Egan’s low-cut greens surrounds; there’s now 25 percent more short grass around the putting surfaces, allowing the choice

of pitching, chipping or putting, as well as fairway expansions and green walk-off areas into neighboring teeing grounds. Julien said that the best choice on some of the par-3s – which previously required a strict air attack – is to run the ball onto the green.

hanse returned an original bunker on No. 18 that had several islands in it, as evidenced by an early-day aerial photo. “he also expanded the 18th green all the way to the edge of the river,” says Julien. since one of Egan’s design tenets was to create interesting putts, hanse expanded many greens and changed their shapes to more geometric forms.

Julien considers hanse’s work a “rest-ovation” in reference to the detailed and complete restoration of the Egan course.

the club, whose motto is “leave no golfers behind” and bars tee times, will celebrate the grand re-opening of the refurbished Waverley course in May 2012. the first club tournament will be held the day after a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 25.

Future plans include an “en-hanse-ment” of the 10-acre practice facility, which occupies the club’s former polo field. Later this fall Waverley will host the 2012 Evans Cup of Oregon, and the club has invited the usGa to hold the 2017 u.s. Women’s senior amateur here.

Julien calls the unique century-removed relationship with Egan – the silver medalist in the 1904 Olympic Games – and hanse – the architect of the new course for the 2016 Games – a “wonderful circular reference.”

Regardless, hanse’s restoration of the Chandler Egan-designed golf course to its original state is a gold medal for Waverley’s members.

Jeff Shelley is the editorial director for cybergolf.com. He also authored and published three editions of the book, Golf Courses of the Pacific Northwest.

Hanse

Century’s JourneyThe fourth-oldest club in Oregon, Tualatin Country Club marks 100 years

Tualatin Country Club


Golf Oregon

by Johnna J. Nealy

LiEutENaNt JiM WisE Was NOt aLWays a WaR hERO, nor an accomplished golfer, but he has always been a family man and a gentleman of the game of golf.

Jim was born in Redmond, Ore. and at the age of eight moved to Medford when his father was promoted to district Manager of Northwest Mutual Life insurance.

Growing up, his passions were basketball and golf, which taught him a competitive edge that has helped him through life. he learned the etiquette and Rules of the game while caddying for his father.

Wise, who now grips the club with ten fingers due to slight arthritis in his right hand,

began playing golf on his own when he was ten years old. back then there were many young golfers who were thriving as competitors and providing Wise with some sunday at the Masters-like battles. “there were about 20 kids with handicaps of five or less,” he says.

after graduating from Medford high school in 1964, Jim played on the golf team at southern Oregon College, later transferring to Oregon state university where he lettered his senior year. his competitiveness came from nickel-a-game putting contests with doug Olson and tom Clark at Rogue valley Country Club. “if you weren’t a scratch golfer, you didn’t make the team,” said Wise. “Olson had a drawer filled with my nickels.”

the intense battles did not stop there for Jim. he had a keen interest in flying, and when he

graduated from Oregon state, a military recruiter encouraged him to take the aptitude test to be a fighter pilot. he passed with flying colors, and in september of 1968, only two days before receiving his draft notice, Jim enrolled with the united states Navy.

he was assigned to san diego Naval air sta-tion Miramar where the F-4 Phantoms were based.

and this is where the war hero legacy comes into play.

Jim did two cruises in vietnam – November 1971 and april 1972 to March 1973. he scheduled and launched air attacks, including his historic January 12, 1973 mission. Wise was the RiO (radar intercept officer) with Lt. vic Kovaleski on the F-4b Phantom ii that got the last air-to-air kill of the vietnam War from the uss Midway in the tonkin Gulf.

