Des Moines Golf and Country Club History of Grounds and Greenkeepers

DMGCC Locations, Dates, Descriptions, and Architects

Potential Members met on September 28, 1897 at the sporting goods store of W.P. Chase and Company to discuss a possible golf course.

Harry Polk announced that his father had 40 acres at the end of the Ingersoll car line that could be used if the “new club” agreed to pay the $150 a year for the taxes on the land.

The owner of that property was Jefferson S. Polk

DMGCC, Location #1

The club was located at the intersection of Ingersoll Avenue and Polk Boulevard.

The first club was a haphazard 18 hole with no definition. It later became a 9 hole golf course under the design of Warren Dickinson. The “new” 9 holes had a “modern look” with fairways, trees, bunkers and a few traps.

On August 28, 1900 the first Iowa Golf Association Championship is held on the grounds of Des Moines Golf and Country Club.

DMGCC, Location #2

On October 2, 1903 then club president Warren Dickinson announces that the present golf links would be turned back over to Polk and the club had secured a 20 year lease on 98 acre site owned by the Gilchrest family.

The new location would be adjacent to Waveland Golf Course on the North, 49th Street on the east, 56th street on the west and on the South a line between Woodland Ave and Waterbury Road would mark that boundary.

DMGCC, Location #2

December 4, 1903, Thomas Bendelow an employee of the Spalding Company comes to Des Moines to design the Des Moines Golf.

Spalding just had released the new Haskell Golf Ball and the new golf course will be designed to accept the longer flying golf ball.

Bendelow was known as the Johnny Appleseed of Golf Course Architects. He designed over 600 in the United States.

Thomas Bendelow

The Haskell Golf Ball

Bendelow’s DMGCC

4955 Country Club Drive# 5 Green

DMGCC, Location #2Clubhouse at 49th and Harwood

Warren Dickinson, DMGCC Past President

DMGCC, Location #3

Planning started in 1921 to move because the 20 year lease was set to expire, at this time a faction of golfers split off to build their own golf course on the south side of Des Moines called the Wakonda Club, the group was led by the Hubbells and Denmans.

Purchased 147 acres in 1923 from the Ashworth family just off of White Pole Road, later named Ashworth Road.

Club was designed and prepared by the Landscape Architect firm of Pearse, Robinson and Sprague.

Warren Dickinson is also very prominent in the design of this new club.

At this time the members of the Waveland Golf and Tennis club join the new DMGCC.

DMGCC, Location #3

DMGCC Location #3 1938 Aerial

DMGCC, Location #3 1956 Aerial

DMGCC, Location #3 1967 Aerial

DMGCC, Location #3 Present Day

DMGCC, Location #4

In 1957 the members learned that their current golf course was in jeopardy with the construction of a new Interstate through Des Moines, planning was then put into place to find an alternative site.

The members purchased 475 acres in West Des Moines in 1966.

55 acres of the old site was sold to the Catholic Diocese for $320,000.

80 acres of the old site was sold for a commercial plaza, residential and apartment housing for $650,00

First 18 holes are dedicated in the spring of 1968.

DMGCC, Location #4 1938 Aerial

DMGCC, Location # 4 Present Day

Pete Dye, Golf Course Architect

DMGCC Greenkeepers

A Greenkeeper in Webster’s Dictionary is defined as: a person responsible for the care and upkeep of a golf course.

DMGCC Greenkeepers, #1John P. Westgreen

John P. Westgreen was hired as the greenkeeper for DMGCC in 1899. He is noted as the first employee of DMGCC. He left the club in 1907.

He was a local Swede who was known as a good gardener, born in 1868.

He later was known to help design the Interlachen Golf Course in Minneapolis and Westborough Country Club in St. Louis.

1920 US Census shows him as a resident of St. Louis.

DMGCC Greenkeepers, #2Joseph A. Roseman

Began his career in Philadelphia. Later worked at clubs in Lake Placid, New York, Des Moines, Iowa, Racine, Wisconsin, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Chicago, Illinois.

Worked at DMGCC from 1907-1916. He was credited as the inventor of a hitch to draw a 3

gang mower with horses to mow. He later adopted a Model T Ford to do the same

thing. He was the owner and President of Roseman Mower

Corporation.

Joseph A. Roseman1888-1944

Joe Roseman’s Mower

DMGCC, Greenkeeper #31916-1922

Unknown at this time.

DMGCC, Greenkeeper #4William Keating

Worked at the Ashworth Road location from 1922 – 1957. 35 years.

Bill was a farmer who farmed the land around that area, he had an interest in the golf course and he was asked to take care of the property

His son John was involved in Globe Machinery who was a local Toro Distributor in Des Moines.

His son in law, Norm Westfall was a DMGCC Employee and later became superintendent of the Wakonda Club.

His grand daughter is Mrs. John (Patty) McGuiness her father is Norm Westfall.

Past President of IGCSA 1942-1945

DMGCC, Greenkeeper #4William Keating

Toro Roller

Bill Keating purchased this piece for DMGCC in the early 1930’s from Globe Machinery.

Only one known in existence today. DMGCC donated it to the Toro Company in

2008 and it now sits on display at their company headquarters in Minneapolis.

Toro Roller on Display

DMGCC, Greenkeeper #5 John Richard (Dick) Raher

Little is known of this man. He worked from 1957 – 1964

DMGCC, Greenkeeper #6William E. Byers

Hired as a summer helper in 1957 while attending Valley High School. He worked under Dick Raher.

He attended the University of Massachusetts and majors in turfgrass management.

He is hired as Golf Course Superintendent in 1964. IGCSA Past President 1969. Builds 36 hole golf course at current location and is

responsible for where we are at today. Host 1999 USGA Senior Open. Retires in 2007, entire career is spent at DMGCC.

DMGCC, Greenkeeper #6William E. Byers

DMGCC, Greenkeeper #7Rick D. Tegtmeier

Started in golf course maintenance in 1973. Worked as superintendent at Rockford CC,

Urbandale CC, Hinsdale Golf Club and Elmcrest Country Club.

Worked at DMGCC as North Course Superintendent 1983 – 1989.

Did North Course Renovation in 1987. Hired as Director of Grounds November 1,

2007. Retiring Unknown ???

DMGCC, Greenkeeper #7Rick D. Tegtmeier

DMGCC History,Past and Present

Thank you to DMGCC Members!