Through several name changes and course redesigns, different ownerships, nearly closing its doors, a fire and the Great Depression, Sammons Golf Links has survived many obstacles to get to where it is today.
The only 18-hole public layout in the city, Temple’s oldest course stands as a symbol of community pride.
With the course staring at extinction in the mid-1980s, several prominent figures, most notably then-Temple mayor John Sammons Jr., banned together to keep the course alive.
Down to its last penny then, the course has found its financial footing through the years.
And anyone who plays Sammons will never forget having to deal with so much water in one round of golf.
“The water basically makes that course,” said Greg Antunes, a former Sammons course golf pro in the mid-1980s and pro at Stonetree Golf Club in Killeen.
Water comes into play on 14 of the 18 holes and will cause headaches for any golfer not hitting the ball straight.
But considering the dire-straits outlook of the course 25 years ago, it’s a headache that locals are willing to accept.
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
