combining tradition, prestige and hospitality for over 100 hundred years An early view of Tulsa Country Club, whose course originally doubled as a dairy pasture and had been used to hold cattle awaiting shipment on the Frisco Railroad.

Founded more than a century ago, Tulsa Country From T-Town Club features elegant amenities, a championship- to Tee-Town|quality course and a By Anne Brockman dedicated membership

ore than a century ago, when , elegant and casual dining High Ball and Outward Bound. These Tulsa was nothing more than options, an array of sports activities and clever and quirky labels became legend- Ma 10,000-plus-population a history that tells the story of Tulsa, ary among golfers of the era, who also town finding its way in the oil-boom Tulsa Country Club has helped make had to contend with hazards such as craze, Tulsa Country Club was founded Tulsa T(ee)-Town. Kennedy’s dairy cows. to provide citizens and guests with big- The club has hosted numerous A fire in 1916 destroyed the log cabin city charms in the beautiful Osage Hills national tournaments on its greens and where members gathered. A new club- landscape. has seen greats such as , house opened the following year. Now known for its spectacular down- Sam Snead, Miller Barber and Bill town views, a nationally recognized Mehlhorn tee off. GROWTH AND CHANGE For more than 100 years, members The 1920s brought considerable have been making Tulsa Country Club’s change to the club. Renowned golf 150-plus acres their second home — and course architect A.W. Tillinghast was why wouldn’t they? With family activi- hired to design a new 18-hole course, ties, social events, sports tournaments, with grass greens replacing sand greens. swimming, dining and more, Tulsa The addition of a swimming pool Country Club strives to provide an in 1935 and a dining room and cock- atmosphere of casual elegance for all its tail lounge a decade later, extended the members and guests. club’s services to golfers’ families. A new THE EARLY YEARS clubhouse was built in 1968 on North In 1908, Tulsa Country Club was Union Avenue to accommodate the club’s founded on land leased from the growth. Kennedy family for a yearly fee of $4 an Tulsa Country Club course architect acre. GREENS IN NEED A.W. Tillinghast, right, looks over A nine-hole golf course was built with In 1988, the golf course underwent plans with a foreman, circa 1920. holes named Profanity Creek, Climax, a renovation headed by Tulsan Jay

2 Tulsa Country Club A view of the Tulsa Country Club golf course after noted architect undertook the $6 Rees Jones restored and enhanced the classic A.W. Tillinghast layout. million project, which included the installation of a new irrigation system and pump house, to produce myriad updates, including: • Building 18 new greens to USGA specifications • Rebuilding greenside complexes and bunker surrounds • Planting new and, in some cases, relocating trees to improve shot variety • Creating strategic fairway bunkering at all the 4s and 5s – 41 new bunkers in all • Regrading the fairways to improve surface drainage • Replacing the majority of the cart paths • Enlarging and redefining all ponds, including a new 1.5-acre irrigation pond. • Replacing all bridges, subterranean drainage pipes and other infrastructure.

Rees Jones: “The Open Doctor” Jones was nicknamed the “The Open Doctor” for his redesign work at seven U.S. Open host courses as well as six PGA Championships, four Ryder Cups, two Walker Cups, one President’s Cup and the Morrish, resulting in greater recogni- enhancing the clubhouse and hired Tom PGA’s Tour Championship. tion and prestige for Tulsa and club Hoch, one of the most respected club- Jones has been listed every year to Golf m-embers. Morrish’s work brought house designers in the country, for the Digest’s Top 5 Golf Course Architects list notoriety to the club, with the U.S. Golf renovation. Hoch put in place a plan to since its inception. Association hailing the work as “one of allow for the clubhouse to be renovated Jones has designed or redesigned the the best jobs ever.” while staying within the footprint of the following renowned golf courses: existing facility. The first phase of the • Baltusrol, Springfield, NJ MASTERING THE FIELD renovation is complete. Two more phases • Bethpage State Park (Black), Approaching its centennial, Tulsa will follow. Farmingdale, NY Country Club underwent a thorough • Cog Hill #4-Dubsdread, Lemont, IL review process to create a master plan • Congressional Country Club (Blue), that would improve the clubhouse, swim- Bethesda, MD ming pool and golf course. In 2007, a • , , GA new resort-style pool complex was com- • Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, pleted, followed by pool locker rooms and MN a café a year later. • Medinah Country Club (Course Three), Acclaimed golf course architect Rees Medinah, IL Jones signed on to rejuvenate the club’s • Oakland Hills Country Club (South course. This project created new green Course), Bloomfield Hills, MI complexes, tees, bunkers and fairways; • Pinehurst Country Club (Nos. 2 and 7), state-of-the-art irrigation; additional Pinehurst, NC ponds and water features; and enhance- • , Brookline, Mass. ments to the overall design of the Byron Nelson at TCC • (South Tillinghast course. in 1945. Nelson played two exhibitions Course), La Jolla, Calif. After finalizing the course redesign at the club during World War II. plans, the club’s board set its eyes on • Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, Orlando, Fla.

