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The Very Beginning - Before The White Man
It is estimated that early man settled in what is now North County
more than 10,000 years ago, according the San Diego Museum of Man.
In other studies, it is suggested that the contemporary division
of Native American culture and territory was established one thousand
years ago when the Shoshonean groups migrated to Southwest California
and originated the San Luis Rey Culture, or the "Luisenos".
Notable
village or settlement areas included Pamoosa Canyon, where Castle
Creek is located. Pamoosa is an Indian name, which means "Long
Beard", derived from an apparent bearded face that can be
seen in the rock falls of Moosa Creek. The Post Office shortened
Pamoosa to Moosa to avoid confusion with Poway and Pomona.
Evidence
of Indian life abounds the Castle Creek area. The rock hill across
the street from #16 green features boulders that were used as grinding
stones. This was nicknamed "Indian Hill" by the early
settlers in the region. There used to be an enormous oak tree behind
#15 (the stumps still remain) that was called the "Pow Wow" tree
because it was a favorite spot for the men to congregate while
the women supposedly gathered and processed the acorns!
During
construction of Interstate 15, an Indian burial ground was discovered
in the area across Highway 395 from #13 green. Early correspondence
from Mission San Luis Rey indicate that the Indians who lived
in our area were called the Pumusi, and were integrated into the
mission system with the other tribes from Escondido to Warner Hot
Springs to Camp Pendleton.
The Spanish Arrive
The explorer Juan Baptista de Anza discovered the North San Diego
area in 1776, claiming the territory for Spain. Twenty- two years
later the San Luis Rey Mission was established with a territory
of over 1,000 square miles in what is now San Diego and Riverside
Counties. The mission had an extensive chain of outposts that provided
not only support for the mission itself, but also allowed the baptized
Indians to remain in their villages and serve the mission by working
on the ranchos.
There is an annual report sent by the mission to
the Spanish Territorial Legislature that describes the assets of
the mission. In this report, there is a description that reads,"
to the east of three leagues (8 miles) the Mission has a locality
named San Juan for the cattle". According to historians,
this is perhaps a forgotten name for the area in the rolling hills
north of Vista and east of the San Marcos Mountains.
Upon looking
at the map, the description indicates that the Gopher Canyon-Mossa
Creek area is indeed what is described. This is further validated
by the fact that an early AAA map describes an Indian Mission
School located at the present site of Castle Creek clubhouse. The
sub-mission San Antonio De Pala, located a few miles up Interstate
15 no doubt governed over the school.
On March 28, 1879, California, in accordance with the Treaty of
Hidalgo, awarded its' largest land grant to Pio Pico, the
last Mexican Governor. The grant was called Santa Margarita Y Los
Flores, and covered close to 200,000 acres, stretching down the
coastline from Laguna Beach to south of Oceanside. Pico encountered
personal and financial problems, selling the lion's share
of the land to Richard O'Neill and John Forster. The O'Neill
family is best known for creating the Mission Viejo Land Company.
Little is known how the land became sub-divided except for sale
of Camp Pendleton area to the United States Government in the 40's
for a then astronomical sum of $4,000,000.
The Wild West
Research shows development during the late 1800's in the
area as either large rancheros or small towns. There is an account
of a small town called Pamoosa, which appears to be located in
the general vicinity of the 16th green. In fact, there is a photograph
showing the Moosa Creek Post Office, which in reality is a small
shed with a desk and a few boxes.
In 1893, a famous artist from
Scotland, Isaac Jenkinson Frazee, built a replica of a Scottish
Castle, which included the now famous stone turret. The castle
was built up the canyon, along the road now named Old Castle.
Frazee was a noted Southern California artist, writer, and poet.
He was also an expert on North American culture. In a natural amphitheater
below the castle, he staged an Indian pageant he wrote himself.
It was held as an annual event, with nearly 1,500 attending each
performance. Frazee moved to Laguna Beach in 1927, selling the
property to the famous Lien (plumbing supplies). The turret from
the castle is standing today, having been incorporated into a
large complex, still owned by family descendents.
Perhaps the most exciting event to happen in "this here
parts" happened on January 18, 1888. "The Gunfight
in Moosa Canyon" as it was called, was a result of squatters
living on homesteaded land in what is now approximately at the
end of the golf course on Old Castle Road. It seems that a Mr.
Levi Stone had filed a homestead in Moosa Canyon and established
a honeybee farm.
With the market unfavorable in California for
honey, Mr. Levi, in 1887, set off to his native Rhode Island with
a railroad car full of honey. Upon returning the next year, Mr.
Levi found a group of 5 squatters living in his house, using his
possessions. When asked to leave, the squatters answered with a
shotgun. Levi returned with a sheriff and deputy the next day.
As they neared the door, it was thrown open. A peg-legged man met
tem and told them under no circumstances that they "better
bring an army" if they wanted to evict them.
The next day
a posse of 6 armed men showed up at the door. The family refused
to leave, and after several shouts and tussles, shots were fired.
By the time the smoke cleared, "Peg-Leg" and 2 other
squatters and 2 members of the posse were killed. Mr. Levi lived
in the ill-fated house for a short while, but he said on dark nights
he could hear Peg Leg thumping around the outside of the house.
Mr. Levi left Moosa Canyon, never to return.
Circle R- The Golden Years
In the early 1900's a cattle rancher by the name of O.D.
Reed purchased 778 acres of land covering what is now Castle Creek
Golf Course and Moosa Canyon. He promptly named the ranch Circle
R, a play on his name. In 1930 he sold the ranch to General Water
Heater Corporation. The company was owned by a Mr. Trundeau, who
proceeded to hire a couple named Moye to act as caretakers.
