Alderbrook Centennial Project, 1924 to 2024
As of April of 2024, The Mook at Alderbrook celebrates its 100th year as the crown jewel of North Oregon Coast golfing. Ever since Lee Smith converted a few sunny acres of his dairy farm into a nine-hole links, Alderbrook has been providing an unmatched coastal golfing experience with gorgeous views of the Kilchis Valley and Tillamook Bay.
We’re celebrating this historic moment in time by looking back at our fascinating history, while we simultaneously look forward to an exciting new phase of course development, including the unveiling of our newly smoothed back nine fairways, and the course-wide launch of The Gardens at Alderbrook.
The History of Alderbrook, 1924 to 2024
The Mook is one of the oldest courses along the Oregon Coast. Over the last 100 years, a series of visionary owners have provided golfers of all ages with a scenic and challenging 18-hole walk in the woods. Originally a nine-hole course, the layout has undergone major renovations over the years, including the expansion to an 18-hole course, and the addition of a world-class clubhouse and event center. Alderbrook has retained its classic character along the way, giving golfers a classic round every month of the year.
The mountains that enclose the course provide a stunning backdrop, and the rugged terrain of the foothills is ideal golfing ground. Forests of giant Sitka spruce, western redcedar and Douglas fir trees blanket the landscape, which is also dotted with natural springs. Alderbrook’s 15th and 16th holes are memorable for their extremely steep inclines, and for their panoramic views of the Tillamook Valley from the top of “The Hill.”
From Tami Pangborn February 21, 2024 –
Fortunately, brother Marv, is a prolific writer and in 2020, he produced the document below. It is historically very accurate. Perhaps someone in your group has written all about it or got a copy of this—but I’m not sure Marv ever thought to provide it to the Course.
I’m also attaching a couple of pictures of Marv and me in our duty in about 1962-63 of bringing in the Cows each night to the barn for milking. I think we may have been part of a very small cadre of Jersey Cow movers each afternoon about 4pm that crossed the first Fairway of a Golf Course for milking each night. It is a vivid memory for us. We thought every Golf Course had a cattle crossing! I also spent what would be my Kindergarten Year (because there was no Public Kindergarten in 1960), riding around the course in the scoop of a tractor while my Dad (Marvin E. Pangborn 1903-1970) worked on building the next 9 holes. It was a good year and I’m sure I learned something!
Marv had the good fortune with his farm in New Zealand purchased in 2005, in that his daughter married a tried and true farmer (very fortunate for that guy) and they were able to take over Marv’s New Zealand large farming operation with Marv living nearby. He retired from Lincoln College nearby a couple of years ago after teaching in the Ag program for a few years. Ironically, his wife Jane is a MAJOR golfer. Life does just go around and around.
They have a son who is ironically allergic to cows! He and his wife are horticulture people with a large Kiwi Fruit Insurance business on the north island. Marv does come to the States every couple of years and always walks around Alderbrook, some of the members may have run into him.
Hope this is helpful to your group.
Tami
The History of Alderbrook Golf Course by Marvin C. Pangborn, Circa 2020
In about 1924, Lee and Helen Smith purchased a 95 acres property in Idaville, north of Tillamook from a dairy farmer named Schultz. Mr. Smith designed the course and laid it out in 1925. At the time, it was organized as a Country Club with 500 Life Memberships offered for $250 each, but this soon became annual memberships. The lifetime memberships were not honored by subsequent owners. The original cost to play the 9-hole course was fifty cents.
In 1930, a Mr Johnson purchased the property, but after a year it was ‘taken over’ by the First National Bank who combined it with the acreage from the Vaughan farm and then leased it to the Gilmans. The Gilmans moved the caddy house and the two dwellings from the upper lake to what is now Alderbrook Road. Earl Goheen bought the property in 1940 from the bank and added a barn for cows. He ran the golf course and dairy farm until 1941 when he sold it to a real estate agent named Snavely who held it for a few months before selling it in 1942.
In 1942, my parents small dairy farm south of Tillamook was acquired by the US Navy to build a ‘blimp base’. Blimps were large gas filled airships. The purpose of the blimps were to fly along the west coast of the US, looking for foreign vessels that could be a threat to the US.