While flying in vietnam, he was simply doing what he and the other officers were there to do – shooting down bogey MiG-17 aircraft. he doesn’t really talk about it much. “anyone could have done what i did,” Jim would say later. “i just happened to be there because the Navy prepared me with superior instruction and training.”

all of his high-flying renown did not come without a price. While overseas he could only make one call every 45 days back home to loved ones. vickie, Jim’s young wife (they’ve now been married 43 years), was notified by the Navy that a plane had been hit in Jim’s unit. “that day my

From aviation bogeys to links birdiesHe survived the Vietnam War and Amen Corner at Augusta National, but for Jim Wise, recently retired after 39 years as PGA head professional at Rogue Valley Country Club, his greatest accomplishments are his family and a love for the game

A reunion of Wise’s unit was held recently aboard the USS Midway in the harbor in San Diego. Aboard the aircraft carrier, which now serves as a naval aviation museum, is a plane dedicated to all those who shot down MiGs during the Vietnam War. In this photo, Wise points to his name on the plane.

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buddy was shot down. the Navy called my wife and said a plane in my company was hit; 24 hours later, she found out it wasn’t me,” Jim says. “it’s a life and death situation that you just don’t get over.”

With or without that life and death scenario, Jim has always known that family is the most important thing to him. in fact, the other members of his “dream foursome” are his sons scott, Justin and his longtime friend bob harrell. his peers and coworkers saw the loyalty in him, too. tracy snyder, who is Jim’s successor as head pro at Rogue valley and was Jim’s assistant for 12 years, says, “Jim is such a loyal and respected family man that not even his closest friends could roast him at his retirement party.”

along with traveling with vickie and playing courses like shinnecock, Pine valley and Winged Foot next year, Wise is looking forward to spending time with his six grandchildren; hopefully teaching them how to play golf, hunt deer, fish for salmon and enjoy the craft of woodworking, which Jim has become proficient at in the last 30 years.

“i love being with my family, whether it’s lunch with the boys or driving up to Portland to see my granddaughter,” says Jim, referring to his daughter Paula’s little girl.

here is a man who played even-par on 10, 11, 12 and 13 at amen Corner at augusta National; who shot down the last Mig-17 of the vietnam War; who took care of 700 members at Rogue valley for 39 years. but now, when his cell phone rings blasting Kenny Loggins’ “danger Zone” – which is more widely known as the theme song for the movie Top Gun – his eyes light up: it is his grandson, Caden.

at this point in time, Jim Wise is a man who loves his family and knows how to enjoy them.

Johnna Nealy graduated from the University of Oregon where she played on the women’s golf team for four years. She lives in Grants Pass, Ore. and teaches high school English.

Jim Wise and his family, from left to right: Scott (son), Rebecka (daughter-in-law), Justin (son), Heather (daughter-in-law), Paula (daughter), Lee (son-in-law), wife Vickie and Jim.

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Golf Oregon

this suMMER, thE OREGON GOLF assOCiatiON, with the support of the Jacobsen family, will introduce the Jacobsen youth initiative. the initiative will focus on lowering costs for underserved junior golfers while also providing multiple avenues to reduce the intimidation that often

deters the beginner and non-golfer from taking up the game. the initiative includes two parts – the first is a subsidy-based program called youth on Course. the original idea was developed by the Northern California Golf association Foundation, who has agreed to allow Oregon Junior Golf to run this amazing program in our region. We have been fortunate to receive backing from the City of Portland, who will participate as program facilities, and also the usGa, Nike, and the Oregon Community who have all contributed generously.

Introducing the Jacobsen Youth Initiative

from theOGACRAIG WINTEROGA Director ofJunior Golf &Rules Education

tag, you’re it View the OGA web site on your smartphone!

non-competitive events are administered by Oregon Junior Golf and offer youth a fun, stress-free environment to play the game without competition. For 2012, the Erling Jacobsen tour will have events scheduled throughout the region with a stated goal of getting 500 youth out on the course for their very first time. these events are open to youth ages 8-17 and are the perfect place for juniors to meet other young golfers of similar age hoping to learn the game. to keep up to date with these programs or to learn how you can support this initiative, please contact Craig Winter at the OGa or visit, www.jacobsenyouthinitiative.com.

