Published: July 19, 2008 08:42 pm            

Closing of golf course sad thought

Guest Commentary - Don Harvey

There is a very special place tucked into 50 odd acres north of town that holds memories going back six decades. If someone doesn’t come to its rescue in the next six weeks, those memories will be all that’s left.

The Oak Trail golf course is scheduled to close after more than 60 years of service to our community. This landmark of rich tradition will be no more.

So many memories! I remember ... I was about 10. My father would drop me off at the Oaks and I’d play golf all day, buy a Coke and a Snickers and still have change from my dollar. The course had sand greens then. You would rake or drag a large iron “T” bar from the ball to the hole creating a level and smooth line for your putt. There was no break. You just had to adjust for speed. On summer days, the bar would get so hot, you would have to hold it with a towel or it would bum your hands.

Mr. Hixon was the first owner. The green fee was a quarter and you walked. There were no carts. Then in the late ‘60s or early ‘70s, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Rash bought the course and installed regular grass greens. The club house was their home. I recall coming in to pay my green fee and often interrupting the family meal or disturbing Mrs. Rash’s housework. The Oaks was truly a family affair.

Sonny Jamison then owned the course and raised four kids in that clubhouse. With his wife Ann, they became a part of every golfer’s family.

Joe Atkeisson took over ownership in the early ‘90s. He is one of the four Atkiesson brothers who, along with the Stubbs families, were probably most responsible for the lore and mystique that is the Oaks.

Tom Hogue is the present owner. In the past seven years, he has overseen many improvements to the course. There have been two new holes added making it one of the very few courses anywhere having 11 holes instead of the accepted nine. But Tom is ready to sell and has set a date of Sept. 17, 2008, as the last day the course will be open.

When I told my good friend B.D. Atkeisson about writing this letter, he summed it all up like this, “The Oaks is the perfect example of the ‘Tin Cup’ mentality.” B.D. means a place where a group of people socialize, swap stories and play a game that humbles even the biggest ego and pocket book. A place where any one of us would gladly give the shirt off his back to anyone else needing it.

Writing all this is a real bummer for me. I’ll miss my morning coffee with Gene, B.D., Bobby and Cliff (and sometimes James.) I’ll miss sitting on the clubhouse porch and visiting with the younger bunch before their “Coors Light Open” every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon at 5:30. I’ll miss our Wednesday morning Senior Scramble. I’ll miss loving on Hudson and Maggie. I’ll miss it all so much.

Oak Trail can be saved! It’s a great investment for someone and if you know an individual or group that might be receptive to purchasing or leasing a great golf course on a great piece of property, you are urged to give Tom a call.

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Submitted by Don Harvey.

        

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