Watertown CC

Watertown Country Club, Saturday, September 20, 2008. L to R: Pat Groehler, Rocky Bohlman, Bruce Frey, Lyle Kuckkan and Mike Groehler.

The historic floods of June 2008 at the Watertown Country Club, Watertown, WI.

Watertown Daily Times, Watertown, WI, Saturday, June 26, 1954, Centennial Edition

The Watertown Country C1ub, now one of the finest small city golf and social clubs in the state, was officially organized as a golf club on June 5, 1922, by five men interested in advancing the sport in this area. The five who got the organization started were G. H. Lehrkind, G. C. Lewis, B. E. Kelley, H. C. Whitmore and W. H. Woodard. The first meeting of the new organization was held on June 23 and 82 charter members appeared for the initial session. The first officers of the club were W. H. Woodard, president, B. E. Kelley, vice president, A. N. Thauer, secretary, and Fred SiegeIr, treasurer. The first board of directors included W. H. Woodard, B. E. Kelley, E. H. Hoerman, G. H. Lehrkind, C. C. Wertheimer, H. P. Bowen and A. N. Thauer. Several charter members are still active in the club. They are John Salick, Wallace Thauer, 0. E. Hoffman, F. W. Pfeifer, L. M. Bickett and George Richards.

Interest in the golf club grew rapidly and about 55 acres of land was purchased from Gustavus Austin for the site of the golf course. Later seven acres of land near the old quarry were added to the holdings of the club. A clubhouse was constructed on the property and the old buildings served as headquarters for city golfers for 30 years. Finally, the growth of the club forced it to build more extensive quarters and in 1949 the beautiful new clubhouse was authorized. The structure was completed in 1950 in time for the start of golfing. A new machine shed to house the mechanical equipment and other materials was also constructed and an old barn and silo on the property razed. Over the years the face of the course had been modified with the shifting of greens and tees but the general layout has remained pretty much the same down through the club's history. The winding creek and the many trees have given the course the reputation of being one of the sportiest nine-hole layouts in the state. The well-manicured fairways and greens have added to the reputation of the course. Though the club has had a lot of good golfers, three players stand out as tops. They are Dr. N. T. Sunby, Harvey Riedeman and Budd Riffle. Riedeman posted a 64 for 18 holes in 1939 to beat Walter Hagen's mark of 66 by two strokes. Riffle shot a 30 in 1940. Par for the course is 34.

The Fendt family has had a “corner” on the custodian's job for 20 years. Gene Fendt served the club for 14 years and now Gary Fendt has been with the club for six seasons. Construction of the new clubhouse has provided more space for members and new activities and the total membership now is 209. There are 100 regular members, 35 associates, 42 social, 14 ladies special, 14 student and four nonresident. A broad activities space in the clubhouse has been the scene of many dinner dances and other social functions recently. A well-planned program of special events, both golfing and social, is creating a continuing interest in the club.

Short History of the Course

The Watertown Country club was organized when eighty-two people signed its articles at the first meeting June 3, 1922. The president was William H. Woodard, a local attorney. Over fifty acres of farmland north of the city were purchased from Gustavus Austin. The property included a house, barn, and shed. Electricity, a telephone and furnishings were installed in the farmhouse, which became the clubhouse. The barn housed the course maintenance equipment. The entire farmland was plowed and earth moved to create the course.

Emmet Twp., Dodge Co., WI in 1873, 1890 and 1910

Emmet Twp., Dodge Co., WI in 1929, 1971 and 1978

Buel Austin was the original owner of the lands upon which the original nine-hole course was built. Shown below is more information about this original owner.

On December 8, 1845 Buel Austin married Lucinda S. Mead in Dodge Co., Wisconsin Territory.

The 1846 Wisconsin Territorial Census shows Buel Austin is living in Emmett Twp., Dodge Co., Wisconsin Territory.

Listed below are the lands purchased by Buel Austin from the U.S. Government.

Name	Land Office	Total Acres	Issue Date
BUEL AUSTIN	GREEN BAY Dodge Co.	45.58	May 1, 1848
BUEL AUSTIN	GREEN BAY Dodge Co.	40	March 01, 1850
BUEL AUSTIN	MILWAUKEE Dodge Co.	40	September 1, 1844
BUEL A AUSTIN	MILWAUKEE Dodge Co.	80	September 1, 1844

Link to Buel Austin Land Patent 1.

Link to Buel Austin Land Patent 2.

