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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Thursday February 19, 1981 - Page 8 From dirt fairways to national fame By Deborah Marcus Once fully established in 1962, the San Juan County golf course hours. Grant stated that it was an outrageous but satisfying experience. He later topped it with another golf Grant said, tourney. Gas, was cheap for such ventures attracted players from all over the Four Corners region. Local Golf Associations flourished, and golf pro Grant Leavitt began to hold free golf clinics. The greens and fairways thrived on gravity-flo- w in the 60s. Richard Harris, a Utah freelance writer, famed the feats of the San Juan County golf enboth for their golf thusiasts water piped-i- n from the nearby sewage treatment plant -a reportedly smelly affair, but the golfers grinned and bore it. course building abilities and their playing skills. Overnight, rural Monticello became golfers gosWhere else could this centuScottish game be played ry-old sip. The old county hospital on the golf course grounds was converted to a club house. Many a tall tale of low scores were related in the new clubhouse bought with donated funds. Hackers and slicers discussed the beatings they took on the greens in a former surgery recovery room. in such magnificent picturesque settings? Following the novel trend of this yet successful golf course project, another first was established. Former Navajo off-be- ed enthusiasm became so rampant that Grant Leavitt and A 1 Haskins of Monticello decided to create a first. At 5 a.m. Monday 9, 1965, they joined two other golf fanatics from Cortez. They played 64 holes of golf in four different states within 15 Thomas Atcitty, Rampton (1975) watch as Opens have been held in Monticello annuaUy. In 1980, the San Juan County Golf Course has hardly looked better. One must consider previous and current drought effects. Hauling water to the greens, as Grant and volunteers did in 1977, is a chore that no one cares to repeat. Yet the 1950s dream that became a reality in are realities that the 1960s golf-cour- se The stroke memories. and labor financial, canspiritual community efforts not be forgotten. Local golfers and visiting players are still awestruck at this golf course in the wilds. If water has to be hauled again, it will be. Any volunteers? tre-mendu- ous Community the Navajo Utah Governor 62) Photo courtesy of Grant Leavitt Calvin qOOOOOOOOOO non-supporti- ve University of Rochester researchers put 70 people on five different programs. They were (1) behavioral therapy, (2) behavioral therapy plus encouragement from a spouse, (3) behavioral therapy plus encouragement from a buddy, (4) behavioral therapy plus encouragement from a spouse and a buddy, (5) no therapy at all. The people receiving therapy patio to golf pro. Grant Spouse often of weight loss program If you are seeking help to lose and most overweight weight, people are, dont look to your spouse for much support. hospita1-turned-golf-house.(19- a Community demonstrates his putting technique. Photo courtesy of Grant Leavitt By Dr. Dale Nelson volunteers at work adding pow-wo- w College, and Monticello Leavitt, President, CoUege AU-Indi- an Dr. Thomas Atcitty decided to hold an A 11 -- Indian Open Championship on the Monticello greens. Until 1962, San Juan County golfers had traveled 100 miles to Durango for a decent course. Indian golfers traveled over 150 miles to pursue the sport. Dr. Atcitty felt that an A 11 -- Indian Open Tournament would enhance Indian-Ang- lo relations. He was Indian golf skills and right. Monticello community spirit produced a major on the Golf Dr. at, Community Volunteer labor built the porches and redecorated the inner rooms to turn an antiseptic environment into a place of golf sweat. hard-earn- 54-h- ole ate links, and set a precedent for future golfing events. Since 1976, plus help from a buddy lost the most weight - an average of Those receiving 14.5 pounds. second - 10.5 were only therapy pound loss. Therapy plus buddy and spouse were third with an average loss of 9.6 pounds and the spouse -- aided group came in a quarrelsome fourth at an 8.8 -pound loss. Of course, the no therapy group was last with a half-pougain, but you will note that when the spouses were involved, they were wmjust OOOOOOOOOOo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Friday and Sunday February 20 and 22 o o o o o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o nd the least effective. "Stubbornness is the energy of fools." German Proverb Wfm IF TTUflE WEEK |