Clubhouses as they once were - old photos

[Paul Jones]

I love this thread... when I started traveling and playing golf, I would always take a picture in front of the clubhouse.  I love the old clubhouses sometimes more than the courses. 


I am seeing too many clubs painting over the old wood to modernize the clubhouse - I cringe every time and appreciate the old clubhouses that do not "modernize or renovate" even more.

[Charlie Goerges]

Am I the only one who can't see any of the photos?

[Marty Bonnar]

Am I the only one who can't see any of the photos?

All good for me, Charlie.

[Charlie Goerges]

Am I the only one who can't see any of the photos?

All good for me, Charlie.

Ok, they must be hosted on a site my company blocks. I'll check it out at home.

[Tommy Williamsen]

We could probably add Oakland Hills. Sorry about the quality of the picture. I don't know what I did wrong.

[Paul Jones]

We could probably add Oakland Hills. Sorry about the quality of the picture. I don't know what I did wrong.

Tommy,


Is that the old or new clubhouse?  Is the new clubhouse complete if not?

[Greg Hohman]

Eventually this thread could be a companion to Ed Oden's epic routing thread.

The club houses of South Park Muni in Library PA, south of Pittsburgh, and Van Cortlandt Muni in the Bronx would be worthy additions. I have an old drawing and blueprints of SP and current images of SP and VC. If anybody wants them and/or will post something here, PM me.

[Tommy Williamsen]

We could probably add Oakland Hills. Sorry about the quality of the picture. I don't know what I did wrong.

Tommy,


Is that the old or new clubhouse?  Is the new clubhouse complete if not?

Paul, that is the old clubhouse. A member friend said the new clubhouse will be complete for the 2026 season.

[Mark Mammel]

I love this thread and am in awe of the work required! I'm attaching 3 photos of clubhouses at WBYC as they seem to fit!

1st clubhouse, 1891-1912



2nd clubhouse, 1913-1937, designed by A H Stem


3rd clubhouse, 1938-1998.

today

[Greg Hohman]

Deleted.

[Pete Lavallee]

Wonderful thread ATB! Surely Woking’s clubhouse has the most interesting location just a foot behind the 14th green. One must be on high alert whilst sipping their gin and tonic as a stray shot could be fatal!  I’ll never forget sitting there and a group of young British golfers approached the green. It was quite warm and they were wearing short pants. However they did not have the obligatory traditional knee socks; only ankle socks. I’ll never forget the nearby members comment: “so this is what we’ve come to!”

[Mike_Clayton]

The original Royal Melbourne clubhouse is still there - Turner St in Malvern. It's a beautiful house now, the only 'Victorian' era house  in a street full of 'Edwardian' houses.


it's a pity they knocked over the original Royal Queensland clubhouse - no doubt the architects told them it'd be more expensive to restore it than knock it over and build a new one.

[Greg Hohman]

The 1967 clubhouse at Tahquitz Creek, originally Palm Springs Municipal, is worth a look, which can happen here if someone is willing and able to post a photo (pm me). Its design was thought to be an homage to the 1962 USS Arizona Memorial at the Pearl Harbor Memorial. It reminds me of Henry Hornbostel’s 1939 clubhouse for South Park near Pittsburgh (see above). Architect Hugh Kaptur said the roofline represents a golf swing.

If there is a picture or mention of the clubhouse at the Tahquitz Creek website, I did not find it.
 
At some point, the roofline and archway were spoiled by the addition of a timber-and-canvas roof thingy, perhaps added to provide shade. In 2023, the structure was removed.
 

[Michael Morandi]

This is all very impressive but how important is a clubhouse and can it detract from the soul of a club?  When it first opened, Hudson National operated out of trailers. They were nicely outfitted but their  presence, with the soon to be renovated clubhouse lurking in the background, made for a better connection to the course. Members had no choice but to know each other in the intimate setting. No place to hide. In my view, the same was true of Friars Head. I haven’t been back to FH since the new clubhouse opened but I preferred the original days when there were picnic tables and coolers with food and drinks behind 18. I know it’s unrealistic for prominent clubs to not have “important” clubhouses but in some cases smaller and simpler is the way to go. You see that in the impressive array of photos displayed in this thread.

[Carl Johnson]

This is all very impressive but how important is a clubhouse and can it detract from the soul of a club?  When it first opened, Hudson National operated out of trailers. They were nicely outfitted but their  presence, with the soon to be renovated clubhouse lurking in the background, made for a better connection to the course. Members had no choice but to know each other in the intimate setting. No place to hide. In my view, the same was true of Friars Head. I haven’t been back to FH since the new clubhouse opened but I preferred the original days when there were picnic tables and coolers with food and drinks behind 18. I know it’s unrealistic for prominent clubs to not have “important” clubhouses but in some cases smaller and simpler is the way to go. You see that in the impressive array of photos displayed in this thread.

Agreed, for myself.  But how important is it to have a clubhouse you'd be proud of and proud to take guests too?  For some, this is very important, if not critical.  Could not smaller and simpler fit that bill?

[Steve_ Shaffer]

How about Old Elm in Highland Park, IL?

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