We have enjoyed an extended season here in North East Ohio. Unfortunately for Acacia Country Club, a Donald Ross gem, it will be her last.
From cleveland.com
LYNDHURST, Ohio -- Shareholders at Acacia Country Club agreed Thursday night to sell their 160-acre property to a conservation group, ending speculation about the future of the 87-year-old golf course.
At a closed-door meeting, members holding 77 percent of the private club's shares voted in favor of a $14.75 million deal with the Conservation Fund, a nonprofit group based in Arlington, Va.
The vote scuttles attempts to develop the 18-hole golf course, long viewed as a prime spot for shopping, offices or other development along a bustling suburban corridor. Now that high-profile property, a rare slice of greenery between the Beachwood Place mall and Legacy Village shopping center, could become anything from a quiet park to a public golf course.
"This property will remain as green space and will not be used any more intensively than it is today," said Matt Sexton, a senior vice president of real estate with the conservation group. "We expect the clubhouse to be here and to be available, at least for events like weddings and things like that. And possibly conferences. But we expect the footprint of the property to remain as it is today."
Acacia, founded in 1922 and at the same location since 1925, will see its members finish a final season on the Donald Ross-designed course. The Conservation Fund expects to close its purchase in early December.
"What drove the overwhelming support for it was the opportunity to preserve an Acacia legacy with some sort of open space, whatever it will be," Charles Longo, the club's president, said after the shareholder meeting. "The money was a secondary concern for the vast majority of the members."Although there is mention of the course joining forces with other Cleveland Metro Parks public courses (which includes Manakiki, another Ross Design), word on the street is this will not be the case. There is no word on what will become of the course, but one thing most are certain about is that it will have nothing to do with golf.
One interesting note (and a bit of a challenge to anyone who likes to do some investigating) is that the above article mentions that Acacia was not located on it's current site from 1922-1925. This was also mentioned by the outgoing professional, but he was uncertain of any details.
A bit of history from the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History....
"The ACACIA COUNTRY CLUB, located on the northeast corner of Cedar and Richmond roads in LYNDHURST, opened on 31 May 1921, although only 9 holes of its golf course were completed and it had no official clubhouse. Originally limited to Masons, it was later opened to non-Masons. The club covered 300 acres and offered some of the finest golfing in the area. Its course was designed by Donald Ross, a Boston golf expert, and Henry A. Tremaine was the first president. There were approx. 400 members during the club's initial years.
Initially a golf club, Acacia steadily developed into a leading country club. On 4 July 1922, a $200,000 clubhouse was opened. In the summer of 1954 a $75,000 pool was added, complete with dressing rooms and a snack bar. Major additions to the clubhouse began in May 1963 and were finished by 1964. A new portico and stone front were added to the exterior. A new powder room was built by the main entranceway, and a large building to the west of the clubhouse was built to house a mixed grill, men's card room and bar, and a new men's lockerroom. The interior decorators for the additions were Holzheimer's Interiors. In 1993 the Acacia Country Club owned 176 acres and had 440 members."WARNING: The following photos were taken on December 19th. According to staff, the course had not been touched in months. Acacia was always know to be in great condition from tee to green.
This is by no means a photo tour. Just trying to show an old beauty a kind wave as she fades away.
#1 Tee Box
#1 Green
#2 Green..wonderful use of rolling terrain into this par 5.
#3 Green...a great short par 4.
A look at #7 Green from #3.
#4 Green....set nicely into a gentle hillside..another fun par 5.
#7...classic.
#8 Fairway (the bunker on the top right is some 40 yards short of the green...great deceiving bunker)
#9 Fairway...beautiful grass bunkers hide an elevation change of some 15-20 feet into a fantastic green.
#9 Green
#10 Tee...a dramatic start to a strong stretch of holes.
#11 from bottom of hill. This Par 3 also boast a significant down hill tee shot to a severe green.
one last crossing...
a look back at #11...
#12 Tee...amazingly enough another dramatic tee shot...three in a row! This is another great short par 4.
#13 Approach. Plays drastically uphill to the most extreme green on the course. The tee shot also plays down a drastic slope which requires excellent club selection to avoid trouble.
#13...a look back.
#14 Green...another demanding hole..picture just doesn't do it justice...
#16..another simple classic par 3 to one of the best greens on the course.
#18...
Although these photos are of rough quality and do not do any sort of justice to what a great course Acacia is, they do represent something special.
These photos are from the last round of golf played at Acacia Country Club. Played on Wednesday, winter weather hit Cleveland on Friday and will more than likely stick around for a while. I am happy to say myself and Bill McKinley showed this old lady one last good time with a great match. It took a hole out from a green-side bunker on #17 followed by a solid par on 18 to secure the victory for Mr. McKinley. Both of our rounds were scored under par.
If anyone has any better photos of Acacia please feel free to post.
Acacia Country Club, 1922-2012, 90 years young.