Alvin Golf & Country Club History
At the title company, Feb 12, 2004
Patrick & Karen Farrell bought Alvin Golf & Country Club on February 12, 2004. Since then, they have made many changes, including buying a new cart fleet (twice), refurbishing the greens, tee boxes, and fairways, reopening the grill, remodeling the banquet room, and adding a website.
You can say that AGCC has been in Karen's family since the beginning in 1946 when her grandparents, Art and Ethelind Schacht, were founding members. In 1945, they were also one of the original purchasers of the land on which the course sits.
Many of our customers have been members for over 30 years and can tell stories about the clubhouse before central air, Andy Hillhouse and his dogs, poker games in the bar, and even stories about the piano and formal parties back in the 40s when the club was the only game in town.
Many stories abound about Karen's grandmother. She had her own style, and didn't worry about what people thought about it. At one point she had a corn-cob pipe. She had that pipe when she sunk one of her many holes-in-one.
When Andy raised beer prices a nickel, Ethelind would not have it. She went in to buy a beer and Andy said, "Thirty-five cents." She answered, "Thirty-five cents? I'm not paying 35 got-d*mn cents for a beer!" And she proceeded to cuss him out. Andy calmly opened the beer, took a swig, set it back down on the counter, and told her it would be 30 cents. Satisfied, she paid her regular 30 cents and went back to her game.
Art & Ethelind Schacht
September 1976 70th birthday celebration for Art
Alvin State Bank
Karen spent her summers with her grandparents at the club and has many happy memories from the 70s: riding with MaMaw, driving the cart, eating bananas and beef jerky, drinking iced tea, and swimming at the pool. It was a family place then, and it is again now.
From 1946 to about 2002, the club thrived. But as members aged and moved on with work and other obligations, the club began to suffer. By the latter part of 2003, it had changed so much and was in such dire straights that the board decided it was time to sell. The Farrells were devastated. They had planned on raising their children at and bringing their grandchildren to the club. So they took action. They rallied their forces and presented an offer to the stock members to purchase the club with the promise that it would remain a golf course. After some counteroffers and wrangling, their offer was finally accepted. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Do you have something to add to this history? Send it to us!
