Two of our members, Steph and Kevin, work at Spring Lake County Club, the home of Spring Lake Rotary from the founding of our Club in 1958. Spring Lake Country Club was the brainchild of William Savidge, who became enamored with the game of golf and felt the Spring Lake/Grand Haven area needed a course. He identified the 134 acre Soule Farm as a good location. Later, when the farm became available, it was purchased for just over $6,000 in 1911. The club was organized and Thomas Bendelow was hired to design the course.
The original design was only 6 holes. The Soule farmhouse was used as the first clubhouse. The membership was Men Only! Three holes were added almost immediately and by 1920, the course had expanded to 18 holes. When the club was formed, few people had cars as most people used the interurban railway, which ran right through the property. In 1926, the Mediterranean-style stucco clubhouse was built. Member Chauncy Blakeslee, a popular local builder known for his stucco designs, was the contractor. The cost was $57,000. Numerous additions, as well as a pool/tennis facility, has brought the club to its current physical configuration. The club survived the Depression and WWII period, which were financially difficult, by installing 5-cent and 10-cent slot machines in the men’s and women’s locker rooms. Those were eliminated at the end of the war.
The club has slowly grown and evolved over the last 70 years with beautiful additions and a conscious decision to reorient the club’s emphasis to a family-friendly club. These efforts have been very successful. Classes teach not only golf but tennis and swimming. There is a summer youth swim team. There are family parties and children dinnertime activities in the event mom and dad want a respite meal. Almost every activity is provided: fitness rooms, Pro Shop, six food service areas, Men’s Card Room, member wine storage and wintertime golf simulators, curling and cross country skiing.
While the normal club tournaments are popular annual events, there are outreach activities as well. The most famous is the Women’s Match Play Invitational, which attracts competitors from all over the Midwest and beyond. The Spring Lake High School boys and girls golf teams enjoy the use of the course for practice and matches without charge. This includes use of the simulator in the off-season. In addition, a group within the club has formed a non-profit entity known as the Junior Golf Association. The Junior Golf Association offers non-member underprivileged youth the opportunity to learn the game of golf.
Spring Lake Country Club is a stock company. Every member is a stockholder. There are about 450 memberships, which translates to about 1000 people when family members are included. Of those, there are about 255 golfing members, which is less than the course capacity. There are numerous levels of memberships: from $270 per month for a social membership to the “Platinum” at $7,200 a year ($600 per month).
The current project is the development of the Villas at Spring Lake Country Club, a site condominium development on 38 acres in the southwest corner of the property, fronting on State Road. The total project will include 90 duplex units. Owners will have to maintain a club membership.
Spring Lake Country Club is a gem and Kevin Green deserves much of the credit for the steady growth and solid footing which has marked his term. Thanks Steph and Kevin for a very interesting and comprehensive look at the club.