Sioux Golf and Country Club history begins with an eastern trip that Mr. W.S. Slagle took in 1888. He was tempted by friends to try a new sport called golf which had recently been transplanted to America from Scotland and England. He was very intrigued with the game and purchased a supply of clubs and balls.
On his return to Alton with his new equipment he decided to utilize a pasture, which he partially owned, directly west of his home and just west of the present MOC-Floyd Valley Middle School building. Initially he laid out four holes and later increased the layout to the customary nine.
Soon many of his fellow Altonites had taken up the game. In September, 1900 the Golf Club was organized with S.A. Lincoln, president; J.C. Folger, vice-president; W.S. Slagle, secretary; M.D. Gibbs, treasurer; and W.W. Eldrige, captain.
For some of the younger golfers who are accustomed to carefully manicured greens, watered fairways, and elevated level tees, a short description of "prairie golf" might be in order.
Greens were non-existent except for a square or round area of native grass infrequently clipped with a hand-lawn mower. The cups were often tin cans sunk to the required depth and the fairways were frequently kept in condition by grazing a flock of sheep.
Golf clubs, in earlier days, were also a far cry from the ones in use today. The shafts were made of oak or hickory. Later bamboo shafts came into vogue and finally steel shafts were introduced.
The average early player did not carry the customary complement of fourteen clubs. A full set consisted of driver, bassie, and spoon for woods. The irons were called midiron, midmashie or cleek, mashie, niblick and putter. Normally the average player carried four or five of these clubs in a "Sunday" or light canvas bag.
Golf balls have also undergone many changes. Gutta percha balls were first used and their flight was not perfect-particularly after a topped shot or two. Finally in the 20's a better ball was produced in England, but it was slightly smaller and illegal for use here. The size, however, was changed to conform with our standards and it has since become the standard. Also, there were "floaters" which had the advantage, for duffers, of floating when driven into a pond or creek. It's disadvantage was that, being rather light, it did not have a true flight on windy days.
The Orange City Golf Club had it's origin in the early 1900's and was located on the east side of town at Second Street and comprised about 35 acres on a farm owned by P.D. Van Oosterhout. During World War 1 the land was put into crops to assist the war effort and the Orange City members decided to join forces with their Alton compatriots. In 1919 the road between Orange City and Alton was paved with concrete for a three-mile stretch---incidentally the first pavement in northwest Iowa----which made transportation a bit more feasible. Instead of miring down in deep mud it was possible to merrily chug along for a game of golf.
Everything stayed on a relatively even keel until part of the land not owned by Mr. Slagle was platted and a subdivision planned. Fortunately for the golf club the lots were not in great demand and in 1920 golfers from Orange City and Alton bought 13 acres of land from William Stronks and Mr. Huisman for $7,750 and succeeded in again blocking up the acreage. With great foresight they made Mr. Wells S. Short, an Orange City banker, their trustee with sole power to dispose of the property.
Golf was not quite as expensive in those days. Family memberships were $10.00 per year and a student membership was $1.00 per season. Youngsters could easily pay for their memberships by occasionally caddying for their elders for which they received $.25 per nine hole round and possibly a tip. Green fees for visiting players were nominal at $1.00 a day but quite often they were not collected since there was no clubhouse or attendant.
All this did not bring in a great deal of revenue. The receipts never came close to matching the outgo, so at the end of each season, Mr. Slagle and four Orange City members, W.F. Rieckhoff, W.S. Short, Gerrit Klay and P.D. Van Oosterhout would hold a finance meeting to determine the annual shortage. They would then divide the amount by five and scratch out their personal checks to keep the club solvent for another year.
In those days most golf clubs named the various holes which were listed on the scorecard, along with the yardage and par. None of the old Sioux Golf cards could be located but Hole no. 1 was known as "Lookout" since the tee was on a hill overlooking the green some 200 yards away and 100 feet lower. Number 2 was "Westward Ho" for obvious reason. Number 6 was "Short's Delight" due to his once having sunk an approach shot from an impossible lie. Number 8 was "The Pines" for obvious reasons. The total yardage was quite short at 2,750 yards but the hills, the water hazards, and the purposely built small elevated greens made the most sporty course in Northwest Iowa.
Golf, being primarily a social game, inevitably encouraged club tournaments with other clubs in the area. Each summer club tourneys would be scheduled, usually on Thursdays, with Sheldon, Paullina, LeMars, and the Sioux City Country Club. As many members as possible would make the trek where they played with members of the local club. In return, Sioux Golf would invite these clubs back to be their guests. Unfortunately club tourneys seem to be on the wane. They have been replaced by tournaments which try to determine the best golfer rather than stressing the social aspects of the game.
A club crisis developed in 1945-46. Due to World War II there had been a great decrease in the number of members and since many of the older men had died, finances became a very real concern. There was some agitation to sell the property and have Mr. Short, the trustee, distribute the proceeds to various heirs.
At about that time Robert L. Rieckhoff returned to Orange City from Choteau, Montana to take over his father's business due to W.F. Rieckhoff's death. He and Mr. Short had a conference to see what could be worked out. As a result, it was decided that if the finances could be resolved and an adequate club house could be built and fully paid for, Mr. Short, as trustee, would transfer the land to a corporation to be called The Sioux Golf and Country Club. It was decided to attempt to sell 250 shares of stock in the corporation at $100.00 per share to enlarge the membership and to acquire funds to build the clubhouse. Samuel A. Lincoln Jr., Judge Martin Van Oosterhout, Mitchell Moret and R.L. Rieckhoff very actively promoted the new stock sale. The shares were finally sold and some 60 new members were added to the roster.
Building plans had been developed and in the summer of 1949 a very adequate new clubhouse graced the hill overlooking a beautiful vista.
Sioux Golf & Country Club continues to uphold the tradition established by our founders. The club house recently underwent a major remodeling project and includes a new banquet/dining hall with capacity for 250 people and additional cart storage. Additionally, a new #1 tee box, a new practice green, and new fairway irrigation systems have been added. Come visit Sioux Golf & Country Club and have a unique golf experience!