b'100OGA Centennialby Paul Ramsdell Golf was the dominant piece of the puzzle; it was S ome 100 years ago, one mans suggestiona huge thing in this area, said Chris Myrvold, an assistant pro at Tualatin and a golf history buff. to ease the burden on a few of his newIt went gangbusters.friends has now grown into an associationTualatin was a predominantly Jewish club at engaging over 50,000 Oregonians, and a few ofthe time with maybe only a hundred members.their neighbors, in the game of golf. I think Tualatin was really motivated to move The Oregon Golf Association, first formedthe game forward because they needed more in 1924 as the Oregon State Golf Association, ismembers, said Myrvold. That was a big moment for celebrating its centennial in 2024. While the Oregonthem when they got to host the Oregon Amateur.Amateur was first held in 1904, its current governing bodyIt became a rotation between Waverley, Portland and didnt form for another 20 years. Tualatin, with the host course serving as the organizers of At the start of that state championship, it was just Waverleythat years state championship. However, a different set of Country Club on the bank of the Willamette River in Portland.organizers each year led to a lot of extra work and not much Now, the OGA consists of 315 clubs throughout the state andconsistency from year to year.into the southwest corner of Washington. In February 1924, two representatives from each of Im most happy watching the growth that weve made andWaverley, Portland, and Tualatin golf clubs decided to sponsor not hanging back and watching others, said Jim Gibbons, who spent 15 years as the executive director of the OGA but has been heavily involved in the association for more than twice that time. The first Oregon Amateur was held in 1904 when 11 men and 13 While Waverley was the site of the first dozen or soladies competed at Waverley Country Club. Roderick Macleay was the mens champion and Carrie Flanders the womens champion. championships, the game was growing and the championshipWaverley was the only course in the Portland area at the time went to Gearhart in 1917. Portland Golf Club (1921) andand it continued to hold the event every year through 1916. The Tualatin Country Club (1922) would also serve as host.championship was played at Gearhart Golf Links in 1917, canceled in 1918 due to World War I, and played at Waverley, Portland Golf Club, and Tualatin Country Club from 1919 through 1923.16 PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLFER|MAR 2024'