Tulsa Country Club 3 A Tulsa Country Club golf event in the 1940s.

Tulsa Country Club’s greens evolve to meet tournament and member needs. The course of history | By Randy Krehbiel

olf was just becoming a truly was started in 1908, on land leased from Association was formed at TCC in 1909, national game in 1919 when Dr. Samuel Grant Kennedy, a pioneer and the first state championship was held Gtwo of the sport’s leading per- physician who had given up medicine there a year later. sonalities visited Tulsa. One was Charles to concentrate on oil and real estate. Tillinghast’s visit a decade later “Chick” Evans, winner of the 1916 Located in the very southeast corner of indicated how much Tulsa had U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open. Largely the old Osage Reservation, now Osage changed. A big share of the oil that forgotten now, Evans remains the only County, the club was actually located on fueled the Allied armies and navies of player — the Great Immortal, Bobby the allotment of Kennedy’s wife, Agnes, World War I had come through Tulsa, Jones, being the other — to win both daughter of a French-Osage trader. and it had made the city rich. The golf tournaments in the same year, and he did This was actually the second Tulsa course that was patched together it with just seven hickory-shaft clubs in Country Club. An earlier version, willy-nilly a decade earlier would no his bag. Evans would play in every U.S. opened in 1905 on 80 acres near where longer do. The best in the business Amateur from 1907 to 1962, winning Hillcrest Medical Center now stands, had to be brought in. Some of the most again in 1920, and was inducted into the had included a clubhouse, nine-hole famous names in golf have played World Golf Hall of Fame in 1975. golf course, tennis courts and a shooting Tillinghast’s course. Evans’ companion, however, was an range. According to the October 1905 It has endured Oklahoma summers, even bigger name in golf. Albert Warren Sturm’s Statehood Magazine, the shoot- blizzards, ice storms and floods. Like Tillinghast — generally known as A.W. ing range was the most popular feature. all of us, it has suffered a fair number or, more often, “Tillie” — was a mid- “Marksmen were in the majority,” the of indignities. In 2010, the club mem- dling golfer at best but an imaginative magazine reported. “A few had played bership decided to bring Tillinghast’s and prolific designer of golf courses. lawn tennis or read of golf.” genius back to life. In July 2011, mem- Strong willed, alternately surly and By late 1906, the first Tulsa Country bers cut the ribbon on a Rees Jones charming, and prone to alcoholic binges, Club was out of business, its leased redesign that evokes the day, long ago, Tillinghast could turn a raw piece of land course subdivided and sold off in resi- when two of golf ’s early giants walked into an artist’s canvas. He would design dential lots. the hills and streams of Tulsa Country or redesign more than 250 courses in his The second Tulsa Country Club’s Club. lifetime, including Baltusrol, Bethpage, course seems to have been built more or Winged Foot, Ridgewood and Cedar less by committee, although most of the EDITOR’S NOTE: Randy Krehbiel is the Crest. work was at the direction of William author of “Breaking 100: Tulsa Country Tillinghast was brought to Tulsa to Nichols, a “true Scotsman” and, to per- Club’s First Century of Good Times and redesign the Tulsa Country Club (TCC) haps damn him with faint praise, the best Good Friends.” course northwest of downtown. TCC golfer in the state. The Oklahoma Golf

