Hide Article Text (OCR)
3BJOPLIN NEWS HERALD Friday, Soptambor A, 1968CLAIRA major step toward alleviating crowded conditions at Schif-ferdecker Municipal golf course was taken earlier this week when the Joplin city council authorized the purchase of a 40-acre tract for possible construction of another nine holes.The land, which is being bought at a price of $20,000, is adjacent to the Schifferdeckcr course on the north and lies westof Cleveland avenue.Tentative plans, according to William Secarcc, director of parks and recreation, call for construction of nine holes on theproperty to draw off some ofthe pressure from Sell if ferdecker.If the nine holes are added, utilizing some available space onthe existing• ♦ • i lt;lt;;course, Scearre indicated the S c h i f f e r-dccker layout probably would be rearranged to provide an orderly pattern f o r the 27 holes.In this event, Scearce said, the present back nine might lie used as a separate nine-hole course, while the front nine and the new holeswould be combined for an 18-hole layout.Mayor Larry Hickey opposed the purchase of the 40-acre tract and expressed serious reservations about constructing a municipal golf course on a piecemeal basis with no guarantee that additional land in the area would be available in the future.Hickey noted that the plan to purchase the property made no provision for const ruction of a full 18-hole layout in* addition to the present Schifferdeckcr course.But, according to Scearce, the park hoard has not dropped consideration of a completely new 18 - hole, championship course.We haven't abandoned those plans, he commented. But we needed to do something now.Robert Dunning of Robert Dunning and Associates, who conducted a feasiblity study earlier this year on golfing facilities in Joplin, had recommended construction of an 18-hole course near Missouri Southern college in the area of the proposed Turkey Creek Parkway. The proposed layout would cost approximately $500,000, including clubhouse and parking area, and probably would require a general obligation bond issue to finance.Dunning's proposal, coupled with a major parks improvement program, has been forwarded by the park board to Pace ’73 for study and recommendation. There has been no word from Pace ’73 as yet on the status of the plan.The immediate need for another municipal golf course, whether nine or 18 holes, is dramatically illustrated by the number of “rounds recorded at Schifferdeckcr this summer.Figures compiled byScearce show that more than 31,000 golfers “officially toured the 45-year-old layout during the months of April, May, June, July and August.That's an average of 6,294 per month or 1,573 per week and represents more play than most municipal or private courses get in a 12-month period.And the figures don’t include the players who signed in at the clubhouse and then proceeded to play 36 holes or two rounds, inthese cases only one “round was recorded.Twenty-seven thousand, eight hundred and twenty-eight golfers paid admissions, ranging from $i on weekdays to $1.50 on holidays and weekends, at Schiffer-deeker during this five-month span. Season ticket holders contributed 3.643 rounds in thisperiod.Despite this heavy traffic, Schifferdeckcr remains in relatively good shape.There is grass growing where 99 per cent of the people couldn't keep it growing, Scearce said. It's a compliment to Don Dickson and his grounds crew.Dickson, grounds superintendent at Schifferdeckcr, considers the course in fair shape, although not as good as I would like to see it.Qualifying in the annual City Match Play tournament at Schif-fcrdccker Municipal golf course must be completed by September 15.Harold Kirk, professional at Schifferdeckcr. said tournament competition will begin Monday, September 16, and will continue four weeks. The finals are scheduled Sunday, October 13.The tournament will be divided into 16-man flights, with the number of qualifiers determining the number of flights. Players will be allowed one week for the completion of each round.Entry fee for the tourney is $1 and the event is open to any amateur golfer in thecitv.Trophies will be presented tothe winners and runners-up in each flight and to winners in the consolation flights.Marvin Porter captured the championship flight of the annual Twin Hills Club Championship tournament recently with a 72-hole total of 292. Eddie McKay was runnerup with 295.Winner of the President’s flight was Frank Shagets with a 307, followed by Paul Carlson at 308.Beecher Hornaday won the Vice President championship with a 334. Bill Hale was second with 333.Winner of the Secretary’s championship was Joe Milligan at 348. John Woodard was runnerup at 353.driver? Why not change.That’s what .lack Nicklaus dues.Nieklaus says that he has more than 100 drivers at home.That was the last time I counted them, he said. Actually there are more now. I like to tinker with them.One of the major maintenance problems facing Don Dickson, superintendent at Schifferdeckcr Municipal golf course, is the greens.Dickson points out that the greens were built 45 years ago and they weren’t built right in the first place. Some of the greens actually are older than 45 years, Dickson adds, and have never been rebuilt.C. E. McKenzie and Bob Smitheach recorded 64s at Schiffer-decker Municipal golf course Sunday. C. E., brother of assistant pro .Joe McKenzie, had nine birdies mid two bogies, while Smith had eight birds and abogey.McKenzie also strung five straight birdies on the back nine, beginning at No. 11 and ending with No. 15.The annua) Jayeees golf tournament will be held Sunday morning at Schifferdeckcr Municipal goif course. Prizes will he awarded in four flights— Championship, President’s, A and B.Vandals marked swastikas into No. 10 green and stole five placement pins last Tuesday at Schifferdeckcr Municipal golf course.Joe McKenzie, assistant pro, said the damage to the green wasn't too bad.Valleyhome ofthepassHaving trouble with yourBy JfM VALKENBURG Associated Press Sports WriterKANSAS COT tAP) — Providing Coach Billy Murphy succeeds in polishing his passing game. Memphis State is a good bet to succeed in its first shot at the football championship of the pass-minded Missouri Valley Conference.The Valley might be called the home of the bomb. In this league the practice has been to pass first and run only if you have to or as a surprise weapon.Tulsa and Glenn Dobbs with a long string of gifted throwers and catchers led the nation in passing yardage for an unprecedented five straight years. Then Texas El Paso, coached byOlonn’c hmflint* UnWhv TlnhKc
Newspaper Details
Joplin News Herald
Joplin, Missouri, US
Fri, Sep 06, 1968
Page 17
Full Page
Clipped by
Joplin P.
MO, USA 09 May 2023
Other Publications Near Joplin, Missouri
Joplin Globe
Joplin Morning Tribune
Joplin Sunday Globe
Joplin News Herald
Joplin Daily Globe