The timing of the purchase was good as the price of farms were still low due to the lingering effects of the ‘the great depression’ of 1929-39. In 1942, my parents along with their friends Kenneth and Elaine Clark purchased Alderbrook which had 2 dairy farms and a 9-hole golf course (we don’t know why it was called Alderbrook – but alders and brooks are prevalent on the property). The plan was for the Clarks to run the golf course and my parents the dairy farm. I believe they paid around $25,000 for the operation. Later they bought the large house on Alderbrook Road where I was born.
After a few years the Clarks left the partnership, but they remained good friends. Eventually, the smaller farm located a few miles in the hills above Bay City was sold and my father ran the farm and my mother the golf course. My father initially wanted to ‘de-convert’ the golf course so that he could milk more cows. My mother was opposed to this as she did not like the work hours involved in the dairy industry. Having worked in the Club House as a young girl in 1926, she had some attachment to the course. Shortly after they purchased the course, the Navy approached them about keeping the course open as a place where they could take the sailors on weekends and days off. My father adopted Alderbrook as the prefix for his small herd of registered Jersey cows (called stud cattle in NZ). They only ran the golf course for a few years before leasing to Norval (Babe) and Alice True for many years. The Trues were replaced by Bob and Jean Steele in the mid-60s (from memory), as the Trues purchased their own course in Albany.
In November 1964, my father turned 62 and was eligible to receive American Social Security payments (pension) and after a hard life milking cows and often working in the timber industry, he decided to sell his cows. The “cheese war” had also taken its toll on him as a director of the Tillamook Cheese factory and probably was an additional factor (a book written about that period should be in my bookcase). Without the cows, the farmland was converted completely to golf and Alderbrook was now an 18-hole course. In 1967, the course was sold to a group of Californian investors (the organizer of the group, Fred Kayser was married to my mother’s cousin). As I recall they received about $250,000 which was equivalent to $3,000,000 in 2023 currency. They carried the mortgage for 15 years at 7% interest. Unfortunately, those years were a time of high inflation, and this eroded much of the value from the sale.
In 1978, the ‘Alderbrook Corporation’ was put on the market and sold to Norbert and Maggie Boyle. It has been sold several times since and is now owned by a group headed by Patrick Zweifel.
A few years after we started farming in NZ, we were advised to form a company and we chose Alderbrook Farm Ltd., as the name of that company. When we later converted the property purchased from Sheddons in 2005, that farm was named Karetu which was the name of the McKergow’s dairy farm in Maungaturoto.
From Golf Oregon website:
General Course Description
Alderbrook Golf Course is an 18-hole public course just north of Tillamook on the coast. Alderbrook Golf Course rests near dairy farms at the foot of the Coast Range and has many old-growth trees. One 9 is generally short, but with mature trees and narrow holes. The other 9 is more open, but with some tricky holes (including one that goes straight up). Traps, water, and elevation changes (some severe) make for an interesting round. Course conditions have greatly improved recently, and the course is in generally good shape. Greens are almost all elevated and in good condition. There are several holes with steep hills. It is walkable, but you might sweat a bit.
Course History
The first 9 was built in 1924 and the second 9 in 1966. The course was materially remodeled in 2011. In October 2021, the course closed to be sold for possible residential development. However, four couples from the area formed Aldermook LLC, which bought the course in January 2023, and reopened the course on April 1, 2023. They have rapidly been making improvements.
Why It Is There
The owner of the dairy farm, Lee Smith, wanted to build a course. After closing in 2021, it has been given a second life (hope this works).
I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played
The 8th hole is a seemingly harmless par 3. But much is going on that you cannot see from the tee: there are traps on either side of the green, and the green has a deep valley running through the middle — check your pin placement and take the right club to get it there.
Did You Know
When it opened as a 9-hole course, the remainder of the property was still a dairy farm. But the barn was on the opposite side of the course from the pasture. Each morning, play would stop so the cows could cross the course going from the barn to the pasture.
