Pair look into RCC renovations
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Beaumont attorney Walter Umphrey and professional golfer Steve Elkington are looking into the possibility of improving the golf facilities at the Rayburn Country Club.

According to Gary Collins, chairman of the Jasper County Development District #1 and Rayburn Country board member, the pair is conducting a feasibility study on the country club's facilities.

"If that materializes, you have a major golfer developing a golf course that will ultimate draw more people to the area," Collins said. "We are just praying that it happens. It would be a tremendous boom to Rayburn Country and that area in general."

Collins said the Rayburn Country Club membership has been notified of the feasibility study and now is just waiting for the results.

"We will work with them in any way that we can," Collins said. "We are excited that they are looking to join us."

Collins said the main focus of the possible renovations deal with the golf course and country club facilities.

"The changes in the golf course would be done to entice additional membership," Collins said.

Collins said once the Hwy. 96 corridor is completed between Rayburn and Beaumont, a four-lane highway will speed up travel between the city and the rural lifestyle seen in Rayburn.

"It will take no time at all to get here soon," Collins said. "They hope that renovations will attract people interested in the club for weekenders. The changes they have proposed would make it a championship course and we are certainly interested in whatever they offer."

Collins said the pair have worked on similar projects before and saw Rayburn Country as a new opportunity.

"Elkington has been up here fishing on Rayburn and stayed at Umphrey's lodge," Collins said. "(Elkington) didn't even know we had a golf course until his third or fourth trip up here. When he saw the course, he liked it and thought it was a whole lot better than anything they offered in Houston because everything in Houston is flat."

Collins believes if this situation comes to fruition, it will be a win-win for the whole area.

"If we can bring more golfers to Rayburn, then they will stop, shop and visit in Jasper and it will benefit the whole area," Collins said.