4 Tulsa Country Club A foursome tees off during the early days of Tulsa Country Club.

Timeline

Tulsa Country Club (TCC) Oklahoman Dick Grout A new $1 million TCC celebrates its 1908 is formed in March on 1927 edges out 1968clubhouse opens on the 2008 centennial. land leased by Dr. S.G. Kennedy. and other tour pros to win the west side of the grounds; holes are A clubhouse and nine-hole golf at TCC. numbered. The $2.5 million course with sand greens are built 2010 clubhouse renovation on 80 acres located near the TCC hosts the Trans- Miller Barber wins the is completed. present site at West Edison Street 1930 Mississippi Women’s 1984 Roy Clark Senior PGA and North Union Avenue. Amateur. tournament, a forerunner of the senior tour, at TCC. Country club members A swimming pool is 1909 from Oklahoma City, 1935 added. A Jay Morrish-led Shawnee, Muskogee and Tulsa 1988 renovation of the golf meet at TCC to form the Oklahoma The clubhouse is course is completed. Golf Association. 1946 remodeled to include a small dining room and cocktail TCC hosts the NCAA TCC hosts the first lounge. 1999Women’s Golf 1910 Oklahoma State Amateur Championship. and First Oklahoma Open. A watering system is 1954 installed for the greens The first of three A fire destroys the and grounds. 2001 consecutive years Tulsa’s 1916 original log cabin stop on the LPGA Tour is played clubhouse. TCC hosts the U.S. at TCC. 1960 Women’s Amateur A new clubhouse is tournament. TCC begins formalizing Diane Lang celebrates her 2008 USGA Senior Women’s 1917 completed. 2005 a master plan for Championship at TCC. renovations of the clubhouse, The TCC golf course swimming pool and golf course. 1918 expands to 18 holes. The $6 million Rees Acclaimed golf course 2011 Jones golf course A new lease is signed 2008 architect Rees Jones renovation is completed. 1920 with the Kennedy family. signs on to restore the golf course, Famed golf course architect A.W. including new green complexes, TCC hosts the NCAA Tillinghast is tapped to design fairways, irrigation, additional 2014 Women’s Golf a new course and install grass ponds and overall design changes. Championship. greens. Respected clubhouse designer Tom Hoch makes plans to renovate TCC hosts the U.S. Junior Bill Mehlhorn wins the the clubhouse in three phases. 2015 Girl’s Golf Championship 1923 Oklahoma Open (a PGA Tour event) on the TCC course. TCC hosts the U.S. Senior Mehlhorn previously served as TCC Noted golf course architect 2008 Women’s Amateur head pro and later played on the A.W. Tillinghast’s design at TCC Championship. first U.S. team. has stood the test of time.

Tulsa Country Club 5 transforming What Women Want| tradition by Nehemiah Taylor

Traditionally, country clubs are thought as a sanctuary for male golfers to compete and bond over a game of golf. Today, the Tulsa Country Club (TCC) puts a spin on tradition with the inclusion of family-friendly activities for both male and female golf- ers and non-golfers alike. From social activities to golf events, TCC offers women the Club experience that they desire and women have emerged as a very active force in the member community.

THE SOCIAL BUTTERFLIES EMERGE LADIES HIT THE COURSE “TCC has a great reputation in Country Clubs are only for golfers. While golf has been a predominantly the community and that is what FALSE. In recent years, TCC has male-dominated sport, it’s time to make drew us to the Club. Everyone is emerged as the place to be for social room for the ladies. The ladies of TCC so welcoming and friendly.” events such as wine dinners, holiday have been making their presence known - Terri Lowell, Social Member events, dining, pool parties and more. on the golf course, and the golf staff TCC Intermediate member, Tiffany welcomes the emerging groups of lady Culver is familiar with the family- golfers. Lauren Allen originally joined “From Ladies’ organized play friendly environment that the Club TCC as a social member, but after days every Tuesday morning, provides to all its members. Culver has becoming familiar with other members, group play on Thursday evenings been a member since childhood and was she realized the blossoming presence of and Friday afternoons, and eager to join again once she started her lady golfers of the Club. “For a lady golf- Women’s Clinics in the evening own family. er claiming TCC has nothing to offer, I coached by Golf Pro, Jeff “My favorite thing to do in the sum- would ask them to come and witness the Combe, to couples events such as mer as a kid was to swim at TCC,” says women who play Interclub and see that scrambles and horse races. There Culver. “I was anxious to join so I could the Club has women of all levels who are so many opportunities to take our children to the pool,” she says. play together in competition and just for play golf, either competitively or After renovations on the pool completed fun,” says Allen. recreationally.” in 2007, the pool has become the hub of Whether you don’t know how to - Maren Lively, Intermediate Golf Member family fun for all members, attracting a swing a golf club or you just want to high volume of Social members. Each brush up on your putting skills, the “When the weather is nice, we year the TCC pool hosts an Adults Only golf staff offers Women’s Clinics for enjoy dinner on the patio while Luau, as well as water activities on the those ladies who are looking to improve the kids play on the activity 4th of July. their skill set and understanding of the lawn; sometimes it is just our Terri Lowell joined as a Social mem- game of golf. Before 2013, Allen had family and other times we meet ber in May of 2014 and says attend- never played 18 holes, but after attend- friends and enjoy a cocktail ing TCC’s 4th of July celebration will ing the Women’s Clinics and receiving while the kids run. I love TCC become a tradition for her and her fami- lessons from TCC’s PGA Professional, during the summer; we can grab ly. “We invited friends and family to join Jeff Combe, she was able to master the our swim bag anytime and head us and spent the entire day,” says Lowell, course. “Jeff and his staff are always to the pool!” “This will become a tradition for us!” available for lessons or small tips which The social scene at TCC is not con- can be the difference,” says Allen. “ - Tiffany Culver, Intermediate Golf Member fined to the Clubhouse doors either. TCC has allowed me to practice and Maren Lively has created connections play on a course that is kept pristine and “What makes TCC unique is its within the member community that have make me want to get better each time I ability to provide upscale facilities resulted in extended friendships and an step onto the first tee.” to a membership community increase in social activities beyond the It has become one of TCC’s mis- which embraces strong family Club. “My husband and I have received sions to foster an environment where all morals and ethics. Members take invites to attend art events, black-tie club members and guests feel embraced. pride in being a part of a club affairs, dinner parties and several other From the staff to the members, this that offers the best with a feeling social gatherings through the wonder- mission echoes throughout the club. of comfort and comaraderie not ful friends we have made at TCC,” says “The members are inviting and the necessarily embodied by other Lively. Whether it is sipping on cocktails staff is always quick to accommodate clubs in the area.” on the deck, working out in the gym or requests,” says Allen. “ The level of laying by the pool, social butterflies fit respect between the members and the - Lauren Allen, Junior Golf Member right in at Tulsa Country Club. staff really make a working culture that is core of TCC.”

