Country Club of Birmingham: Difference between revisions
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{{ | [[Image:Bham Country Club.jpg|right|thumb|450px|The Clubhouse in Shades Valley. {{BPL permission caption|http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/u?/p4017coll6,1345}}]]The '''Country Club of Birmingham''' is a golf and country club located on 292 acres in a section of [[Shades Valley]] drained by [[Watkins Brook]] in [[Mountain Brook]]. Established in [[North Birmingham]] in [[1898]], the club has moved twice since its foundation. The current club, which opened in [[1926]], features two 18-hole golf courses and a Tudor-style clubhouse designed by [[Warren, Knight & Davis]]. | ||
The '''Country Club of Birmingham''' is a golf and country club located on 292 acres in a section of [[Shades Valley]] drained by [[Watkins Brook]] in [[Mountain Brook]]. Established in [[North Birmingham]] in [[1898]], the club has moved twice since its foundation. The current club, which opened in [[1926]], features two 18-hole golf courses | |||
==North Birmingham== | ==North Birmingham== | ||
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A one-story clubhouse was constructed to serve as a dining hall and ballroom, with smaller parlors and changing rooms. The first crude golf links in the city was laid out by [[Robert Baugh]] with 9 tin-cans sunk into small scraped-down "greens" in an unimproved half-acre meadow adjoining the country club. The then-separate '''Birmingham Golf Club''' course opened for play on [[April 1]], [[1899]]. Later that month Baugh demonstrated the novel game for fellow club members (he shot a 58) and can be credited with introducing the pastime to [[Birmingham]]. | A one-story clubhouse was constructed to serve as a dining hall and ballroom, with smaller parlors and changing rooms. The first crude golf links in the city was laid out by [[Robert Baugh]] with 9 tin-cans sunk into small scraped-down "greens" in an unimproved half-acre meadow adjoining the country club. The then-separate '''Birmingham Golf Club''' course opened for play on [[April 1]], [[1899]]. Later that month Baugh demonstrated the novel game for fellow club members (he shot a 58) and can be credited with introducing the pastime to [[Birmingham]]. | ||
The club's property in North Birmingham was sold to [[Dimmick Pipe]] in [[1900]]. In [[1903]] the Country Club and Golf Club merged into the present combined organization. | The club's property in North Birmingham was sold to [[Dimmick Pipe]] in [[1900]]. In [[1903]] the Country Club and Golf Club merged into the present combined organization. The former North Birmingham clubhouse was used as a lunchroom for the adjacent [[North Birmingham School]]. | ||
==Lakeview== | ==Lakeview== | ||
[[Image:Bham Country Club Lakeview.jpg| | [[Image:Bham Country Club Lakeview.jpg|left|thumb|375px|The Clubhouse in Lakeview in 1908]] | ||
In [[1900]] the club moved to the site of the former [[Lakeview Park]] and [[Southern Female Institute]], anchoring the end of the [[Lakeview Streetcar]] line. Club pro [[Nick Thompson]] laid out a new 9-hole course on the hilly terrain. Six years later he completed a short front 9 to extend the course to a full 18 holes, now featuring grass instead of sand on the greens. The club members instituted an annual golf tournament and several members rose to prominence in the [[Alabama Golf Association]]. The Women's Southern Golf Association held its [[1915 WSGA tournament|1915 tournament]] at the club. In [[1923]] female members of the Birmingham Country Club founded their own tournament. | In [[1900]] the club moved to the site of the former [[Lakeview Park]] and [[Southern Female Institute]], anchoring the end of the [[Lakeview Streetcar]] line. Club pro [[Nick Thompson]] laid out a new 9-hole course on the hilly terrain. Six years later he completed a short front 9 to extend the course to a full 18 holes, now featuring grass instead of sand on the greens. The club members instituted an annual golf tournament and several members rose to prominence in the [[Alabama Golf Association]]. The Women's Southern Golf Association held its [[1915 WSGA tournament|1915 tournament]] at the club. In [[1923]] female members of the Birmingham Country Club founded their own tournament. | ||
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==Shades Valley== | ==Shades Valley== | ||
