Club History
The City of Lansing is the state capital of Michigan, and the Country Club of Lansing’s growth and popularity have essentially followed the ups and downs, highs and lows of the local economy. The local economy consists in large part of the state government, General Motors and Michigan State University. The Governors of the State of Michigan have been honorary members since the inception of the Club. The Governors Mansion itself is located in a neighborhood adjacent to the Club. The Country Club of Lansing’s history began in 1908 when a group of 17 men formed what was called the Lansing Golf Club. These men leased the land and the soon-to-be built “locker house” from J.H. Moores, a local developer who visualized the golf club as a booster to his subdivision along the winding Grand River. F.W. Hodges, the golf professional at the Detroit Golf Club, was commissioned to lay out a 6 hole golf course on 25 acres. The “locker house” was essentially a one-room affair with a kitchen built off of one end. Dues for the Lansing Golf Club were $15.00 per year. In 1913, three more holes were added to the golf course, bringing the total to 9 holes. The year 1916 brought still more change at the Club when the Members purchased the land and buildings from J.H. Moores.
In 1920, the Club experienced a period of major development. The Lansing Golf Club incorporated and was renamed the Country Club of Lansing. The city of Lansing was growing fast and the Members felt the need to expand in order to meet the demands of a growing Membership. The Members acquired 160 acres of land that adjoined the Club and William Langford, a nationally known golf course architect of the time, was commissioned to develop the layout for a new course. The Chicago Park Builders were engaged to actually construct the course and the new Clubhouse which was designed in 1920 by Samuel Butterworth. The new Clubhouse proudly opened in 1921 under a new name; the Country Club of Lansing. The new Clubhouse displayed men’s and women’s locker rooms, a mixed grille for dining with an outside terrace, a kitchen, a cocktail lounge (located in the basement), a ballroom and a twenty-foot wide porch spanning the north end of the Clubhouse. The following year, the second 9 holes were opened and the 18-hole course remains much the same today; a tribute to the early designer.
Additional improvements to the Club were made in the late 1940’s when the 20-foot porch was enclosed and the Ballroom expanded. A new form of recreation was added to the Club when the swimming pool opened with its own facilities including a bath house and dressing room for both men and women. A large sun deck located on top of the bath house was completed in 1950.
The 1960’s were greeted with more modernization and improvements as the Club created a new Men’s lounge called the “Red Room” and enclosed the terrace to the grill creating the mixed grill. Additional tennis courts were added in the mid 1970’s as tennis continued to be the “second sport” at the Country Club of Lansing. It was during this time that the Manager’s living quarters were converted into two private banquet rooms which are now know as the Apartments.
During the 1970’s and 80’s the Country Club of Lansing continued to thrive and build on its historic foundation. The structure itself continued to experience a number of improvements to keep up with the needs of the Members and the changing times. The reputation of the Country Club of Lansing was well established as one of impeccable service and exquisite ambiance in the Lansing area.
It was during the 1990’s that the Membership and Board determined the need to again make structural changes in order to keep with the changing Membership demographics and daily operations. In 1999 the Membership voted to partake in a 7 million-dollar renovation to the Clubhouse. This renovation and improvement would include the addition of a new Casual Dining Room and Bar, Men’s and Women’s Locker rooms, a new Pro Shop, a forty person Private Banquet room and a Snack Bar which services both the golfers near the first tee and also the Members utilizing the pool. It was during September of 2000 that the Club, its Members and the community celebrated the Club’s Grand Re-opening with a weekend long celebration.
The Country Club of Lansing today continues to provide a traditional country club lifestyle for its membership and their families and guests. The membership enjoys personalized service, impeccable food and championship caliber golf. The many activities provided today include swimming, tennis and golf programs, junior camp, numerous golf and tennis activities as well as a variety of business and social events that are a reflection of both the demographics and the desires of the Membership and the community.