“We moved to Cordell in 1968 and I can’t recall a day when Jerry wasn’t out here playing golf,” said Katy Burrows, wife of Jerry Burrows, Chairman of Crooked Creek (CC) Golf Course.
CC Golf Course is a beautiful and peaceful nine-hole course destination located three miles west of Cordell south of Highway 152. The name ‘Crooked Creek’ was chosen by previous board members, Jim Price and David Thain, after the crooked and winding creek that runs through the course.
There you can expect to be greeted by Jerry Burrows and several other members such as C.H., Gary Madison, Vernon Mayfield, and Mike Stowers, who continuously donate their time and effort to keep the golf course up and running in pristine condition.
On Dec. 17, 2002, CC had 27 stockholders but only 10 players and they were all at a point where they knew the course would cease to exist. Burrows, along with several others, got the 27 stockholders together one evening and talked to them about donating the land to the City of Cordell, where it would be set up as Cordell Recreation Authority.
Burrows said there was a lot of indecision that night on whether or not they should do it and finally Waldo Emerson said, “Where do I sign? I want to get this done.”
Emerson and Bill Acres were the first two to sign the document stating that the course would be donated to the city and the others fell in line.
“Had those two not stood up that night, this place would be nothing but weeds and pasture,” stated Burrows.
In return for donating the golf course to the city, the City of Cordell donated land to be able to extend the golf course.
On Tuesday, July 27, 2004, five local banks, Great Plains National Bank, Bank of Cordell, Bank of Western Oklahoma, First National Bank & Trust and First Capitol Bank participated in the loan of $250,000, designated to begin designing and improving the golf course, which had a 90 percent guarantee from USDA Rural Development.
Located in the clubhouse at CC Golf Course there is a wall that is dedicated to displaying plaques of all those who have greatly helped and benefited the golf course.
“We had to have this wall right here, to be able to build all that out there,” said Burrows of all the donations that CC has received over the years.
Proud of his efforts, Katy Burrows went on to say that without Jerry, none of this would have ever happened. Over the past many years, as stated previously, several members of the golf course donate their time and influence.
“We don’t pay anyone to come out here and work all the time. We just do it ourselves. This operation is totally donated labor. Whether it’s working in [the clubhouse], working out there collecting green fees or helping with maintenance,” expressed Burrows.
He went on to say that if he didn’t enjoy it, he wouldn’t be out here.
CC is a family friendly public golf course that encourages all to come out and enjoy the greens. Being that spring has arrived, golf is the perfect sport to get out and enjoy the weather and the company of others in a safe environment.
“Two years ago when COVID hit, our memberships started going up. This is a safe place to go, there’s distance out here. That’s one of the positives that came from that. It’s just interesting how it happened. I was afraid COVID was going to kill us, but instead it helped us,” said Burrows with a smile on his face.
On Saturday, March 12, CC had the honor of hosting the Burns Flat-Dill City (BFDC) Annual High School Golf Tournament.
At the time the tournament was set to take place BFDC’s course was not ready to host the tournament. They called CC to see if they could utilize their facility to which they replied, “we’d be tickled to death to have you.”
Katy Burrows said that they would love to do that for any school. They love having the kids come out and play and take part in the sport.
It was at this tournament where their grandson, Ryde
Burrows was first place individual winner.
With tears in his eyes, Burrows commented on having his grandson win a tournament that took place on the course that holds a very dear place in his heart, “I loved it. It was the first one he had won.”
Burrows, along with the members of the course, enjoy helping the kids as much as they can.
On April 11-12, CC Golf Course will host the Cordell Junior High Golf Tournament.
For more information about rentals, memberships and fees, you can contact Jerry Burrows or Valarie Fariss at the Cordell Tag Agency.