the promise of this program lies in the ability to offer youth access to area golf courses for no more than $5 per round while, at the same time, emphasizing the game’s unique ability to build character. this year, 2012, will serve as a pilot year and youth participating in programs offered by the First tee of Greater Portland, Leisure hour Junior Golf Program, and the summit Golf Foundation will have the opportunity to play the City of Portland’s five golf courses. however, before playing, they must first complete a curriculum covering the Rules and Etiquette, the Life skills of the First tee, and a healthy Living/Wellness program. For the remainder of this year, Oregon Junior Golf will continue to seek out corporate and foundation support as well as individual, private donations. in 2013, a regional launch will provide all area youth and dozens of golf courses access to this unique program that both grows the game and also supports golf industry. the second part of the initiative is the expansion of the Erling Jacobsen tour. these

Golf Oregon - Feb 2012.indd 1 1/26/2012 9:12:10 AM


Golf Oregon

For aDVertising inQuiries STEIN SWENSON is the Oregon account manager for Pacific Northwest Golfer. He also operates the Central Oregon Golf Tour, and is the Senior VP for Wychick Investment Advisors. For advertising inquiries, contact Stein at 541.318.5155 or [email protected].

aaron breniman has joined the OGa staff as the director of Marketing and Communications. he brings extensive experience in all facets of marketing, public relations,

use of social media, website content, publications design and an array of communications initiatives. a graduate from the university of Oregon with a degree in Journalism, aaron resides in West Linn, Ore.

DaviD PhiPPs has been named the Field staff Representative for the Golf Course superintendents association of america for the Northwest region. Phipps, the former superintendent

at stone Creek GC in Oregon City and a 12-year member of the GCsaa, was also recently given the GCsaa President’s award for Environmental stewardship.

Longtime respected volunteer and OGa Rules Official, Don KoWitz, sr. passed away in late January at the age of 80. don was actively involved in the game of golf, starting out as a

volunteer with the OGa. he touched almost every aspect of golf in the Pacific Northwest over the

past 25 years. he served on the OGa Executive Committee (1982-1990), as OGa director at salem Golf Club (1990-1993), and working as OGa Course Rating Coordinator and Rules Official since 1994. Kowitz earned a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable and trusted Rules Officials in the country. the family requests that donations be made to Oregon Junior Golf (2840 hazelnut drive, Woodburn, OR 97071).

the second annual best oF benD best ball will be held June 14-16 at the Jack Nicklaus signature Course at Pronghorn Club, the brasada Canyons course at brasada Ranch, and tetherow. visit bestofbendbestball.com for more information.

the First tee oF Greater PortlanD will participate in a new environmental education and golf course improvement program called “Live Green!” developed in partnership with the toro Company and audubon international. the one day on-course program will be open to 100 First tee of Greater Portland youth participants on saturday, May 12, 2012, at heron Lakes Golf Course. visit thefirstteegreaterportland.org for information.

the 4th annual myCF GolF tournament for the awareness of Prostate Cancer will be held May 24, 2012 at Langdon Farms GC. Funds will be

raised for prostate cancer research and providing free Psa screenings. visit mahinayoung.org for information.

the oGa tour opened its third season with nearly 30 events on its calendar, with the events being held at some of the best courses in the region including the Reserve vineyards & GC, black butte Ranch, Riverside G&CC and many others. the series debuted its season at Pumpkin Ridge’s Ghost Creek course on april 21. the OGa tour has no membership fee to join, and there is a special rate for OGa Members. Consisting of an individual series, a Partner series and a senior series, the OGa tour is welcoming to golfers of all skill levels. the season-long series of events will culminate with the championship being held October 11-12 at brasada Ranch. Please visit www.oga.org to view an up-to-date event calendar, register for events and further information.

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Pacific Northwest Golfer, May 2012 - Oregon Insert