Great Ladies Texas Cattle Drive

Players invited to Nelson's ranch

ROANOKE, Texas -- Even in the midst of putting together the greatest streak in golf history -- a record 11 consecutive tournament wins in 1945 that will likely never be duplicated -- Byron Nelson was dreaming of his ranch in Texas.

Nelson played as much as he could with the singular goal of saving enough money so that he and his first wife, Louise, could finally purchase enough land to raise cattle and chickens and still have a comfortable home with a nice view.

Early in 1946, the Nelsons found 630 acres in Roanoke, just over 20 miles north of Fort Worth. According to Nelson's autobiography, Louise insisted they not dip into their investment savings, so they decided to save up and make the purchase in cash. Nelson knew he needed to play well the rest of the year to make up the difference needed to buy the place for $55,000. They bought the ranch that summer and moved in Aug. 26, taking two carloads worth of stuff from their home in Denton to the ranch.

That ranch is where Nelson spent the rest of his life. It's not quite as secluded anymore. You can see Texas Motor Speedway as you turn down Nelson's street, fittingly named Eleven Straight Lane by Nelson's wife Peggy about eight years ago. It's a total now of 551 acres, including an 82-acre homestead.

"We hear the hum during races, but it's not bad and traffic is much better now than it was when it opened," said Peggy Nelson, who remembers heading to church Sunday morning in 1997 with Byron and ending up in a racetrack parking lot trying to get out. "All of the trees and area around here still make this a wonderful spot."

It's a spot that the golfers competing in this weekend's HP Byron Nelson Championship can see for themselves Saturday late afternoon and evening. Peggy Nelson has invited the competitors and their families to the ranch for a chance to fish, eat and take a look around.

What they'll see is a working ranch. Peggy helps with the chickens herself, and the Nelsons sold four acres of property years ago to Marcia and Eddie Baggs, who live there and help run the ranch.

To walk around the large area, which includes a tunnel under the road nearby, a man-made lake for fishing and several cabins for guests, is to get a glimpse into Nelson's career on the course and the kind of person he was off it.

"It's a great opportunity for people to come out and see where Byron has spent 60 years," Peggy Nelson said. "Sixty years in one place is pretty amazing.

Spicy Scandal Chicken Curry – Indian recipes

Check out this classic Texas Chili that’s been cooked up in the States since the mid 1800′s, and for good reason. It tastes real good, is simple to make, and its spicy heat will sure cure what ails you. This is all meat chili Texas Country style. This all meat “chili con carne” has Spanish and Mexican roots, but it took the Texas Range Cooks out on the cattle drives to make this style of Chili a legend. Give it a try. Our BBQ Pit Boys Texas Chili recipe is real easy to do. All you need is some beef ground chuck, some beef brisket (if ya have any left over), onions, garlic, some special spices, bbq sauce, your favorite beer, and just a little bit of your time! Can you smell that? It smells good! -BBQ Pit Boys You can print out this BBQ Pit Boys recipe at www.BBQPitBoys.

Texas women on the cattle trails

Ebony

Historical and biographical record of the cattle industry and the cattlemen of Texas and adjacent territory

Texas Monthly

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