COURSE ARCHITECT

San Angelo Country Club golf course began as a 9-hole course, and in 1927, Mr. John Bredemus was commissioned to add the second nine holes while changing and greatly improving the original nine. Although born in Flint, Michigan, Bredemus moved to Texas and was the first Texas resident Golf Course Architect. Bredemus was an acclaimed genius in golf course design. Along with San Angelo Country Club, his designs include The Colonial and Meadowbrook Golf Courses both in Fort Worth, Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, the Guadalajara Country Club in Mexico and many, many other courses throughout Texas and Mexico.

In his early days, Bredemus was an AAU National All-Round varsity football player and was awarded Jim Thorp trophies. He became an instructor of higher mathematics at Eastern prep schools and was reportedly to have been the private tutor to the children of railroad magnate Jay Gould.

Prior to Bredemus moving to Texas, golf course design was neglected and haphazardly constructed causing major maintenance issues. Some courses thrived, but unfortunately, many did not. Due to the slow pace and progression of new course design and construction, the game of golf and business was minimal and lacking traction.

By the early 1930’s, golf experienced a significant change. Professional tournaments were staged in metro areas, and Country Clubs began hosting year-round tournaments for professionals to help amateurs. Soon, course design, construction, and maintenance emerged as new professions. Coincidentally, John Bredemus was helpful in all three areas. He assumed the pro golfer position until his interest in architecture was stronger than playing the game. He worked as a club pro and teacher until 1926 when he became a course designer, exclusively. His legacy included co-founding the first Texas Open and the initial pro tour events in Dallas, Houston, Corpus Christi, Beaumont, and also the Texas Professional Golfers Association.

Bredemus used San Angelo’s terrain of rolling hills and the Concho River to compliment the layout of the course. Several creeks wind their way throughout the course along with difficult rough and many trees making San Angelo Country Club a “Diamond in the Rough” golf course. San Angelo Country Club has the distinction of being the first golf course in Texas to have Bentgrass greens.

Bredemus originally put a pond on #3 in the area between the 2 hills just off the ladies tee box, left of the mesquite tree. The pond wouldn’t hold water, so after many unsuccessful efforts to maintain, the idea of the pond was finally retired. The older golfers were heard teasing their golf friends if their tee shot cleared the ‘Bredemus’ pond.

John Bredemus was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame posthumously in 1981.

John Bredemus
November 10, 1884, Flint, Michigan – May 8, 1946, Big Spring, Texas