The Arizona club marked its 50th year with a full range of events that included pickleball, vintage cars and a 1965-themed golf tournament, “Hit Their Sticks on Route 66”.
Pinetop (Ariz.) Country Club rolled out the red carpet for its members during the week of June 8-13 to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the White Mountain Independent of Show Low, Ariz. reported. The events of the week culminated with a packed field of golfers competing in a themed 1965 golf tournament, “Hit Their Sticks on Route 66,” after which over 300 members gathered for a “Golden Gourmet Gala.”
Committee Chairman Vickie Butler led a 50th Anniversary Committee that planned something for everyone during the week, the Independent reported, including pickleball on the tennis courts, a bridge tournament in the clubhouse, bingo and dinner with a 1960s flair, vintage cars gracing the club grounds and a “Swinging ‘60s” twilight golf evening, followed by a spirited cocktail party.
The 50th anniversary events continued a long-standing tradition dating back to Pinetop’s earliest years, the Independent noted, as historical records report that on the club’s first anniversary an enthusiastic party crowd celebrated to the tunes of Louie Welk, Lawrence’s cousin.
C&RB reported in 2014 on Pinetop’s inventive approach to its annual Women’s Golf Association “Fun Day” event: http://clubandresortbusiness.com/2014/11/19/philanthropic-barbie/
In reporting on the club’s 50th anniversary, the Independent noted that 50-year members Dr. Gordon and Peg Matteson recalled Saturday night dances at the club held before the term “country club casual” had been coined. Old photos shared by the Mattesons showed members attired in suits and ties for gentlemen, and smart dresses for the ladies.
The Independent’s report also told the story of how Pinetop CC’s Milt Coggins- designed golf course was developed, as Coggins and club founder Gray Madison worked together to lay out the forest-lined fairways of the first nine holes and then added the additional nine holes to take in the panoramic views of the mountains. The Pinetop property was part of the Sitgreaves National Forest until it was acquired by Southwest Forest Industries, the Independent reported, but was last timbered in the 1920s.
In 1964, nearly 1,200 acres were made available for purchase, the Independent reported. Bob Fernandez and Glen Jones obtained an option to purchase and then contacted Frank Crosby, one of the founders of White Mountain Country Club, also in Pinetop. The three formed Pinetop Country Club as a private-membership equity country club, the Independent reported, for the purpose of constructing and operating a golf course and other related recreational facilities.
The club and golf course were then built on 496 acres, with the proceeds from the sale of home lots helping to defray the development costs. The first nine holes were built in 1965 and the second nine was undertaken in 1967, the Independent reported. During the construction and blasting for the second nine, long-time members remember having a bucket strapped onto their golf carts for the express purpose of picking up rocks as they played the course, which they were then instructed to dispose of after finishing their rounds.
Pinetop’s chalet-style clubhouse, featuring a soaring pointed roof, was built in 1966, the Independent reported, on the highest point of the land.
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