The US Armed Forces take over the Club

The Military Assistance Advisory Group was established in 1951, choosing the Club as a place for the US Armed Forces to work from and conduct their international interchanges. After the US Armed Forces took over the Club in 1952, they shipped construction trucks from the US, by air, to Taiwan. They started to fill and level up the more than ten feet deep tank trenches throughout the Course. The fairway on the 18^th hole recovered very quickly. Moreover, the US Armed Forces ran the Club in an American golf club style by reinforcing the servers’ etiquette, caddies’ professional golf training and enhancing other qualities. At the time, American food and beverages were sold at the Course, including coke, chocolate, golf balls, golf clubs and other gear, which were all rare, imported goods that the US Armed Forces brought from the US.

Since 1958, the US Armed Forces regularly hosted CAT, the President’s Cup and other formal golf events every year. In the meantime, to encourage and enhance the caddies’ service quality, they sometimes held mini caddie golf games. Lu Huan-liang and others won the first famous branded clubs of their dreams in this tournament. In 1965, the first Taiwan Golf Open Tournament took place at the Taiwan Golf Club. Xu Xi-shan won the championship with a gross score of 290 over four rounds. In 1966, the Taiwan Golf Open Tournament formally joined the Far East.

In 1962-1965, the US Armed Forces expatriate manager of the Tamsui Course, Mr. Monfog, handed over his position to Mr. Day after his term of office expired.

Christmas of 1952, The uppermost row from left to right: staff Wang Shu-pei, coach Chen Jin-shi, manager Winder (the first US Military Advisory Manager) and Chen Qing-po. The caddies included Lu Liang-huan, Chen Yong-yu, Chen Chun-fa, Xu Xi-shan, Chen Jian-zhen, and others.

Golf tours were held at the Taiwan Golf Club for four consecutive years. Afterwards, every year, many international golf tournaments were held at the Club. The Taiwan Golf Club became the first choice for hosting international golf tournaments in Taiwan.

In September 1968, the Club was registered as a foundation. In 1970, the Club added additional leisure facilities, including a circular restaurant, a three-story hotel, a large outdoor swimming pool, and other additions. The US Armed Forces ran the Taiwan Golf Club for 25 years. It was not until December 16, 1978, when the US announced that they were breaking off diplomatic relations and retreated from Taiwan on January 1, 1979, that the people in Taiwan took over the Taiwan Golf Club.

Note: The Far East Tour was founded in 1962. At that time, only the Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan joined the Tour. Thailand and Taiwan joined in 1965 and 1966, respectively. India and Korea joined in 1970. After Indonesia joined the Tour in 1974, it was renamed the Asian Tour.