My grandmother was the hostess for the dining room for 18+ years. She died in 1985. I remember filling salt and pepper shakers in the dining room and playing with the left over party favors and balloons from new years eve as a child. On my birthday, the chef would prepare a 'Baked Alaska' for me at grandma's request. Rumor has it Natalie Portman visited as a child as her grandparents were members. Not sure if that is true.
Use to caddy there in 1940s. Caddied for Sam Rubel(Rubel Rye ); Powell Crosley; others. Management had a Caddy's Day so caddies could play. Managed by some nice people. Never knew who you would caddying for each day.
I caddied there from the time Crest Hills was restarted in 1967(?) until 1972. Played golf on Mondays. The caddy yard was a gentler version of Lord of the Flies. Many heartfelt memories from those tender years spent in the caddy yard and on the course. It may sound trite but Crest Hills is part of my soul from the times spent there as a young teen and all that goes with that. There could be a movie made about the interactions in that caddy yard. Wish I had written it down and taken film or photos. It was all long ago yet part of me to this day. Thanks for the video. I wish there was more footage of the course. I took my 20ish year old (at the time) son there to walk the course a few years back. It was a powerful experience for me, and I think even he could feel some of my attachment. I'm glad to see be kept as green space. If I was a millionaire I would buy it and just let it be. Bill Orr, Bob Haur, Tom and DavishJenkins, Tom Miller, Steve Niehaus, Johnny Dillon, Romeo, Jerry Buckmaster, Greg Porky Esterhause, Steve Bullock, Mark and Jim Mason, Dave Bush (who cheated at golf BTW), a couple of MarkHoffman, Mark who was twin that looked nothign like his brother and played football at Villanova, Artie the quiet guy who nobody messed with because he had a limp and there was something saintly about him, the Oh Yes guy (every time he put up a basketball shot he said "Oh Yes"). It is where I got my nickname Spaghetti Head from Steve Niehaus who became a star player at Notre Dame and #1 NFL draft pick. I was harassing him, safe in the knowlege that the boyhood code would not let a 220 pound oak tree crush a 95 pound sapling with a big mouth. I spent all the money I made caddying on snow cones and hot dogs. But my Mom paid me back for that so I did make a few bucks -- $4 for a 4-hour 18 hole caddy job. Sometimes a tip. Most of the members were decent. All Jewish. Irv Bronski's bag weighed ton. It was a mark of manhood to carry that weight around. I think the first woman I had lewd thoughts about was Mrs. Nelson Lakritz. 50 years later and I still feel horny remembering the way she looked and her perfume. The assistant pro who shot an 88 and I think lost his job because he sucked at golf. Ray Brown's nickname was Raw Bra. The guy who always brought tons of food in his bag to share with caddies. The Olympic boxing coach who played by himself around dinner time are ran around the course less than half the usual time. Mrs. Sid Gottlieb shouting "Right On!" for any halfway decent shot, while my young revolutionary mind having just read Soul on Ice cringed. These were the days of Hair on Broadway, Portnoy's Complaint, I am Curious Yellow at the arty film house. Sex was still a mystery then. Revolution in the air with the Vietnam anti war movement. Peace and love at Woodstock? So many memories. Wish I could go back in time. Just to visit, would not want to relive it all, but it would be interesting to witness it again. Freddie Gutman who could pound the ball but could not hit a straight tee shout so you really had to be on your toes not to lose his ball. Almost getting beaned by stray shots on the course. Snickering jokes about "Wash you ball Sir?".
I had no idea it existed till a friend pointed out the building. It’s kinda eerie to have a public park next to the place. But I can see what they trying to do. So yeah I thought it was crazy as well.
Thanks for making this bro. I looked for videos on this place after walking the grounds back in June. Couldn't find any. I was deleting my RU-vid search history just now and decided to click on this search again and your video popped up...
This is crazy! I learned to play golf here, as my best friend's family was a member here for years. Spent much of my middle and high school years running around this course. Good times and memories!
