The Pinecrest Country Club, the oldest golf course in East Texas, celebrated its 100th birthday on Saturday with a black-tie bingo event.
Beautiful dresses and bow ties filled the club as more than a hundred members and their guests heralded the milestone with bingo games, dinner, live music and dancing.
In 1921 Grover Finch founded the golf course with the help of Harry Turner, Jere Tuner, Mack Turner and LD Kelly. Syd J. Cooper planned the layout for the nine-hole course and his son Harry, who later became famous as “Lighthorse” Harry Cooper on the PGA Tour, accompanied his father to Longview.
During the 1932 oil boom, Pinecrest Country Club hired its first professional golfer, Oren Williams, and a year later a new clubhouse was built. Over the years, Pinecrest consisted of four different golf courses, but the most significant change came when the course was expanded to an 18-hole layout designed by Press Maxwell, son of famous golf course architect Perry Maxwell, and made for play on laboratory was opened day 1958.
Today Pinecrest has a 30,000-square-foot clubhouse, award-winning food, and the largest exercise facility in East Texas. The par 70, 6,541 yards championship course plays host to over 25 tournaments and Pro-AMs per year.
Pinecrest chairman of the board, John Martin, said he was glad the club continued to thrive and took pride in all that it offers.
“I am proud that Pinecrest is growing and thriving at 100 years old. Our board of directors is working hard to ensure we continue to provide world-class golf, dining and other activities to our members and to host a variety of community events, ”said Martin. “The club offers an incredible golf course for those who enjoy the game, recently renovated tennis courts that can also be used for pickle ball, food and drink service seven days a week, and banquet rooms for up to 300 people.”
For more information about the Pinecrest Country Club, visit www.pinecrestcc.org or call 903-758-5566.