Kerrville's Scott Schreiner Golf Course in 1924. The clubhouse is in the background. Click on any image to enlarge. |
Golfing in Kerrville turns 100 this month, and the city is planning a celebration at the Scott Schreiner Municipal Golf Course to mark the occasion.
One journalist covered the new golf course back in 1924: J. E. Grinstead. His October, 1924 edition of the Grinstead’s Graphic Magazine is devoted to the new golf course.
"Some of the
Graphic's readers complained last month," Grinstead writes, "because
I used a word several times that the preachers talk about every Sunday. Well,
you won't find it in this number. The worst word I'll use is Golf."
The little booklet
measures about 6 3/4 by 10 inches and had, at one time, 32 pages. My copy is
missing the middle four pages, and is thus incomplete. It is illustrated with
twelve photographs in the story pages, plus five more in the advertisements. (As
you know, I'm particularly keen on old Kerrville and Kerr County images.) Like
most of Grinstead's magazines, this one includes some "booster" copy,
extolling the unblemished virtues of our neck of the woods, and also a short
piece of fiction.
Back to his coverage of
golf:
"The world has progressed, and Kerrville has progressed with it. As a step in that progress, the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce, the liveliest civic body I know anything about, decided that Kerrville needed a Country Club and a Golf Course. When the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce decides that their town needs a thing, they go get it."
Looking over the
photographs, I believe this "country club" and its golf course were
spread out over the same acreage as today's Scott Schreiner Municipal Golf
Course. Of the images in the little magazine, I have the negatives to two,
which helps me know approximately how old they are.
"Through the course runs Quinlan Creek," Grinstead wrote, "a brawling mountain brook, which affords no less than seven water hazards. No matter where the player may look, he is confronted by natural scenery, mountain, valley and stream. This sporty nine-hole course was designed by John Bredemus, well-known golf engineer and architect. The designs were carried out under the supervision of O. J. Dobkins, who is at present professional in charge of the course. Mr. Dobkins was assisted in the work by Hal Peterson."
Happy 100th birthday to the Scott Schreiner Municipal Golf Course!
Until next week, all the best.
Joe Herring Jr. is a Kerrville native who has hit more than a few golf balls in the water at our local golf course. This column originally appeared in the Kerr County Lead October 3, 2024.
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This is great, Joe. Thanks.
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