The weekend of July 25th, the Clay Center Country Club will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
The nine-hole, 2,639-yard course began in 1925 when a group of 550 local men converted a pasture into a grass course with sand greens. The farmland-turned golf course was active for a decade before the Great Depression took it under. Membership had waned, causing the course to return to its owners, the Lafe Myers family.
Meanwhile, the rented home – used as a clubhouse, returned along with it, taken over by cattle during inclement weather.
In 1945, a new set of citizens joined together, they wanted their golf course, and they wanted to keep it free from poor finances. In addition, the land was purchased from the Myers family rather than leased. In 1945 54.77 acres of land were obtained for $6,846.25. ($2,232.40/$122,268.32 today, respectively.)
“That time they chose two boards – one for holding that owns everything and never has to borrow any money, then the operating side that runs everything,” said longtime Country Club member, Beuford Rook. “They were to borrow the money if it was needed. That way we’d never lose the club again. It’s worked out good over the years.”
A total of 130 shares were sold for $100 each, and the members obtained the grounds to create the 34-par course. One member, Noble Tuggle, was gifted a lifetime membership for his unpaid grounds work.
By the 1950s, the Country Club had became one of the most popular stops in the area, busy with nightlife. Social events were more popular than golf, bringing members to dances and parties throughout the year.
“Most of the members were social members then, it was basically a social club. In the 60s we had at least four big dances a year, they’d be out there until 1-2 in the morning. It was a big deal.”
In 1963 a $20,000 remodel was done on the clubhouse’s dining room and basement, which contained the bar/lounge areas. The funds also came from slot machine use; six were in operation with a federal stamp for use.
Today, Rook is the longest-consecutive member, having joined in 1960. He also came around as a kid, with his parents joining while he was in middle school. He remembered attending dances as a kid and taking lessons.
“Back then men were members, women weren’t,” he said. “Even if women were listed it was by Mrs. and their husband’s last name – it was very obvious that they used the man’s name but that all changed after they put grass greens in. That pretty much changed a lot of things.”
Grass greens were voted into approval in 1966 after a controversial meeting; three board members resigned saying it would be the end of the Clay Center Country Club. However, it was approved and income from the basement’s slot machines raised $25,000 to put in 10 practice greens – nine holes plus one practice green. (Just over $240,600 today.)
Rook remembered another controversial meeting, this one in 1970 when the Attorney General outlawed slot machines, which had grossed the Country Club $20,000 annually. New to the Operating Board, Rook said it was simple math.
“I made the motion to raise dues by $20 and they did not like that. We ended up raising it $5 but they didn’t even want to do that.”
Next, members tried to build a new clubhouse in 1981 – still using the original farmhouse, albeit with a remodel. The vote failed with a close 49%/51% split. Instead, raised funds — $55,000 — were used to put in a sprinkler system for the grounds. (About $195,000 today.) In 1988 they added the course’s first sand bunker on hole nine, followed by two more on six in 1990.
Then, a vote finally came through to build a new clubhouse in 1991, along with a new carthouse. Rook said funds were borrowed from two local banks and paid off early. While the kitchen was funded separately, as it was deemed too expensive to outfit at the time.
After ample meetings, votes, and committees – on everything from layout to interior design – the new Clubhouse opened in April of 1994 with a building budget of $580,716.00. (Over $1.2 million today.)
“If we wouldn’t have built it when we did, it wouldn’t have happened; we couldn’t afford to do it today,” he said. “Not a building like that. I’m very proud of our Country Club, it’s one of the nicest golf courses in the state and we’ve been told that by other people.”
The Centennial Event
July 26th and 27th will hold various celebration activities for the location’s 100th anniversary. Saturday afternoon there will be family events for kids and treats, followed by a dinner for adults with prime rib and chicken, said steering committee member Monica Anderson. It will be completed with live music.
“There will be some other surprises,” she said. “We want everyone to be excited and have a few things to roll out.”
On Sunday, a golf scramble will kick off at 9:30 am. She and seven other members have been working to create the event that shows off the location’s stories, she said. There will also be a slideshow of old photos and interviews with longtime members, with additional Country Club history.
“This whole event is just a big thank you to our members, former members, whether you organized a weekly event or a big flub tournament or a social event such as New Year’s Eve or Easter, it just has taken everyone to volunteer and make it happen.”
Top: The original Clay Center Country Club clubhouse was a refurbished farmhouse that notably housed cattle in its basement. The structure was placed under a controlled burn in the early 90s so a new clubhouse could be erected in its place. The latter was completed in April of 1994. Middle: The crest for the Little St. Andrews tournament was designed by Margaret Hammel in 1967. The tournament ran for 52 years, bringing in big-name golfers. Only three Country Club members could compete and they had to qualify. Ray Wyatt was the event’s winningest competitor, taking the title four consecutive times, 1981-1984, and again in 1990. Left: Spectators gather to watch competitors tee off in the early 90s.
