A new bronze eagle graces the top of the flagpole at Tryon Country Club.
The replacement of an “old unattractive” pole topper might not seem like a big event to most, but to the management and members of TCC the meaning runs deeper than a small makeover for the club’s entrance.
The bronze eagle and coordinating plaque at the foot of the pole was purchased and presented by John Albree, a retired colonel and current member of TCC.
“The retired military has steep history in the club,” said grounds superintendent Fred Edwards Jr. “Col. Albree, he’s the kind of member the club was made out of.”
Albree said he felt like it was a continuation of his duty to his community and to those veterans who were members of the club and those that still are members.
“It’s a labor of love and it’s in memory of so many people that are gone now,” he said. “It stands for a lot of people that gave a lot of time to this country.”
Albree said he purchased a new flag to fly over the club as well.
Edwards said many military members would move to Tryon to retire and would later encourage their peers to move here as well. He said many of them have had a lot of influence through the board, including one who wrote the policies and procedure handbook for TCC.
Edwards said several other members have also sponsored tee holes that bear plaques with their names. He said he’s excited about these new additions in light of the club’s efforts to apply for the National Registry of Historic Places. He said the club should know something about the status of its application by the end of this year.