Good For Them
Rain is collected in the ponds and then used for irrigation. They have partnered with the local YMCA to support junior golf in the area. They host junior camps in the summer. It is the home course for Tillamook High School.
Why Play This Course
Although some of the holes are a bit different, it is a beautiful course that is much improved and is worth the price.
From nwgolfguys.com website:
Alderbrook Golf Course, in Tillamook, OR is a rapidly improving golf course lying in the forested foothills of the Oregon Coast Range. A recently renovated front nine shows the promise of what can be on one of the oldest courses on the Oregon Coast. While severe dog legs, tree lined holes and elevated greens and teeboxes create Alderbrook’s greatest challenge, the short distances of many of the holes offer scoring opportunities throughout your round. Alderbrook Golf Course recently had an ownership change and their efforts are starting to show. The first step was building a new clubhouse and pro shop and the results are stunning. Home to Koko’s Restaurant, the clubhouse at Alderbrook is in the top ranks of the entire state. A full service lounge offers great food throughout the day and is a great place to finish off your round. If the improvements on the course continue to replicate what’s happening on the rest of the grounds, Alderbrook will be well on its way to becoming a destination golf course.
Alderbrook Golf Course offers a little bit of everything throughout your round. One moment you are hitting a tee shot into an elevated green 80 feet above you, and the next you are headed even higher into the hills to hit a tee shot into a fairway 100 feet below you. Old growth trees will force you to take your medicine if you miss the expansive fairways at Alderbrook. Wetlands are also prevalent throughout the front nine at Alderbrook, coming into play at some point on nearly every hole. As you move to the back, quirky severe doglegs and elevation changes are your primary foe. Sand is prevelant on the front nine, with many new bunkers spread both green side and in targeted zones throughout the fairway. The greens at Alderbrook run slow, although that may be attributed to the renovations currently taking place on the golf course.
Playing Alderbrook Golf Course
The opening hole at Alderbrook Golf Course is a short, tree lined Par 4. While drivable with a fade, the smart play it to hit your 200 yard club to the middle and play a wedge to the green. The green is hidden when you approach the tee box at the 2nd Hole. Avoid the trees to the left and you should be in good shape for your second shot. The 5th Hole may be the most picturesque on the golf course, a 150 yard Par 3 over water to an elevated green. A spine cutting through the middle of the green requires you to keep your tee shot on the flag side of the green. The closing hole on the front is a great Par 5. A blind, uphill tee shot leads into this tight fairway with a quick turn at the end to reach the green. The 14th Hole features nearly a 90 degree dogleg left around the treelined edge of the course property. While short, the landing area off the box is tricky. Play too short of a club and you won’t get around the corner. Too much club and you will hit your tee shot through the fairway. The Par 3 15th is unique. A 114 yard hole, the green is nearly 100 feet above you. Take at least two additional clubs on this hole. The next hole offers a chance to crush your driver. The tee box is elevated even higher than the preceding green to a wide open, straight fairway. Swing away.
Timeline
1924, April – Alderbrook Links opened by Lee Smith as a 9-hole course on 5 acres of dairy land. He offered lifetime memberships for $250 to fund development of fairways and greens. According to Michael O’Brien’s June 25,1997 Herald article, those memberships were not honored by future owners.
1930 – Ownership passed to a Mr. Johnson. According to O’Brien: “He had financial problems and First National Bank stepped in, took over the property and combined it with the Vaughn farm.” The bank then leased the property to Harry Gilliam, who moved the clubhouse from the flat spot which is now #5 green to its present location (that site was the old 9th hole). Mr. Gilliam also bought an old service station building and had it moved to add to the clubhouse. See old lake shot to see the old clubhouse.
1937, Dec – Foreclosure under owner Wm. B. Smith; Anna Day highest bidder at $2240
1940 – According to O’Brien’s 1997 Herald article, Earl Goheen bought the property from the bank and added a barn, operating the links and a farm simultaneously.