Link to Buel Austin Land Patent 3.

Link to Buel Austin Land Patent 4.

Evening Courier, Milwaukee, WI, May 8, 1847;

also in Watertown Chronicle, Watertown, WI November 10, 1847;

also in Wisconsin Democrat, Green Bay, WI November 6, 1847

Military Appointments by the Governor, April 13, 1847

Dodge County, Comp. No. 8: Matthew Norton, Capt.; Buel Austin, 1st lieut.; Derastus K. Cady, 2d lieut.

The 1850 U. S. Census taken on October 7, 1850 shows Buel Austin (age 32) born in Connecticut with real estate of $2,000 is a Farmer living in Emmet Twp., Dodge Co., WI. Living with him is Lucinda Austin (age 23) born in New York. Also living there is Charles Austin (age 2) born in Wisconsin.

The 1855 Wisconsin State Census shows Buel Austin is living in Emmett Twp., Dodge Co., WI.

Buel Austin died July 22, 1855. He was buried in Emmet Cemetery, N1563 State Highways 16/26, Emmet Twp., Dodge Co., WI.

Emmet Cemetery, N1563 State Highways 16/26, Emmet Twp., Dodge Co., WI.

Cemetery was established in 1874. The cemetery site was officially plotted in 1853. Land was donated by the Roswell Crandall family in 1855. It is currently cared for by the Emmet Townliners 4H Club.

Austin, Buel: born December 31, 1818; died July 22, 1855 (age 36 years, 7 months, 23 days)

Austin, Lusenda: born 1827; died 1903

Austin, Gust: born 1852; died 1925

The 1860 U. S. Census taken on June 14, 1860 shows Lucina Austin (age 32) born in New York with real estate worth $2,060 and personal estate worth $42 is a Farmer living in Emmet Twp., Dodge Co., WI. Living with her: Chas. Austin (age 12) born in Wisconsin; and Gustavus Austin (age 6) born in Wisconsin.

The 1870 U. S. Census taken on June 10, 1870 shows Lucinde Austin (age 43) born in New York with real estate worth $5,000 and personal estate worth $1,000 is a Farmer living in Emmet Twp., Dodge Co., WI. Living with her is her: Charles Austin (age 23) born in Wisconsin, a Farmer; and Gustavus Austin (age 17) born in Wisconsin, a Farmer.

The 1875 Wisconsin State Census taken on June 1, 1875, shows Lusinda Austin is the Head of Household and is living in Emmet Twp., Dodge Co., WI. Living in the household: 2 Males, 1 Female.

The 1880 U. S. Census taken on June 30, 1880 shows Lucinda Austin (age 38) born in New York to New York-born parents is a widowed Farmer living in Emmet Twp., Dodge Co., WI. Living with her is her unmarried son Gustavus Austin (age 26) born in Wisconsin to New York-born parents who is At Home.

The 1895 Wisconsin State Census taken on June 20, 1895 shows Mrs. L. Austin is the Head of Household and is living in Emmet Twp., Dodge Co., WI. There is i Male and 1 Female living in the household, both born in the U. S. A.

The 1900 U. S. Census taken on June 2, 1900 shows Gustaviss Austin (age 46) born August 1853 in Wisconsin to Connecticut and New York-born parents is an unmarried Farmer owning his own farm in Emmet Twp., Dodge Co., WI. Also living there is his widowed mother, Lucena Austin (age 72) born September 1827 in New York to New York and Connecticut-born parents, with the only child born to her still living.

Lucinda S. (Mead) Austin died January 20, 1903 in Jefferson Co., WI at age 75.

The 1910 U. S. Census taken on April 15, 1910 shows Arthur H. Austin (age 30) born in Wisconsin to Wisconsin and German-born parents is a Farmer owning his own farm with a mortgage and is living in North Crandon Twp., Forest Co, WI. Living with him is his wife of 5 years, Myrtle F. Austin (age 29) born in Wisconsin to Indiana and Wisconsin-born parents, with both of the children born to her still alive. Also living with him are his daughters, both born in Minnesota to Wisconsin-born parents: Claire M. Austin (age 4); and Lucile M. Austin (age 4). Also living there is Arthur's unmarried uncle, Gust. D. Austin (age 56) born in Wisconsin to Connecticut and New York-born parents, who is a Farm Laborer. The Charles Austin family lives on the next farm.

