MULLEN GOLF CLUB

by Walter L. Wadlow

Entry T50 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

First golf clubhouse, 1968.

Additions to the Mullen Golf Clubhouse, late 70's
and early 80's.

Old 1902 bandstand remodeled for use at the
Mullen Golf Course.

The Mullen Golf Club was organized in
April 1924 with the following officers and
directors elected: President, J.L. McKinnie;
Secretary, W.H. Wiegardt; Directors, John J.
Motl, S.A. Senk, John Ronzo. Charter Mem-
bers: John J. Motl, J.L. McKinnie, W.J.
Mahaffy, A.J. Rock, J.A. Gibson, John
Ronzo, S.A. Senk, C.E. Butler, W.H. Wie-
gardt, W.H. Bramer, E.C. Pickett, C.C.
Campbell, B.E. Eivins, H.G. Stickley, A.G.
Humphrey, H.H. Dietrich, W.W. Gruenig,
T.L. McCully, J.E. Lowe, Louis Lowe.

A short history of the organization: The
first location of the Mullen Golf Club was a
tract of land 1/4 mile south of the Village and
west of Hiway 97. On 3/24/38 a 110 acre tract
in Claim #48 lying south of Hiway 2 was
purchased from Central States Life Ins. Co.
for $500.00 in the name of John J. Motl,
Trustee. On 6/10/40 a deed was made in the
name of V.L. McCubbin, Walter L. Wadlow
& Gay E. Miller, Trustees. A 20 acre tract
South of Hiway 2 was sold to Earl D.
Forrester on 6/18/40 for $200.00 On 10/15/52
V.L. McCubbin & Gay E. Miller gave Walter
L. Wadlow, Trustee a deed in his name. On
4/20/65 Walter Wadlow made a Q.C.D. to
Wayne Fitzgerald, Edgar J. Macke & Walter
L. Wadlow, Trustees Mullen Golf Club. On
4/20/65 a tract containing 24.37 acres lying in
west part of Claim 48 was sold to Chester R.
Johnson. On 12/11/73 a tract containing 0.16
acres adjacent to Hiway 2 was sold to the
State of Nebr. for $50.00. There are now 65.47
acres remaining in the Mullen Golf Club
tract.

Since the Golf Club moved west of Mullen
many changes and improvements have been
made. An interesting bit of information,
especially to we "old timers" is that the
"community band stand" which used to be
located at the intersection of Main Street and
Washington Avenue is now located at the
Golf Club grounds and is used as the
registration headquarters for tournaments. It
is a hexagon shaped stand. The Golf Club
boys put wood panels over each of the six
sections, these were hinged at the top so they
could be opened and fastened above the
opening when used for registration.

Other improvements have been a club
house, equipped for serving lunches at tour-
naments. To the north of the club house is a
patio or breezeway with picnic tables and
benches for meal time use. Two garages, one
for electric golf cars and one for gas golf cars
have been built. The garage for electric cars
has numerous hook-ups for charging batter-
ies. There are about 15 gas cars and 15 electric
cars, and many pull carts.

The Mullen Golf Club has an average
membership of 60 or more active members.
Both the men and women have organized
groups. The last several years golf has been
introduced in the school system as a fall and
spring athletic event. Several high school
boys and girls have taken advantage of the
training in golf and some are really becoming
serious competition for "Dad."

During the summer months a "Golf
League" is formed and the golfers play one
night a week followed by a fellowship supper
of grilled hamburgers and all the trimmings.

The men's club has 3 tournaments schedu-
led each year and sometimes an extra one or
two. The regular tournaments are a local club
meet in the spring to open the season; an
annual Open Tournament in mid-summer;
and the John Motl Memorial in the fall (John
Motl has been given the credit of introducing
golf to the Mullen community).

The women are very active and have two
or more tournaments during the season and
usually invite the men's club for a mixed
tournament.

It is reported that there is one spot or place
on the Golf Club grounds that you can see the
flag on each of the 9 holes.

Mullen has the reputation of having one of
the best sand green golf courses in the State
of Nebraska.