"100 years were worth the effort."

Hacienda La Carrasquilla

In 1922, the Panama Golf Club found itself at a crossroads, The lease for their original location on the Bermudez property was already negotiated, and the club's leadership recognized the need for a new, more permanent home. The search for a suitable piece of land began, and after careful consideration, they set their sights on a vast expanse titled La Hacienda Carrasquilla.  La Hacienda Carrasquilla, a picturesque piece of land composed of two blocks totaling 65 and 45 hectares,  located just a mile away from the familiar grounds of Las Sabanas. The land was not only spacious but also presented an opportunity to design a new golf course that would elevate the game to new heights. The lush green landscape, with its rolling hills and natural drainage, captured the imaginations of the club's members. Genarina Guardia, a prominent landowner, became the club's key contact in negotiations with current president Samuel Lewis Garcia de Paredes. The process was not without challenges, as negotiations, paperwork, and legalities took time. But the determination of Panama Golf Club's members was unwavering. With persistence and a shared vision, they finally secured the land rights to Hacienda Carrasquilla for a total of USD 19,885.90.                                                                                                                       

Challenges in 1929

However, some members were not convinced about moving from their first location to the new piece of land. CA McIlvaine, elected president in 1929 , initiated a campaign to persuade the members. He even sketched out what would become the 18-hole course, inviting the members to a memorable Sunday where their patience wore thin due to the conditions of the terrain. Nevertheless, the decision had already been made, and the efforts of men like John Westman, Charles Peterson, BC Poole, CF MacMurray, Mcllvaine, and especially the determination of Dr. Joaquín José Vallarino, made it possible for the construction of the new club to progress.       

New Home - 1932

The inauguration of the new Clubhouse  of the Panama Golf Club, situated on Via Porras, now known as Parque Omar, had two memorable moments. On January 1, 1932, the members celebrated the traditional eggnog party, and the following day, January 2, 1932, the formal inauguration took place with the presence of Dr. Ricardo Joaquín Alfaro, the president of the Republic at the time, and members of his cabinet. A golf tournament was also held, inviting all amateur golfers. Newspapers of the era highlighted the social event with photographs of the modern structure and a review of the most important moments linked to the history of the Club. In addition to recalling the efforts of the founders in 1918, they expressed particular admiration for Dr. J.J. Vallarino, at that time the outgoing president of the Club. He was recognized for his dedication to service, high intellectual merit, and for being the "inspiring spirit of the new clubhouse project." Despite his duties as a specialist in X-rays and his service in President Alfaro's cabinet, he took on this noble task. Following Vallarino's presidency, elected on December 13, 1931, Bernell Clyde Poole, a 12-year member of the club, succeeded him as president. Ernesto de la Guardia accompanied Poole as vice president. The newspapers also highlighted the roles of John Westman, the club's treasurer, and Harry Boone, who financed the club's construction with the sale of $46,000 in bonds. For Charles Peterson, affectionately called Pete, the club's general manager, there were gestures of gratitude for his diligence in maintaining the greens since 1929 and attending to the members. The English-style clubhouse, with an open roof and beautiful exteriors, was constructed by Grebien and Martinz and designed by Wright and Schay. To reach the location, those in the know advised to "drive a mile past the Las Sabanas street" (the former location), and on the way, a police officer would guide members and visitors on the best way to park in a designated area. In December 1931, the nine holes of the new course were inaugurated and used in conjunction with the other nine holes of the old course. Throughout 1932, the players adapted to the overall conditions.

Club House

"On a hill, the members built the English-style clubhouse, which featured a spacious open hall. On one side, there was a bar and kitchen, and on the western part, there were offices and a men's locker room. Below, there were garages and a bag room where caddies would gather. On the tee side leading to the course, there was a kiosk to cater to the golfers. There was no driving range. Golfers used a platform adjacent to the kiosk to hit their balls towards the fairway of the 9th hole. Caddies would collect the balls. The first new 9 holes of the course were played along with the other nine holes of the old course to complete the 18 holes of golf. Subsequently, the second 9 holes of golf were built to have a full 18-hole, par 72 course. At the same time, the construction company Martinz built the new east wing of the clubhouse to house the women's locker room, and on a second level, the pro shop and an apartment for the golf pro. Further down, the bag room was placed in front of the putting green. Obtaining water on the new grounds was challenging because there were no streams, and wells had to be drilled to pump water into a pond located on the hill adjacent to the 1st hole. There was only enough water to irrigate the greens and tees. In the summers, the fairway grass would completely dry out, and the ball would roll an additional 50 yards. The trees that the pioneers planted on the course came from Summit Gardens in the Zone, which at that time only had native mahoganies, teak, astromelias, and a few oaks. The course was designed around the native trees already present on the land, such as corotú and Panama trees. The few guayacan trees planted around the course were donated by the members."

Course Layout