In [[1926]] the club sold its Lakeview course to the city of [[Birmingham]] (which opened it to the public, now the [[Highland Park Golf Course]]). | In [[1926]] the club sold its Lakeview course to the city of [[Birmingham]] (which opened it to the public, now the [[Highland Park Golf Course]]). | ||
The Country Club moved to a 292-acre parcel of former farm land on either side of Watkins Brook | The Country Club moved to a 292-acre parcel of former farm land on either side of Watkins Brook. A new clubhouse, designed by [[Warren, Knight & Davis]], opened in [[1927]] facing the expansive swimming pool, the terrace of which commanded a sweeping view of both courses. The clubhouse has been expanded and renovated several times. A west lounge was added in [[1961]]. The east ballroom was added in [[1979]]. The swimming pool was rebuilt at a lower elevation and adjoining ground-level spaces renovated in [[2020]]. | ||
In [[1976]] the clubhouse was used for scenes in the feature film ''[[Stay Hungry]]''. | |||
===Golf=== | |||
The Country Club of Birmingham operates two 18-hole golf courses, as well as a practice driving range with an indoor teaching facility, and a putting range. Both courses were originally designed by Donald Ross. The longer 6,779-yard west course was reconfigured by Robert Trent Jones in the early 1960s and again by Pete Dye in [[1985]]. The 6,016-yard east course was modified by George Cobb in the 1960s and by John LaFoy in [[1989]] and [[2019]]. | |||
Professional tour golfer [[Hubert Green]] grew up playing the country club course, and won his first Southern Amateur championship there in [[1966]]. | |||
Golf director [[Eric Eshleman]] was the PGA Golf Professional of the Year for [[2019]]. | |||
==Presidents== | ==Presidents== | ||
* [[1898]]-[[1901]]: [[Henry Milner]] | * [[1898]]-[[1901]]: [[Henry Milner]] | ||
* [[1901]]-: [[Robert Baugh]] | * [[1901]]-: [[Robert Baugh]] | ||
* [[1917]]-[[1919]]: [[Robert Jemison | * [[1917]]-[[1919]]: [[Robert Jemison Jr]] | ||
* [[1919]]-: [[Charles DeBardeleben]] | * [[1919]]-: [[Charles DeBardeleben]] | ||
* [[1939]]-: [[Charles DeBardeleben | * [[1939]]-: [[Charles DeBardeleben Jr]] | ||
* [[1947]]-: [[Prince DeBardeleben]] | * [[1947]]-: [[Prince DeBardeleben]] | ||
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* Satterfield, Carolyn Green (1999) ''The Country Club of Birmingham: Centennial History''. Birmingham, Alabama: The Country Club | * Satterfield, Carolyn Green (1999) ''The Country Club of Birmingham: Centennial History''. Birmingham, Alabama: The Country Club | ||
* Satterfield, Carolyn Green (March 16, 2009) "[http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2027 Country Club of Birmingham]." ''Encyclopedia of Alabama'' - accessed April 5, 2009 | * Satterfield, Carolyn Green (March 16, 2009) "[http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2027 Country Club of Birmingham]." ''Encyclopedia of Alabama'' - accessed April 5, 2009 | ||
* Humphreys, Richard (August 6, 2019) "[https://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/content/lafoy-completes-renovation-of-east-course-at-cc-birmingham LaFoy completes renovation of East course at CC Birmingham]" ''Golf Course Architecture'' | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{Locate | lat= 33.49610 |lon=-86.76710 |type=h|zoom=15}} | |||
* [http://ccbham.org/ Country Club of Birmingham] website | * [http://ccbham.org/ Country Club of Birmingham] website | ||
* [http://www.jdweeks.com/nobham-town.html North Birmingham] website by J. D. Weeks | * [http://www.jdweeks.com/nobham-town.html North Birmingham] website by J. D. Weeks | ||
[[Category:Country | [[Category:Country Club of Birmingham|*]] | ||
[[Category:Golf courses]] | [[Category:Golf courses]] | ||
[[Category:1898 buildings]] | [[Category:1898 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:1904 buildings]] | [[Category:1904 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:Miller & Martin buildings]] | [[Category:Miller & Martin buildings]] | ||
[[Category:1927 buildings]] | [[Category:1927 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:Warren Knight & Davis buildings]] | [[Category:Warren Knight & Davis buildings]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:16, 20 April 2022
The Country Club of Birmingham is a golf and country club located on 292 acres in a section of Shades Valley drained by Watkins Brook in Mountain Brook. Established in North Birmingham in 1898, the club has moved twice since its foundation. The current club, which opened in 1926, features two 18-hole golf courses and a Tudor-style clubhouse designed by Warren, Knight & Davis.
