40 YEARS OLD! Come March, 2011, Padre Isles Country Club will celebrate 40 years serving the Padre Island community. Only one person has been there all the time - even while in San Antonio overseeing the PICC operation - Charles Eskridge. Starting as the club's PGA Golf Professional and moving up the ranks to majority owner in 2001, he has seen the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - lots can happen in 40 years. He's shared that in the past articles. He will be celebrating the tenth year of club ownershipin 2011. Hardly anyone today devotes that much time to one job. Would he do it again? Absolutely!! he loves this place!
Though the name is "country club", I think it's more a "community club" as the original investors and founders of Padre Isles Investment envisioned 40 years ago. We serve all the people of the area. There are five long standing members active today which have been at PICC for long time and desreve recognition. The year the club opened, 1971, Kathleen Simmons became a member. The other members with longest memberships are Dr. & Mrs. Sergio Alvalos since 1972, Jerry & Anita Brown since 1973, Mr. & Pat Harral in 1975 and Mr. & Mrs. John Palmer since 1977. We appreciate the loyalty shown by them and ALL our members!
Non members also participate in various functions as guests. With our members, they attend celebrations of birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, christenings and memorial services. Many play in Golf Tournaments that raise funds for civic clubs like Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus and charties such as the Blackhawk Memorial Golf Tournament. It began to honor four pilots from NAS Corpus Christi who died in a crash in the Gulf of Mexico on August 10, 2000. Proceeds from the tournament are donated to Navy Marine Corp Relief Society. This year's tournament will be held on August 9, 2010. Families sign up their kids for summer camps to learn to play golf and tennis. Children take swimming lessons. Golfers and tennis players come for lessons and clinics. Ladies come play bridge and others come for Yoga. Others just come to enjoy great food and drink. We're a friendly place!
All the above services are provided by a very dedicated staff. Gary Reynard has led the Golf Operation since 1997. Patrick Kelliher in membership and PGA Golf Instructor has served for 8 years. For fourteen years, Julian Burnett has been preparing delicious meals and party fare with his staff of Tim Carr and James A. Lawrence with each here for 7 years apiece. The Dining Room and Bar have been in the capable hands of Donna Healey for 12 years and her daughter Stephanie for 5 years. Nick Estrada, Jr. followed his dad's footsteps in overseeing the golf course maintenance. Prior to his death, Nick Sr. served 23 years and Nick Jr. has added 17 years. Bill Brown make sure all the equipment is running and has done so for 18 years. . Carl Suding as golf superintendent has been a the club for 19 years. Tennis and swimming are the hands of Gerald Tjon-A-Joe (15 years) and wife, Winnie Dekreii (9 years). All of it is orchestrated by Patti White, Office Manager since 1981! So many dedicated to make Padre Isles Country Club the member's "Home away from Home", which is the club's missions statement as shown in a plaque in the lobby. With total years of 174 from the above staff, I think you could conclude they love the club and what they do day in and day out. There are other staff members who serve the members guests. They all are ready to serve and welcome you and the staff most likely knows you by your name! You can be sure Charles recognizes their hard work and truly appreciates all their efforts.
With serveral membership options available, we invite you to come see what you've been missing. Avtive military join without an inititation fee - it's Charles's way to honor his fellow service men and women! Come see Patrick to see how you can become a part of a wonderful family place! We're still here ready to serve you and provide an atmosphere for fun, sun, golf, tennis, swimming and great food and drinks! We're in YOUR neighborhood! Stop by the next time you drive by and check us out. Great plans are ahead for celebrating 40 years in 2011! We extend a hearfelt thanks to all of you who have supported us through the years. Our website, wwwpadreislescc.com will keep you abreast of all that's to come for the celebration.
P.S. I believe 40 years makes us one of the oldest businesses on Padre Island, if not THE oldest!
