Still in a crouch, a golfer believed to be Arnold Palmer watches his ball head toward the hole on the final day of the 1960 Carling Open held in September of 1960 at the Fircrest Golf Club. His two playing partners and caddy, along with hundreds of spectators, watch intently. Arnold Palmer had already won over $70,000 in 1960 and was looking to add the $3,500 first prize money to his earnings. Palmer won a disappointing $250; he finished with a total of 281 after 72-holes, nine strokes behind Ernie Vossler, a 31-year-old from Midland, Texas. Vossler beat Paul Harney by one stroke to capture the 1960 Carling Open. Photograph ordered by the Carling Brewery. (TNT 9-19-60, p.l4) TPL-9898

Golf--Fircrest--1960-1970; Golfers--Fircrest--1960-1970; Putting (Golf)--Fircrest; Sports spectators--Fircrest;

Golfer teeing off in Carling Open on September 16, 1960. Two competitors squat while waiting their turn. Large crowd follows flight of the ball. The Carling Open, held at the Fircrest Golf Course, attracted a large field of prominent players, including Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Bob Rosburg, Lionel Hebert, Don January, and Julius Boros. The event was co-sponsored by the American Cancer Society and 25,000 local residents came out to watch the action. Photograph ordered by Tom Hill, Doric Tacoma Motor Hotel, to be displayed on easels throughout hotel. (TNT 9-19-60, p. 14)

Golf--Fircrest--1960-1970; Golfers--Fircrest--1960-1970; Sports spectators--Fircrest;

ca. 1943. Brookdale Golf Club. Unidentified family of three poses in front of clubhouse for an informal portrait circa 1943. The Tacoma City Directory advertised the golf course as "Tacoma's Most Picturesque 18-Hole Course"--eight miles south on Mountain Road and one mile east on Clovercreek Road." It was built in 1931.

Brookdale Golf Club (Parkland); Families--Parkland--1940-1950; Clubhouses--Parkland;

Brookdale Golf Course. Four men display the Championship Prizes, golf clubs and golf bags. They are standing in front of the stone fireplace in the club house.

Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Awards;

Times Golf Tournament. These men were part of the committee behind the 1945 Tacoma Open Golf Classic that was held May 27, 1945, at the Allenmore course. As well as an excellent golf championship, the canteen at Allenmore donated their earnings for the benefit of all servicemen and women. L-R, Ed Morris, H.R. Venslee, Ed Stevens and future mayor John Anderson.

Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Allenmore Golf Club (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Morris, Ed; Venslee, H.R.; Stevens, Ed; Anderson, John H.;

Allenmore Golf Club Tournament. The Tacoma Open Golf Tournament, at Allenmore Golf Course, offers prizes totaling $1250, making it the biggest golf event in the Northwest. View of Tacoma Open Golf Tournament committee admiring some of the prizes. Names given in article (T. Times, 5/20/44, p. 20).

Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tournaments--Tacoma; Tacoma Open Golf Tournament (Tacoma);

On May 1, 1951, to mark the opening of the summer season at the Fircrest Golf Club, 1000 Regents Blvd., the club's women came dressed in costume. Four of the weird, wonderful and well dressed women seen at the links were: (l to r) Mary E. (Mrs. Frank H.) Murray, as a jailbird; Laura E. (Mrs. Roy L.) McGinn, pioneer woman; Freida (Mrs. Ben) Rome, Hindu; and Louise (Mrs. Frank) Severson, as Daniel Boone. First prize for best costume went to Mrs. M.C. Thompson who came dressed as a Fiji islander, complete with grass skirt. (Ordered by the Tribune.) (TNT, 6/6/1951, p.D-1)

Fircrest Golf Club (Fircrest); Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Murray, Mary E.; McGinn, Laura E.; Rome, Freida; Severson, Louise; Costumes

The country club was starting their annual week for juniors, with sailboat races as the first event. Juniors would be participating in tennis, golf, swimming, picnics and dances. Geoff Reif, President of the Juniors was carrying out the details in the comprehensive program, Leon E. Titus was helping plan Junior events. View of Junior members participating in the golf tournament during Junior week at Tacoma Country Club, the girls are checking the score cards (T. Times, 7/20/48, p. 6).

Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Young adults--Tacoma; Recording & registration--Tacoma; Country clubs--Tacoma; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma);

Tacoma was hosting the 25th Annual Northwest Lumbermen's Golf Tournament at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club. Paul Johns was Chairman of the big event, 150 lumbermen participated in the tournament. View of the trophies and prizes, which will be awarded to the winners of the 25th Annual Northwest Lumbermen's Golf Tournament (West Coast Lumbermen, 9/48, p. 88).

Tournaments--Tacoma; Awards; Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Country clubs--Tacoma; Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

Paul Johns (right) from City Lumber Company was the perennial Chairman of the mid summer golf competition for the lumber fraternity. Johns helped plan and host the big event in Tacoma. Left to right, Chuck Congdon, Dave Doud, Champion of the Northwest Lumbermen Tournament receiving the perpetual trophy from Paul Johns (West Coast Lumbermen, 9/48, p. 88).

Tournaments--Tacoma; Awards; Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Country clubs--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma); Congdon, Chuck; Johns, Paul; Doud, Dave;

Tacoma Open Golf Tournament at Fircrest, Tacoma Athletic Commission, Bob Sanders. Entrants in the Tacoma Open Golf Tournament are seen on the green with the gallery of spectators surrounding the green. Five pros tied for the top spot in the sensational Tacoma Open. Scores of 274 for the 72 holes were held by Ed Oliver of Seattle, Gary Middlecoff of Memphis, Chuck Congdon of Tacoma, Fred Hass of New Orleans and Vic Ghezzi of Englewood, New Jersey. This tied score was one stroke below the record of 275 set by Jimmy Hines in 1945. (T.Times, 9/20/1948, p.11)

Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fircrest Golf Club (Fircrest); Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Spectators--Tacoma; Contests--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Open Golf Tournament at Fircrest, Tacoma Athletic Commission, Bob Sanders. Spectators surround the green watching two of the golfers entered in the four-day Tacoma Open Golf Tournament. The Fircrest course had a 480 yard first hole. At the end of the first day of play Freddie Hass Jr. was in first position with a score of 65, Chuck Congdon in second with 66 and Vic Ghezzi was in third with 67. A new course record was set this day for the long 9. (TNT, 9/17/1948, p.14)

Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fircrest Golf Club (Fircrest); Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Spectators--Tacoma; Contests--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Allenmore Golf Open party. Oscar (Ocky) Eliason and Ken Tucker shot identical 70-66--136s on the first day of the 1950 Allenmore Golf Open Tournament. Ocky Eliason (left), unattached Tacoma professional, is grasping the Steve O'Brien trophy. John H. ("Big John") Anderson, Mayor-elect and an ardent golfer, is seen second from the left. Ken Tucker, Everett Golf and Country Club professional, is second from the right, and Al Buhre, a veteran Tacoma amateur is on the right. Elaison and Tucker would battle it out for top money of $200 and the trophy in an 18-hole playoff. Ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission, Mr. Metcalf. (TNT, 5/17/1950, p.36)

Golf--Tacoma--1950-1960; Allenmore Golf Club (Tacoma); Awards; Anderson, John H.; Golfers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Eliason, Oscar; Tucker, Ken; Buhre, Al;

The golf course at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club. The sky seems striped with clouds as several golfers try out their skills on the green. In 1894, golf was introduced to Tacoma by a small group of displaced Scotsmen who negotiated to lease 280 acres of prairie land in Edison (now South Tacoma.) By 1904, the club made plans to relocate and the R.B. Lehman farm on the eastern shore of American Lake was purchased. This purchase, along with some adjacent property, gave the club 237 acres to stretch out on. This became the first permanent home of the Tacoma Country and Golf Club, the oldest continuing country club west of the Mississippi. ("A History of Pierce County, Wa." vol. 1)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Golf--Tacoma--1950-1960; Golfers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This photograph shows the clubhouse of the Tacoma Country and Golf Club on American Lake as it looked from the lake side of the building in September of 1956. It was built in 1910 from plans by the architects Russell and Babcock to replace the original clubhouse which was destroyed by fire. By 1956, it was known as "The Grand Old Lady". Its most prominent feature was a spiral staircase in the entry hall, which appears in many wedding and party pictures of the time. A fire gutted the structure in 1961. TPL-5740 ("A History of Pierce County, Wa." vol. 1)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--Buildings; Clubhouses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Clubhouse at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club. In June of 1909, a fire that started in the servant's quarters burned the original clubhouse to the ground. This regal building, known as the "Grand Old Lady," rose in its place. It was best remembered for its gracious spiral staircase in the entrance hall, shown in many wedding portraits. A fire gutted this structure in 1961. TPL-5741 ("A History of Pierce County, Wa." vol. 1)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--Buildings; Clubhouses--Tacoma--1950-1960;

