Rock Island Arsenal

Went golfing today even though my back was killing me, pain bills kind of worked. Scott DeMeyer made the tee time at the Rock Island Arsenal golf club for brother Russ, Scott and myself. The Rock Island Arsenal comprises 946 acres (383 ha), located on Arsenal Island, originally known as Rock Island, on the Mississippi River between the cities of Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois. It lies within the state of Illinois. The island was originally established as a government site in 1816, with the building of Fort Armstrong. It is now the largest government-owned weapons manufacturing arsenal in the United States.[3] It has been an active manufacturer of military equipment and ordnance since the 1880s. In 1919-20 100 of the Anglo-American or Liberty Mark VIII tanks were manufactured, although too late for World War I. It is designated as a National Historic Landmark. Established as both an arsenal and a center for the manufacture of leather accoutrements and field gear, today it provides manufacturing, logistics, and base support services for the Armed Forces. The Arsenal is the only active U.S. Army foundry, and manufactures ordnance and equipment, including artillery, gun mounts, recoil mechanisms, small arms, aircraft weapons sub-systems, grenade launchers, weapons simulators, and a host of associated components.[4] Some of the Arsenal's most successful products include the M198 and M119 towed howitzers, and the M1A1 gun mount. The Golf club on the island was always a private club until September 2010 when it was opened to the public in order to avoid bankruptcy since it had been going down hill. Right now I'd consider it a diamond in the rough as far as it is in great shape as golf courses go and still not known to a lot of the public so it's not all that busy. There are four bridges between Davenport/Bettendorf (the Iowa part of the Quad Cities) and Rock Island/Moline/East Moline (the Illinois part of the Quad Cities). There is the Centennial bridge, the Bettendorf I-74 Bridge, the I-280 bridge and then the Government bridge which connects Davenport and the Island over the Locks on the river, lock and Dam #15. The easiest and quickest way to the Arsenal golf club from Davenport is the Government bridge so naturally that's the way Russ and I went to meet Scott at the course. Yep....it was time for a barge and tug to go through the locks and Dam so the bridge actually swings open while the tug pushes the barges through and then shuts once the barge has cleared. We were only a few minutes late for our tee time and it ended up not being a problem for my very first trip onto the Arsenal Island and the golf club there. I remember after 9/11 the security across the nation really tightened up and I'm sure it did on Arsenal Island since it had always been one of the top 13 places in the United States as far as targets for terrorist and enemies of our country. Where I'm from it was the Hoover Dam that really tightened up security with check points before and after with vehicle checks and searches etc. but I was really amazed at the lack of security getting onto the island. Yes there was regular military type guard shack but manned by "Arsenal Police" and not military and all they did was scan my drivers license and didn't ask even to see Russ's or cared that he was even in the car along. All I'm saying is it seemed to me to be too easy to get on and off the Arsenal Island especially it being a military base and ordinance facility. I enjoyed the round of golf, it was a long challenging course with one hell of a lot of trees, big trees for this desert dwelling golfer! Yes I hit a few of those trees with some good bounces and some not so good ricochets so to speak. Dinner with Russ and Cheryl, lunch with my Mom, sister and brother tomorrow and a concert in the park in Rock Island with friends Dave and Marilyn Naab tomorrow night and I'm sure some very good conversation. Thinking about it, it had been quite a few years since I golfed on a military facility, Keesler AFB in Mississippi and/or Malmstrom AFB in Montana...........ironic, Keesler in Mississippi and the Arsenal on the Mississippi.