The Dream: Acquisition of Land & Incorporation
It was the City of Sacramento, expanding to the east and nearer to the boundaries of what was the Sacramento Country Club at 46th and J streets, that gave the members "the need for more elbow room". One member of Sacramento Country Club was Clinton Harber, an avid golfer and Club champion for many years. Unless something was done there would be no more golf, and Harber and several avid golfers wouldn't allow that to happen.
In 1966, for the book Del Paso Country Club: 50th Anniversary, Mr. Harber painted a clear picture of the Club's beginnings. In 1915, he attended a meeting in Mr. Peck's office and was "introduced to land developer O.A. Robertson, Harry S. Wanzer (Mr. Robertson's man Friday), Stewart Upson, Steve Day and Peck. Mr. Robertson started the meeting by saying he had just completed the sale of the Haggin Grant consisting of 44,000 acres, and that he had left a tract of 148 acres ... and it occurred to him this tract might be converted into a golf course. He also stated that in the event we were interested he would let us have the land for what he paid for it. All of us assented and Mr. Wanzer took us through North Sacramento across the railroad tracks at Ben Ali Crossing, and about two miles from there stopped alongside the road and said, 'This is it.' ... Mr. Wanzer attempted to point out the boundaries and the course of the natural drainage ditch but owing to the crop it was
practically impossible to follow him. ... A month later the group planned another trip to view the property. Mr. Wanzer arranged with a well-borer to sink a well near the location. The man struck a good water supply in an eighty foot well and ran a pump continuously for three days without change in water level. Arrangements were made with John Black, who was prominent in the Bay Area in connection with laying out and remodeling golf courses. He came to Sacramento and with Jack Furley and several bundles of stakes, laid out an 18 hole golf course, which he declared would be a first class golf course. It was decided the property was a very desirable site for a country club."Following this news, nine members of the old Sacramento Country Club spearheaded the drive for the formation of Del Paso Country Club. They were L.S. "Stew" Upson, Fred Peck, J.C. Carly, H.S. "Harry" Wanzer, S.S. "Steve" Day, H.J. Furley, R.A. Herold, William Murcell and Clinton Harber.
The purchase of the initial 148.34 acres of land took place, and on January 7, 1916 the articles of incorporation for Del Paso Country Club were issued and signed. Architect R.A. Harold was hired to design the clubhouse, and William Murcell began construction. "The Dream" was becoming a reality.