The news was like a sudden electric shock. One of my favorite golf courses has closed and, barring something extraordinary, won’t open again. It was like losing an old, valued acquaintance. The announcement of the untimely end of Pecan Valley Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas, required only a couple of brief paragraphs in a regional golf magazine. Unhappily, a national publication substantiated the report a week or so later. Pecan Valley was a long, tight layout with large, quick greens over which the 1968 PGA Championship was contested. Smooth-swinging Julius Boros won, beating Arnold Palmer when the King missed a birdie putt on the 72nd hole. I watched it on television. Boros, one of my favorite players because of his unflappable demeanor and quick pace of player, became at age 48 the oldest winner of a major. The sad result, though, was that this was the closest that Arnie ever came to winning the PGA, the only major that eluded him in the quest for the professional Grand Slam. Pecan Valley was built by Press Maxwell, son of the legendary golf course architect Perry Maxwell who designed Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa and Prairie Dunes in Hutchison, Kan. Thinking back it is difficult to fathom that it was 30-plus years ago that three golfing buddies — Stan Knoderer, James (Doc) Keeter and Bob Ames — asked me if I wanted to jump into a recreational vehicle and escape the snow-covered landscape of Southwest Missouri. I accepted the invitation and a week later we set off for wherever we could find green grass rather than snow. None of us expected to travel beyond Dallas, but when we reached the “Big D” there was snow blowing over the highway. At a truck stop in Waco, where there was no snow but a cold north wind, a friendly attendant suggested that we continue to San Antonio. “It’s always warm there,” he said. He was right, at least for that week. We walked 36 holes a day at Willow Springs, Riverside and Breckenridge municipal golf courses before finally getting around to Pecan Valley. The 7,010-yard course was visually intimidating. We played the blue tees, the same ones used in 1968 for the final-round shootout between Boros and Palmer. Every green seemed miles away as we stood on the tees of the par fours. The fives were a mile longer. Still, just walking the fairways where Boros, Palmer, Gene Littler, Don January and Billy Casper trod was exhilarating. My golfing buddies and I made more than a dozen trips to San Antonio. Our groups numbered anywhere from six to 12. Generally, we drove vans or cars, but we flew the last couple of times. Playing Pecan Valley was a highlight of our annual excursion. I can’t remember all of Pecan Valley’s holes or their lengths, but I do recall some of the most memorable challenges. The second hole is where Pecan Valley apparently got its name. Groves of pecan trees bordered the fairway on both sides of this tough, splendid hole that required an uphill approach shot. If you missed the fairway, there was no shot directly to the green because of the trees. The 6th was a long par five that could be reached with a tremendous second shot. But there was a catch. Just over a hill fronting the green was a creek. The sides of the fairway were lined by gnarly trees and tough rough. The hole that drew the most interest over the years was the 18th. A plaque was placed in the rough and trees on the left side of the fairway where Palmer snapped his drive on the final day. The plaque commemorates Arnie’s unbelievable recovery with a three wood, but he missed the putt that would have put him into a playoff. About a decade ago, my wife, Cynthia, and I played Pecan Valley. The condition of the course wasn’t as good as in years past, but it was still a challenging test that conjured up visions of the languid swing of Boros and the powerful slash of Palmer. This fall we discussed returning to San Antonio and playing Pecan Valley again, but had to discard that plan after reading of the demise of the course. I understand that a movement may be afoot to save the Pecan Valley. I hope it is successful. The venue was too good a test in its heyday to warrant being plowed under for a housing development or shopping center. Center Creek schedule The Center Creek Golf Club in Sarcoxie will open its tournament season with a members-only event on May 5. Other tournaments on the schedule are a couples event on June 9, member/guest on July 7, club championship on Aug. 18, couples event on Sept. 29 and a couples-chili event on Nov. 3. Carthage additions Mark Peterson, head pro at Carthage Municipal Golf Course, has announced two additional tournaments for the 2012 schedule. The Carthage Men’s Golf Association Championship is scheduled Sept. 15-16. On Oct. 2 the SMB Lifestyles event will be played.
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