The 1920 U. S. Census taken on January 19, 1920 shows Gustoph Austin (age 68) born in Wisconsin to Vermont-born parents is unmarried and not employed, and living alone on the farm he owns in Emmet Twp., Dodge Co., WI.

A watering system for the greens was installed in 1923 when the course opened for play.

Gustavus D. Austin died 1925 in Wisconsin.

A full-time greenskeeper, John Stiemke, was employed in the 1930s.

The Wisconsin State Journal, Madison WI, Tuesday, June 6, 1939

Watertown Pro Sets Court Record

WATERTOWN, WIS. - Freddie Adams, Oconomowoc, new professional at the Watertown Country Club, Monday posted a course record. He toured the nine-hole Watertown course in 30-32 for 62, six under par. Until recently he had been one of Oconomowoc's best amateur golfers.

By 1941 the 100 member roster was full.

Watertown Daily Times, Watertown WI, February 23, 1948

New Club House At Golf Course One Step Nearer

New Locker Room For Present House Is Also Approved

Action was taken at Sunday afternoon's adjourned meeting of the Watertown Country club to bring a new club house one step closer to realization. The membership voted to increase the annual dues $10, with the stipulation that the increase be segregated and used for the building of a new club house. Membership dues, including taxes, are $42.00. The dues for the current year will be $52.00. The increase applies to both regular and associate memberships. Other memberships will be increased 25 percent, which is the approximate increase for the regular and associate memberships. The increase in dues is one of a number of suggestions which a special committee, appointed a month ago, made to the meeting. The meeting also acted favorably upon other suggestions of the committee. It was agreed that the erection of a new club house, at the present time, is out of the question, due to high building costs. In view of this, the membership agreed to the suggestion of the special committee that some structure should be purchased, either metal or wood, which could be used temporarily as a men's locker and dressing room, with the understanding that such structure could be used later as a tool shed or garage. It was also suggested by the committee that a minimum amount be expended to make repairs to the present clubhouse, and it was also suggested that the phone be moved to another location. Both suggestions were adopted. Members of the special committee are Fred Kaercher, A. E. Bentzin, E. W. Terwedow, Dr. E. W. Bowen, W. A. Schumann and Gilbert Kressin. At a recent meeting of the board of directors, Wiliam Borchardt was re-elected club president; Attorney Richard Thauer was retained as vice president; and G. W. Ponath was re-elected secretary-treasurer. All are members of the board. Other members of the board, and their committees they will head, are: Ray Kern, sports and pastime; Louis Silagy, house chairman; Don Mitchell, greens and E. T. Hornickle, grievance.

Watertown Daily Times, Watertown WI, Wednesday, October 26, 1949

Work Begins on New Club House at Golf Course

The Watertown Country Club's new club house project is underway. Sod from the area required for the club house has been removed, and this week a power shovel aided in the removal of the cement silo which stood west of the barn. The building will be located west of the parking area and west of the barn (at left in top picture.) The present club house is shown at the right. The club house will be 120 feet long and 30 feet wide, with a 24 by 30 utility room and kitchen to the east, or rear of the building. The location of the club house is indicated in the above picture. Members of the building committee and board of directors outline the building. The two men at the right (looking at the picture) indicate the south end of the building, and the two standing at the extreme left mark the north boundary. In the other picture, members of the committee and the board of directors pose near the power shovel. The president of the board, Mike Bentzin, on a dare, climbed into the cab, and incidentally almost raised havoc when he touched one of the levers, causing the shovel to groan into action. The others scattered momentarily. After faithful promises from Mike that he'd leave the power shovel operations to the operator, they returned for the picture. Those in the group are, reading from left to right: Ray Kern, John Salick, Harold Schumann, Charles Johannsen, Attorney Richard Thauer, Attorney George Niemann and Paul Fischer. Louis Silagy, Ed. Raue, Harold Dragoo, Lee Hefty and C. Taggatz were not present when the picture was taken. At a meeting of the membership, held at the club house on September 21, the club house was approved. The cost is not to exceen $25,000, with the mortgage not to be greater than $10,000. The building will provide five showers for the men and two for the women, toilet facilities, a bar and grill room, and a lounge room. It will be constructed of Waylite colored block. Construction will continue through the fall and winter, with the club house expected to be ready by the opening of the golf season next spring.

A new clubhouse was approved in 1949 and opened the following spring.

The Wisconsin State Journal, Madison WI, Thursday, July 23, 1953

ROUNDY SAYS . . .

