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2006 Museum Events
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Sat. April 22, 2006
Royal Steen Links, Westhoff, TX
"2006 Cow Chip Classic"
"GOLFIN' WITH THE COWS - GOLFERS HIT THE PASTURE FOR CHISHOLM TRAIL MUSEUM"
Sonny Long - Victoria Advocate
April 28, 2006
WESTHOFF - Some golfers are known for their unusual attire, and some
golf courses have a reputation for difficulty.
They all took a back seat to what was on display Saturday at the
2006 Cow Chip Classic held on the Royal Steen Links one mile south of
Westhoff.
Different was par for the course.
There were togas and grass skirts, gunslingers and gladiators. Golf
carts too ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous as contestants
went all out on their modes of transportation through the cow
patty-laden course.
The Legislative Luau team's cart was draped with plastic grass. The
Pasture Pilapa squad had a definite thatched-hut feel in its trailer
toting team members. Another cart was pulled by a pair of horses.
It was all in good fun and for a good cause as 10 teams of duffers
gathered to take on the challenge of the 13-hole, par 41 course set
over about 500 acres on the Steen family farm.
Teams paid a minimum of $3,000 to enter the event and players came
from Dallas, Houston and Austin to take part. Entry fees went to
the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum project in Cuero.
Tournament director Jeff Steen laid out the course.
"I made it up as I went along. I tried to do something a little
different on each hole," Steen said. "On some holes you have to
hit it into the water on the fly. Some holes you have to hit
into a water trough. On another hole, you have to hit the ball
through a tractor tire hanging from a tree limb. On one hole,
you have to tee off sitting on a toilet. There's a little
something for everyone."
Steen added that the shortest hole was 71 yards (with the toilet
tee off) and the longest was 1,120 yards - a par six.
"This is the fourth one of these we've done," Steen said. "We did
one other for the museum and two for Cuero Community Hospital.
They are a lot of fun and for a great cause."
Turner Network Television did a segment on the tournament one year
for its Liars & Legends program. This year's fundraiser was
originally scheduled for last fall but was interrupted by Hurricane Rita.
"We are glad to be able to do this," Steen said. "It's our way of
helping out a worthwhile community project. All the proceeds benefit
the museum project, and I underwrite all the food for the dinner
after the tournament."
Will Oliver of Dallas, who grew up in Gonzales, had his Cheapside
Party Posse fired up for the competition. Some of the players from
his team came in from Katy to take part.
"This is a good time with friends, and it is for a good cause,"
said Oliver, a.k.a, "Willie the Kid," complete with gun belt hanging
from his waist. "Some of us are originally from this area and want
to help."
Oliver's uncle, Robert, is the chair of the museum's board of directors.
"And besides," Willie the Kid added, "Uncle Robert said he needed
$3,000 for the museum."
The group's cart had wanted posters of all its players on the side
and a "Come & Take It" flag, representing Gonzales, flying on the
front.
Walter Fisher, a museum member, headed up the Legislative Luau team,
which included state Senator Ken Armbrister and former Senator Buster
Brown.
"This is a more than worthwhile cause," Fisher said. "We are glad to
be here and be able to contribute."
Steen gathered the teams at the first tee for the start of the
tournament.
"We thank you all for participating and contributing to the museum,"
Steen said.
He reviewed the rules of the Texas Scramble, best ball format, then
touched on some additional course guidelines.
"Divots do not have to be repaired; we need the aeration. You can't
move your ball, but you can cut down anything in front of it," Steen
said. "Each team can have a chain saw, weed eater and a pair of loppers."
"What about big oak trees?" Someone yelled from the assembled golfers.
"Big oaks are $5,000," Steen quipped. "$2,500 goes to the museum."
Each team was assigned a marshal on horseback who kept players
moving in the right direction and monitored play.
Steen reminded the players, "Cheating is not encouraged, but is
tolerated. The size of bribes depends on how much money you have
with you."
In what may be just a major coincidence, the Legislative Luau team
was declared winners of the tournament, though no one was quite
sure what score they shot.
With tongue firmly in cheek, some mention was made of pork barrels
when the winners were announced. Actually there were no losers as
everyone enjoyed the recreation, fraternity, libations and
post-tournament meal.
The museum especially came away a winner. Steen estimated this
year's event brought in about $40,000.
The Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum is being constructed in the
renovated Knights of Pythias Hall, or
Jewel Lodge, in the 300
block on North Esplanade Street in Cuero.
The structure was built by the Knights of Pythias in 1903. Designed
by San Antonio architect James Warhenberger, the two-story,
10,000-square-feet building features some of the architect's creative
use of brick work in Romanesque Revival style.
Eventually, the museum will feature 5,000 square feet on the first
floor of the building for permanent exhibits and 5,000 square feet
on the second floor for multi-purpose use by the community and to
house traveling exhibits. The museum will also add 3,000 square
feet, in the form of a two-story addition to the north face of
the building, for restrooms, elevators and handicapped-accessible
entryways.
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and the Texas Historical Commission has awarded the property a
registered Texas Historic Landmark status.
The museum board is also committed to collecting and preserving
artifacts and memorabilia relating to Texas' rich ranching and
agricultural past, focusing on the 50-year period beginning when
local cowboy
Crockett Cardwell teamed up with
Thornton Chisholm
on a now legendary cattle drive on April 1, 1866. That first
drive, along what would become known as the Chisholm Trail, took
more than seven months to complete. When it ended, 1,800 head of
Texas longhorn cattle were in St. Joseph, Missouri. In 2001, the
Texas House of Representatives officially recognized Cuero as a
starting point for the Chisholm Trail.
The Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum is a non-profit endeavor.
Memberships are available for as little as $25 for an individual
membership. Membership dues and gifts are tax deductible. Contact
the museum at P.O. Box 866, Cuero, Texas 77954. Visit the web site
at chisholmtrailmuseum.org or call 830-236-5533.
[Article by Sonny Long originally appeared in the Victoria Advocate,
Friday, April 28, 2006. Used with expressed permission.]
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