Los Banos Rotary Club History
Harris Tells of Golf Club Plans

Members of the local Rotary Club Tuesday noon heard Sam E. Harris, Dos Palos business man, tell of plans now underway for construction of a golf course on the West Side to serve the communities of Dos Palos, Firebaugh, Mendota and Los Banos. The course would officially be known as the Westside Golf Course and be located just south of the city of Dos Palos.
Harris said the cooperation being shown by Dos Palos’ neighboring cities was enthusiastic and wholehearted, and be predicted that the necessary memberships would be sold well in advance of the September 30 deadline. The 9-hole course will cost approximately $30,000 and be complete with Bermuda grass fairways, bent grass greens, sprinkling system, etc.

Answering on inquiry as to whether members of the course would pay dues or green fees, Harris explained that no definite answer to this question could be given at the present time, as the decision was one that must be made by a majority vote of the members after organization. Numerous successful golf courses have in the last few years eliminated payment of membership dues, and depend solely on member and non-member green fees. Whether or not this can be accomplished at the Westside Golf Course will depend largely on conditions as they develop after the course is actually in use.

Harris said that every effort would be made to maintain the course as a public course, but that if it became too popular it would undoubtedly become semi-private, with public play restricted on Sundays and holidays. The average course, he said, can accommodate only about 300 players in a day, and the proposed Westside Golf Course will have nearly that many family memberships.

The speaker was introduced by Louis Castellucci, acting program chairman.
Ralph Brownscombe, of the U.S. Soil Conservation Service, was introduced as a new member and welcomed into the club by President Charles T. Kaljian. Brownscombe was a member of the Hollister Rotary Club before moving to Los Banos.

Charles Alden, club secretary, introduced Misses Yvonne Erreca, Joanne Williams and Nadine Williams as the three young ladies who so graciously graced the Rotary Club float in the May Day parade. The ladies were guests of the club as a small gesture of appreciation for their cooperation.

May 14, 1946

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