Club History
Fifty years ago, July 14, 1953, a small group of citizens met in Sullivan at City Hall to discuss building a golf course in the community. That informal meeting was the beginning of the Sullivan Country Club.
The founding group that met that July in 1953 shared a vision. But could those men have imagined the Sullivan Country Club and the impressive 18-hole golf course we have today? Could they have envisioned the economic impact the Club would have on our community through the years?
They probably did, because the men who met were people who were known to "get things done". People we speak of as community leaders no matter which generation they serve. The members of that meeting 50 years ago were: Harrison Eaton, Joe Owens, Kenneth Bell, H. L. Mounday, John Waller, Ernie Nieman, Walter Pfautsch, Gordon Manion, Cyrus Dace, Sarge Snellson and M. C. Dunsford. Some are still with us and continue to serve the community in many ways today.
They moved quickly. By the end of that summer they had secured 59 acres for the new course. The land was purchased from T.J. (Tom) Bryant for about $200 an acre.
That land price may sound like "peanuts", but in 1953 it was almost two weeks pay for the average worker. After all, milk was only 35-cents a gallon then and gasoline even less.
The founders had made the decision to sell stock in the Club for $100 per share to offset construction costs. One hundred and fourteen original shareholders have been identified from early Club records.
Construction for the new course began, slowly. The summer of 1953 wasn't exactly "the good ole days". Even though the nation was booming after WWII and President Eisenhower had just proposed the interstate highway system, Missouri was undergoing near dust-bowl like conditions. A lot of the construction and general labor was conducted by those first shareholders and their families. By the summer of 1954 they had completed the original nine-hole course with sand greens.
June 25, 1954, Sullivan Country Club official opened for play. As mentioned, the course was nine-holes with sand greens, no clubhouse, no pool, and members continued to meet on weekends to pick up rocks, plant trees, or cut brush. Their efforts paid off. As we recognized the Anniversary of the Club in 2004, we saluted our founders. Sullivan Country Club has grown to become a valuable asset to the community and the surrounding region.
As we mentioned, the meeting to discuss founding a golf course was held on the steps of Sullivan City Hall July 14, 1953. The group met again on August 25th and agreed to purchase the 59 acres from T.J. Bryant. At least two other offers were also considered. Apparently this was a lease-purchase arrangement for up to 10 years. It must be noted that those early founders paid off the dept in only four years, retiring the note on August 3, 1957. To celebrate, they held a fish fry.
After receiving its Certificate of Incorporation from the State of Missouri on April 19, 1954, the newly created Sullivan Country Club had its first shareholders meeting. That date was May 23, 1954. John Waller was elected president. Also elected to the Board of Directors were Herb Saunders, Walter Pfautsch, K.P. Bell, Ernie Nieman, Lee C. Fine, and James Williams. Francis Crow was named treasure. Williams won a coin toss for the final position when he and Olenda Graser received the same amount of votes for the board seat.
The course was formally opened for play on June 25, 1954. Its popularity grew rapidly. A share of stock sold for $100 and annual dues that first year were $40. The green fees for those living at least 20 miles outside the area were $1.
Some notes of interest: In 1955 Ernie Nieman succeeded John Waller as Club president. During 1956 the board was increased from seven shareholders to nine, and it remains that number today. By 1957 members began to publish the first club bulletin or "newsletter".
The Club grew at a steady rate during its first years. The old original sand greens have long since been replaced with grass. More and more people became interested in golf and before the end of many years we were able to boast that the second and third generations of Sullivan Country Club members had become quite notable on the course.
The activities expanded also. The "shed" was turned into a clubhouse. Many first members talk of days when food for gatherings had to be prepared at home and carried over to the "shed". Through time, the clubhouse was improved, complete with kitchen, tennis courts were added and a pool was constructed.
During the early 1990's the board of directors purchased an adjoining parcel of land to the west called Campbell-Chapman Park. They planned to use this parcel, the old lagoon property from the City of Sullivan, and a slight reconfiguration of the original course to build the fine 18 hole course we brag about today.
The project wasn't easy or cheap. With land purchases, the clubhouse and pool renovation, and replacement of the original nine greens the price tag neared $1 million. Additional shares of stock were offered to finance the expansion. And of course membership was no longer $40 annually!
The "new" Sullivan Country Club was officially opened June 17, 1996. Over 200 local officials, visitors and members attended. There was a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony and the festivity was hosted by Board President, Denny Marquart. John Waller, the Club's first president, was called upon and given the honor of hitting the first ball, officially opening the 18-hole course. Waller was followed by Gene Meyer and Jim McIntosh. Those three, along with member Bob Wessler, made up the first foursome to lead play that opening day. Membership that year was 303 families.
During the years since the Sullivan Country Club was expanded, improvements have continued. The Board of Directors during those years have been able to hold the debt, sell more shares, and expanded the membership numbers and activities. Additionally, they have been successful in maintaining a professional staff to manage the facility.
Each year subtle improvements appear. New trees, a landscaped area, some paint-up fix-up projects, even a couple of "bear carvings" adorn the fairways.
In 2005 the course experienced more change with the addition of a 3 1/2 acre lake that stretches the entire length of 17 fairway and the addition of over 250 trees which were planted on the golf course.
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