6 Tulsa Country Club One Club for Everyone A COMMUNITY OF MEMBERS have fun with friends, family and other Golfers. Socialites. CEOs. Parents. members. Empty nesters. With a variety of social activities, holiday events and amenities, HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM TCC Tulsa Country Club has something for Whether it’s the extravagant fire- everyone no matter the season. Since works in front of the skyline at the 4th the renovations of the swimming pool, of July celebration, the pounds of candy Clubhouse and golf course, the member- dropping from the helicopter for the ship at TCC has become a melting pot Easter Egg Hunt or the haunted hayride of generations and personalities which and costume contest on Halloween, has created a welcoming community. Tulsa Country Club holidays can’t be FOR ADULTS ONLY beat. Adults can enjoy a unique dining While Tulsa Country Club prides experience as they celebrate Valentine’s FAMILIES WELCOME itself on its activities for the whole fam- One of TCC’s greatest provisions is Day and families can decorate ily, we also offer events for Adults Only. Gingerbread Houses at Christmas time. the family friendly atmosphere we deliv- Each summer 80+ members gather er to our members. With the change in around the TCC pool for a Luau Party the club’s culture, the Board of Directors featuring a DJ or band, roasting pig, decided to commit Club resources to the tropical food and fun drinks. This social growing number of young families at event is a great way to meet new people TCC. Through our abundant amount of and kick off the summer. In the fall the club events, meeting new acquaintances Costume Karaoke Contest showcases are never ending. Each month, events the musical talent from the members. are planned for the inclusion of our This event requires costumes and is a member’s families. fun way to break out of your shell and

Celebrations atop the Skyline alking down the aisle, throwing off heels, “I want to thank you and your popping the champagne, marveling at the “No doubt you have a staff for a lovely wedding WTulsa skyline…all activities that can be beautiful facility and reception. Many people witnessed when Tulsans and visitors gather at Tulsa delicious food, but it is the complimented the service, the Country Club to celebrate. Tulsa Country Club has wonderful people of Tulsa amazingly delicious food and established a long-held tradition of excellent din- Country Club that really of course your lovely venue... ing, polished service and elegant entertainment for keep us coming back! You absolutely accomplished any celebration. Our staff is professionally trained to Jerry has been remarkable what you said. It was a assist in every step of event planning and is dedicat- to work with, and everyone delightfully memorable ed to the highest standards of quality, ensuring that is just so warm and evening.” -Christy Andrews events are occasions for all to remember. Our ban- professional.” -Kulsum Siddiqui quet rooms offer a wide array of cuisines which may reflect the casualness or the elegance of your event.

Tulsa Country Club 7 one club for everyone . one mile from everything

ENJOY THE VIEW

Resort-Style Pool Kid’s Klub

BRING THE FAMILY Cocktail Lounge Signature Sixth Hole

GET AWAY FROM IT ALL

Skyline Grill

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