The Watertown Country Club, is the nicest nine-hole course I ever played on in my life. I think the Rock river flows right through there they got some of the most beautiful water holes I have ever saw. They got nice fairways and beautiful greens. You should play that folks and if you ever seen a better nine hole course notify me.

Clubhouse expansions took place in 1955, 1966, 1980-81, and 1994.

The second nine holes, designed by golf course architect Edward Lawrence (Larry) Packard, were opened in 1961 on a 70 acre farm site that had been owned by Edwin Hinze.

Architect's Gallery
Featuring ASGCA Members and their work

E. Lawrence Packard

Biographical Sketch

Edward A. Lawrence Packard has sixty years of practical experience in landscape architecture, site planning and golf course architecture which has resulted in broad working knowledge of the economical planning of land areas for human use.

Following graduation in 1935 from the School of Landscape Architecture at the University of Massachusetts, Mr. Packard was employed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Resettlement Administration on Recreation Development Projects. He moved into the National Park Service in 1936 on land selection for new park developments on Mt. Desert Island, Bar Harbor, Maine.

For two years Mr. Packard gained valuable experience as designer, engineer and supervisor for a landscape contractor in the Boston metropolitan area. Following this he worked for a year in the same capacity for the E. A. McIlhennny Landscape Co., makers of Tobasco sauce, with office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Houston, Texas.

In 1939 Mr. Packard went with the U.S. War Department, Corps of Engineers and was stationed at Westover Field in western Massachusetts. For four years he had complete charge of all phases of the landscape work for this $15,000,000 project. During this time Mr. Packard developed a complete Master Plan and camouflage plan for the entire air base installation. A major part of work was seeding 1,500 acres of grass.

In 1943, after the war, Mr. Packard came to the Chicago Park District as designer and engineer for a multi-million dollar park expansion program. Here, Mr. Packard worked on site selection and development for new parks and also on the design aspects of Northerly Island Airstrip and O'Hare International Airport.

After 1944, Mr. Packard worked for eight years as chief supervisor and designer for Chicago golf course architect Robert Bruce Harris. Here Mr. Packard handled several jobs in various capacities running over the quarter million dollar mark, including the site planning for Maine Township High School in Des Plaines and Park Ridge, Illinois, the Maryknoll College site development in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, the Janesville, Wisconsin High School site planning and the University of Iowa golf course, plus numerous golf courses.

During the fifty years from the 1950s through the 1990s, Mr. Packard became:

President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects
President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects Foundation
Chapter President of the American Society of Landscape Architects
President of the Rotary Club of LaGrange, Illinois
President of Plymouth Place, a LaGrange, Illinois retirement home
Landscape Architect for Plus, Inc., a LaGrange beautification project for Burlington Railroad

In fifty years, Packard has handled more than 250 golf projects ranging from the redesign of a few holes to the design of four courses for Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida. Two of Innisbrook's courses have been in Golf Digest's 100 best in the country, as well as the best in Florida, since 1975.

The firm adheres to long-established design principles and safety considerations in developing a course, either with or without housing. Only a few water hazards are used. Good plans and specifications are a must. Feature articles on Packard courses have appeared in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, PGA Magazine, Golfweek, Desert Golf, Wisconsin PGA, Chicago Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times. The firm's Chicago office has been managed by Packard's son, Roger, since 1986. Packard courses are designed so that both men and women will have very pleasant golfing. Easy pars but difficult birdies!

Since his retirement in 1990, Mr. Packard has been the designated golf course architect for the International Executive Service Corps of Stamford, Connecticut. For them he designed four courses in Guatemala and five courses in Egypt. He had previously designed two courses in South Korea and two courses in Venezuela.

Mr. Packard has just had his biography published by Airlie Hall Press entitled "Double Doglegs and Other Hazards", which gives his history and list of works. Spring Meadows Country Club in Linden, Michigan invited Mr. Packard for a book signing in June of 2003. He designed this course forty-five years ago. In November 2002, the Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida hosted a book signing in celebration of his ninetieth birthday!

Mr. Packard takes great pride and pleasure in the courses he designed and hopes those who play his and other courses everywhere ............... "ENJOY THE GAME".

