J. T. tells about a cow-pasture "course" that was built on property the Jones family owned in north Canton. Bobby Jones, a family member and golf legend, played an exhibition round there. Supposedly, he told his Canton relatives they needed to give that course back to the cows.
Construction of the current Canton Golf Course was a part of President Franklin Roosevelt's 1930s New Deal. It was built by the WPA - Works Progress Administration program. Critics joked about the program and said that WPA meant "We Piddle Around." But that was not the case when the Canton golf course was built.
Opening day was quite an occasion. Both Bobby Jones and another Georgia Golf Hall of Famer, Charlie Yates, were there. As someone said, "It was the hottest ticket in town." Annis and Edna Morgan had something like a PA system in their car. Jones used it for a loud speaker.
J.T. remembers that Bobby Jones continued to play the course periodically when he would be in Canton for meetings of the board of directors of Canton Cotton Mills.
When the club first opened for play, a group of local boys got themselves jobs. They became caddies. Don Huey, Mack Moore, Tom Mulkey, Herbert Chattam, Harold Moore, Cotton Huey, Quinten Perkins, David Perkins and J.T. would report each day to the caddie master, Pop Warner. There were no golf carts.
At that time the clubhouse had not been built. The boys checked in at a building called the haddie House. J.T. said, "We would get there early in the morning and wait to be called when a customer arrived. We were paid 25 cents per 18 holes and the same amount for nine holes. If the customer were to tip us a little extra, we had to divide this with Pop. If we found any golf balls, we had to split them with him. This would determine how quick you got a customer and how many rounds you would get."
As soon as the work day was over, the boys made a run for swimming holes in nearby creeks. "There were no swimming pools in Cherokee County at that time, and I doubt that you could buy a swimsuit. We didn't need one, and none of us had ever seen one. We just let nature take its course."
According to J.T., in the years 1941 to 1945 all of the caddies went into various branches of military service. Quinten Perkins was the only one who did not make it back.
When the swimming pool was built, it became an important part of Canton Golf Club. J.T. remembers that the equipment came from an Olympic-size pool owned by the estate of the Candler family in Atlanta. Thus, the Canton pool was built Olympic size.
For years, the golf course and the pool were maintained by personnel of Canton Cotton Mills and Jones Mercantile Store. There was a time when individual golfers maintained the greens. Louis Jones II was assigned No. 1. J.T. began playing the course in 1948.
He became the head of maintenance for the mills. This included the golf course and the pool. Later, the membership gained possession, and a board of directors was elected.
During the more than half a century since Canton Golf Club opened, there have been many members. Viewing the trophies in the clubhouse, the plaques and the beautifully framed pictures, you see many familiar names and faces. A barefoot boy in one of the pictures is identified as retired dentist Dr. Carl Edge.
Many of Cherokee County's well-known citizens and golfers have been members of Canton Golf Club.
Members of the Jones family, Will Hattendorf, Bart Johnson, Bill Garrett, Charlie Cobb and Ralph Owen have all played there. Kyle Owen spent many hours on the greens in preparation for becoming a pro.
Linda Schwamlein, Millicent Fox, Jesse Burt and Mary Ellen Hannah all have their names displayed on plaques as tournament winners.
Before other golf courses were built in our area, it seemed it was almost impossible to get a membership at Canton Golf Club. Surprisingly, there are now a few open slots. Membership applications are being taken including a "social membership" for those who want use of only the pool.
As Arlin Smith, James Groves and Manager Robert Poole said, Canton Golf Club is not a country club.
The membership fees are reasonable, it is a friendly environment, and sources say playing the course is both a fun and challenging golfing experience.
Marguerite Cline is the former mayor of Waleska and a former county school superintendent.
Post a Comment