with this year?s auction to establish a water line from hole no. 6 to hole no. 5.
The Lincoln Links Golf Association is preparing for their 13th annual Labor Day four-man golf scramble. Proceeds from the tournament will go to installing a new water line to hole no. five so a green can be put in. Peggy Decker said it?s the furthest they?ve ever had to pump water to a green.
The nine-hole golf course broke ground August 2002, in the middle of brush and bush, on parks and recreation land, and Decker, secretary/treasurer for the association, says, ?there?s enough room we could add nine more holes,? if the interest were there. The first annual golf tournament was held a month later during the 2002 Labor Day Celebration. The association received an award for tourism from the governor the first year they opened.
With much help from the Room Tax Board, businesses and other interested people of the public, so many have been lending a hand for the last 13 years to help maintain the golf course. From the wells, to the pipes, to the workers, everything has been donated for the success of the course. Decker noted that there were too many contributors to name them all, and all have been vital to the advancing of the golf course. Other revenue comes from membership fees, $25 per year, and the summer league play that is still continuing.
This week?s rain caused a few trenches and gullies, which will have to be smoothed out with a backhoe before next weekend?s tournament. Weeds are a summer-long battle, Decker said.Around 50 member comprise the golf association, but Decker noted there were more when they first started. All work done on the golf course has been through donations and fundraisers the association puts on, such as the annual auction held during the Labor Day celebration.
There is now drinkable water at the golf course, Decker said, along with a pavilion for shade, where all tables and benches have been donated.
The course can be traversed by golf carts. Four wheelers aren?t the traditional source of golf transportation, but if a golfer wishes to ride by four wheeler, it is asked that you use ?golf course etiquette,? said Decker.
Almost every hole has real grass around it, with turf putting grass around the cup.
Many visitors, Decker noted, have a?misconception when they come to the course. ?They look over the hill and see the dirt and brush, and don?t even try,? she said. ?But it?s a lot of fun, an interesting course.?
Decker said her husband, Dick, and her son, Lee, both designed the course. ?We thought Pioche needed something to bring people in and we liked golf, so we thought we?d give it a try.? They?ve seen visitors from as far away as Ger-many come play on the course, and many travelers have left pleasant notes regarding the course.
?It?s a challenging little course. I don?t think anyone in the association has shot par,? Decker said. The course is a par 29 course, with mostly par threes and two par four holes. ?I don?t think Tiger Woods could even play on this course.?
Next week?s tournament marks the thirteenth annual Labor Day Golf Tournament, and five teams have already signed up to compete for the first, second and third place trophies, but Decker said, ?we usually get calls the last week. Some people just show up with their clubs.?