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It's Been Built
So Gaylord Davis is out to get the USGA to come to Pumpkin Ridge in full force
By Paul Ramsdell, PNGA Media
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| Gaylord Davis |
There's an air of ease that seems to surround Gaylord Davis, regardless
of whether it's when he's swinging a golf club, playing host to the USGA and
a national championship, or just introducing himself to another smiling face
at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.
It seems as natural and serene as when the setting sun casts its shadows
on the 36-hole layout west of Portland that has held five USGA events in its
first 12 years and is eager and willing to do it some more.
Davis, part of the ownership mix of Pumpkin Ridge, has been at the
forefront of those efforts. He's been the chairman for the USGA events,
including the 2000 U.S. Junior Amateur and Junior Girls' Amateur, adding a
welcoming presence.
"My goal was to meet all 312 kids, and I probably didn't, but I wanted
them all to have a fun time," he said. "I think the kids really enjoyed
being here. It was a fun event."
Making sure everyone has an enjoyable time has been a goal ever since
Davis and Marvin French would dream over beers about building a golf course
in the Portland area that could handle any championship.
"We always thought that we'd watch people walk off 18 and be sure they
had a smile on their face," Davis said. "They might not have played well,
but at least they enjoyed the experience."
There were smiles aplenty after Pumpkin Ridge held some of the most
memorable USGA championships in recent years. Hilary Lunke won the tense
2003 U.S. Women's Open in a playoff. Alison Nicholas edged legendary Nancy
Lopez in the 1997 Women's Open. But talk about announcing your presence with
authority, Pumpkin Ridge was the stage for Tiger Woods' most dramatic
victory as an amateur, the 1996 U.S. Amateur.
"Tiger helped make it a tremendous coming-out party," Davis said of
Woods' comeback victory against Steve Scott.
"Certainly having Tiger put us on the map."
Davis, though, played the lead in getting Pumpkin Ridge on the USGA's
map in the first place.
"I would give Gay most of the credit for that," French said. "He's been
the bird dog, the out-front guy, and made the relationships, and deserves
the credit for certainly introducing them to the site and sticking with it."
The idea of Pumpkin Ridge started in the mid-1980s.
"The genesis was that we were blessed in the Northwest with many really
nice golf courses, but not many that could host an event like the Women's
Open, the Men's Amateur, the Senior Open, or the Men's Open, so we thought
we needed to build a modern golf course that had the room that could host
that kind of event," Davis said.
"So, we'd play golf, and afterward have a beer, and say, 'Somebody has
to build a great golf course. Somebody needs to step up and do that.'"
And that's exactly what they did.
"If we were going to do it," French said, "let's build one where they
can basically hold any championship that there is on the planet at this
point. Times change, but that was our goal, to have something the USGA would
look at and say, 'That works.'"
Through his own playing career, Davis had a good sense of what might
work. He played three years at the University of Oregon, graduating in 1968.
The 58-year-old financial representative for Northwestern Mutual won two
Oregon Amateur titles, in 1966 and 1980, and he's played in various USGA
events.
His success in golf is equaled by his success in business.
"I think sometimes individual sports transcend into individual
businesses," he said. "Our business takes a fair amount of focus and
discipline, and I think that kind of goes hand-in-hand with golf. When
you're in business for yourself, it's easy to get off track so I think the
focus and discipline comes in handy."
Davis and French were joined by Barney Hyde in developing the concept of
what would become Pumpkin Ridge. Shigeru Ito then brought additional funds
into the initial group. Today, American Golf owns 50 percent. Duane
Rodewald, the son-in-law of Ito, controls 25 percent, and Davis, French and
Hyde share 25 percent.
The initial group came across 340 acres west of Hillsboro and purchased
the property for a little more than $500,000.
"We didn't know how good of a piece of land it was, then we brought
(Tom) Weiskopf out to look at it first, and he said that it was phenomenal."
Eventually, Robert Cupp was hired to do the course designs.
"The goal was to build one that looked like it was 50 years old the day
it opened, give it a lot of maturity so it didn't look like a new golf
course," Davis said.
And golf always was at the forefront, not an added amenity.
"I remember Marv French saying one time that we didn't want the
Christmas formal to dictate our calendar, but rather the club championship,
so no pool, no tennis, just golf," Davis said.
The scene was set with the private Witch Hollow course and the public
Ghost Creek, and it was Davis' job to attract the national attention. He had
some help in the process.
"I think there's not a better place to play golf this time of year than
the Northwest, and I think the USGA has taken 20 years to figure that out,
but this is the best place to play golf in the summer. We get a lightning
storm every other year. It may be wet in the winter, but it's pristine in
the summer."
Davis convinced the USGA to come calling, numerous times over.
"I don't think we could have wished for anything more, that's my
feeling," French said of the five USGA events to date, and the U.S. Women's
Amateur slated for 2006. "Personally, I think we've been blessed with what's
happened. It's good for us, and hopefully, good for the Northwest."
Davis has been ecstatic with what's transpired so far, but the big fish
is still out there, waiting to be landed. The U.S. Open has never been
played in the Northwest.
"I thought there was a pretty good chance for 2003 because Judy Bell was
(USGA) president and she was enamored by Pumpkin Ridge," Davis said. "I
thought we had a pretty good shot, and we just had Tiger's win in the
Amateur and we had Nancy almost winning the Women's Open, so I thought at
that time we were in pretty good shape, but it just didn't happen."
Instead, it went to Olympia Fields.
"It wasn't so much we didn't get picked, they just wanted to go to the
Midwest."
The honeymoon between Pumpkin Ridge and the USGA seemed to cool after
that, particularly when the initial ownership group sold half its stake to
American Golf.
"I think when there's a change, everybody wants to see how the change
will work out," Davis said. "I'm sure the USGA was wondering if the
condition of the golf course would stay as good as it was, and what will
happen."
The questions have been answered, and Davis wants Pumpkin Ridge back in
the sweepstakes for the U.S. Open.
"I think the more recent change of when Goldman Sachs bought out
American Golf has been healthy because Goldman Sachs is a tremendous
financial partner to have."
Davis said he sees an opportunity around 2012. The Open will be at
Torrey Pines in 2008, then Pebble Beach in 2010.
"I think they'd like to have three (West Coast sites)," Davis said.
That could leave Pumpkin Ridge battling with The Olympic Club, and
possibly even Riviera or San Francisco's Harding Park for the honors.
And potentially even more glory, thanks to Gay Davis.
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