1940, June 27 – Clyde and Carrie Kinnaman sell 7 additional lots to Anna E. Day for $10 including 3 lots in J.J. McCoy’s “addition to town of Bay City”
1942 – According to O’Brien, a real estate developer name Snavely bought the property
CAPTION: Marv Jr. and Tami Pangborn walk their family’s dairy cows across the number-one fairway for their daily milking sometime in the early 1960s. Golfers who were teeing off would have to stand by and watch, and the event became a legendary ritual at the course. Only in Tillamook! Photo courtesy of the Pangborn family.
1942 to 1967 – Marvin and Ester Pangborn bought course from Snavely, with another couple, Kenneth and Elain Clark. The Pangborns bought out the Clarks sometime after. By 1950s, owned/operated by Walter “Walt” Pangborn – what is now #9 fairway was cow pasture, and cows had to cross the #1 fairway on their way to the barn to be milked. Since golf course wasn’t profitable, the Pangborns leased the course to Norval “Babe” and Alice True for two or three years before buying a course of their own in Albany (according to Trusty, either Marvin or Dave?). Then lease went to Robert and Jan Steele. (Need to get this whole article from June 25, 1997)
1943 – The Pangborns kept 30 cows at the golf course and Marvin and Dave Trusty milked the cows and mowed the course. Old 1943 ad from Pioneer Museum shows “under new management” and offers pricing from 40 cents for 9 holes on weekdays to $1 for an all-day pass. Golf balls were scarce, but the soldiers at the Air Base had a “victory ball” supply.
1948 – Ladies’ Club formed and chaired by Ethyl Elliott (Herald article from Oct 18, 1989 has photo)
1954, June 14 – Property passed from Robert Rasmussen to Floyd and Wilma Woodward (or more likely it was it the other way around, because Rasmussen’s sold to Laviolettes)
From Herald archive article by Earl L. Goldmann: after Walt sold, course was run to Babe True, then sold to “Mr. Steele.” Not correct.
Also from above article: “When Alderbrook was a nine-hole course, it played more closely to a links description. The fairways were not smooth or level, but more undulating. Many times, your lye in the fairway would be a little uphill or downhill depending on your luck. And the course was more open, without many trees. You could be playing on the old hole Number 8 and see who was playing on hole Number 1.”
1950s – Mr. Steele bought/operated the course and expanded to 18 holes; Barney Swanson was the high school coach and a teacher; 1951 snow day recalled in Herald article; first metal-headed drivers appear, but a teenaged Don Sheldon could get on the green in one shot with his persimmon wood driver.
1963 or 1966 – Alderbrook opens as an 18-hole course (Pioneer Museum document says 1963)
“Norb” Boyle was owner, need dates. When he passed, ownership went to Buddy A’s mother and Buddy took over operations.
CAPTION: Changing of the Guard – The ownership of Alderbrook Golf Course recently changed hands as Neal “Buddy” Abrahamson Jr. (left) purchased the 18-hole course from his stepfather, Norb Boyle. Abrahamson has actually been operating the course since the first of April.
Neal “Buddy” Abrahamson period – need dates and details – busiest time, had to cap memberships at 250 people.
1985 – Jeff Winder’s first memories of course as a freshman at THS. Bought balls from “Squeek Fries” pronounced Freeze; Chet Howlett was coach and THS teacher. Mary was groundkeeper at the time.
1989, Oct 10 – Alder brook Ladies’ Club presents Ethyl Elliott with honorary life membership
1998, Aug 19 – Murray Golf Tournament raises thousands for Special Olympics (Herald article)
1999, June 30 – Les Marcum Men’s Club champion from Herald article (need photo)
2003, May 21 – THS ladies win district title by 10 (Herald Article by Michael O’Brien); THS boys earn district title at Gearhart, with Matt Marcum leading team;
2009, June – Laviolette purchase from Robert and Patricia Rasmussen; first memberships went for $995 single/$1500 couple
2009, Aug – Big Three Tournaments all successful, Relay for Life, Gary Anderson Memorial and one other? See Herald archive;
2009, Dec 15 – Laviolettes give public update on course improvements including new clubhouse/restaurant; several million dollars spent including plans for 2 power generating windmills, 26 new carts, several new mowers and expanded parking to 120 spaces & addition of the driving range.
