First such scene ever enacted in Pryor— Never Before in the history of Pryor has such a scene as depicted above been enacted in the city, but it will become a familiar one in the near future. It is a picture of a group of golfers ready to tee off on Pryor’s new municipal golf course. in the picture are Baylis Graham, chairman of the park board; Judge Thos E Landrum; Bill Cobbler, Golf Pro; Al Middleton, Utility board superintendent; H.B. Roy, member of the construction committee; Mayor Earl Ward and Quentin Poe, one of Pryor’s golf ethusiasts.
Source:The Pryor Jeffersonian; Thu, Oct 22, 1953
The Pryor Creek Golf Course, originally named Earl Ward Golf Course, has a rich and diverse history. Many golfers who contributed to the concepts, labor and long hours are now deceased _ by name: Gene Abdoo, Ralph Agnew, Don Bishop, Mel Blockcolski, Jim Bradley, Bill Brandley, Bill Cowling, John Cordell, Hal Corn, Jack Crockett, Lester Cross, Cleo East, Raymond Gabel, Roy Guthrie, Warren Hadley, Jim Haught, Guy Hedrick, Ken Hemperley, Carl Hogue, Clyde Hunter, Jim Jones, Paul Lowe, Lloyd Mallow, Onis McHenry, Al Middleton, Jack Norman, Sr. , Quentin Poe, Earl Ragland, Max Risner, Rex Risner, H.B. “Howard” Roy, Harry Schaefer, Bob Sibley, Glen E. Springer, Elmer Swan Boyce Wallis, Earl Ward, Herschel “Pooch” Williams, and Woody Woodall member of the Pryor Park Board in 1956 and had a positive effect on golf for countless years. Additionally, there are those still living who have and continue to contribute to the game _ Connolly, Dr. Charles Dickson, Ralph Grayson, Eddie Helm, John Marney, Quinton Ogden, Amos Townsend, Bailey Vanzant and many others. Jim Rickey is remembered for being available _ provide advice concerning the growing of grass esp. For the greens. Additionally, he pro__ preparing this Golf Course History. Quinton Ogden was also available for consultation concerning___ and grasses.
In 1952, former Mayor Earl Ward secured a lease on approximately 535 acres of Government _ supervision of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Construction started in 1953 on 9 holes . A golfer would use a device to “drag” and smooth out the green before putting. Talk about a slow pace of play! After personal donations and much volunteer help, a concrete block building was __ Shop and equipment storage. The original building still stands.
The first Golf Tournament in Mayes County was played at the PCGC in 1955. Tony Jack _ Woodall faced Don Bishop and Elmer Swan in the finals. The team of Bishop and Swan . In 1956 and 1957, many people became interested in the course and it came under the __ Pryor Park Board. J. A. “woody” Woodall became a Board member in 1956 and soon after replacing sand greens with grass was adopted.
In 1958, greens were converted from sand to 328 Bermuda grass greens. Volunteer laborers _ man teams were assigned to plug the greens. Many of these laborers were volunteers from other plants.
About 1960 or 1961, the Bermuda grass froze and work was begun to establish Bentgrass _ original seedig was accomplished with Seaside Bentgrass. The Seaside Bent was later replaced with Penncross Bentgrass. It became obvious that a watering system would be of prime importance __ were layed to each green and the greens were hand watered at that time.
The residence behind the Golf Shop was built in 1963 with a $5,000 loan from the City of Pryor and was re-paid at the rate of $1,000 yearly over a 5yr period. In 1983, an addition was added for the families of the Golf Pro.
Superintendents over the years included: Bill Jarrard, Leo Perry, Euince Hoos, Richard Hadden , Ron Gates, and Danny Mekks.
Golf Professionals have included Walter and Wife Marilyn, Jason Thornbrugh, and Dennis Bowman and Wife Donna continue today. Their sons, Blake and Austin, played for the PHS Golf Team and brought _ trophies.
Early Articles FRom the Pryor Jeffersonian
May 7, 1953- Tulsa Expert Aids in surveying site for Golf Course
Survey work started this week on the new golf course for Pryor. the survey was being made by Hugh Bancroft, outstanding Oklahoma golfer and course expert, and Al middleton, utility board superintendent, and, chairman of the golf planning committee appointed by the park board.
The golf course is to be constructed under Supervision of the park board composed of Baylis Graham, Mrs. Carl Samuels and Lucien Stripling. The board, however, has turned this phase of the construction program over to a planning and construction committee composed of Middleton, John Cordell, H.B. Roy and Wid Gilbert.
Brancroft, who has built more golf courses in Oklahoma perhaps than any other man, donated his services to the city of Pryor in surveying the course and in staking out the various holes on the part of the 178 acre tract of land the city has under lease from the army engineers near the old water pumping station site. Following his survey Brancroft pronounced the area as one suitable for an excellent golf course and felt sure that with proper management the course would someday provide a source of revenue for the city.
