History

The year was 1909

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The year was 1909. The date was August 25th. The certificate of Incorporation signed by James A. Rose, Secretary of State, on this date established St. Clair Country Club as a legal corporation under the laws of the State of Illinois. The application for the state charter was signed by W. E. Trautmann, J. Clark Waddell, R.P. Munger, F. T. Joyner, J. L. Wiggins and L.B. Washburn.
The first Board of Directors for the corporation consisted of J.L. Wiggins, R. P. Munger, E. C. Kramer, A. K. Vickers, W. E. Trautmann, Stephen LePage and H. C. Starkel.
It was not until August 16, 1911, that the initial 63 acres of ground were purchased from Judge E.C. Kramer at a cost of $12,000. A nine hole golf course was constructed on what basically is now the back nine with the present No. 10 being the first hole.
In 1921 and 1922 most of the ground was purchased for the present front nine and the remaining tracts were bought in 1927, resulting in approximately 169 acres currently owned by the Club.

The first Clubhouse, built in 1910, was designed by A. B. Frankel, an architect from East St. Louis, and was built by Bergman and Lutz Construction Company at a cost of $12,000. This Club house served the Membership until August of 1964, when a more modern one story clubhouse was constructed. The first tennis courts were built in 1920 or 1921, and the first swimming pool was added in 1947. New all-weather tennis courts were added in 1959, and the Olympic-size pool was completed in May 1969. In the late 80’s a stand-alone golf pro shop was built on what was the old 9th green and the hole redesigned into a shorter par three. Then when the new clubhouse was erected in its new location the design absorbed the old pro shop into a seamless building that is the current classic modern facility that the members now enjoy.

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In the late 1980’s a parcel which included a residence which sat in the middle of the current practice tee was obtained, which allowed the Jay Haas practice area to later be constructed and dedicated into what is now the current layout for practice at St. Clair. The layout was restored to the original Langford design in 2014 by Goalby Course Design and the course plays like it was imagined with the feel of early golf in America making it one of the most challenging short courses in the country. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL CLUB HISTORY

A Tribute to Bob Goalby: From Caddie to Masters Champion

On the rolling hills of Belleville, Illinois, at a place called St. Clair Country Club, a boy named Bob Goalby first discovered the game that would shape his life. What began as the simple work of carrying clubs for others blossomed into a career that carried him to Augusta National and into golf history.
Bob Goalby’s story is not just one of trophies and titles, but one of resilience, community, and a deep love for the game that never left him. He was not only a Masters Champion but also a son of St. Clair, a voice for golf on television, and a mentor whose presence touched generations.