You guys are ridiculous. This is why I asked my question here. It may sound elementary to you but finding the resources to be able to provide the information you guys have found so far is tough for someone starting out. One clue can open the floodgates.
Nigel,
As far as the first country club in Indiana, I provide two explanations from Woodstock Club and the Country Club of Indianapolis.
From Woodstock Club:
Presented by the Woodstock Historical Foundation, Founders of Woodstock Club
The history of golf at Woodstock has its origins in the Indianapolis Country Club on this site. Golf was introduced to Indianapolis in 1896 at Country Club. Alvin S. Lockard, a prominent figure in Indianapolis society, made a trip around the world and saw golf played for the first time in India. Lockard was told by an Englishman to buy a “Badminton” upon his arrival in London, which would give the rules and regulations of the game. This Lockard did and, upon arrival home, he got a set of clubs and balls through Charles Mayer & Company. Another version of the story had him buying practice balls and a set of clubs in England. In 1896, Lockard, along with Phil Watson, J.A. Barnard, and Robert Martindale, laid out two holes of golf at Country Club and charged players $5 annually to use the “course”. The following spring, in 1897, the four men built a nine-hole, 2400-yard course in the field adjoining Country Club, with Lockard apparently assuming much of the cost of the course expansion. It was one of the earliest golf courses built west of the Appalachians. Only Country Club members were allowed to play the course. Interestingly, the golf club seems to have been an independent organization and yet still a part of the club. Golf players had to have Country Club membership and had the privileges of the clubhouse. The Club had authority over the golf field from 1896 until 1899 because it leased the forty to fifty acres which the course occupied. However, starting in 1899, the golf club paid the lease rental for the land which left only the first and last holes on Country Club territory, thus increasing the authority of the golf club operation over its course. The old farmhouse that was used as the first clubhouse on the site had an enclosed bowling alley that was converted into a locker house. The Club also built a pro shop and Arthur Tweedy, a junior amateur champion of Great Britain, came to Country Club from England about 1900. He was the first golf professional in the State of Indiana. After Tweedy, the Club brought a succession of Scots to the position. Led by Francis Herd, President of Country Club, golfers from private clubs in seven cities around the state founded the Indiana Golf Association (IGA) on 11 September 1900 and scheduled their first state tournament on 11-13 October 1900 at Country Club.
James P. Fadely, Ph.D
From Country Club of Indianapolis:
[/size]OUR CCI HERITAGE
The Country Club of Indianapolis was born more than 120 years ago on June 4, 1891. It was the first country club in the city and among the earliest in the nation.
Those who formed the club were prominent social and industrial figures in the thriving city of 40,000. Incorporators and members of the first Board of Directors were Chapin C. Foster, William L. Elder, William J. Richards, Ferdinand L. Mayer, William H. Coleman, Charles F. Sayles, Charles E. Collins, Cortland VanCamp, and Horace Bennett.
A remodeled farmhouse where the Woodstock Club is now situated served as the first clubhouse.
It burned November 4, 1904 and was rebuilt only to burn again later.
Back then, a day at the club was a full day. Members took a streetcar from downtown to Mapleton (which now is Illinois Street and Maple Road) for the first leg of the journey. Then they were picked up by the club's "carry-all", a wagon-like vehicle with seats along the sides for the last lap of the trip.
Originally, it was not golf, but tennis and enclosed bowling in the clubhouse that attracted members.
Golf Comes to CCI
In 1897, a distinguished member, Alvin S. Lockard, toured the world and discovered golf in India. The popular Scottish game had been introduced there by the British. Mr. Lockard was attracted to the game, and upon his return to Indianapolis, purchased a set of "sticks" and balls from Charles Mayer & Co.
Two golf holes were constructed, and an annual fee of $1 was charged to interested members.
Later, as the popularity of golf increased, enough ground was leased for a 9-hole course. Mr. Lockard assumed most of the expense.
The enclosed bowling alley was converted into a locker room. A shop was built to accommodate Arthur Tweedy, Indiana's first golf professional, who arrived here in 1900 from England where he had been Great Britain's Junior Amateur Champion.
The Decision to Move
There was not enough land to expand the 9-hole course, and when the clubhouse burned the second time, a decision was made to buy land far enough from the city to warrant the name "Country Club".
In September 1909, CCI President Roscoe Hawkins was directed by the Board to appoint a committee of five members to consider, select and recommend a site for the new club.
While the committee sought a location, the members voted 218-18 on January 6, 1912 to sell the existing club, investigate the acquisition of a new site, the erection of new buildings and construction of a golf course.
By the spring of 1912, the committee had narrowed its choice to two sites considered adequate for the Club's purposes.
A Chicago golf architect, Tom Bendelow, was hired to inspect the sites and offer his opinion as to which was more desirable.
The result was the present site, then known as "Barnhill Farm," a tract of land consisting of 154 acres (plus), located on Crawfordsville Road approximately 8 miles west of the center of Indianapolis.
On June 12, 1912, the land was purchased for $250 an acre for a total of $38,522. A deed was delivered to the club with the first mortgage payment due on September 5, 1912.
Building the New Club
A month later, on July 8, 1912, the Board authorized President Samuel D. Miller to appoint a general committee to investigate the construction of buildings, tennis courts, a golf course and to do whatever else was necessary to complete and equip the new property for the use of the Club.
First, the general committee had to raise funds to start the project. Sale of the old property netted $50,298.05 (a sale price of $82,000 less an existing mortgage and interest charges). Sixty Life Memberships were offered for $1,000 each. Fifty-nine were sold.
In March 1913, the architectural firm of R. P. Daggart & Co. was retained to submit plans for the clubhouse, a caddie house and servants' cottage.
The plans were adopted that summer, and contracts were let. Work began in the fall of 1913 and was completed by August 1, 1914.
Also Nigel, the Harpers Guide of 1901 shows the St. Joe Valley CC that Jim has referenced but no mention of any other golf courses in South Bend. Is that the one you are referencing?
Jim,
Tremendous finds! Please tell me your resource. I found myself on HistoricMapWorks.com but not showing what you found. St. Joe Valley CC did in fact sit where some of the front nine of the current Eberhart-Petro Golf Course now sits. From their website:
"Aptly named after its founders, George Eberhart and Mason Petro, Eberhart-Petro Municipal Golf Course is a very unique golf course. First opened in 1929 with the first nine holes on the south side of the St. Joe River then expanding to 18 holes in 1949 which includes four river crossings. This may be the most well-manicured municipal golf course you will ever play, and probably the toughest 6,000 yard par 70 golf course in the Midwest. Built on only 89 acres, Eberhart-Petro will challenge every level of golfer from beginner to the most seasoned player. We invite you to come experience one of Mishawaka’s finest assets – Eberhart-Petro Municipal Golf Course."
From the map you referenced, the neighborhoods did spread north a few more blocks from 1911 to 1928. The club certainly didn't have a very long lifespan. I'm going to head down to the area soon and see if the original clubhouse might still be in the area.
Thanks again guys!
Ken