ISLAND FALLS, Maine — Looking at VaJoWa Golf Course today, many would never know that it was once primarily grazing land, as Vaughan Walker’s cattle herd would roam the hillsides. The golf course has been etched out of rocks and grassy farmland to become one of the most challenging courses in southern Aroostook.
This month, VaJoWa Golf Course is celebrating its 50th season on the Walker Settlement Road in Island Falls.
Walker, who was a logging contractor, mailman and dairy farmer, was also a golfer. He and his friends would travel to play the Houlton Country Club in New Limerick at least several times a month. His second son, Warren, general manager of the course, helped to shape its existence.
“My father was a busy guy,” he said. “He came home one day and told my mother at the dinner table that he was thinking about selling the cows and building a golf course. My mother said, ‘OK.’”
With two other jobs, Walker had to hire a manager to keep up his dairy farm. He called Jacob Shur to buy his cattle.
“The next day, they loaded them on and they were gone,” said Warren. “We started building a golf course.”
Warren, 13, and his older brother, John, started getting the ground ready by picking rocks.
“We did a lot of hand labor for a lot of years,” Warren laughed.
But, since his father owned a logging business, equipment was on hand to complete groundwork to build the course pretty reasonably.
In May of 1965, VaJoWa — named after the Walkers, Vaughan, John and Warren — officially opened with nine holes, with between 80 to 90 members.
“I am sure my father had the back nine already in his mind,” said Warren. “But, it got changed a little bit. Basically, the back nine was mostly my design and construction, along with help from other family members, such as Bill Hollis, my children and my nephews.”
The back nine opened in the fall of 1988.
VaJoWa is nestled in the hills near Pleasant Lake, with a scenic backdrop. In 1997, New England Golf Guide rated VaJoWa as the number-one public course. The rating was based on staff attitude, picturesque value, along with course conditions.
“It was quite an honor,” said Warren.
The 18-hole course is challenging for beginners to even the more advanced golfer.
“You have to hit all the clubs in the bag to be able to score well here,” Warren said. “Sometimes it makes it a little hard, as our greens are relatively small and undulating. It makes difficult for some of the average or beginning golfers, but we have done things over the years to make it more player-friendly, and the better players seem to enjoy playing it.”
Warren, who played junior golf in Houlton, played for the University of Maine Farmington.
“I played golf growing up,” said Warren. “I have played many beautiful golf courses. I have traveled and played some of the best courses in the country. I was exposed to a lot of great architecture in the golf line. I think I have a pretty good eye for what would be a good challenge, as well as, options to play.”
Along with Warren’s eye, the landscape played a major role in the development of the back nine.
“You want to play aggressive, you pay the penalty,” said Warren. “But, if you want to play a little safe, you can get your bogey.”
This year, the course weathered considerably well. In northern Maine, conditions will vary year to year, depending on what Mother Nature hands out.
“The greens have come through as good as I have seen them in the last 20 to 25 years,” said Warren.
VaJoWa has rotated in several golf professionals over the years, including Warren himself. Due to Warren’s other work commitments, David Grant will be tending the club and offering a youth program and individual lessons two or three times a week, depending upon interest, as well as overseeing the driving range.
“With Dave’s personality and knowledge of the game, we are excited to have him on board,” said Warren.
With the affiliation Grant has with a successful Houlton Junior Golf Program, he will be offering the same opportunity to southern Aroostook youth this summer.
“I really want to promote junior golf in the Island Falls area,” Grant said. “That is our future. I just love working with the kids. It is virgin territory, as far as I am concerned. There are a lot of kids in the area, and I want them getting accustom to golf.”
Grant said that he is not going to turn any youth away who cannot afford the junior golf program.
“I want kids here playing golf,” he said.
Grant also coaches the Houlton High School golf team and was the former coach of Hodgdon High School’s golf squad. He is hoping to be a resource for high school golfers in Southern Aroostook, too.
Grant will be continuing to help Bruce Nason with the Houlton Junior Golf Program through the summer as well.
“We have always had a good relationship with Houlton,” said Warren. “We have both been involved with The County Open for 25 years. So, we have good cooperation.”
With that collaboration, golfers can look forward to a weekly activity, so golfers are playing at both VaJoWa and Houlton golf courses. The courses are about 20 miles away from each other.
VaJoWa’s highest membership was during Great Northern Paper Mill’s heyday. Upward to 70 golfers from the Medway, East Millinocket and Millinocket area joined the club, raising the membership to well over 250. But, when the mill closed, VaJoWa’s membership was relatively reduced.
“Right now, we have around 200 members and hopefully growing with the membership promotion we have been doing the last couple of years,” said Warren.
The membership is $99 for the year. However, youth up to age 12 can play golf free at VaJoWa.
“We want to get kids playing golf,” said Warren. “It is the future of the game, so we don’t charge, but ask that the youth be supervised by an adult.”
Those youth over age 12 can buy a junior membership for $49 if a parent is a member, instead of the usual price.
VaJoWa has seen many supporters of the course over the years ranging from family and friends, including original members Jack Webb, Marion Hoar, John Byron, along with the Edwards family, owners of Birch Point Campground next door.
VaJoWa is still family owned and operated with four generations still golfing. Working together have been Warren and his children, Ben, Jessica and Janna; John’s sons, Steve and Scot, as well as their children; sister Connie Hollis and her husband, Bill, and daughter, Heidi. But, Warren said it takes more than just the family’s endeavor.
“We have had a good staff, with several employees staying within the golf business,” he said.
After a day of golf, players can enjoy the Maine Slice restaurant, located above the clubhouse, and have easy access to lodging at Vacationland Estates Resort or next door at Birch Point Cabins and Campground.
Though the economic climate has been like a rollercoaster the last 50 years, VaJoWa continues to survive.
“There have been struggles through the years,” said Warren. “You go through recessions. But, we hear all too often, VaJoWa is not going to open. As far as I am concerned, it is always going to be here. We take family pride in it. We want to keep it affordable for everyone and we are excited about where the future is going.”
To learn more about VaJoWa visit their website at www.vajowa.com or call 463-2128.
