Legacy Golf Course at the 19 will host a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Friday, September 27th to mark the completion of a major renovation project undertaken in 2022.
The Legacy – formerly Mason City Country Club – is a 1915 Thomas Bendelow design. With the course history in mind, the renovation was directed at addressing major issues while enhancing the course’s unique golden age character. Significant updates include state-of-the-art computerized irrigation system addressing a major drainage issue, new ponds, new bunkers and improvements to current bunkers, realignment of all fairways, and the addition of forward tees to allow for all levels of players to enjoy the course. There were also significant changes to the course layout, including new greens for holes 1, 2 and 10, and a full redesign of hole 11 to create a challenging water hole that will be sure to attract golfers from outside North Iowa.
One notable change came at the suggestion of legendary pro golfer John Daly. “Bad Boy Corner” is the nickname of a series of holes that were redesigned based on Daly’s suggestions after he first visited the course in 2022.
“The Legacy course is Daly endorsed, no doubt about it,” Daly said during his visit to the Legacy in late August. During that visit, Daly helped unveil another notable feature of the course: Daly Tees. These extended tee boxes on certain holes create a unique challenge for long ball hitters by stretching some holes to as long as 585 yards. Learn more about Daly’s visit and see photos on the Legacy website: https://www.legacyat19.com/daly
A true labor of love, the Legacy course’s renovation began when the Pritchard family took ownership of the former Mason City Country Club in 2022. Joe and Pam Pritchard felt it was important to preserve this community asset that had been in decline for several years, and they asked Minnesota-based golf architect Kevin Norby, known for his work at The Preserve on Rathbun Lake in southeast Iowa, to review a set of plans he had originally drawn up in 2008.
“We did a long-range master plan then to look at what improvements we could undertake to make the course more playable and maintainable,” said Norby. “The plans sat idle for 16 years until the Pritchards took over.”
“The future of this golf course is very important to the Pritchard family,” said Joe Pritchard, President & CEO of Pritchard Companies. “We named it The Legacy to represent our generational connection to the course. My father, Bill Pritchard, worked as a caddie at the Mason City Country Club for his first job. It’s vital to us to keep this legacy going as an asset for our employees, customers and all of North Iowa.”
Facilities improvements include major renovations of the cabana and maintenance buildings, and the centerpiece of facilities improvements: The Pavilion. This 5,140-square foot events center seats up to 365 and features a fully equipped commercial kitchen, full-service bar, wireless PA system, 15’ x 10’ LED screen, elegant décor and stunning golf course views.
Memberships are now being accepted online, by phone, or in person. Members receive access to exclusive Legacy Lifestyle events, which this year have included Brunch with Baruthio – a gourmet Sunday morning meal created by Master Chef David Baruthio – and an outdoor concert by esteemed Elton John tribute artist Elton Dan and the Rocket Band. Many more Legacy Lifestyle events are planned.
About Legacy Golf Course at the 19
Founded in 1915 as the Mason City Country Club, the club was renamed to the Legacy Golf Course after being purchased by the Pritchard family in 2022 and has since been undergoing major renovations. The 18-hole tournament course was designed by Tom Bendelow and has hosted 20 Iowa Golf Association tournaments. For additional information, visit https://www.legacyat19.com/.
About Pritchard Companies
Pritchard Companies is an award-winning, family-owned and operated National Automotive Enterprise. Established in 1913, they service fleets across America with inventory, a national network, and expansive OEM relationships. Offering a full range of products, from sales of new and used vehicles to aftermarket parts and service, to financing, insurance, telematics, leasing and rentals, they are dedicated to meeting and exceeding customer expectations.
Pritchard’s serves customers nationwide with nearly 400 employees in over a dozen locations, with plans for continued growth. Business units include 8 automotive dealerships in North Iowa that comprise Pritchard Family Auto Stores. Pritchard Commercial Sales is a Class 1 – 7 truck & cab chassis franchised dealer, providing medium duty & low cab forward products with upfit work-ready equipment. Worldwide Equipment Sales offers towing, transportation and recovery solutions. Supporting businesses include All 4 Leasing and Streetrod Golf Cars. Find out more at www.pritchardco.com.
