I (Patrick Williams) was asked by the Alumni Director, George Hasser, at DeSmet Jesuit High School, where I was a young Spartan at one time, to write a story for the next issue of their alumni magazine, The Odyssey (circulation 11,000). DeSmet has an annual Alumni Golf Tournament which is always held at Normandie Golf Course in the fall. Below is the story and pictures which will be mailed out any day now. The passion from our neighborhood and thousands of other people in St. Louis to preserve this historic golf course runs deep. Currently the Bel-Nor attorneys are asking for a dismissal of the $6.5 million dollar lawsuit. Any questions please contact our SAVE Normandie Golf Course Chairman, Joe Filla, w314-434-2300 h314-382-9724 or Pat Williams work314-373-3975 home314-381-0120. We appreciate the support from the media and the rest of the community that wants Normandie Golf Course to remain.
Thank you.

Normandie Golf Course (1901) has a long and storied existence which traces its name to Normandie, France where Judge J. B. C. Lucas (friend of Benjamin Franklin and appointed by Thomas Jefferson as Commissioner of Land Claims after the Louisiana Purchase) named the area after his homeland. Then, a native son of St. Andrews, Scotland, Robert Foulis, puts his imprint on the Lucas land and many other courses throughout St. Louis. Hard to believe, but the historic 18 holes are currently fighting for its life against a group that wants to bulldoze and destroy this beautiful green space where generations of men, women and children have learned to play the great game of golf. The saga of Normandie must continue and the rolling hills, trees, fairways and history must be preserved for future generations.

John Hayes (DeSmet Class of 1975), Head Golf Pro at Forest Hills Country Club grew up playing at Normandie says, “I would hate to see the area lose Normandie. It is not just that it is historic, one of the oldest courses west of the Mississippi, but it also has a lot of classic, quality golf holes and is one of the few public golf courses inside the Hwy. 270 loop.”

Local golf historian and author, Jim Healey, speaks of the course and the early years. “I think the most appropriate term to describe Normandie is that of a “Players” course/club: And you could be talking about golfers, gamblers, drinkers or womanizers. A lot went on at the club; with some even taking place on the course.”

Normandie has a “Who’s Who” guest list of greats that have teed it up on the old course: Willie Anderson won the Western Open in 1906 which was the first time a Major golf tournament is held west of the Mississippi and two more Opens were played there, many baseball Cardinal legends like Dizzy Dean, The Gashouse Gang, Pepper Martin and Rogers (Raja) Hornsby played Normandie and built homes in Bel-Nor, Babe Ruth loved to play at Normandie when in town, Mildrid (Babe) Didrikson sharpened her game before mastering it and helped establish the LPGA and George Zaharais was said to have proposed marriage to her at Normandie in the late 30’s. Bob Hope’s love of golf found him there. Jim Furyk played in his first professional tournament (Lou Fusz Open) acing #16 and Jeff Maggert won there in 1988.

The 118 rolling acres of Normandie Golf Course lie in the boundaries of the Village of Bel-Nor but mostly family members and a few outsiders that own the course voted to sell in 2004 going against the wishes of their grandfather and relative, Rice Emerson, who wanted Normandie to remain a golf course forever. The vote passed by one share. The contract is with Normandy LLC development which consists of Taylor-Morley Homes, J. H. Berra Construction, and McBride and Son Land Development. They want to build 413 homes on 118 acres. Bel-Nor ordinances would substantially reduce the plan which will hopefully stop the destruction of this beloved and historic golf course. Taylor-Morley, J. H. Berra Construction and McBride and Son Land Development currently have sued the Village of Bel-Nor for $6.5 million and a future court date pending.

The Village of Bel-Nor and the City of Greendale adjoin Normandie Golf Course and residents are nearly 100% opposed to the development and have formed the SAVE Normandie Golf Course Committee. (www.savenormandiegolfcourse.com)

Joe Filla, Chairman of the Save Normandie Committee, owner of Filla & Filla CPA (Chesterfield), and father of Michael Filla (DeSmet Class of 1999), has lived with his family in Bel-Nor with their home backing up near to #15 tee at Normandie for 28 years. Filla states, “Normandie Golf Course is a critical component of the infrastructure of the entire North and Central St. Louis County area. In addition to its attractiveness and historic significance as a golf course, it offers a welcome green space in the midst of a fully developed region. It is one of our most treasured amenities. Both high school and college teams have learned, practiced, fine-tuned and competed their golf game on Normandie Golf Course. Surrounding residents, young, middle-aged, and seniors, treat the course with the respect and reverence it has rightfully earned. The proposed development of Normandie Golf Course is all about greed on the part of the developers and the destruction of a beautiful and irreplaceable tract of land just to slap together “plastic houses” which would not be complementary to the existing housing stock in the surrounding neighborhoods. There are plenty of nearby areas within the inner ring of St. Louis County which are crying out for development, such as Wellston, Pagedale, Pine Lawn and Jennings. These areas would welcome this type of development with open arms. Bel-Nor and Greendale residents, some of whom don’t know a driver from a putter, are distraught with the possibility that the developer’s greed might triumph over the best interests of the whole Central and North County regions. But in this struggle, the developers have only self-interest and greed on their side, while we have the love and goodwill that has developed as a result of the legacy of this beautiful tract of land.”

The Save Normandie Golf Course Committee will hold their third rally and golf tournament (scramble) on Saturday, May 13 (1 p.m. shotgun) at(where else?) Normandie! The cost will be $75 per player or $300 per foursome and includes dinner, beer and soda, and a commemorative t-shirt. $50-$100 hole sponsorships. The rally will meet at the Incarnate Word Academy parking lot at 11 a.m. just off Normandy Dr. and be led again by local resident and Munchkin, Mickey Carroll. Come and join the fight to help Save Old Normandie! Contact Pat Williams (pwilliams@sorkins.com) or call him at home (314-381-0120) or Joe Filla at home (314-382-9724). Send any checks, hole sponsorships with your business card to: Save Normandie Golf Course P.O. Box 210372 Normandy, MO. 63121 Special thanks to Jim Healey for pictures and his passion for golf history in St. Louis, Normandy Area Historical Association, and to the many friends and supporters of this piece of heaven on earth.

Note: The views expressed in the above treatise are those of the Committee to Save Normandie Golf Course, but I heartily agree with them!