T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY A duffer eyes the ball in anticipation of blasting it down the fairway recently at the American Legion Memorial Golf Course in Marshalltown. The public course will celebrate its 60th anniversary July 4. A fund-raising tournament is slated July 2.

Editor’s Note: This is the second of three articles celebrating the 60th anniversary of the local American Legion Memorial Golf Course. This installment, and one published Tuesday, were written by the late Times-Republican Managing Editor Wendell Benson.

Much of the rough grading to shape greens and tees was done in November so that winter freezing could settle the newly-moved soil. Trowbridge Construction Company, Marshalltown, did most of this work on a subcontract with Adams. Final grading was done in the spring of 1956. Seeding the fairways and stolenizing the greens was done in May and June of 1956. Gentle rains in May started the grass, but less than half an inch of rain during June stunted the new growth and it wasn’t until a cool, wet August that growth really began. By late fall, 1956, the Legion had to purchase mowing equipment to manage this growth.

In the spring of 1957, a contract for $8,500 was let to Stewart Construction Co., Marshalltown, to build the pro shop. Another $9,600 was spent buying equipment and supplies to operate the golf course; $1,000 was spent grading the parking lot; $2,250 was spent for further road construction, a well and lighting. A new fence around the property cost $1,500 as did a septic tank.

The Marshalltown Water Board had so few customers in the area that it could not afford the Legion’s request for a water main and sewer connection.

After some little controversy, Legionnaires throughout the city convinced the city that it should aid the project by making these utilities available as a contribution. Thus the well which had been drilled to supply water for the golf course was never used.

The course was officially opened for play in June, 1957. It was dedicated on July 4,1957, to the memory of all who had served in this nation’s great wars and in particular to those who died in those wars. Dedication speaker was Mayor Leonard Grimes of Marshalltown.

The profit and loss for the first year of operation showed total expenses of $9,890.40. Total income was $10,491.50 or a net profit of $601.10. Total book value of the course at the end of 1957’s operating year was $101,852.58.

A key ingredient to the success of Legion Memorial Golf Course was found in the hiring of its first permanent greenskeeper and golf course managers. Mr. and Mrs. Irv MacDonaId, Fort Dodge, had been hired in 1957 to be resident managers of the facility and operators of the pro shop. MacDonald was to hold the post for 20 years. To his talents must go much of the credit for the golf course’s development. A master greenskeeper, MacDonald also had the unique ability to manage the front end without upsetting the public. He now lives in retirement in Marshalltown and his story is told elsewhere in this edition.

After the 1957 operating year, public golf really took hold in Marshalltown. Gone were the long drives to nearby cities to play; a popular president, Dwight Eisenhower, was making the sport a national favorite, and a whole generation of youngsters in Marshalltown were learning the game. Annual memberships to golfers were sold in 1958 for $35. By 1966 an annual membership fee to play golf at Legion Memorial was $48.

Each year the number of rounds played set records. By 1966 the 9-hole golf course was playing at maximum capacity. Industrial golf leagues had been formed, golf was being golf was being taught in adult education classes and Marshalltown was using Legion Memorial to capacity. Talk of building another 9-holes to meet the demand was heard. Meanwhile, the Legion Golf Course Committee, now made up of other Legionnaires, was continuing to improve the course. Parking lots were blacktopped, trees and shrubs were planted in many years, the pro shop was enlarged to include a locker room and larger sales area, new maintenance buildings and golf cart storage were built. Ladies’ tees, tiling, new bridges and course refinements such as shelter houses were added in the 1960’s.

By 1969 an active campaign was being waged to enlarge the course to 18-holes. Talks were initiated with the city of Marshalltown for additional land would be needed to build any such facility.

It was June 9, 1970 when the Marshalltown City Council voted to purchase land from Perry and Ruth Sexton, a decision which made possible the construction of an additional nine holes at the Legion Golf Course.

The 47.31 acres of land, located between South 12th and South 6th Streets near the railroad tracks, was purchased at a price of $145,000, and an additional 3.73 acres was given to the city by the Sextons as a gift. Under the agreement, the city paid $15,000 down, $13,000 on Jan. 2, 1971, and $13,000 on Jan. 2 of each succeeding year until the debt was paid off. Interest on the purchase was six percent.

At first the council avoided any speculation that the newly purchased property would be used to expand the golf course. However, the Golf Course Committee of the city council was working with that group and members of the Legion on the possibility of expanding operations to an 18-hole golf course, and an unexpected and sizable donation made the dream come true sooner than most expected. $100,000 Donation made the dream come true sooner than expected.

It was during this time that Ray Engel and his wife Kathryn, without ever having been approached, came forward and offered a $100,000 donation to pay for the construction of the new nine holes. In making the offer, Engel said he and his wife wanted to do something to add to the recreational benefits the people might make use of. Then City Council member Chuck Weidner, a member of the Golf Course Committee, acted as a liaison between the council and the Legion in the handling of the project, and the wheels began to turn.

On July 21, 1971, the city council held a special meeting and accepted the bid of Midwest Irrigation Co., Dubuque, for construction of the extension and enlargement of the American Legion Golf Course. Completion date for the project was set for Nov. 1,1971, at a cost of $49,275, a figure more than amply covered by Legion funds and the Engel donation.

When the course was constructed it was turned over to the American Legion on a lease agreement, with the Legion to pay the city a rental price of $1 per year. Operation of the course was given to the Legion Memorial Golf Course Committee, thus taking the maintenance load off the city.