On April 25, 1962, three members of the Tacoma Ad Club appear to deeply ponder golf strategy as they prepare for the upcoming golf tournament at Allenmore Golf Course. One man has his putter on hand but the distance to the hole is not shown. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Ad Club.

Golf--Tacoma--1960-1970; Golfers--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Ad Club (Tacoma);

Phil Taylor of Victoria, wearing sports jacket, tie and knickers, was in town on June 19, 1925 to compete in the Pacific Northwest Golf Association open tournament at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club links. (TNT 6/19/1925, pg. 1) (WSHS)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Golf--Tacoma--1920-1930; Golfers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Golfers--Clothing & dress--1920-1930; Taylor, Phil;

An unidentified waitress served ten customers from behind the lunch counter in the Allenmore Golf Course Club House on July 12, 1939. The club house, designed by Nelson and Round, architects, was one of the most elaborate buildings of its kind in the Northwest when it was built in 1931. It had both men's and women's locker rooms and showers in the basement, and a club room, kitchen and lunch room on the first floor. On the second floor there were two bedrooms and a small apartment. The walls of the lunch room and club room were paneled with knotty West Coast Hemlock. (TDL 9/13/1931)

Allenmore Golf Club (Tacoma); Clubhouses--Tacoma--1930-1940; Snack bars--Tacoma--1930-1940; Golf--Tacoma--1930-1940; Allen, Sam--Homes & haunts;

These four golfers, and many more, participated in the 1972 Northwest Pro-Presidents golf tournament held at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club on April 28, 1972. The field for the one-day tournament was a mixture of Western Washington pros and club presidents. Host pro Gerry Mehlert had the best round of the day - a sparkling 69. Winner of the tournament by four strokes was the twosome of Bob Lundgaard, president of the Olympia Country Club, and professional Rick Adell. Color photograph ordered by Gerry Mehlert. (TNT 4-27-72, C-11 -article; TNT 4-29-72, p. 10 -article)

Golf--Tacoma--1970-1980; Golfers--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1970-1980;

Dave Black, of Vancouver B.C., posed on the links June 18, 1925 for the front page of the News Tribune, wearing fashionable golf attire, including argyle socks. Mr. Black was in town for the Pacific Northwest Golf Association's open tournament, held at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club. (TNT 6/19/1925, pg. 1) (WSHS)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Golf--Tacoma--1920-1930; Golfers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Golfers--Clothing & dress--1920-1930; Black, Dave;

Annual golf tournament sponsored by the Lumbermans' Association and held at the Tacoma Country Club. Photograph ordered by Cecil Cavanaugh. The man in the center holds two loving cups to be awarded as prizes in the Northwest Lumbermans' Handicap Golf Championship on August 9-10, 1941. Hugo Peterson of Tacoma was the big winner. He was employed at the Douglas Fir Plywood Association (DFPA). (T. Times 8/11/1941)

Tournaments--Tacoma; Awards; Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Country clubs--Tacoma; Sports & recreation facilities--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

The Junior Women's club members and guests took over the facilities of the Fircrest Golf Club on Saturday, April 26, 1942, for their annual cabaret dance. A group of members and their escorts are pictured on the porch of the club.

