Big Rec to Turn 100!

In late 1909, the Virginia Country Club was established when a 10-year lease was signed with the Alamitos Land Company for nearly 120 acres of land near a eucalyptus grove seven miles east of the city’s business district.

Reaching the course from downtown consisted of taking a ride up the nicely paved road that is now Redondo Boulevard to Zaferia Junction, but from there it was a surrey ride on a dirt road for the remainder of the trip.  George Martin (who received $50 per month and a room) was the first golf professional and W. W. Beaver was the first Superintendent.

The first round of golf was played on April 30, 1910.  What is now Recreation Park Municipal Golf Course was the Virginia Country Club for the next 18 years, and in 2010, the City of Long Beach and American Golf Corporation will be recognizing the Centennial Anniversary of “The Park”.  Stay tuned for more information and recognitions, both here at www.cityoflongbeachgolf.com and in the Long Beach Golf Museum Room at Skylinks at Long Beach Golf Course.

Pictured: Adorning post cards from the roaring 20s, the “Splash Hole” was widely recognized as one of the sportiest golf holes on the west coast. The tee of the 260-yard 16th hole at the original Virginia CC featured a tee box built on stilts in the middle of a lake that required a carry of 120 yards to reach the uphill fairway. Many golfers used “floater” balls in case they couldn’t carry the lake, but that wasn’t always the best idea, since those weighed less than the standard 1.86 English ball customarily in use at the time, thus usually carrying a shorter distance.