Guide to the Palos Verdes Golf Club Collection 003
Stella Castillo
Donna Chiang, Jeremy Berry-Cahn
Palos Verdes Library District, Peninsula Center Library. Local History Center.
2016 10 25
701 Silver Spur Road
Rolling Hills Estates, California 90274
localhistory@pvld.org
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Palos Verdes Library District, Peninsula Center Library. Local History Center.
Title: Palos Verdes Golf Club Collection
Source:
Morris, Robert
Identifier/Call Number: 003
Physical Description:
1 Cubic Feet
2 letter document boxes, 1 oversize folder
Date (inclusive): 1948 - 2000
Physical Location: Local History Center
Abstract: Collection of newsletters, yearbooks, plans and redesigns for the golf course and hole #4, correspondence, and sales reports.
Language of Material: Materials entirely in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the Local History Center for access information.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
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.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title; thereunder chronologically, with undated materials filed after dated materials.
Scope and Contents
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Bob Morris to the Palos Verdes Library District Local History Center in December 2009.
Processing Information
Processing and description by Stella Castillo.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Related Materials
Palos Verdes Bulletin https://www.palosverdeshistory.org/islandora/object/pvld:4048
Subject and Biographical Files, folder: Palos Verdes Golf Club.
Palos Verdes Homes Association Photo Collection Boxes 19 - 24
Bibliography
“About The Club: History.” Palos Verdes Golf Club. http://www.pvgc.com/history
Accessed October 24, 2016.
Dreizler, Carl and Prose, P.R. “Palos Verdes Golf Club: Seventy-Fifth Anniversary, 1924-1999.” Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
1999. PVLD Call Number 796.35206 PALOS
Gnerre, Sam. “Palos Verdes Golf Club.” South Bay History, December 9, 2009. http://blogs.dailybreeze.com/history/2009/12/09/palos-verdes-golf-club/
Accessed October 24, 2016.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Courses, Golf
Golf
Golfing
Palos Verdes Golf Club (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.)
Country Clubs--California--Palos Verdes Estates
Country clubs
Morris, Robert
Box 1
The 1st Tee
1948 Feb 14 - 1948 May 22
Box 1
Barranca Newsletter
1956-1988; 1991; 1995
Physical Description: 8 Folders
Box 2
Clippings and Histories
1924-1933; undated
Box 2
Construction Schedule and Budget
2000 June - 2000 July
Box 2
Correspondence
1976-2000; undated
Box 2
Greens Committee
1996-1998
Box 2
Master Improvement Plan
1989-1998
Box 2
Palos Verdes Golf Club Yearbooks
1960-1985
Physical Description: 4 Folders
Box 2
Redesign hole #4 planning with maps
1992 March 06
Box 2
Sales Department Reports
1999 Nov - 2000 July