North Birmingham
The Country Club of Birmingham was founded at Mineral Springs Park in North Birmingham near the terminus of the North Birmingham Streetcar line on September 26, 1898. Its 77 members, led by president Henry Milner, created it as a driving course for their horse-drawn buggies. Later it expanded to accommodate tennis, golfing, baseball, bowling and bicycling.
A one-story clubhouse was constructed to serve as a dining hall and ballroom, with smaller parlors and changing rooms. The first crude golf links in the city was laid out by Robert Baugh with 9 tin-cans sunk into small scraped-down "greens" in an unimproved half-acre meadow adjoining the country club. The then-separate Birmingham Golf Club course opened for play on April 1, 1899. Later that month Baugh demonstrated the novel game for fellow club members (he shot a 58) and can be credited with introducing the pastime to Birmingham.
The club's property in North Birmingham was sold to Dimmick Pipe in 1900. In 1903 the Country Club and Golf Club merged into the present combined organization. The former North Birmingham clubhouse was used as a lunchroom for the adjacent North Birmingham School.
Lakeview
In 1900 the club moved to the site of the former Lakeview Park and Southern Female Institute, anchoring the end of the Lakeview Streetcar line. Club pro Nick Thompson laid out a new 9-hole course on the hilly terrain. Six years later he completed a short front 9 to extend the course to a full 18 holes, now featuring grass instead of sand on the greens. The club members instituted an annual golf tournament and several members rose to prominence in the Alabama Golf Association. The Women's Southern Golf Association held its 1915 tournament at the club. In 1923 female members of the Birmingham Country Club founded their own tournament.
The club's much-larger clubhouse at Lakeview was designed in a rustic arts and crafts style by Miller & Martin. It was opened on April 7, 1904. The low-slung building's deep verandahs shaded numerous elaborate parlors and guest rooms. Notable guests at the club included former president Theodore Roosevelt and former vice president Charles Fairbanks.
Shades Valley
In 1926 the club sold its Lakeview course to the city of Birmingham (which opened it to the public, now the Highland Park Golf Course).
The Country Club moved to a 292-acre parcel of former farm land on either side of Watkins Brook. A new clubhouse, designed by Warren, Knight & Davis, opened in 1927 facing the expansive swimming pool, the terrace of which commanded a sweeping view of both courses. The clubhouse has been expanded and renovated several times. A west lounge was added in 1961. The east ballroom was added in 1979. The swimming pool was rebuilt at a lower elevation and adjoining ground-level spaces renovated in 2020.
In 1976 the clubhouse was used for scenes in the feature film Stay Hungry.
Golf
The Country Club of Birmingham operates two 18-hole golf courses, as well as a practice driving range with an indoor teaching facility, and a putting range. Both courses were originally designed by Donald Ross. The longer 6,779-yard west course was reconfigured by Robert Trent Jones in the early 1960s and again by Pete Dye in 1985. The 6,016-yard east course was modified by George Cobb in the 1960s and by John LaFoy in 1989 and 2019.
Professional tour golfer Hubert Green grew up playing the country club course, and won his first Southern Amateur championship there in 1966.
Golf director Eric Eshleman was the PGA Golf Professional of the Year for 2019.
Presidents
- 1898-1901: Henry Milner
- 1901-: Robert Baugh
- 1917-1919: Robert Jemison Jr
- 1919-: Charles DeBardeleben
- 1939-: Charles DeBardeleben Jr
- 1947-: Prince DeBardeleben
References
- Satterfield, Carolyn Green (1999) The Country Club of Birmingham: Centennial History. Birmingham, Alabama: The Country Club
- Satterfield, Carolyn Green (March 16, 2009) "Country Club of Birmingham." Encyclopedia of Alabama - accessed April 5, 2009
- Humphreys, Richard (August 6, 2019) "LaFoy completes renovation of East course at CC Birmingham" Golf Course Architecture
External links
- Country Club of Birmingham website
- North Birmingham website by J. D. Weeks