Double Doglegs and Other Hazards

The Life and Work of Larry Packard
By Mickey Rathbun
Airlie Hall Press, 2002

This homespun hardcover biography struggles to do justice to its subject, an earthy, imaginative and prolific course architect, a past ASGCA president who gave us the par 5 double dogleg and the early semblance of real estate-driven golf. A pleasant-enough resort complex, perhaps his best work, the four courses at Innisbrook, north of Tampa, once hosted the PGA and LPGA Tours mixer, likely the most entertaining and beloved silly season event. The two better courses are terrific.

"He designed courses that are fun to play and challenging," recalled Mike Souchak, Innisbrook's first resident pro. "So many of the courses built today are really not fun to play. Even though Larry was not a serious golfer, he was a good course architect. He had engineering know-how, the ability to see factors like drainage, wind, and sun come into play. But the most important thing Packard had was imagination. All successful professional golfers have imagination. They imagine the flight of the ball before they hit it, its trajectory, where they want it to go. Packard could visualize all that."

They certainly don't make course architects this way anymore. Packard had no upbringing in golf at all as a player when he began designing courses in the 50's; his first set of clubs came from Sears. But he had a practical and academic grounding in landscape architecture, followed by a fruitful apprenticeship with Robert Bruce Harris, and 20 years working a variety of jobs, from cataloging trees to landscaping airfields at O'Hare. The experiences provided him with a liberal grounding, along with an appreciation for informality in nature and an eye on containing costs.

"I learned the hard way," he said. "I talked to all the old golf course superintendents and found out what the players wanted. I always asked them what they would have done differently if they had designed the course. All of this just sneaks into your subconscious and into your planning process."

Yes, listening, seeking and taking input would certainly qualify him as not only imaginative but innovative, then or now.

During the next several years a full sprinkler system was installed over the entire course.

The watering system was updated to a double sprinkler configuration in 1998.

Several major changes have been made to the course over the years. The #1 tee is in its third location. Three towering trees in the middle of #5 fairway were removed, as was a huge tree in the middle of #6 fairway. Long-time members can recall the "chain saw party" which resulted in the demise of a major obstacle on #7. The original #9 was very short and was lengthened later. The shape of the replacement green and its traps are now in the third configuration. The course of the creek along #10 fairway was changed to widen the fairway and make it more level.

The Watertown Country Club has had full time greenskeepers for about 70 years: John Stiemke, Walter Kaddatz, George Wuestenberg, Joe Bahr, Ron Grunewald, Oscar Peterson and Michael Upthegrove.

Shown below is the front of the 1923 Watertown Country Club layout as it appeared in the Watertown Daily Times.

Permanent Course of Local Country Club Attracts Golfers for Sunday Recreation - New Score Cards Out.

Tom McLaughlin, former Milwaukee champion and representative of Milwaukee in a recent national tournament, and other leading golfers of the state are enthusiastic in their praise of the Watertown Country club's golf course. Silver Creek winding its way through the grounds furnishes a natural hazard that is hard to surpass, they assert, and makes the local course one of the sportiest in the state. Many golfers from other cities, realizing the excellent playing qualities of the Watertown links, journey to this city on Sundays and holidays and participate in the grand old game on the Silver Creek course. New score cards have made their appearance and are now being used. Each hole is named on the new card as follows: Number 1, "Let's Go," 601 yards, par 6, bogie 6; number 2, "Westward Ho," 387 yards, par 4, bogie 5; number 3, "N. Western," 416 yards, par 5, bogie 5; number 4, "Hell Hole," 335 yards, par 4, bogie 4; number 5, "The Jinks," 197 yards, par 3, bogie 4; number 6, "Cinch 3," 166 yards, par 3, bogie 3; number 7, "The Creek," 362 yards, par 4, bogie 5; number 8, "Straight Work," 414 yards, par 4, bogie 5; number 9, "The Alley," 144 yards, par 3, bogie 3. The course is 3,052 yards in length and has a par of 36 and a bogie of 40.

A 1923 ad for golf clubs in the Watertown Daily Times. Click on ad for a PDF file of the ad.

A typical score card from the late 9-hole era, courtesy of Richard "R" Miller, who found it in the bottom of an old golf bag owned by Harriet Blakely Kiefer, wife of L. J. (Barney) Kiefer. Barney died in an auto accident in September 1961. The golf bag was in the home that was sold to the Millers. Please note Janskey Printing Company had 35 years of service, Keck's was in their 103rd year, and D & F Kusel Co. had over 100 years of service. Since Keck Furniture has the slogan "Complete Home Furnishings Since 1853", the year of this scorecard is 1956.

