Memories from San Jose CC (clockwise from top left) include: Linda Vista Ladies; Bing Crosby; Air Golf; Joe DiMaggio and Eddie Duino; Ken V
enturi, Hank Lucente and Duino.
year’s 90th annual Ernie Pieper Santa Clara County Championship, winner Sean Yu won with a 54-hole total of just 2-under 208. “It’s still a fast-playing course even though it hasn’t changed much in the last
100 years,” said Quinn, who plays to a 3.8 handicap index. “It’s a layout that must be finessed and not overpowered.” Situated in the foothills east of downtown San Jose, the topography of SJCC
plays an important role in how the course unfolds. The first four holes are downright hilly and adventurous but also provide one of the great visual treats on the course–a panoramic view of the Bay Area from the tee box at the par-4 4th, where on a clear day even the Golden Gate Bridge is visible. Following the views at the 4th hole, the course becomes very walkable, even
appearing to flatten out. But don’t be lured into that deception. The fairways continue with a subtle decline back toward the west with elevated
tees, yet almost all the way one is greeted by a number of elevated putting surfaces with fast, firm surfaces (and seemingly narrow, oak and redwood tree-lined corridors that will continue to exacerbate misjudged shots). If your tendency is to slice the ball off the tee, you could find yourself flirting with the out-of-bounds markers on at least 11 of the course’s holes. Keep it straight and in the fairways, and you’ll still have to earn your keep. As it is with any great layout, don’t be shocked by the time you’re done with your round that you ended up using every club in your bag. Along with Hogan, some of the others San Jose CC has tested include Byron
Nelson, Sam Snead and Patty Berg as well as baseball icons and golf aficionados Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio. But it’s not just the course that shines at San Jose CC. There too, is its mem-
bership. Through the decades, San Jose CC has earned a notable reputation for its distinguished roster of members including club champions Ernie Pieper, Roger Maltbie, Ken Venturi, brothers Jack and Eli Bariteau and recent Stanford graduate Joseph Bramlett, who in 2010 became only the second African-American to qualify for the PGA TOUR after Tiger Woods. Inside the pro shop, meanwhile, longtime club professional Eddie Duino Jr. (1932-1970), was in 1959 tabbed PGA Golf Professional of the Year, the PGA of America’s highest honor. Following in Duino’s footsteps, his prodigy and successor, Gary Plato (1971-1989) became a standout leader in the Northern California PGA, once serving as its President and Interim Executive Director. There was also Abe Espinosa, one of the club’s early (1920’s) golf professionals
who went on to become the first Hispanic to win on the PGA Tour and longtime member Ida Pieracci, who continued teeing off at her home course until she turned
102.There too was Hank Lucente, who first began caddying at San Jose CC in the 1930’s, only to return in the 1950’s as an elite player and through his 94th birthday, would shoot his age on the course over 800 times! As for Quinn, he’s the fourth San Jose CC member to serve as NCGA
President, joining J.A. MacKenzie (1919-1921), Gary Vandeweghe (2002) and Chris Clark (2012). Golf may be the cornerstone of San Jose CC’s rich history. But when you
look at the big picture, there’s just so much more to it. “San Jose CC is truly a genuine second home for all of its members,” said General Manager Ed Winiecki, who arrived at the club in January 2016. “It’s comfortable, unpretentious and ever so welcoming. Plus, I’ve never witnessed a membership that embraces its own club history so much. It’s one big family.”
SAN JOSE COUNTRY CLUB TIMELINE 1899 1912
Linda Vista Country Club (original name) becomes one of the original five founding members of the Northern California Golf Association.
Name changes to San Jose Country Club and moves to its current location where the course is designed by its first golf professional, Tom Nicoll.
1927 1936
1959 1960
1963 1970 1997
2006 2014 2017
Initiates and begins hosting the Santa Clara County Championship.
A.W. Tillinghast oversees architectural upgrades to the golf course.
Club golf professional Eddie Duino Jr. becomes the region’s first PGA member to be awarded the PGA of America’s ‘Golf Professional of the Year’. (He’d later be inducted in 2005 into the PGA of America Hall of Fame).
Present clubhouse is established.
Future PGA Tour member Dick Lotz shoots a first round course record 59 to succeed his brother, John, in winning the Santa Clara County Championship.
Ernie Pieper, in his 60’s, wins the 15th Santa Clara County Championship 41 years after his first victory (1929). The event has since been named after Pieper.
Architect John Harbottle restores elements of the Tillinghast design.
Member and future PGA Tour member Joseph Bramlett wins his third Ernie Pieper Santa Clara County Championship with a 54-hole record score of 199.
Architectural firm of Love and Kington Golf Course Design, in concert with the ‘Harbottle Master Plan’, performs bunker renovations and softens the slopes of two greens.
Pat Quinn becomes the fourth San Jose CC member to serve as NCGA President.
SAN JOSE COUNTRY CLUB
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