GOLF by Paul Leahy, PGA golf professional & director of golf at The Oaks at Margaritaville Lake Resort
The making of golf at the Lake
W
e celebrated the 90th anniversary of Bagnell Dam last year making it the perfect opportunity to take a closer look at the history of golf in the Lake area. How did the construction of the Dam affect the area, and in particular, the construction of the areas courses throughout the years? As water began to fill and form the Lake of the Ozarks, communities around the newly-formed lake began to grow, and with that, golf came to the area. Construction of Hole No. 4 at The Oaks. Three years after the Dam was completed the comThe Lake’s Most Scenic Golf Destination munity of Eldon opened the first course in 1934. A 9-hole sand green course that has since expanded to 18 holes and regulation grass green complexes. Golf was slow to catch on in the area but in 1950 the second 9-Hole sand green course was opened in Camdenton adjacent to the airport, called the Camdenton Golf Club. The pace of construction FIND OUR BEST RATES AT began to quicken as the city of Versailles built the third and final sand green 9–hole course, Rolling Hills in 1955. In 1962 the Turkey Bend Poultry Farm in Osage Beach was transformed into the Dogwood Hills Golf Single $1250 Course. It was the first 18-hole course and the first course to feature regulation grass greens and really Couples $1800 started the three decades of golf course construction in Sun-Fri. Cart Included the area. Dogwood Hills had a 52 year run but closed Call Pro Shop for Details in 2014 to make way for development. Find our best daily rates at By 1969 two new courses were built and ready for DeerChaseGolf.com play. The Camdenton Golf Club was replaced by Lake Valley Country Club, an 18-hole member-owned private facility, and The Hidden Lakes Golf Course, now Deer Chase Now Available For Weddings, the 9-hole course at Margaritaville Lake Resort, was Receptions, Parties, Banquets, Meetings and opened at the Tan-Tar-A Resort in preparation for the Visit us to host Family Reunions! Comfortably Accommodating Up To 120 1970 National Governors’ Conference that was held at your charity For more information or to book a party the resort. event or private please call 573-346-6117 Golf construction slowed during the 70s with the tournaments economic downturn but by 1980 two new 18-hole fa573-346-6117 • HWY A – 3.5 MILES TO cilities opened in the area featuring named >>> LOWELL WILLIAMS ROAD
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February 11 - 24, 2022
VACATION NEWS 11
