GLADEWATER, Texas — Tempest Golf Club, the East Texas gem recently ranked the third best public course in the state, celebrated its 5th anniversary as a Jeffrey Brauer award-winning design in a gala day of golfing golf times.
“Our five-year anniversary means we have gone from a brand new golf course to five years as sustained success for a great layout and club,” said Randy Wade, who has served as Head Golf Professional since the semi-private club opened in 2018.
More than 100 people from all over East Texas took part in the ceremony inside the two level clubhouse which included a greeting from Melanie Till, daughter of owner and course visionary Joe Bruno, recognition of long-time employees, food from the famed 19th hole Neptune’s Grill and a ceremonial ribbon cutting to celebrate the milestone anniversary.
“Given the path we have traveled to make Tempest what it is today, we are thrilled with the accomplishments and the accolades that we have received over these past five years,” Bruno said.
The land on which the par 72 course site sits has been in use since the late 1980s for golf under a variety of owners, names and course conditions. Current owner Bruno, a New Orleans attorney, purchased the property with a partner after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, deciding the golf business would be a welcome change after years in the storm, literally.
After taking over the course, he oversaw the facility for several years with the Southern Hills name and layout before deciding to make the most fortunate decision in the club’s long history, hiring Texas=based architect Brauer to do a total renovation staring in 2016.
The project was originally estimated to take eight months, but it spilled over to two-plus years, opening in the summer of 2018 with a dozen new holes.
Bruno decided to rename the course “Tempest” as a tribute to the storms he has seen on the Gulf Coast and the storms of life. Those who have been with the course the longest, can’t believe the positive changes Bruno and Brauer have brought.
“I saw it when it was nothing but a tree-covered farm, but now there is no prettier or more challenging course anywhere,” said longtime member Leslie Thurston.
Tempest was the only course in Texas in 2021 to go from unranked in the statewide Dallas Morning News survey to the top 50.
“We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Tempest Golf Club,” Bruno added.
In the October 2023 issue of Texas Monthly, Tempest was selected No. 3 in the state with lavish praise for its scenic East Texas conditions, hardwoods and challenge. It’s already hosted qualifying for the U.S. Amateur and US Mid-Amateur along with several college and high school tournaments.
“We’ve have a lot of golfing highlights over five years at Tempest Golf Club, but I feel like we’re just getting started for more,” said Wade.
