Something To Brag About: Willie Nelson Played 9 in Creve Coeur Monday

Willie Nelson will play a set at The Pageant Tuesday night, but on Monday, the Country music icon played nine holes at the with five members of his entourage.

Tim Brinks, Assistant Recreation Director and Golf Course Manager, said afterward they knew something was up when Nelson's tour bus pulled up. "We don't see many of those in the parking lot," he joked.

Brinks said Nelson's group arrived at 12:30 p.m. in search of a "quiet & quick round of golf," and left a little before 3 p.m.

Brinks said he didn't know how the group found out about the course, but that Nelson did talk about his ownership of a course near Austin, TX, called Pedernales Golf Club, which is affectoniately also known as Willie Nelson's Cut-N-Putt.

(A Golf Digest item from 2007 noted Nelson had a 16 Handicap at that time, just behind Toby Keith at 15 and ahead of Snoop Dogg's 18)

The Creve Coeur course has been the subject of much scrutiny in recent years as the facility has operated at a loss. Considerable time and effort has been spent trying to improve signage, boost marketing and attract new players. The most recent visitors told city staff they'd put a picture of their Creve Coeur stop on Nelson's website.

As Tim Brinks told Patch after Nelson had left, "Every little bit helps."