Timeline

1950's

Famed rodeo cowboy turned car dealer, Larry Cameron and his fashion model wife, Ruth, acquire several ranches in and around Rescue, California. Among these are the Wallace Ranch which includes the valley where Cameron Park Country Club now resides.

1958

Cameron hires renowned designer Bert Stamps to design and build his course. With dozens of courses worldwide to his credit, the club is honored that Bert and his wife Dottie chose Cameron Park as their home.

1960

During construction a tractor falls into an abandoned mine near hole 6 green. Gold nuggets found on site help with ongoing construction financing. Dottie Stamps has a necklace made from some of the gold nuggets found.

1962

The first nine holes open in 1962 with the full 18 hole course completed in October 1963. The club is named El Dorado Royal Country Club. A three day grand opening celebration includes luminaries Jack Dempsey and Max Baer.

Pictured are Max Baer, Ruth Cameron & Jack Dempsey

1965

The Camerons sell their holdings to Dorado Estates who drive the development of the Cameron Park area including Cameron Park Lake and Cameron Park Airport.

Pictured is a Life magazine ad promoting Cameron Park

1970

The Arnold Palmer Golf Academy opens in Cameron Park where the Bel Air shopping center now sits. The students are bussed to the club for meals and rounds of golf. During the academy's three year existence, Palmer visits regularly to address each graduating class.

Pictured is Ray Henderson of Dorado Estates greeting Arnold on arrival at Cameron Park Airport.

1970-4

After Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth wins the unofficial Cameron Park Pro-Am in 1970, the LPGA holds two official events at Cameron Park.

The 1973 Cameron Park Open is won by Sandra Palmer.

The 1974 Sacramento Union Ladies Classic is won by Cameron Park's Carol Jo Skala-Callison who goes on to win three more times on the LPGA.

Pictured is Carol Jo who is in both the Sacramento and Pacific Northwest Golf Halls of Fame.

1971

The bridge and rear tee box are added to hole 15 to create "The Chute", Cameron Park's signature tee shot.

1975

The club is sold to Country Clubs of America who change the name to Cameron Park Country Club.

1975

Bruce Summerhays is hired and serves as Golf Professional for several years. Bruce goes on to win three times on the Champions Tour.

1967-82

Ponderosa High School Boy's Golf Team has a run of 16 consecutive league championships.

Pictured are the 1977 team including Jack Pearson, Bob Cody, John Stripe, Bill Cody, Steve Stripe, John Cody, Rich Ellsworth, Mark Novotny and Tom O'Brien .

Cameron Park is proud to host the Boy's and Girl's Golf Teams of both Ponderosa and Union Mine High Schools.

1978

The Men's Club holds a "DiMaggio Stag Day".

Joe's team wins.

1981

Overcoming considerable resistance from CCA, the members exercise their option to purchase the club and close escrow on March 25, 1981.

In May, an "Independence Day" party is held to celebrate the purchase. It's the social event of the year with over 300 members in attendance.

Pictured are Steering Committee members Dick Smith, Nikki Crumley, Jay Masters and Virgil Norwood.

1983

Member Ralph Kingsley relocates some black squirrels from a job site to CPCC. The squirrels homestead the trees around the 8th green and have remained in residence ever since.

1985

New cart paths are installed.

1985

Member George McLean, who was responsible for many well known company logos during his career, designs a new CPCC logo which we still use today.

1987

The El Dorado Royale housing development on lots inside the club is begun.

1989

A new course irrigation system is completed.

1992

The clubhouse is remodeled. Member funding pays for both the remodel and paying off the club's mortgage.

In November, a Grand Re-Opening Party is held which features "the burning of the mortgage" and the lighting of the new fountain on the 9th hole lake donated by Ruth Cameron.

Burning the mortgage are Hank McKinney, Jay Masters, Bob LaVergne and Nikki Crumley.

1993

Long-time Head Professional, Steve Frye, competes in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

1995

A dam is built on hole 11 to replace the beaver dam and create a larger more picturesque lake.

1996-2001

Cameron Park hosts qualifying rounds for the Champions Tour Senior Gold Rush.

1998

A clubhouse enhancement project moves and enlarges the Pro Shop making space for the "Cameron Room" and creating our popular upstairs deck.

1999

UC Davis Aggie, TJ Moulton of Cameron Park wins the California State Fair title.
TJ receives the trophy from former champion, Al 'Mr 59' Geiberger.

2002

Yardage marker sprinkler heads and computer control are added to the irrigation system. The ditch across the fairways of holes 5 & 6 is filled.

2004

Cameron Park's Sarah Huarte becomes the first player in Cal history to capture the NCAA Individual Championship. A two-time All American, Sarah represents the U.S. on the 2004 team that retains the Curtis Cup. Sarah plays professionally for three years on the Futures and LPGA tours. She goes on to coach the women's golf team at the University of San Francisco.

2005

Bunker renovations are completed.

2006

Cameron Park captures the NCGA Team Play title defeating Pasatiempo in the final at Poppy Hills.

Pictured are Jan Westerlin, Jim Clark, Floyd Miller, Dom Nole, Bill Schmidt, Steve Morris, John Palmero, Richard Mohr, Mark Baca, Dave Zweck, Norm Tavalero, Chuck Wherity, Rick Russell, Lou Clayson and Ron Omand.

2009

Kelly Wilson, Danny Levine & Mitch Thomas capture the 2009 California Team Championship at Wailea's Old Blue Course.

2009

A major practice facility upgrade is completed with hitting area expansion, all weather mats and targets added to the driving range. A new short game practice area is created as well.

2011

A remodel of the upstairs bar and dining area is completed.

2012

Folsom Professional Issac "Sasquatch" Sanchez prepares for the Golf Channel's The Big Break Greenbrier series at Cameron Park. Issac finishes third sporting Cameron Park gear throughout the show. He goes on to win The Big Break NFL Puerto Rico with Jerry Rice as a partner.

2014

University of Washington Husky, Corey Pereira of Cameron Park has a brilliant summer capturing the Pacific Coast Amateur and the California State Fair titles.

At UW, Corey won several college titles and been named an Honorable Mention All-American and thrice All-Pac12.

Corey went on to win the ATB Financial Classic on the Mackenzie Canadian Tour and earned promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour.

2015

Cameron Park hosts U.S. Ladies Amateur qualifying. Our own, University of Texas bound, Emilee Hoffman shoots 69 to lead the qualifiers.

2015

The club celebrates the completion of a major clubhouse entrance, exterior and downstairs remodel.

2016

Cameron Park's Canadian Tour Pro, Jake Johnson, shoots 60 to break the Cameron Park course record formerly held by Corey Pereira and Kevin Sutherland. Jake also owns a hole-in-one on our 327 yard, par 4, 10th hole.

Much of the history on this page was sourced from Judi Dowd's "Cameron Park Country Club, Club History" compiled in 2003.

Thanks to Nikki Crumley, Danny Levine, Steve Morris and Joe Moulton for input and several classic pictures.

Many of the recent photos on this page and throughout the site are the work of Bryan Patrick.

Got additions or corrections for the Cameron Park Country Club timeline ? Send them to the webmaster.