They
converted part of the cattle ranch into a farm, growing walnuts,
oranges, and alfalfa. Along with the herd of cattle, they raised
Tennessee Walking Horses. In 1935 the original mission school mentioned
previously was converted to a Mount Palomar School, a boy's
reform school. The school included a dormitory, schoolhouse, and "slammer" for
the most incorrigible. Mr. Trundeau changed the name of the ranch
to Cloverleaf Ranch, although it never stuck.
In 1945, an aging Trundeau sold the property to a couple of business
associates, Art Doherty and Gil Sinclair. After a year or so farming
on the ranch, Doherty soon came to the conclusion that farming
was a lost cause. The absence of producing wells and the erratic
creek created inconsistent water sources. One day Art and a neighbor
farmer, This soon progressed to mowed out green areas and "fairways" created
by tractors. By 1947, Doherty decided that he would build 9 holes
over what is now basically the back nine. He solicited bids, with
$3,000 as the lowest. He felt that he was being gouged and decided
that he would do it himself! The routing went as follows (in modern
hole #s):
#1: Tee off where #18 green and ends between #17 green and #18
tee.
#2: Tee off by 15 green and goes up hill to top of hill on left
of #10 fairway.
#3: Short par three down hill to #10
green
#4: Dogleg left par 4 up fairway to
#11 green.
#5: Par 4 dogleg right towards existing
homes.
#6: Dogleg right par 4 across creek
to right of #13 green.
#7: Long par 5 from #13 tee over creek
to #16 blue tees.
#8: Par 3 from behind #18 tee to right
of #16 green
#9: Par 5 from #16 green to #9 green.
The card measured 3192 yards from the blue tees with a par of
36. Doherty reconverted the old school and dormitory to a clubhouse
with a coffee shop and pro shop. The downstairs stables were changed
to accommodate carts and storage. Although played privately in
1948, the course was officially opened at the end of 1949.
By 1953 play was picking up, and a men's club and ladies' club
were formed. Fees were $3.50 during the week and $5.00 on the weekends.
A snack shack was built behind #9 green. In 1954 Sinclair sold
his share to Doherty. In 1955 Doherty decided to expand the popular
9-hole course to 18 holes, using grazing land on the east portion
of his property.
Only the second, fourth, and fifth greens have
survived these years. One can notice the difference these 3 greens
are when compared to the others.
To accommodate travelers from the north, Doherty built a 6- room
motel, complete with pool and kitchenettes. He offered weekend
specials which included 3 days, 3 rounds of golf, and 2 nights
lodging for $27.50 each, double occupancy. Later he built condominiums
on Old Castle Road, across #6 fairway for the snowbirds.
By 1960, Circle R was in its heyday. A trading post and gas station
was built where the Trading Post on Old Castle road is today. In
the early 60's our famous red barn with the large circle
R was built to house member's carts and maintenance equipment.
The club joined the Southern California Golf Association in 1964.
The fall of 1969 brought the famous Circle R fires, consuming dry
brush all around the golf course. Luckily the course escaped unscathed.
1970 was a sad year for all that love our club. Art Doherty died
suddenly, with his family selling the property to Teachers Management
Inc. It was as though the soul of the club went with Art as well.
The club changed from a family style one to a corporate culture
where the bottom line is what counts most. The 70's brought
relatively few other changes to the course.
The winter of 1978-79 was devastating for the course. The wettest
winter in years brought severe flooding to the course. Literally,
holes 2 through 8, holes 13 through 17were under water. All the
bridges were either wiped out or badly destroyed. The once 2-foot
creek became a huge ravine.
After the storm, the club hired Jack Daray, the son of the
original architect of the front 9 to rebuild the damaged holes
10-15. Four new bridges were built and 300 new trees were added
to the course.
1982 was a watershed year for the development of Circle R. Teacher's
Management sold the club to a Taiwanese-American Investment Group,
who named themselves Circle R Associates. The plan is to develop
3 separate housing units in and around the course. They hire Jack
Daray Jr. the son of the architect of the original front nine to
re-route the affected holes. The back nine is completely changed,
with no hole unscathed. The front none remains relatively intact,
and the nines are reversed. In addition, the Inn reopens after
bankruptcy as the Bavarian Inn, with a European flavor that includes
a spa. Because of the new housing being developed, Circle R Road
is open, forever closing the old road between the nines. The road
remains, however, to allow for an easement to SDGE.
In 1989 the demise of Circle R becomes complete. Fuji Evergreen,
a Japanese Corporation, purchases the golf course from Circle R
Associates. Fuji, determined to create an American club for Japanese
players, changes the name to Castle Creek, thinking it sounds better.
Although there is no such name as Castle Creek, Fuji combines Old
Castle Road with Moosa Creek to form the name. Pictures of famous
Japanese holes are posted throughout the clubhouse, adding insult
to injury to all loyal Circle R golfers. Perry Dye is hired to
rebuild #10,11,12,14, and 18, leaving his family's unique
stamp of severe mounds and pot bunkers forced around the greens.
Fuji's plans to develop a Japanese club fall apart as Japan's
economy spirals downward. Their marketing then changes to one of
converting the club into a pure public facility, going as far as
changing the name to Castle Creek Golf Course instead of Castle
Creek Country Club. By 2003, Fuji has had enough and sells to a
Koss Development LLC, who also owns The Quarry GC in Fontana. Koss
sells the club in 2004 to Josephine Development LLC.
Josephine Development, who commissioned this history, is determined
to bring the club back to its' former glory by providing
a superior course and an outstanding clubhouse. Josephine is changing
the identification of Castle Creek by bringing back the Circle
R logo and all that it represented.
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