Fircrest Golf Club (Fircrest); Junior Women's Club (Tacoma); Women--Clubs--Tacoma;

Thirty-six young golfers competed in the Northwest Prep Championship Tournament held in July of 1946. Jerry Driscoll (left) beat his partners, Bruce Andreasen (center) and Dick Nicholson, by one and two strokes respectively in the 36 hole competition to win the Tacoma Jubilee golf title. (T. Times 7-02-1946 p.11)

Golf--Fircrest--1940-1950; Driscoll, Jerry;

Women's Day at Country Club, Tribune, Mrs. Hosmer. The summer golf season officially opened with the women's division gathering at the Fircrest Golf Club. More than a score of beginners were welcomed into the club by president Mrs. Percy J. Quam. Three women are completing their final put. A golf bag on wheels is seen in the background. (T.Times, 5/3/1948, p.6) TPL-8636

Fircrest Golf Club (Fircrest); Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubwomen--Tacoma--1940-1950; Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Allenmore Golf Open party. Following the first day of play Oscar Eliason and Ken Tucker were tied for first place in the 17th Allenmore Open Golf Tournament. Tied for third place were Chuck Congdon and Bob McKendrick. Al Buhre was in fifth. Several of the players are seen with some of the prizes given. Ordered by the Tacoma Athletic Commission, Mr. Metcalf. (TNT, 5/17/1950, p.36)

Golf--Tacoma--1950-1960; Allenmore Golf Club (Tacoma); Awards; Golfers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Dinner party honoring Alexander Baillie at Tacoma Country & Golf Club, Tribune, E. Knight. A view of the banquet room at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club on October 22, 1948, where more than 150 guests were gathered in honor of Alexander Baillie, the venerable Scotsman who was the first president of the golf club. He is seen near the wall between the middle two sets of draperies next to banker Reno Odlin who is holding a microphone. Most of the assembled men are wearing tuxedoes, seated at tables decorated with candles and flowers.

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma); Country clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Baillie, Alexander, 1859-1949; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Banquets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Men--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Professional golfer Cary Middlecoff autographs golf balls at the Tacoma Open Tournament held at the Fircrest Golf Club. On Sunday, September 20, 1948, P.G.A. history was made when Cary Middlecoff and four other professional golfers all completed the 72-hole tournament tied at 274 strokes. With the top cash prizes still unclaimed, the five played another round of 18-holes on Monday. Still no winner! In a sudden death 19th-hole, Ed "Porky" Oliver, who played out of Seattle's Inglewood Country Club, beat Middlecoff by one stroke. Middlecoff, whose name was usually prefixed by "Dr.," was a graduate of the Tennessee College of Dentistry (1944) and first practiced dentistry in the U.S. Army where he filled 12, 093 teeth in 18 months. He would go on to win the U.S. Open twice and the Masters once. (TNT 09-21-1948 p.8) ALBUM 9.

Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fircrest Golf Club (Fircrest); Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Contests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Middlecoff, Cary;

Tacoma Open Golf Tournament at Fircrest, Tacoma Athletic Commission, Bob Sanders. Out of the 112 contestants entered in the tournament only 17 broke par of 71 and nine equalled that figure. Eighteen holes were played each day. Scores at the half-way mark were 134 for Freddie Hass, Jr., 136 for Chuck Congdon, Herman Heiser and Vic Ghezzi, and 137 for Ed Oliver. (TNT, 9/18/1948, p.8)

Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fircrest Golf Club (Fircrest); Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Spectators--Tacoma; Contests--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Tacoma Open Golf Tournament at Fircrest, Tacoma Athletic Commission, Bob Sanders. Four men and a woman stand together at the opening of the PGA Open Golf Tournament held in Tacoma in 1948. The man on the left is possibly Vic Ghezzi, a professional player from Englewood , New Jersey. The woman is unidentified. In the middle is Howard Smith, president of the Tacoma Athletic Commission, the organization sponsoring the event. Second from the right is Chuck Congdon, the professional from the Tacoma Golf and Country Club. The man on the for right is unidentified. (TNT, 9/20/1948, p.9)

Golf--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fircrest Golf Club (Fircrest); Golfers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Spectators--Tacoma; Contests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Smith, Howard R.; Congdon, Chuck;