“We’re building this to fit the community.” Dan Laviolette in Herald
2011 – According to Golf Oregon, the newly designed course came online this year.
2011, Oct – Stabbings of three people at the clubhouse bar by Juan Valencia-Ayala (22)
2013, Nov – Ayala finally convicted and sentenced TWO YEARS LATER?
2014, April – Clubhouse closed temporarily due to kitchen fire
2014, Aug 15 – First OGA Junior tournament held at Alderbrook GC; Dan DeSylvia was the pro at the time
2016 – Carter Lee, sophomore, leads THS team to victory over Astoria 388 to 391; Tim Cathcart was coach
2016, Dec – Bay Breeze closes (started development in 1993)
2017 – Men’s Club golf officially started March 1; Matt Marcum and Kevin Beebehiser were Men’s Club champions;
2017, Mar – Abbie Bell’s success at Cowapa League’s “Tillamook Invite” (photo by Brad Mosher)
2019 – 34th Gary Anderson Open; Earl Llewellyn Goldman reunion (photo); Goldman had started girls’ golf team and coached for 25 years (starting when?);
2021, Nov 8 – Laviolettes close course indefinitely
2022, Mar – Elliot Lee (see Carter Lee in 2016) comes on as THS star golfer
2022, June – Property listed for $4.9 million
2022, summer – County Commissioners host community discussion over future of property; Yamamoto lobbies for real estate development saying that public courses are a “nightmare”;
2022, Oct – Ron Gitchell passes (photo)
2022, Dec 19 – Pat Zweifel announces partnership to purchase the property
2023, Jan 16 – Tom Geinger passes (photo)
2023, April 1 – Grand Re-opening!
2023, Aug – Junior Golf Camp kicks off (photo)
Chet Howlett interview 1/26/24 (88 years old)
Chet started golfing when he was 10 years old, guided by his father. They played at Portland courses through his childhood.
Chet brought a number of old Alderbrook score cards including one dated 1932 and another that seemed even older. He guesses the Ferris and Graves photos are from late 20s.
Chester “Chet” Howlett moved to Tillamook from Sublimity in 1963 (he was 27 years old), taking a teaching job at the Catholic High School which used to be located on Fifth Street. One of his close friends from college was teaching there and he got the job over the phone. He taught and coached basketball and golf (boys and girls) there from 1963 through 1967, then when the Catholic school closed he went to THS from 67 to 93 (26 years at THS). Jack Orr was coach before Chet.
His earliest memories of Alderbrook: it was still 9 holes, and he really liked the pleasant people he met and golfed with. He was part of a group who started the league, now known as the Men’s Club. Says he used to have the books/minutes from those meetings, but doesn’t think he has them anymore.
Chet was the men’s club officer who met with the OGA each March. He would go to Riverside (course?) for the meeting then play a round of golf. He remembered one time in 1987 when he was racing to the meeting and got pulled over. The officer told him it was snowing on the pass, and sure enough it was snowing enough he turned around and came home.
Chet didn’t get along with Buddy Abrahamson—”Buddy never did anything for me, always bad-mouthed us including to Dan when he bought the place.”
“We used to have 40 to 50 golfers lines up at the first tee on Sat ans Sun starting at 7:30am. Buddy didn’t like it—they would be teeing off from 7:30 to 9:00am, so visiting golfers had to wait and wait.
Remembers seeing a stack of great old pics at Oliver “Squeek” Fries’s house before he died. Said he tried to get those photos but Squeek’s surviving wife wouldn’t part with them, said they should go to Pioneer Museum.
Chet says that Gary Anderson moved to California for his wife’s health. Doesn’t think there will be another tournament under that name. Gary’s son Todd still lives around here.
Remembers lots of brothers who came up through the golf program, particularly the Hoffert brothers—all gone now, he says.
He says that the father of the lee brothers is still the band director at the high school.
Says the best course he ever played was Astoria CC—not very challenging, just laid out so nice, very enjoyable.
Chet hopes people will maintain memberships and take advantage of what’s here.
See more about the history of the course including photos here.
See more about The Hydrangea Ranch, Oregon Coast wedding venue here.
