Quail Ridge: Thanks for the Memories

On July 17th 1992 Quail Ridge Golf Course opened to the public and with it an era of golf that Cowley County had never experienced. With the first tee time on that warm Friday morning Rod Gregory, Ernie Kanitz. and I experienced the course for the first time. Twenty years later the course with its Scottish highlands style and undulating greens is still a challenge to golfers of all abilities. One of the more humorous events of that first day was my second shot at #1 3(now #3). I hit a six iron to about six feet only to be told that the green I aimed at was #17 (now #8). I then took aim at the proper green only to see the ball disappear into the creek. Instead of a putt for a birdie three I had to settle for a double bogie six. Such is golf. Over the next six years Rod Gregory, Lowell Hargrove, the late Floyd Willis, and I played as a group 46-47 Saturdays out of the year. We didn’t always play artistic golf but we always had fun. When Rod moved to Florida and I started teaching on Saturdays, the group was no more and a special time had passed. Former PGA and Canadian PGA professional Mike Hammond managed the course for thirteen years and in the late 90’s the course was recognized as the #2 public course in Kansas. When Mike left after 13 years his assistant Ryan Kyger managed the course for a couple years. Currently Jim and Marcia Wheatcroft manage the clubhouse and Kevin Kamphaus is superintendent of the grounds crew. As the years went by my golf became more of an individual outing. From time to time one or more of my grandchildren would join me and it became a family activity. The first time my Grandson Josh McIver played we stopped at the second tee. He leaned over and said “can we keep this?” He was asking if we could keep the cart. When I told him no he was mildly disappointed but came back to play many times. Some changes have happened throughout the years. What was the front nine is now the back nine and vice versa. The housing development surrounds the course and in some places gives unintentional targets for wild golf shots. Trees have grown and become obstacles, making the course even a little more difficult. Some things have remained the same or at least similar. Last year the course was ranked #5 nationally based upon city size, fees, and other demographics. The quality of the course and its maintenance is still at a high level and ready for the next twenty years. Next Tuesday, July 17th , Ernie Kanitz and I will once again take to the course to start the 21st year. The balls will fly shorter, but the enjoyment will still be great. Happy Birthday Quail Ridge and as the great Bob Hope used to say, “thanks for the memories.”