Member Clubs member families. That included mowing, weeding, gathering stray rocks and downed tree limbs and keeping the sand in the bunkers.
The current membership is diverse— farmers, horse trainers, school teachers, shopkeepers, doctors, lawyers and retirees, among others. Nick Dunning, now 73, a member most of his life, said there have been some big names who played the course, as well, including Bing Crosby, Gene Sarazen and Bobby Jones.
Dunning laughed out loud when he remembered being suspended from using the facilities for six months at age 16, when he and a few buddies disrupted a party by throwing cherry bombs down the clubhouse chimney. He also recalled that as recently as the 1980s and’ 90s, two members— one a horseman, the other a veterinarian— would play 18 holes together, throw their clubs in their
pickup trucks and pull weed-eaters out of the back for a little course maintenance.
Over the past 10 years, course superintendent Steve Colvin has been responsible for what Stifler described as“ the amazing quality of fairways and greens.” The course began adding an irrigation system at about the same time Colvin arrived, and that’ s made a major difference in keeping the premises lush and green.
Utilizing different tee boxes strategically placed at various locations on every hole dramatically changes the dimensions of each one. The ninth, for example, plays as a 270-yard par 4, with most players opting to lay up in front of a stream that guards the front of the green. When that same green is used as the 18th hole, a tee box is located about 215 yards from the putting surface, and it’ s a long, tough par-3, necessitating a 200-yard carry over that same stream in front for an attempt at a birdie putt.
The sixth hole plays as a 315-yard par 4 on the front nine, and on the back nine, at No. 15, it’ s a 460-yard par 5. In recent years, a shorter par-3 course also has been set up aiming at those very same nine greens, with no hole longer than about 120 yards. A black disc on the fairway marks the spot that turns the hole into a par 3.
The price is also right. There’ s a $ 5,000 initiation fee, and family memberships are in the range of $ 1,500 a year, even less for a single. There are about 240 members, including a handful of social and out-oftown members. It’ s $ 11 to ride nine holes in a cart and $ 20 for 18.
“ In my mind,” Stifler said,“ Millwood represents the epitome of what a country club means. It’ s laid back, it’ s comfortable, social and no one puts on any airs. Everyone is respectful and enjoys each other’ s company.”
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CASCADES COURSE | HOLE 16
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