Interlachen Country Club

Interlachen Country Club began November 16, 1909 when a few members of the Bryn Mawr Golf Club met to discuss the possibility of founding a new golf club. Together they took an option on three farms comprising a total of 146 acres.

One of the favorable considerations for the selection of the Interlachen site was that it was on the downtown to suburban streetcar line. In fact, when news of the choice of property became public knowledge, a newspaper story quoted:

"...the first typical country club that the Twin Cities can boast... One of the first qualifications of the site, which has been chosen for the new organization's home, is that it is so near and yet so far."

The terrain was ideally suited with rolling meadows, good wooded areas and adequate water development. This original 146 acres comprised the total holdings of the Club for many years and, at a later date, and additional 34 acres was acquired. On December 31, 1909, the Club was incorporated, the name Interlachen selected and the articles signed.

When the campaign for subscriptions began, the owner of one of the farms discovered that the holder of the option to buy his property was a prospective golf club. He intimated that his price would go up upon expiration of the option. The contract read that the $12,000 payment was to be made in either gold or gold certificates, so with a mixture of gold and gold certificates in a small bag, Mr. Bickelhaupf and Mr. Powell started out about 4 o'clock in the afternoon on a cold February day. They left the Minnetonka streetcar at dusk and walked through the snow to the farmhouse (located about halfway up on the left side of present fairway No. 12). The farmers, with two or three rather rough-looking farmhands, received them and nearly fainted at the sight of the money. Finally, he agreed to accept it in satisfaction of the contract, but refused flatly to keep it in the house overnight. Bickelhaupf sat up all night with a shotgun, watching the money until the banks could receive it in the morning.

With the final consummation of the purchase, work was begun on the grounds in March of 1910, and on the clubhouse in November of 1910. The club had nine holes and the course was formally opened on July 29, 1911.

The course was designed and laid out by William Watson, the noted golf architect of that time, and with the exception of a few minor changes, remained as originally designed and built until 1919. During those earlier years it was rated, as it is now, one of the best courses in the country.

In 1919 a new school of designers, brought about by the ever-improving conditions of play, caused the Board of Governors and the membership to call in Donald Ross, one of the foremost golf architect of this time. Mr. Ross was asked to submit a completely redesigned layout. Work commenced in 1919 and was completed in 1921. The course, with minor exceptions, remains his design.

In 1960 Robert Trent Jones, now considered one of the foremost golf architects in the country, was retained to make a complete survey and recommendation for certain modifications to Interlachen's already famous golf course. In 1963 a newly revised #1 and #3 holes were brought into play. Throughout the years Interlachen has consistently enjoyed the honor of having certain holes selected on various mythical "All American" courses. In 1985 one of the top 50 golf publications listed Interlachen as the 45th best golf course in America.

The Western Open in 1914 was the first of several major golf tournaments to be held at Interlachen. It was won by Jim Barnes with a score of 293. Runner-up was Willie Kidd with 294. This event was followed by the Trans-Mississippi Tournament in 1916, and won by Harry Legg, a leading amateur of that day.

Interlachen is perhaps most well-known as the site of the 1930 U.S. Open victory of Bobby Jones during the calendar year in which he also won the British Open, British Amateur, and U.S. Amateur.

Interlachen next played host to the Women's National Amateur Golf Championship in 1935. The event is singularly important because it was the introduction of Interlachen’s own, Patty Berg, to national golf. During this tournament, the 17 year-old redheaded youngster, playing against older and more experienced competitors, put on an exhibition of putting wizardry on the greens that enabled her to go to the finals. Patty was defeated three and two in the 36-hole finals by Glenda Collette Vare, who was a national champion several times.

Interlachen was again singularly honored by being named as Host Club for the 1942 U.S. Open Championship. World War II precluded the Club from holding this event.

In 1986, Interlachen successfully hosted the USGA Senior Amateur Championship, and in 1993 it hosted the Walker Cup Match.

With the advent of the 50's, the pattern of country club activity took a decided change throughout the country. A greater demand for complete facilities for the entire family became the trend. Interlachen moved into a whole new era of activity. There was a grand opening of a modern swimming pool with attendant facilities in 1955, as well as a vastly enlarged and improved hard-surfaced parking lot.

With the increased use of Interlachen facilities and the increasing costs of maintenance, repair and replacement of old and aging equipment and buildings, a complete remodel of the entire clubhouse facility took place in 1958. Additions included new locker rooms for both men and women golfers, a modern and complete newly decorated lounge area, adjoining a greatly expanded north end of the existing clubhouse to provide for the upper level dining area expansion and to house a mixed grill and new golf shop on the lower level. At the same time, the complete kitchen facilities were replaced with new and modern expanded facilities. The club was completely air-conditioned and a new heating system was installed.

In the same year, four modern championship tennis courts were built to further meet the demand for complete country club living. In 1961 a new entrance and relocated main roadway to the clubhouse was completed. Ten years later, in 1971, the front entrance to the clubhouse was redesigned and rebuilt. A familiar landmark of several decades disappeared in 1972 when the old water tower was removed. The increased popularity of tennis brought about the construction of four additional tennis courts. In November of 1973, installation of an automatic sprinkling system for the entire golf course was completed. This would further enhance Interlachen's position as one of the finest golf courses in all of America.

In 1986-87 an entirely new tennis facility was constructed consisting of seven clay courts and two hard courts. The new tennis clubhouse was certain to make this the outstanding tennis complex in Minnesota.

From 1996 - 2003, Interlachen experienced major capital improvements. The clubhouse was gutted and room expansions made to the ballroom and member dining areas. The old furnishings and fixtures were replaced by new, and the clubhouse became a favored place for receptions, parties, meetings and social dining. Then came the new state-of-the-art pool, café, and decking. It didn’t take long for news to spread to the community, and within a few months the pool membership filled to near maximum capacity. In the fall of 2003, work began on a new and expanded driving range. This was the one area considered to be inferior to Interlachen’s golf experience. The results are noteworthy, and members and guests are quick to give their praise.

With a strong focus on the total body, Interlachen was one of the first in the Twin Cities to test out a Fitness/Spa Center which includes its own barbershop. Within the first year, it was apparent that the small facility was not big enough to totally satisfy the needs and wants of the membership.

Five Golf Professionals have been attached to the club since its inception 88 years ago. Dow George, a native of West Virginia served from 1911-1916. George Sargent, a Cornish Englishman held the position from 1916-1919. He was succeeded by Willie Kidd, a native of Monefeith, Scotland near Carnoustie and St. Andrews, both internationally-known courses in Scotland. Willie Kidd retired after 38 years of service to the members of Interlachen. In 1957 he had the pleasure of seeing his son, Bill Kidd, Jr. serving Interlachen and it's members. Willie Kidd died in 1967. In memory of his many contributions to Interlachen throughout the years, an inaugural member/guest invitational tournament, labeled the "Willie Kidd Invitational" was held in 1968 and has since become the highlight of the summer golfing season. Guests from throughout the country attend the Willie Kidd Invitational held in July each year.

In January of 1994, Jock Olson became Interlachen's new golf professional. He and his staff brought many new programs to Interlachen, and have been successful at keeping the golf program strong. Jock holds many honors, the most recent being voted "2002 Golf Professional of the Year" by the Professional Golf Association of America.