The Board of Directors of Effingham Country Club would like to present to you a “history in brief” of the Effingham Country Club. We are very proud of our club, its features and above all the members themselves.

In the beginning, there was only a small building that stood where the tool shed is now located. This building had a porch where you could purchase sandwiches and soda. Later, a new clubhouse was built that had a screened-in porch on two sides. The porch was equipped with chairs and card tables. Also in the early days, gold matches were held during the summer with neighboring towns such as Casey, Greenup, Vandalia, Charleston, Mattoon, and Sullivan. Effingham golfers would travel to theses clubs and a return match would be held at Effingham. At that rime, Effingham was the only club with sand greens.

The following is a time line of significant events that make up our club’s history:

1923
The Effingham Country Club was incorporated and consisted of a 9-hole course with sand greens. Caddies used "desert mops" to smooth a path for putting.

1935
This year was famous for the “caddy strike.” At that time there was a wage dispute of 35 cents vs. 50 cents per round. The caddies had their own building, which was a 20x20 shelter on the parking lot. When there was no school, there were at least 12-20 caddies. Some of these caddies included Mort Harris, Koonie Konrad, and Herb Austin.

1936
The club had 100 members. Many members had their names imprinted on their golf balls. When caddie or members found a ball, it was returned to a box on #1 tee to be reclaimed by its owner.

1937
Additional land was purchased for what is now #6 and #7 holes.

1941
World War II caused a drop in membership.

1953
Sand greens were replaced with grass greens on the original 9-hole course. The membership had "work details" to help maintain the course. The annual dues were doubled from $30 to $60 and about half of the membership resigned – most of whom returned several years later. Sometime in the early 50’s the lake had to be drained due to an oil pipeline break. To compensate the club, the oil company installed the water system and possibly paid for part of the grass greens.

1954
The club had 150 members. One of the many renovations during this year was the clubhouse.

1967
Additional land was purchased to make way for another 9-hole course and construction began. The club sold 156 bonds at $1,000 each. These were later retired.

1968
Limited play started on the new 9-hole course. The additional nine however, was not officially opened until 1969.

1985
A new halfway house was constructed.

1986
The old pool was removed and replaced with a new modern pool. Additional land was purchased for future course realignment.

1988
The east 42 acres, more or less, of the Effingham Country Club were annexed to the City of Effingham. The Club also obtained a city, state, and federal liquor license. Prior to this, the Club operated without a liquor license in the form of a “bottle club” in accordance with state law. A severe drought brought about a water shortage that was almost a disaster. An extensive lake renovation project took place whereby the lakes were dredged and deepened to greatly expand the water capacity. This project was complete in 1989.

1989
The Club had 375 members.

1990
The Club had 390 members.

1994
Property on hole #13 was sold. Lake dredging and a “double row” irrigation system was installed.

1997
Zoysia grass was sprigged into the back-nine fairways. The zoysia grass conversion was started because of an annual disease that killed the rye grass in the heat of the summer.

1998
Concrete cart paths were constructed on the back-nine.

1999
Front-nine reconstruction and building of a new clubhouse was brought to the membership for a vote. Both projects passed. Front-nine reconstruction project was awarded to Crystalyn Corporation. The course architect was Martin Golf Services.

2000
Reconstruction of the front-nine began in January. A new cart shed and another maintenance shed were constructed in March. Course reconstruction efforts were delayed due to seven inches of rain on July 4th. Course reconstruction was completed in the fall. Front-nine fairways were sodded with zoysia grass.

The old clubhouse was demolished in September by burning, and was used as a training fire for local fire departments. Construction of the new clubhouse began in October of 2000.


2001
The new clubhouse was completed in April. The new front-nine was opened for play on Memorial Day weekend.

Total cost for course reconstruction, including new maintenance shed, was $1,412,000.00 Total cost for clubhouse, parking lot and new cart shed was $865,000.00