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;

The entrance drive to the exclusive members only Tacoma Country and Golf Club, located on the shores of American Lake. The club relocated to this location in 1904. It is the oldest continuously operating Country Club west of the Mississippi.("A History of Pierce County, Wa." vol. 1)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma);

ca. 1924. One golfer is attempting to blast out of a bunker at the Fircrest Golf Course while his two companions remain safely out of the way. This photograph was believed to have been taken not long after the private golf course's opening in 1924. This site has been identified as the original hole design and bunker configuration of the 17th green at the Fircrest Golf Course. The course designer, Arthur V. Macan, created the hole to mirror the glaciers of Mount Rainier. Golfers soon called it "The Volcano Hole." (Additional information provided by a reader)

Springtime in Washington brings out the golfers as the many automobiles parked at the Parkland Golf Course in April of 1930 will attest. Ample parking was available near the course's main entrance. G54.1-021

Golf--Parkland; Parkland Golf Course (Parkland); Automobiles--Parkland; Parking--Parkland;

Unidentified golf foursome. Western Washington pro golfers and club presidents gathered on Friday, April 28, 1972, at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club to participate in the Northwest Pro-Presidents golf tournament. This year each of the three branches in the northwest section of the PGA will have its own tournament. The Tacoma Country & Golf Club was the location of the first Northwest Pro-Presidents tournament in 1953. 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;

Ruth Canale, young links star, holding the perpetual trophy plaque of walnut and silver, offered by the Tacoma Times and inscribed with the names of the winners of the Washington State Women's Public Links Golf Tournament. The tournament will be held at Meadow Park. Miss Canale is a contender for the trophy, having recently broken her own personal record by shooting 79 over Meadow Park. (T. Times 6/26/1936, pg. 15)

Golf--Tacoma--1930-1940; Golfers--Tacoma--1930-1940; Canale, Ruth;

Tacoma Open Golf Tournament at Fircrest, Tacoma Athletic Commission, Bob Sanders. The crowd of spectators is spread out along the 18th fairway at the Fircrest Golf Club during the Tacoma Open Golf Tournament in September of 1948. Some of the entrants in the tournament are seen at play on the fairway. (Additional information provided by a reader)

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. A young man announces the play during the Tacoma Open Golf Tournament from the roof of one of the buildings at the Fircrest Golf Club. Bleacher seats were placed at vantage points for spectators to watch their favorites come in off both nines. The five way split from Sunday's play was broken on September 21st when Ed Oliver of Seattle won the five-man playoff and won the $12,500 Tacoma Open Classic. (T.Times, 9/21/1948, p.10) TPL-6255

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

18th green at the Fircrest Golf Club. Tacoma Open Golf Tournament at Fircrest, Tacoma Athletic Commission, Bob Sanders.The Tacoma Open Golf Tournament opened at the Fircrest Golf Club for a four-day event starting September 17, 1948. The tournament attracted a large gallery and people can be seen here following the players to the next green. A $12,500 purse would go to the winner. (TNT, 9/17/1948, p.14)

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

Swimming area at American Lake, part of the Tacoma Country and Golf Club. The club purchased this property on the eastern shore of American Lake in 1904. Originally, members were issued deeds to 25 foot lots along the lake front where they could set up tents and escape the city's summer heat. As time passed, the tents gave way to homes, greens and the clubhouse. The lake still remained a favorite "Ole Swimmin' Hole" for a quick refreshing dip. A dock reaches out into the lake, topped with a life guard stand. Boats are also tied up to the right of the dock. ("A History of Pierce County, Wa." vol. 1) TPL-8640

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Water holes--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The entrance drive to the exclusive members only Tacoma Country and Golf Club, located on the shores of American Lake. The club relocated to this location in 1904. It is the oldest continuously operating Country Club west of the Mississippi.("A History of Pierce County, Wa." vol. 1)

Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma);

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;

Four unidentified men pose with a late-model automobile in the back of the Fircrest Golf Clubhouse in late September of 1926. Three are wearing golfing clothes while the fourth man has a modified version including jacket, tie and fedora. The private golf course was situated on about 160 acres in Fircrest and was relatively new, opening on July 26, 1924. G54.1-025

Fircrest Golf Club (Fircrest); Clubhouses--Fircrest--1920-1930; Golfers--Fircrest--1920-1930; Golfers--Clothing & dress--1920-1930; Automobiles--Fircrest;

One golfer is lining up his putt at the 10th hole of the Fircrest Golf Course on September 29, 1926, while his playing partners wait. The flagstick has been thrown to the side. All four balls look in close proximity to the hole. G54.1-024 TPL-10256

Golfers--Fircrest--1920-1930; Golfers--Clothing & dress--1920-1930; Putting (Golf)--Fircrest; Golf--Fircrest--1920-1930;