Palos Verdes Golf Club Collection, 1948 - 2000

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Summary

Creators:
Morris, Robert
Abstract:
Collection of newsletters, yearbooks, plans and redesigns for the golf course and hole #4, correspondence, and sales reports.
Extent:
1 Cubic Feet 2 letter document boxes, 1 oversize folder
Language:
English and Materials entirely in English.
Preferred citation:

[Name of item], Palos Verdes Golf Club Collection (Collection 003). Local History Center, Peninsula Center Library, Palos Verdes Library District, Rolling Hills Estates, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection includes newsletters: “The 1st Tee” from 1948; “Barranca” 1956-1995 with gaps; and the “Bull-E-Ten” 1952-1955 with gaps.

Collection also includes Master Improvement plans from 1989-1998; redesign plans for hole #4; Palos Verdes Golf Club Year Books from 1960-1985; Greens Committee charter, minutes, long range plans and reports; Clippings and histories; and Sales Department Reports from 1999-2000.

Correspondence includes letters and memos to and from Bob Morris from 1976-2008 about several iterations of a master plan regarding the development and maintenance of the golf course, memos to the Greens Committee, course changes, rules and game speed issues. Correspondence also includes maintenance evaluations, historical research and reading suggestions on golf.

Biographical / historical:

The Palos Verdes Golf Club was one of the amenities created by the Palos Verdes Project. It was an essential part of the Project’s strategy to attract buyers to the developing community of Palos Verdes Estates. The course opened for play on November 15, 1924 and was used primarily by residents of Palos Verdes Estates. The Club however was made available to property owners and non-residents during its early years.

The golf course was designed and built by noted California golf course architects, George Clifford Thomas, Jr and William P. Bell. The course overlooks Santa Monica Bay and has ocean views from several holes. The 213 acres of the course were landscaped by the well-known landscape architectural firm, Olmsted Brothers.

The two story, eleven room Mediterranean style clubhouse was designed by architect C.E. Howard. The clubhouse had locker rooms and showers for both men and women.

The Palos Verdes Golf Club was well-known among Los Angeles’ celebrities and elites of the 1920s and 1930s. The Golf Club hosted the Palos Verdes Open Invitational Golf Tournament in 1928.

The Palos Verdes Golf Club was originally the property of the Palos Verdes Homes Association. When the City of Palos Verdes Estates was established in 1939, the property and management of the Club was turned over to the City.

During World War II, the Palos Verdes Golf Club had difficulties with labor shortages and overcrowding. To address these difficulties, the Palos Verdes Estates City Council changed membership to a dues-based limited membership. The course remains semi-private with membership privileges extended to residents of Palos Verdes Estates first.

Bob Morris is a former Palos Verdes Golf Club Board Member and member of several committees including the Planning Committee, the Greens Committee and the Rules Committee.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Bob Morris to the Palos Verdes Library District Local History Center in December 2009.
Processing information:

Processing and description by Stella Castillo.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically by folder title; thereunder chronologically, with undated materials filed after dated materials.

Accruals:

No further accruals are expected.

Physical location:
Local History Center
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the Local History Center for access information.

Terms of access:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:

[Name of item], Palos Verdes Golf Club Collection (Collection 003). Local History Center, Peninsula Center Library, Palos Verdes Library District, Rolling Hills Estates, CA.

Location of this collection:
701 Silver Spur Road
Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274, US
Contact:
(310) 377-9584
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