History of the Athens Country Club

The Athens Country Club was founded in 1921, when Athens was a village of some 6,400 people and organized golf had been played in the United States for less than fifty years. A small group of Athens men, mostly businessmen, professionals, and university educators, had an interest in golf, and, for some years, played on homemade courses -- first three holes at the County Fairgrounds and later six holes on pastureland south of town. In late 1920, members of this group came together to establish a country club for the community.

The founders formed a temporary executive committee charged with taking the actions necessary to make a country club a reality. Fred W. Bush, publisher of the local newspaper, chaired the committee. The rest of the committee was made up of two bankers, F. D. Forsythe of the First National Bank and Athens National's Fred L. Alderman, attorney A. Bruce Wells, and merchant Henry Zenner. Their first activity was to locate the land for a golf course and clubhouse. They considered several properties around Athens before deciding in favor of two parcels, totaling 114 acres, to the west of town; the land was hilly, but not too severe and offered a crest of high ground that appeared the perfect place for a clubhouse that would overlook the golf holes.

With the land secured in January 1921, the committee sought incorporation for the new country club; this was granted by the state of Ohio on March 18. Work on the golf course began soon after, under the direction of Club member J. Halliday Cline, who operated an Athens pharmacy and an ice cream plant, and local landscape architect L. Oliver Gutman. George Sargent, the golf professional at Scioto Country Club and president of the newly formed Professional Golf Association, was engaged to provide the course layout. Six temporary holes were constructed to allow eager members to begin playing almost immediately, while the nine-hole layout was being prepared.

Groundbreaking for the clubhouse took place in September. The noted Columbus architectural firm of Stribling and Lum designed the 2-story building, which incorporated several features of Arts and Crafts style. Local contractor Charles Kircher, who also constructed numerous University buildings, the Athena Theater, the County Home, and several other Athens landmarks, built the clubhouse, reputedly at a cost of $22,000. Kircher also built a small frame building adjacent to the northwest corner of the clubhouse, which served as the golf professional's shop and a caddie house.

The golf course was opened for play to members in May 1922, but the Club's official opening awaited the completion and furnishing of the clubhouse in June. On June 29, a gala opening celebration included a golf tournament, a golf exhibition by the Athens club professional Julian Blanton and outstanding Columbus amateur Stanley Floyd Crooks, a buffet dinner, and a dance. The membership numbered 191 and nearly all attended the grand affair, which held the promise of many fine social occasions to come.

The Clubhouse underwent two major renovations, in the early 1950s and again in the mid-1970s, both of which enlarged dining and lounge areas and updated the decor. On August 13,1983, a fire broke out in the early morning hours and destroyed the nearly sixty-year old structure. However, the members rallied and, within a year, ground was broken for a new building. Our present clubhouse, very similar in layout to the original, was designed in a contemporary style by the architectural firm of Panich & Noel and dedicated on July 4, 1985.

In 1925, the Board of Trustees sought to "modernize" the golf course and engaged the renowned golf course designer Donald Ross and Associates to make changes. Over the next two years, the course was renovated according to Ross' plans. Two holes were abandoned and replaced; two new tees and two new greens were added as four other holes were re-designed. The work was completed in 1928. While the layout still followed, in broad strokes, the original Sargent plan, only the first and last holes were untouched by Ross' hand.

Later golf course modifications have not significantly altered the design. In the 1950's, pine trees were added to better define the fairways and lakes were dug to eliminate swampy areas and create a water supply. More recent modifications have largely been limited to enlarging teeing areas to eliminate the wear and tear of daily play.

The Club has been served by outstanding golf professionals through the years, who have provided members with lessons and other instructional services. Many of these men competed in regional, state, and national tournaments and assisted many members in achieving high levels of play, as well teaching them enjoy the game. Our golf professionals included Julian Blanton (1921 - 1923), Art Smith (1927 - 1931), Mike Heaney (1932 - 1941), Bob Littler (1947 - 1978), Gary Dixon (1978 - 1999) and Scott Barrows (2002 - 2008).

The golf program has included, throughout our history, interclub matches around the region and very competitive tournaments among members, both men and women. The Club nurtured many top-notch golfers over the years, including most notably Athens natives Dow Finsterwald, PGA-tour professional, and Ohio Amateur champion Bobby Littler, Jr. Some of those who grew up here, learning and honing their youthful skills on our fairways, have achieved outstanding careers as club professionals, including our current pro, Greg Moore.

Our golf course has been the setting for several championship-quality exhibition matches over the years, beginning with the 1925 appearance of the flamboyant Walter Hagen, the winningest professional golfer of his day. The most notable exhibition occurred in 1958; "Dow Finsterwald Day," held Sept. 25, celebrated Finsterwald's victory in the PGA Championship that year. The planning committee invited Dow's good friend Arnold Palmer, the current Masters Champion, and a promising, young Columbus amateur, Jack Nicklaus, to join Dow and Gallipolis amateur Howard Baker Saunders in an exhibition match. The first meeting of Palmer and Nicklaus, subsequently long-time rivals and friends, took place on that historic day.

A swimming pool was added to the Club's facilities in 1965. A pool-house, with a snack area and locker rooms, soon followed. Swimming lessons and activities for member's children were scheduled in the very first season and continue to provide summer recreation opportunities for families.

The Athens Country Club has a proud and lively history in the Athens community and in the wider neighborhood of Southeastern Ohio. Today, the traditions continue in a well-maintained and challenging golf course, a full calendar of golf competitions and friendly games, outstanding dining opportunities, and a social calendar with options for the 21st century lifestyles of Athens residents.