The year was 1963 and some of the events shook the earth.

John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Subsequently, Lee Harvey Oswald was
shot by Jack Ruby – the first murder shown live on television.

Nikita Khrushchev claimed to have a 100-megaton nuclear bomb – a device
that could blow up the planet many times over.

George Wallace was sworn in as governor of Alabama, and in his acceptance
speech said: “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.”
Some of the events were inspiring.

Michael De Bakey implanted the first artificial heart in a human.
The first Boeing 727 was put into operation.

Some of the events were sheer entertainment.

The Grammy for the best record was presented to Tony Bennett for “I Left My
Heart in San Francisco.”

Cincinnati second baseman Pete Rose was Rookie of the Year.

Helen Shapiro began her national music tour – with The Beatles as the
undercard.

The first discotheque opened in Los Angeles – dubbed the Whiskey-a-go-go.
Some of the events were signs of things to come.

First class postage soared from 4 cents to 5 cents.

Valium hit the market.

And one event had a particularly local flavor.

The Mount Hood Golf Club was formed. This year, the historic group
celebrates its 50th season on the links, and its partnership with The Resort.

The MHGC was created on the foundation of three pillars: competition, social
and outreach.

Past President Bob Peters remembers the social gatherings with vivid
recollection.

“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, at first,” Peters said. “We had
parties every month. There would be putting contests on rugs, kissing booths
– and some of that got pretty ugly. But it’s been a great ride.”

Jim Turin joined the club in 1968.

“Let’s put it this way, I was coerced,” Turin said. “But it worked out. I’ve
made a lot of friends.”

A past president as well, Turin was instrumental in forming the Sandy High
School golf scholarship program in 2004. The initial check (for $1,150) was
written Sept. 6, 2004, to the SHS golf team. Josh Hardin picked up the first
individual scholarship check (for $1,000) to Mt. Hood Community College.
Other $1,000 scholarships have been handed out, including Emmett Herrie
(2009), Margaret Nelson (2010), Mackenzie Sempert (2011) and Pierce
Benson (2012).

In all, more than $31,000 in contributions and scholarships have passed
through the MHGC to deserving recipients.

The Resort Partnership
With age comes fine wines, cheeses, and the golf course at The Resort –
which plays host to the MHGC.

In 1928 a pair of committed golfers – Ralph Shattuck and George Waale –
leased a hay field from Billy Welch and built a nine-hole golf course, which
happened to be the first golf resort in Oregon.

Eugene Bowman acquired the property in 1948 and for the next 30 years
began adding on: nine additional holes of golf, a pool, sauna, condos, guest
suites, and The Resort began taking the shape of today.

In 1973 American Guaranty Financial acquired land across Welches Road and
built a lodge, conference facility, restaurant and added a third nine-hole golf
course. In 1979 it purchased Bowman’s Resort, merging the two properties,
and named it Rippling River Resort.

Subsequently, Ed and Janice Hopper bought the resort and in 1989
transformed it into The Resort at the Mountain.

At that time, the MHGC was already operating at the spry young age of 26.

Member Sightings
It’s not unusual to spot these MHGC members cruising around the course.
Look for Dave Olson (president); Bob Burton (original member); past
presidents Dave and Regina Lythgoe, Jim Griffin, Bob DuBiel, Dick Bushnell,
and Jim Turin; as well as long-time members Jeanette Williams, Ruby Claflin,
Char Griffin, Bus Morrow, Bob Peters, and Happy Hottmann.

Strike up a conversation.

They have tales to tell.

The kissing booth is one of the best.