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A BRIEF HISTORY OF
ARROWHEAD COUNTRY CLUB
In
the spring of 1957, the idea of a country club
was first conceived. The first formal organization
meeting was held
April 1, 1958. A constitution and
by-laws were adopted and the first slate of officers
elected. Membership reached 176 in May, 1958,
and in June a golf course architect was hired.
In
the summer of 1959, a golf course construction
company was employed to build the first nine holes
at a cost of $32,000. The work was finished in July,
1960. The greens and fairways were then planted
and sowed. Roy McIntyre was hired as greenskeeper
in the spring of 1961, and play began in June.
A
loan of $100,000 was obtained in 1961 to build
the lower level of a Club House and provide other
facilities. The Club House opened in the fall of 1961.
A
decision to construct a swimming pool was made
in the winter of 1961, and it was completed the
following summer. Authorized membership was
increased to 300, and this level was reached in 1963.
The
second nine holes were completed in 1971, and
the same year saw approval for completion of the
second portion of the Club House and construction
of two tennis courts. Authorized membership was
increased to 400. We hired Ken Bornsheuer to be
our first Club Manager.
Three
cart sheds for storage of club members’ carts
have been completed in recent years, and dredging
of the lakes began in 1978 to provide sufficient water
and improved fishing.
Roy retired in 1978, and we hired Bruce Anderson
as Greenskeeper.
At
the Annual Membership Meeting in 1979, approval
was granted for completion of lake dredging, watered
fairways and renovation of the Club House. 1980 saw
considerable construction. A deck was added to the
Clubhouse, volunteers laid pipe for watered fairways,
and the big lake was cleaned out.
In
1981, the watered fairways were completed.
Arrowhead was host for the Class A High School
State Boys’ Finals for six years, 1982-1987.
Kenny
retired in 1985, and Jim Haynes was hired as
Club Manager.
Patty
Ehrhart won the Illinois State Women’s
Amateur Golf Tournament in 1986.
At
the Annual Membership Meeting in 1988, approval
was granted to refinance the Club for $400,000.
The refinancing was used for major improvements to
the golf course, clubhouse, pool and lake and
construction of a new Pro Shop.
In
1992, two practice tees were built and the Club
started operating a shag range.
Jim
retired in 1997, and Ron Ghidina was hired as
Director of Golf.
Upon
the departure of Bruce Anderson in January of
2000, Reid Koberg was promoted to Superintendent
of Grounds & Greens.
The
winter of 2000 produced many new updates
to the upper level of the Clubhouse. The Ballroom/
Banquet facilities were refurbished with a new bar
area, oak woodwork, large windows overlooking the
golf course and lakes, wallpaper, carpeting, ceiling,
lighting, and furnishings. A new deck was added
on the west side of the Clubhouse adjoining the
existing upper deck. The ladies and men’s restrooms
were enlarged with wheel chair accessibility and
were
completely
renovated including wall to
wall ceramic tiling.
In the spring of that same year Arrowhead installed
three new pools: a four lane lap pool, a twelve foot
diving well, and a shallow kiddy pool. The
surrounding
patio areas were equipped with new
umbrella tables,
chairs, and grills.
In
March 2000 Shawn Crabel was hired as our
Director of Operations.
At
the Annual Meeting in October 2002 the
membership voted to install a new golf course
irrigation system. Work began in November and was
completed in June 2003. Arrowhead now has a
state-of-the-art dual row automatic underground
irrigation system.
Upon the departure of Shawn Crabel in November of 2006, Sandi Elwell was promoted to
Business Manager overseeing all aspects of Clubhouse
Management including Business & Administrative
duties, Member relations, the Bars, Snack Shop and
Swimming pools. |