John J. "Jay" Brennan, 70, of Watertown, died Tuesday, July 4, 2006, at St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center in Madison following a brief illness. Jay was born on July 11, 1935, in Binghamton, N.Y., son of John and Dorothy (Garvey) Brennan. He married Mary Jo "Jody" Ruskin on Aug. 2, 1982, in Watertown. He was vice president of Kohl's Food Service Division, then vice president of sales and marketing for Beckman Produce Inc. and finished his food sales career as sales manager institutional food services with Aunt Nellie's of Clyman. Upon retirement he formed his company Foregolf and became an independent sales representative for numerous golf equipment and clothing suppliers.

Jay served on the board of directors for the Greater Milwaukee Convention and Visitor's Bureau and the Wauwatosa Credit Union. He served six years on the board of directors for the Watertown Country Club, including four years as president. He was a member of Pitterle-Beaudoin American Legion Post 189. He served in the United States Army in Korea. Jay was an avid golfer.

Jay is survived by his wife, Jody Brennan of Watertown; three daughters, Kelly Brennan of Braidwood, Ill., Deborah (Mark) Peterson of Pawleys Island, N.C., and Sheanne (Rich) Balsitis of New Lenox, III.; eight grandchildren, Karli McArthur, John Leitner, Becka and Michael Peterson, Nathan Brennan and Kendall, Jillian and Madison Balsitis; a great-granddaughter, Ally Garcia; two brothers, Robert Brennan of Oshkosh and James (Bev) Brennan of Fairbanks, Alaska; a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends may gather for a traditional Irish wake at the Watertown Country Club on Sunday after 4 p.m.

A private family memorial service will be held. Memorials may be given in his memory to the American Lung Association or the charity of one's choice.

Watertown Daily Times, Watertown, WI, Saturday, September 15, 2007

By Adam Burdsall, Daily Times Staff

From a 13-year-old kid caddying for members, to a 78-year-old retiree still hitting the course three or four times a week, Jim Wade has seen a lot in his days around Watertown Country Club. The club, however, has seen few like Jim Wade. In fact, the city of Watertown has seen few athletes with the resume Wade can boast, if he chose to do so.

“My claim to fame is not that I was such a great player, but that I had longevity,” Wade said modestly. “Of course, I understand you have to be pretty good to win 18 times.” As for dominance in his sport, 18 Watertown Country Club championships speaks for itself and that does not include Wade's three Senior Club championships. Perhaps as impressive as Wade's 18 championships is a nugget found hidden within his eight runner-up finishes. Specifically, the first came in 1948 and the last in 1991, a span of 43 years and six decades, a startling run of dominance. After taking second place in 1948, Wade was out of the top three for four years before winning his first club championship in 1953 over Jim Bloor. Once he broke through, Wade did not let anyone else take his crown, winning the next five titles with victories over Bob Miller, Paul Hibbard (twice) and (the late) John Weaver (twice). Roger Simdon finally ended Wade's winning streak at six in 1959. “(Simdon) was one of the great golfers we ever had,” Wade said. “He was one of the great natural players you will ever see. He was a little left-hander who probably didn't weigh over 140 pounds, a carpenter by trade, strong in the wrists and hands. He just ripped the ball.”

After missing a couple years after his National Guard unit was called up, Wade resurfaced in the title match against Simdon in 1964 but was defeated again and relegated to second. Wade won his seventh title in 1968, again beating Weaver, took third in 1969 and then went on another run. With Weaver again the victim, Wade won the 1970 and 1971 titles to open a decade of dominance. Wade defeated Augie Hafenstein in 1972 and 1974, Earl Maas in 1973, Tom Theder in 1975, Don Cheeseman in 1977 and Don Sellnow in 1978 for eight of the 10 titles in the 1970s. Wade then beat Ron DeMuth in 1980 and Tim Mallow in 1981 to make it 10-of-12. After finishing second in 1983, 1984 and 1985, Wade won his final title in 1986, beating Randy DeMuth. After three years out of the top three, Wade took second in 1990 and 1991 to wrap up an unbelievably successful career. Over 43 years, Wade was first, second or third 27 times.

Asked about his memories of the 18 titles, Wade did not once mention himself or his own game. Rather he used the 18 titles as a chance to reminisce on the real reason he played the game, the people he competed with, came to know as friends and, more often than not, beat. “There were a lot of great shots made by me and against me,” Wade said, “Each one is important to me because of the guys that I played against. All good players, all great memories.” Wade did single out his 1980 championship as the most special. “I beat Ron Demuth and he was one of the best players in the state,” Wade said. “He came to us from Milwaukee and was a great player. He beat me a number of times after 1980 when I was runner-up. We had good battles, really good matches. He and Roger Simdon were the two best players I ever played against."

