The Past, Future and "Nita Special": Kickingbird Golf Club celebrates 50th Anniversary

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  • Tournament participants tee off on Kickingbird's first hole
    Tournament participants tee off on Kickingbird's first hole
  • Renderings of future Kickingbird renovations on display in clubhouse
    Renderings of future Kickingbird renovations on display in clubhouse
  • Memorabilia from the tournament
    Memorabilia from the tournament
  • A cake celebrating Kickingbird's 50th anniversary
    A cake celebrating Kickingbird's 50th anniversary
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The last hurrah is often the best hurrah.

Kickingbird Golf Club has massive renovations coming in the very near future, but last Friday was a day to celebrate the cherished past. Former club pros, PGA Tour winners, and cart barn employees all descended on their old stomping grounds for Kickingbird’s 50th anniversary golf tournament.

Kickingbird Golf Club opened in 1971 as Edmond’s first golf course. Mike McGraw, the men’s golf coach at Baylor University, said he played his first round of golf at Kickingbird in 1974. McGraw attended the University of Central Oklahoma and coached high school golf at Edmond North and Memorial for 11 years.

“(The course) doesn’t really resemble (the course back in 1974), there’s been too many storms. Ice storms, windstorms, tornados. Does it have the same feel? Yes, it’s still Kickingbird,” McGraw said.

That was the overwhelming feel in the clubhouse as old friends, many of whom had not seen each other in decades, shook hands and caught up with one another. The feel of Kickingbird had not changed over its half century of golf.

The anniversary tournament brought back local golf legends like 7-time PGA Tour winner David Edwards and 2-time Oklahoma Open champion Dr. Gil Morgan; however, it also returned the people who made the course feel like home.

Art Proctor, Kickingbird’s first head pro, made sure everyone got the credit they deserved. He announced to the group of participants assembled before the round that the best employee he ever had was Nita Hampton.

Hampton said she worked in Kickingbird’s kitchen for a number of years before taking over management. She was at the golf course for 40 years and retired in 2017.

Hampton became somewhat of a legend for her signature hamburger, the “Nita special.”

“(Hampton made the) best burgers, best fries in town and everybody knew it. We all came here for that,” Victoria Woods, a Kickingbird regular since 1989 said.

The day wasn’t solely focused on the past.

“I hope everyone gets a chance to see not only the history of this golf course but what we’re looking to do in the future,” Kickingbird head golf professional Brian Soerensen said.

On July 1, Kickingbird will close for massive renovations including a new clubhouse, underground cart barn, banquet hall and new greens.

Edmond Mayor Darrell Davis participated in the tournament. He and the other members of the city council helped secure funding for the renovations.

“It’s great…to see everyone coming out and the community is totally supporting (the 50-year anniversary celebration). It’s great, it’s a great feeling. This is a great golf course and it’s going to be even better so I’m looking forward to being a part of that,” Davis said.

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