Golf Course Information

Description

The Country Club of Indianapolis was born more than 115 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.

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