Outside the clubhouse at the Golf Club of Oregon on July 10, 2024.
The scenic Golf Club of Oregon, situated within a minute or two of downtown Albany, has seen a few changes since it was started 95 years ago. Now there has been another change — in ownership that is.
It was in July 1929 that the first nine holes of the Bridgeway Golf Course opened for play in the flood plain of the Willamette River, just off Spring Hill Drive north of the Albany Bridge. (That was the name of the 1925 bridge until the second one was completed nearly 50 years later.)
Sam Glass arrived the following year, in 1930. He ran the course until Al Fortier bought it in June 1945 and changed the name to Albany Golf Course.
Then, on July 1, 1977, Jerry Claussen and Dick Renn bought what by now had become the only public 18-hole course in the mid-Willamette Valley and renamed it again: Golf Club of Oregon.
“Albany is in the middle of the main part of Oregon,” Claussen was quoted in the Albany Democrat-Herald at the time. “We want the club to appeal to the entire valley.”
Claussen, by now the sole owner, tried to get the City of Albany to purchase the course and operate it in 2018, but the city declined.
A few days ago an email alerted me to the latest change.
“Here’s a story for you, Hasso,” wrote Dane Claussen, Jerry’s son. “The Golf Club of Oregon was sold on July 1 after 47 years. Buyer is Cornelius ‘Chris’ Wenz of Albany.”
The email is what prompted me to take a bike ride across the river and visit the club on Wednesday evening and again on Thursday afternoon. I was hoping to meet the new owner and ask him about what if any plans he might have.
No luck on that, though. I left my contact information, and I’ll add to this story if and when I hear from him.
Wenz lives in North Albany, and according to Linn County records, he owns the property that houses an automotive business on Water Avenue.
As of Friday night, the sale of the 102-acre golf course was not yet reflected in Benton County property records, which say the land and improvements have a market value of $2.1 million.
This wooded course looks to me like an inviting and pleasant place. Kind of makes me wish I played golf. (hh)
Framed clippings on the clubhouse wall document the course’s opening in 1929.
Aw, I wish my late husband could read this. Since it is a “history” piece, I will offer that Mick Clark was a greenskeeper there for 18 years. I estimate 1977 – 1995. He left there to be a groundskeeper at LBCC for 21 years, retiring in 2016. He passed away in 2020. He was also a terrific golfer! I’m sure many reading this article might remember Mick. Mick and I didn’t get married until 2001, so his Golf Club of Oregon days were “BS” (Before Susan–LOL!).
Mick and I worked together for many years. I worked in the office of the Service Center.
Super nice guy!
Nice words about Mick, wonder how many acres he accumulated in his life time in turf care. He sure was good about nice straight mowing lines, I never had the patience for that.
Kind words about Mick, I remember when he started at LBCC that he didn’t want a cab on the new mower, he was fine in his rain gear.
I golf at GCO. been a regular for 20 years. many good buddies have come and gone. good moderate exercise. the course has many types of trees and wild animals like the resident coyote and deer and squirrels. use to be foxes. the course is being renovated , hope that doesnt bring high volume that brings slow play, but probably will. golf is really important to many people. glad someone follows local happenings.
Love this article…. I’ll be dusting the clubs off for a future round. BTW…it was the first place I ever played, when my slice was a 90 degree angle. I’ll never forget that first round with my friend Mike Patrick.
Great article! Used to golf(well kind of) when I was younger. In the 70’s. Good luck to the new owners.
Right on time, Hasso! This has been in the works for some time, but now as of July 1, 2024, it is final. Responding to neal, yes, if they clean up the course and make it actually playable, it will bring customers. Of course, that is what the new owners want.
Met the new owner the other day. Chris seems like a visionary. Big plans for this course! Bill, the manager is one of a kind and now he has someone that shares his enthusiasm for improving the course. Excited to see what Chris and Bill will do to make this course more appealing over time. There is so much untapped potential here.
Hasso , nice update about the golf course, my mother inlaw Barbara Robinson brought my son for golf lessons, created love for the game of golf and something between her and my son. As someone who remember and appreciated Mick Clark one does wonder how many acres of turf care Mick accumulated in his working years. There are few who could mow those mowing lines nice and straight. Appreciate the comments from Susan and Suebee.
One of my favorite course layouts in Oregon. Two 90* dog legs. Two greens with sand bunkers in the middle and long tight fairways. Greens and t-boxes are a little rough do to neglect over the years but playable and the hope the new owners work on them first. Good luck to the new owners.
Played at GCO daily in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Saw original drawings and asked for input when holes 15 and 16 were redesigned. Formed great friendships out there.
Remember fondly…Micks interesting gopher control system:-)
The course has gone downhill over the years, but you can’t beat the $15 twilight rates during the summer. Hopefully the new owner will keep those rates going.
Thank goodness! Could be such a nice course!
The course has a great layout to make it a fun and challenging 18 holes. The quality of the course in general has really gone down hill over the years. Really hope the new owner can help it reach its potential!
A nice piece of history. Thanks.