Its is planned at present to construct a nine-hole course for Pryor golfers. More than 50 golfers have already subscribed approximately $1,250 to assist the city in building the course.
Mayor Earl Warl expressed the gratitude of Pryor golfers and its entire citizenship to Bancroft at a luncheon Wednesday afternoon at which members of the park board, and various golfing committees were present. He said he did not see how Pryor citizens could feel anything but grateful to Bancroft for his services and described it as just one of the many helpful things the citizens of Tulsa had done for Pryor.
Bancroft responding to the mayor, said that golf has been good to him and that he deemed it a privilege to assist the city.
Actual construction work on the Pryor course is expected to start soon.
May 28, 1953– Progress shown on golf course
Construction work is in progress at Pryor’s new municipal golf course and play is probable on the course within two months, more or less, according to Al Middleton, chairman of the planning and construction committee named by the park board.
The course was laid out by Hugh Brancroft, owner and operator of the highland golf course in Tulsa, and one of the states leading professionals. The golf course will be about 34,000 feet long and will consist of nine holes. the greens will be sand.
This week bulldozers, tractors and trucks are in operation on the course, knocking down trees, discing up the fairways, piling debris and generally giving the course site a thorough renovation.
As the work progresses, the course is beginning to assume a degree of beauty and when completed it is expected that it will be an attractive center to men, women and children of the Pryor area.
The course is being built in the recreation area obtained by the city from the Army engineers. There is approximately 178 acres of land in the area which is destined, if all plans mature, to become, not only a place of beauty but a center of recreation conductive to various sports. Plans comprehending such development are now under study by the park board.
The golf course is being constructed from 3,000 in funds made available by the park board and from advanced golf fees already paid in by players. The finance committee raising fund for the golf course construction is composed of C. H. Fawks, chairman, Roy Guthrie and Dr. Karl T. Davis.
H.B. Roy has donated the use of a big tractor for discing the fairways and is in charge of the fairway construction program. He is a member of the planning construction committee. Roy has devoted considerable time in his off- duty hours to work on the golf course as has Middleton and they are responsible for the rabid progress being made in the construction program. Other members of this committee are John Cordell and Wid Gilbert. Cordell has contributed considerable effort to the work at the course as well as making substantial contributions towards its progress.
Oct 22, 1953– New Municipal Golf Course Is Open For Play
Pryor’s new municipal golf course, indicative of the progressive spirit that is making Pryor one of the most famed small towns in all of Oklahoma, was opened last Friday.
Mayor Earl Ward, Baylis Graham and county Judge Thomas landrum, participated in the brief but nonetheless significant start of the first official game marking the opening of the course. Graham is chairman of the board which had supervision over the construction of the course, several other persons were also present for the start of the opening foursome.
As has been predicted when the course was being constructed, it proved tough for the four players participating in the official opening game. The players were H.B. Roy, Al Middleton, Quentin Poe and Bill Cobbler. Roy and Middleton are members of the construction committee for the course. John Cordell, another member of the construction committee, scheduled to play in the opening game, was unable to be present. Cobbler is course professional.
The course is a nine-hole sand green affair with a par of 35. It stretches out for a distance of 3,210 yards. Middleton, Roy, Poe and Cobbler all got off good drivers on No. 1 to start their official game. No. 1 is a 260- yard par four hole. Roy, Poe and Cobbler all went one over on the initial hole while Middleton annexed a six.
Jan, 21 1954– Pryor’s Golfers Name officers of association
John Cordell of the Hunter Insurance Agency. preminent civic worker, was elected president of the newly formed Pryor golfers association at a banquet meeting of golfers last Thursday night. Dale Hardy of the Hardy insurance agency and member of the city council was elected first vice president and Jim Hart, manager of certian-feed corporation’s paper plant in Pryor was elected second vice- president. Charley Fawks, president of the American National Bank, was elected secretary and treasurer.
Four committees were named by the golfers in forming the association. They were greens committee, Howard Roy, Chairman Al Middleton and George Larsen. finance committee, Quentin Poe, chairman; Bill Bradley and Tony Lyons. Tournament committee, Wid Gilbert, chairman; Bill Thomas and Jim Ronledor And Womens committee, Mary Ann Reden, chairman; Bess Hogue and Faye Zeller.
The green committee, which is the steering and rules committee of the golf course, will draft the by- laws and constitution of the association.
The banquet meeting of the golfers was held in the Graham community building. it was attended by outstanding civic, political and industrial leaders of Pryor, all bent on the same purpose, the development of a first-class golf course in Pryor and subsequently the formation of a country club.