Name/Title
History Of Rock River Country ClubScope and Content
History Of Rock River Country Club July 18, 2006
NOTES - HISTORY OF RRCC
1924: Ed Hooker & Don Newcomb, fresh out of college, conceived the idea of a Waupun golf course.
1926: They acquired 60 acres of land from the John L. Newton estate for $2700, the money coming from E. W. Hooker, Ed;s father. The property was land-locked and a right-of-way was purchased from Clyde Harris. It was also north of the Rock River. The property south of the Rock River was purchased from James Davison for $225. Three year memberships were sold for $75 ($25 per year) and with the sale of $10,000 in stock and with a $5,000 mortgage, there was enough money to begin construction.
1928: A few holes became playable.
1929: The 9 hole course was completed and The Rock River Country Club, a members only golf course, was fully in operation. During this time a clubhouse was built and donated by Clarence A. Shaler.
1953: A tornado destroyed many of the trees on the heavily wooded course. The club house was not damaged. In the years that followed, Dutch Elm Disease destroyed the many majestic elm trees that dominated the fairways.
1963: The clubhouse was remodeled and expanded.
1982 The original nine hole course was redesigned. Increased membership and play made flying golf balls a danger for some of the adjoining fairways. Old hole #6 was eliminated. Hole #1 was realigned. Holes #2 and #3 remained the same. Hole #4 was realigned and lengthened. Hole #5 was redesigned using #8 green. Hole #6 became a new hole with a new green using the old #8 fairway. An all new 7th hole, par 3, was built from tee to green. The 8th hole was redesigned using the old #5 green. And #9 became a 500 yard par 5 using the old #7 fairway.
199?: Land, to the west fo the original nine, was purchased from the Bruins family with intent to build an additional nine holes.
2003: Construction of nine new holes, between Highway 49 and the Rock River (which bordered the west side of the original nine) was begun - cost approximately $1,000,000. This sum was raised by $500 to $5,000 and $10,000 donations by the members and a note with the National Bank of Waupun.
2004: The "new nine" was opened and The Rock River Country Club became an 18 hole course
(rem 7/18/2006)Acquisition
Accession
2007.0021Source or Donor
Schrank, Charles