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History
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I. It is rare
that we have the experience, let alone are part of, significant
historical events. However, in the case of the Aurora Country Club
this is indeed the case. Following the fire of 1941, and with many
caddies alienated with the loss of their club, many of the older
club members found it very difficult to walk eighteen holes carrying
their golf bags. Thus, a new plan was devised. These men designed
and fabricated in their own shops the prototype to the modern golf
cart in the middle 40's. This concept of golf was so unique that
the Saturday Evening Post ran a feature article in the "crazy" golfers
at Aurora, who rode around in little kiddie-cars.
Actually, these scooters had a car seat in front where three or
four golfers sat, while a caddie or golfer steered from behind.
Incidentally, it was not uncommon for fire to erupt from the maintenance
shed where these scooters were kept (where the practice tennis court
now sits) as these gentleman worked to maintain these vehicles.
By 1950 a new clubhouse was constructed - this time a bit farther
to the west, and wrapped around the pool and temporary clubhouse.
Caddies were invited back - but by now many members had their own
scoters, so the caddies fell on hard times. It hasn't been until
recently that the caddie program has been revived. Thus, while many
golfers might lament the fact, it does appear that members of the
Aurora Country Club invented the golf cart.
II. The Aurora Country Club was originally designed by William
Boice Langford. Langford was noted golf course architect, who worked
with both Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones. He was a Charter Member
and President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects
and designed or remodeled a huge number of golf courses in the United
States. Among the more notable ones in Illinois are the following:
Aurora C.C., Beverly C.C., Butterfeild C.C., Glen Oak C.C., Hinsdale
C.C., Park Ridge C.C., Ridgemoor C.C., Riverside C.C., Ruth Lake
C.C. and Westmoreland C.C.
III. The Aurora Country Club had been blessed with several
fine head golf professionals. Two of these, Felice Torza and Robert
Ackerman, have achieved significant milestones during their careers.
Some of these milestones are:
Felice Torza:
- Won -1950 Illinois
Open
- Runner-up -1953 National
PGA (Match Play)
- Won -1958 Illinois
Open
- Won -1965 Illinois
Match Play Championship
- Awarded -1968 Illinois
PGA Professional of the Year
Robert Ackerman:
- Won -1985, 1987 and
1988 Illinois Match Play Championship
- Won -1988 Illinois
PGA Championship
- Awarded -1985, 1987
and 1988 Illinois PGA Player of the Year
Acknowledgments
A special thank you to the 1989 House Committee, those interested
members who shared both information and their historical memoirs and,
particularly, Ted Shaw who was responsible for most of the investigative
effort involved in writing this historical summary.
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