The First Hill Golf Club is located in Seattle, Washington.  We have about 60 members who meet for monthly tournaments at various Puget Sound area golf courses between March and October.  We have a long and distinguished history and have remained true to our roots - play golf and have a good time!

The 2009 season marked the First Hill Golf Club's 45th year of golf.  That's a long legacy which started with a bunch of guys who loved the game and loved having a good time.  I think they'd be surprised that the offspring of 3 of the original 9 members would help move the club into the next century - Brian Ogishima, Don Tanabe (Fuzzy Fujiyama's son-in-law) and myself. 

While trying to collect some club history, I sent a list of questions to two of the Tai Tung Humbow Hackers, Floyd Horiuchi and Cal Harada.  Eventually they made their way to Roy Seko, one of the original members.  Roy and Joan sent me 3 emails in reply.

Over the years I've wrestled with how best to present this small portion of the club's history, especially since Roy and all of the other original members have passed on.  The best way turned out to be the simplest - let Roy's words speak for themselves. 

So, always a gracious host and storyteller, Roy, you now have the floor.

When was the club started?
Why was the club started?
Who were the original members?
What were the original tournaments like?
Where did the club play?
What was the overall ability level of the club?
Any special people outside the club who helped it in the early years?
Who were the golfing studs?
How has the club changed?
How have the golfers changed?
Has technology really made a difference?
How have the courses changed?
Memorable members?
Memorable events?
Memorable competitions?

Steve,

The club was started in 1964.

The Nisei professional men decided to start their own club with friends.

Original members:

Tom Iwata
Sab Ogishima
Ted Sakahara
Fuzzy Fujiyama
Monroe Beppu
Bill Oves (Seafirst International Bank Manager)
Bjorn Lunder (Rainier Bank International Branch Bank Manager)
Terrance Toda
Frank Hattori
Roy Seko (only remaining member who is not deceased)

The original tournaments were mostly medal.

The members played in the Seattle vicinity and not outlying areas. Everyone helped.

Overall ability level of the club: 10-30 HDCP.

Golfing studs: Frank Hattori, Sab Ogishima, Bjorn Lunder.

Club has changed by getting too large.

The original golfers aged, passed on and new younger members were recruited.

Yes, technology has made a big difference. If you think about it, with the equipment used by these men, they were great golfers.

There are much more golf courses now and we are accepted in many country clubs without prejudice.

Memorable member: Frank Hattori

Memorable events: After each tournament everyone went out for a snack and drinks (everyone could really drink in those days.

Memorable competitions: Most of them played in the Seattle-Portland Bush Garden Tournaments. Everyother year was rotated in either Seattle or Portland. I think I am the only one living of the charter members.

The club started at Bush Garden

Roy Seko

Steve,

First Hill name was derived from the 1st Hill Lion's Club. Please take Terrance Toda off as a charter member, he came in later.

We hardly golfed at Jefferson Park Golf Course. When I stated earlier, we did go not go to outlying areas.......Joan made an error. We did travel to Everett, Tacoma, etc. No one ever had dinner, appetizers only and a whole lot of drinking went on. Just a handful of ten friends decided to start this golf club with Monroe Beppu leading it on. A year later, Terrance Toda and William Ishii joined the group to make it twelve. Soon after that, many of the other Lion's Club members came on. The Club grew as more Lion's and their friends joined.

None of the Japanese members belonged to a Country Club in those days. We were able to golf at Bjorn Lunders club at one time in Kirkland. There was a lot of prejudice and minorities were not welcome at many Country Clubs. Sometimes, prejudice was also seen on the public links, worse than today.

Roy Seko

Steve,

Sorry, said ten charter members, only nine. Usually only eight golfed at a time. Sometimes business kept one or two from going.

Roy Seko