Reflections on LACoFD Golf Association (April 2009)

by Bob Greer

Dear Tom, I want to thank you for recognizing my early efforts to organize a golf club for our fire department.

When I first started playing golf in 1954, there was no organization whatsoever, except some guys from the "Valley" were playing and didn't seem to want anyone else involved.  We had one guy, Howard Curd, who was kind of involved, so he would let us know where the "San Gabriel Valleyites" were playing so we would make up a foursome and show up to play.

When I first organized the club, I did everything:  called most of the Fire Stations to notify golfers when and where to play; made all the golf course reservations usually one week in advance; figured and kept our individual handicaps (figuring off an SCGA Differential chart given to me by the Rio Hondo Golf Course handicap chairman).

We didn't have all that many golf courses around and not so many golfers playing, except on weekends.  Everyone was employed in those days and didn't have time to play during the week, so that opened it up for firemen, who only had to work 72 hours a week and night shift workers.  Our pick of golf coursed included Rio Hondo, Western Ave., Fox Hills, Baldwin Hills, Lakewood, and Montebello.  As you can see, we never wandered too far from Downey.  Fox Hills, way out on Sepulveda and Slauson was as far as we went.  Whittier Narrows was built later and was used by our Club with other leaders.

After a couple of years organizing and running everything with hardly any help, I started sniveling and finally convinced Harry Garside to take over from me, and I went back to just playing and drinking beer.  And, I must say, everyone who came after me improved the organization, including your tenure.

I am getting pretty old and decrepit now but I look back on all the good times I've had on the golf course and all the friends and acquaintances I have made.  During my almost 60 years of trying to swing the golf club, I can almost forget all the arthritis pain which (I am sure) was caused partially by my shitty swing.

Anyway, Tom, I'm sorry I didn't write to you sooner but as you know I've had a lot of problems around our household.  We lost Bronelle in October and my wife Linda on January 4th of this year.

I thought I'd send you some of the stuff I ran across while cleaning out drawers.  You might enjoy perusing some of the old crap, I have no further use for it.  Also, I was talking to Bobby Yuill about some of the old times. He has a lot better memory of how our Golf Club has progressed.  I thought he took over after Harry Garside but he didn't, so if you want to get further knowledge you should talk to him.  He keeps telling me he's going to write it down but he never does.

I know one thing for sure, when he and John Hosford were running the Golf Club, we made enormous strides as an organization which segued into how Dale worked and now you.  I'm proud to be associated with this Golf Association. 

Sincerely, Robert L. Greer (First President, L.A. County Firemen's Golf Association)