Golf Course History
Mr. Elmer Kipp and myself (Father Joseph Hylden) played golf together several times during the summers of 1951 and 1952. We traveled to the Ellendale Course most often, and occasionally to the LaMoure Course.
The discussion while driving to and from these courses always got back to the same thing -- why don't we have a course of our own at Edgeley! We began to look around for a likely spot for a "short course."
We looked at the area just east of Mount Hope Cemetery. We measured that twice. Then we practically settled on the pasture area on the west side of Highway 281 just north of Cliff Howe's home. We went out there and drove laths into the ground for nine holes of a "short course."
The next day after we had done this, Elmer spotted the Midland Railroad area which is the present course. He called me up late one night and said he got to thinking about this location and had gone out to see it that evening.
The next day we went out and looked it over. We decided this was the spot. We told several people around town about it. In a few days Elmer and I went up to Jamestown and talked to the head man of the Midland Railroad about leasing this piece of land. Mr. Johnson was very agreeable and said that he would give us a lease on the area, and was sure that we could work out details about snow fences, etc.
The entire idea for having such a "short course" was Mr. Kipp's. He had seen and played on such courses in Phoenix, Arizona. He sold me on the idea, and then, the two of us sold the idea to many others.
Among the early followers who took interest in the projected course were Charles Anderson, Nick Roehrich, Bud Kipp, Charles Ormiston, and others. A layout for the course was drawn and re-drawn many times. Measurements were taken several times. Finally we had pretty well agreed on the location of the nine greens.
With tractors furnished by Anderson Brothers and Kipp's Garage, we began work. We used the Seaman Tiller owned by Sebastian Wald to tear up the areas for the greens. We shoveled and raked and took out considerable amounts of dirt from each Green space. We brought in sand and began building the Greens.
We made arrangements to borrow the oil-sand mixing machine from the LaMoure Golf Club. Clay Kipp and I went over to LaMoure and loaded the machine and brought it to Edgeley. We began to mix the materials for the Greens. Drain-oil from the gas stations and garages was hauled out to the Golf Course, but not without mishap.
One evening Bud Kipp and I were loading a barrel of drain-oil behind their garage. It slipped on us and completely covered Bud from head to foot. We finally gave up on the mixing machine and began to spread the sand and then spread the drain-oil on the sand with five gallon buckets that had holes punched in the bottom. It was an oily job. But, finally, the Greens were sanded and oiled. Miss Laura Phelan sewed the numbers on the first pieces of red cloth. These became the first flags we had. The wind destroyed them the first summer.
A few men played a round of golf on the Course on July 4, 1953. We had only mowed the area for the first time with a regular field hay mower and since the grass had such a head start, it left a short stubble field. But we started to play.
By now, several more had become interested in the Course. Work on the Course continued. Benny Anderson spent much time that first Fall working on the Course with machinery and tools. Many others gave a helping hand.
During the winter I made two trips to Fargo and made a deal with Mr. Reed, Superintendent of Parks. We finally obtained the Toro Gang Mower from him for $300.00. We ordered the cups and ball washer in the Spring of 1954.
We also had our First Golf Banquet that winter and were definitely organized. A Constitution was adopted and the Golf Club and the Golf Course had become realities.
Written by Father Joseph Hylden
Laverne Splickan purchases Railroad Property and donates it to the Edgeley Golf Club
In August 1972 the Burlington Northern Railroad announce the sale of the former Midland Railroad right-of-way where the Edgeley Golf Course sits.
After negotiating with the Railroad to purchase the land the Golf Course was a part of, the Railroad set a price of $3100.
The Country Club met and discussed the price of the land and possible ways to obtain the financing to purchase this land.
Club members were overjoyed when a check was received from Laverne Splickan in the amount of $3100. This money was to be used to purchase the discontinued railroad right-of-way property with the understanding that it would be used for the Golf Course. If the golf course were ever abandoned or ceased to exist, the property would revert to the Shriners Crippled Children.
Laverne Splickan was immediately honored with a lifetime membership along with the provision that he would not have to serve during the golfing season.
A committee was organized to determine the future possibilities of enlarging the course and making additional improvements.