Golf Course Tees Off New Generation

is ushering in a new era this weekend.

The longtime Watsonville golf course nestled in the hills near Highway 152 has spent the past six months revamping its image, both at the club and in the public's eye.

"It's such hidden gem," said Carolyn Hopkins Vasquez, who is coordinating Casserly's fresh start.

The golf course is rooted in Pajaro Valley's farming tradition. Bob Sanford cultivated an avocado orchard up against the hillside to fund the development of the golf club more than 40 years ago. Though most of the avocado trees are gone, the sprawling greens at Par 3 overlook the valley's rolling cropland.

Sanford opened Casserly Par 3 Golf opened in 1966, a year after neighboring Spring Hills Golf Course teed off. The club has been family-run ever since, but Bob Sanford's son Rod took over operations after his father died in February.

"It's an easy course to get hooked on playing golf (on)," said course manager Joe Luna said on a recent sunny afternoon. "It's an addiction."

And the 9-hole course is a great place to feed that addiction. One par-27 round will take an experienced golfer about 70 minutes to finish. That's just a long lunch, and Luna said he often has businessmen out playing in the afternoons.

A round runs players $8 and if you want to head out a second time, it's just $5. Club rentals are $3.

The course record is 22.

"It's a challenging course for a par-3," Luna said.

Luna is upfront about the golf club's unfriendly reputation. The late owner, Luna says, was worried about liability and insurance rates and other issues that arise when running a small business. Young kids were banned.

These days, the management is encouraging kids to get out on the links. The junior golf league will make a comeback and a ladies club has a regular round.

"We're getting a lot of players back," Luna said.

And then there are the boxers who greet players. Bo and Duke trot around the place looking for pats on the head or sunny spots to lounge.

The relaunch of the golf course includes new TVs in the clubhouse, where players can sit at the new tables to munch on a hot dog or sandwich. There will be beer on tap soon, but until then players are allowed to bring their own cans to the course.

"I like the changes," Luna said. "People come in, we're clowning around, watching football and everybody knows each other."

The Casserly Golf party is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the club, 626 Casserly Rd., off Highway 152. It's open to all.