Carmel Magazine

Koeppel says. For instance: "Ed always wanted to be a fireman or a police officer. He had a red light, police scanner and siren installed on his Mercedes and was often the first responder to accidents in the Valley." Haber and Koeppel became friends, golfing together regularly on Friday afternoons from the mid- 1990s until Haber's passing in 2005. Gregarious, charming and full of fun, Koeppel clearly considered Haber one of his greatest friends. "I proposed the idea of doing a book about Haber and the Quail to [current Quail owners] Peninsula Hotels," he recalls. He began work in 2006, interviewing more than 100 people for this labor of love. Published in 2014, the coffee- table book is attractively laid out, contains scores of historical and current photos and is masterfully written without being overly senti- mental. Apropos for a tome whose central theme is golf, "After mapping out the project," the author says, "it naturally turned out that the book was going to be divided into 18 chapters." Since the first course in the area was laid out at the Hotel Del Monte in 1897, the game of golf has played a large role in the Monterey Peninsula's rise to the A-list of travel destinations. Golfers scrimp, save and dream of the day when they can tee up at Pebble, Spyglass or Spanish Bay. The Golf Club at Quail Lodge has earned a position equal to those legendary links. With its sub- lime weather, superb views and challenging course, it's been a top choice of pros and amateurs alike for decades. And it's all due to the vision of Edgar Haber. He was one of those lucky few: a person who was able to turn his passion into a successful livelihood, while also contributing greatly to his community. To purchase "The Legend of Quail Lodge," visit www.cstpub.com. 126 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 4 Ed Haber was universally admired in golfing and hospitality circles. In Carmel Valley, he was a revered figure, a respected citizen of his adopted home. An admirer of police and fire professionals, he founded the Mid-Valley Volunteer Fire Department. He was clearly obsessed with the game, and when he laid eyes on that 245-acre dairy farm, he didn't see silos and Guernsey cows; he saw sand traps and lush greens. Photo: Courtesy of Quail Lodge

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