05/03/2026
Leavenworth Golf Course History.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the formation of our local Golf Club. Here are some early photos, as well as the history of the Golf Club, written in 1994. It is a long read, but informative. We cannot verify the accuracy of the document.
HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH GOLF COURSE: 1994
The Leavenworth Golf Club was formed in 1926 by a group of local residents. This was about the same time that the Chelan County Fair was moved from Leavenworth to Cashmere. The K & V.B. Hardware Company of Leavenworth was urged to carry golf equipment.
The Leavenworth Golf Club was officially chartered in 1927. Three golf holes with sand greens were laid out on or very near the Fairground property. There was a baseball field in this general area and they had first rights. Golf would not be allowed during baseball games or practices. This situation caused the Golf Club, working together with the baseball organizers and players to find property and construct a ball field at a more convenient location closer to town.
The Golf Club started acquiring property and rearranging, lengthening and adding golf holes. The Chelan County Fair buildings were being removed and this prompted the Golf Club to enter into a lease agreement with Chelan County for a portion of their property. (Approximately where #1 & #8 fairways are now located.) This was a five-year token lease with a five-year option. The Fairground and surrounding properties had been completely logged off. There were some houses and outbuildings (number not known) but property around the fairgrounds was used primarily as pasture land.
In 1930, Chelan County deeded the vacated fairground and gravel pit property to the City of Leavenworth. The gravel pit is where the city wells and storage area are presently located. It was agreed that there would be mutual advantage to the Golf Club and the City to rewrite the County Lease agreement for that small portion of the city's newly acquired property.
This was a unique agreement, whereby the Golf Club would improve and beautify the city property leased and to that extent could erect buildings, make improvements and maintain a golf course. In this agreement, for the portion of the golf course owned by the city, the city gave the right to the Golf Club to maintain and operate a golf course and make all reasonable rules and regulations and charges for the use of the golf course by the members and the public, generally, as it may from time to time be deemed advisable. Six golf holes with sand greens were in place in 1930. Individual club members purchased grass seed and planted it in their favorite areas.
The Golf Club continued to acquire land, and in the mid 1930's, nine golf holes with sand greens were in place. At this time, during the great depression, a nine-hole golf course in a small town was believed by most people to be a luxury reserved for large cities. In the mid 1930's, a small construction office building (approx. 12x16) was moved to the golf course for a clubhouse. The building was located on and
towards the parking lot from the existing putting green and served as a sandwich shop. It was later added onto to include an apartment for the greenskeeper and for locker space. Materials and labor were donated by the membership.
In 1947-48, the sand greens were replaced with bent grass greens, In 1950, the lease agreement was completely revised. The new lease would be written for a twenty-year period with a twenty-year option, instead of five years with a five-year option. By State law, the new 20-year lease would be revisited every five years to negotiate the rent. The $1.00 token lease would remain in effect. In addition, the new lease would give all the improvements, such as buildings, sprinkler system, etc., to the city. The existing clubhouse was constructed in 1960. A prominent local contractor and Golf Club member volunteered his time to oversee the project to completion. The membership and often the contractor's crews donated all the labor. Except for a portion of the electrical and plumbing parts, which were donated by individual members, the Golf Club purchased the materials.
About this same time, the city's garbage dump was moved from a location near the golf course to a site in the Chumstick Valley. The club membership purchased a large tract of land between the existing club
house and the abandoned dump site. Number 8 & 9 golf holes were moved to this new location. This was a two-year project accomplished by club members donated labor.
In the early 1960's, the City was having domestic water supply problems. This condition caused the Golf Club to look for a new water source to irrigate the course. The Golf Club was able to obtain a water permit that allowed water to be diverted from the Wenatchee River. In 1965, the City would sell bonds
to finance a new golf course irrigation system. Remembering that the City would not incur any golf course expenses, the term of the 1950 lease was extended to October 1, 1980. The Golf Club would pay all the City costs involved for this service. This 1965 lease amendment would show how the Golf Club would repay the City. This showed in the lease as yearly rent.
Amendment to the 1950 lease, Item 2. stated the rental to be paid by the lessee is as follows: The sum of $2,000 at the time the revenue bonds are sold by the City, the sum of $1,200 on or before Sept. 1, 1965; the sum of $2,500 on or before June 15, 1966; the sum of $3,000 on or before June 15, 1967;
the sum of $2,000 on or before June 15, 1968; and a like amount on or before June 15, of each subsequent year during the term of this lease.
The bond money received by the Golf Club paid only the cost of materials. This irrigation system was completed in two years time. All labor was donated by the Golf Club. Additionally, there was a special membership assessment to help the club through the first years to pay the City. The City reaffirmed that they had no intention of making that portion of the golf course they owned as a money-making entity. Based on that concept, property on the front nine was deeded to the City. The lease agreement was working well. There was no expense to the City, and there was mutual advantage to both parties.
Expansion and a good maintenance program caused the golf course to be well known throughout the region. This condition prompted the Golf Club to look towards expanding to 18 holes. The club sold $100 notes to the membership to purchase the land. The club applied for and received an FHA loan to construct the back nine holes. The back nine property was used as collateral for the loan.
Considering that the front nine had been deeded to the City and was under token lease agreement to the Golf Club, and understanding that the front nine was necessary for the Golf Club's ability to pay off the loan, the FHA required a lease agreement time frame that would last as long as the mortgage due date, which is 2008. There was mutual advantage to both parties so this was done. This new 1968 lease also continues to show the 1965 irrigation system bonds retirement schedule as the lease rental amount. However, the lease states that when those bonds are retired, the minimum rentals described
shall no longer be applicable, and the rentals thereafter shall be adjusted. This reinforces the intent that the Golf Club would continue to pay a token lease amount. |
Green Lawns, Inc. was the successful bidder to construct the back nine. This was a two-year project. However, money was very tight, and the membership donated thousands of hours over a three-year period getting the course into playing condition.
In 1971, the Golf Club and the City, working with the city attorney, entered into an agreement concerning property taxes on the back nine. The Golf Club would "Quick Claim Deed" the back nine to the City. As the Golf Club is a non-profit organization, the money saved here would have benefit, improving the golf course. The back nine title was held by the FHA until the mortgage was paid in full.
In 1980, an amendment to the lease was agreed upon. The irrigation bonds were retired and the lease rent could revert back to $1.00 per year. There was concern that the State would require the City to charge a fair market value for the City-owned golf course property. It was further explained that because the Golf Club was a non-profit organization and all revenues went directly into the golf course in the manner of operation, maintenance and improvement. The improvements would be considered in the fair market lease value. The Golf Club decided to continue paying the City $2,000 rent per year, which is the same amount paid for the irrigation bond retirement.