Wade, who now carries a 13 handicap, has five career holes-in-one, four at Watertown Country Club. The first came in 1968 and the latest in 1996. Wade's best round at WCC was a 5 under 65, but he does have a round of 9-under 61 to his credit at Lake Wisconsin Golf Club. Wade, now retired, still tries to play the course he loves three or four times a week. While much has changed over time, Watertown Country Club holds a place in Wade's heart, almost, like a member of his family.

“I was hired as a caddie when I was 13,” Wade said. “It was illegal at the time, but I was within a week or so of being legal age. It was a wonderful place to grow up. The people, the members were just terrific. They let us use their clubs, had picnics for us and were just wonderful to us. It was a great place to be.”

“A guy named Paul Fischer got me into the game. I used to do his lawn for him and one day he said I should come out and be a caddy. I had never played before then and have never had a lesson in my life. During the day at the club, there generally wasn't a lot of activity. The course gave us the privilege to play nine holes every day we were out there caddying, so that is how I got my start.”

A 1947 graduate of Watertown High School, Wade never had the opportunity to play high school golf as it was added to the array of sports in 1948. “The first club that I owned, a member gave to me. It was an old hickory-shafted 9-iron and it was bowed,” Wade said. “I could make that thing talk. I could use it like a wedge or close it up and hit it 150 yards … which for a 9-iron is pretty good. The first set of clubs I bought were Louisville Sluggers. I think they cost me about $30 back in 1948.”

Wade has left his mark on Watertown Country Club in more ways than on the course. Wade helped to build the back nine which was completed in 1961. He along with Al Maas helped run crews of club members that would come to the course each night and help build and plant the greens. “It rained just about every day and it was soggy and wet,” Wade said. “Those people, they came out just as faithfully, and it was hard work. We had to shovel all the dirt and handle this big screen and rake by hand. My crew did five of the greens and Al's did four, but he had bigger greens. Every time now when I miss a putt or there is a roll that I didn't read, I blame myself.”

In addition, Wade served as club president in 1971 and was the first inductee into the Watertown Country Club Hall of Fame in 1990. Wade did not pick an individual success as his career highlight, rather a team event with Ron DeMuth and Roger Simdon as his favorite moment. “We won a big pro-am down in Jefferson at Meadow Springs in the late '60s,” Wade said. “We were playing all the best pros and amateurs in the state … these guys were state champions and PGA champions and we won it without a pro. Roger Simdon, Ron DeMuth and I won it when Ron chipped in for an eagle on the first extra hole. I had six birdies and an eagle, which was pretty good scoring for me.”

Wade has seen his share of change at the club, but is worried that rising expenses will chase people away from the sport he loves. “Of late, the club is struggling financially,” Wade said. “In the early years, the members were all businessmen and the board of directors was made up of people who were in business in Watertown. Almost every one of them was conservative in their approach to doing things. They got things done, but they didn't go overboard as far as going in debt. When they decided they needed a piece of equipment, when they had the money to do it, they would buy the piece of equipment. Nowadays, that is not the case. “In Watertown what (rising costs) are doing is hurting the blue collar guy I was starting out,” Wade said. “You first have to pay an initiation fee of 4,000-5,000 bucks and then after that if you are going to have all the amenities like a cart and so on, it will cost $3,500 a year. The average guy with a family, a young fella who could be playing and should be playing, can't afford that. So they go to Windwood and other places to play and they are good courses, but Watertown Country Club to me is still the ultimate course around.” That is why as long as he can, Wade will be slapping it around the WCC layout.

“Golf is a wonderful game,” Wade said. “It is a game you can play your whole lifetime. Some people are really good, some people are not, but it is a game you can enjoy no matter how you play. The only drawback today is that it is expensive and it takes big blocks of time. “My first love is still to be a member of the club and will be as long as we can afford to do it and as long as we are able to compete and play. I am not interested anymore in winning anything. I just enjoy playing the game.”

The e-mail shown below was sent to Leigh Larson by Bruce Simdon of Texas, son of Roger Simdon. It provides some further insight to the pro-am that Jim Wade referred to in the above article.

12/18/2007

Leigh,