West Lake:  The Early Years
                                                           By Henry Crosby

     The idea to build West Lake began on a hot July Saturday on the 12th tee at a local private course where an impatient foursome waited 45 minutes to play their next tee shot.  One of the players said jokingly, "Let's build our own golf course!"  They did.

     As it happened, one of the players along with two partners had been accumulating land for development near the intersection of Stevens Creek and Evans-Locks Road in a then largely undeveloped area of Columbia County. In 1963 they owned about 350 acres...land to become the core of the future golf course holes 4 through 17 and parts of 17 and 18. The tract was not occupied except for an historic black church whose title was so obscured in legalities that it could not be obtained. The church and graveyard still rest in a small niche next to the golf course maintenance area between the 7th tee and the 12th green.

     Study of the project clearly indicated that building and maintaining a golf course could not be financed without attachment to a real estate development. The plan was so outlined. With this established, additional tracts of 150 acres and 212 acres (including a 43 acre lake as a source of water for the sprinklers) were obtained bringing the total to 717 acres. They now had enough land and believed the proposal was feasible.

     A corporation, West Lake Development Company, was created with fifty participants owning equal shares of stock.  James G. Swift, a local engineer (and one of the fifty) was engaged to design the project. In mid 1966, Ellis Maples, Pinehurst, North Carolina, was chosen to design the 18-hole golf course. Maples was well thought of in the Eastern U.S. and had designed the outstanding Pinehurst No. 5. His chief assistant on the job was Ed Seay who later became a principal architect for Arnold Palmer's Company.

     With the guidance of Maples, a contractor was hired to start in April 1967. Harry Crosby was hired as General Manager in that month and in May, Johnny Graves, Course Superintendent of the Augusta National, joined the group. Many were the cuts and bruises for Harry Crosby, Jim Swift and Johnny Graves as they "walked" the undeveloped land prior to the clearing and rough outlining of the holes. 

     Construction, in the beginning, was funded by shareholders' equity and later augmented with bank loans. Maples' stated timetable was to have 9 holes ready for play in late Fall 1967. By June 1967, this plan was recognized as ridiculous and was quickly revised to have all 18 holes ready to play in Fall 1968.

     From the start of construction troubles and hidden problems arose - more earth movement than planned, designated pond areas too wet to be formed by bulldozers had to be excavated by drag-line (dredge). Water for irrigation was adequate but the lake channel had to be relocated to reach supply pipes. All of these took more time and more money.

     The clearing and disposal of trees during this time period was a monumental task, which would have been almost cost prohibitive today. At that time the trees were piled high and burned - probably not allowable under current environmental limits. There were a few interesting discoveries such as a natural spring to the left of the sixth green leading to a wet area (now a pond) where a substantial moonshine still was found.

     With all the difficulties and delays, clearing and grading was sufficiently complete by Fall of 1967 to show the shape of things to come. During the winter most work was slowed except for the laying of underground irrigation piping.

     By late March 1968, there were visible signs of progress such as the final grading of fairways, bunkers and tees. The greens were formed, sprinkler heads were connected to the sprinkler system and the pump house for the system was constructed on the big lake. In 1968, construction began on the early clubhouse which boasted only a small lunch area, a smaller kitchen, pro shop, cart maintenance area and men's and ladies' locker rooms. It is interesting to note that the men's locker room was beautifully appointed with carpeted floors, stained wooden lockers, and what many called the most comfortable chairs ever. This attention to detail rivaled many similar size finer clubs across the country. In early 1969 work began on building a 50-meter "L" shaped swimming pool with a deep diving well. Shortly thereafter, 4 latex tennis courts were built.

     By mid-summer 1968 all phases of development were moving forward.  Bermuda grass planted and growing, lot development underway, major utility installations in and clubhouse construction in progress. However, in August, a fierce rainstorm struck the area; fierce enough to drop 4 inches of rain in one hour and to collapse the roof of Whites Store at National Hills. At West Lake, water carried away the earthen dam holding the pond at the 18th green and even worse, tore trenches across newly planted fairways in dozens of places washing young grass shoots and soil in its torrent. The dam was rebuilt and West Lake's small maintenance crew replanted over 100,000 square feet of sod to repair that damage. Plans to play the course in Fall 1968 were postponed until Spring, 1969.

     In October 1968, Mark Darnell was selected as Golf Professional and was drafted to help with the finishing of the golf course work. Finally, by March 1969, the golf course was playable and the clubhouse available for basic use. Original access to the clubhouse was by dirt road from Evans-Lock Road behind the 8th green and along the right side of the 9th fairway. Any serious rain meant no golf since players could not get to the clubhouse! In May, the paving of Pebble Beach Drive was accomplished and access became less of a challenge. At this time, West Lake Country Club was incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Development Company and control was vested in the Board of that company.

     In the early months players were enthusiastic in their praise of the layout and the greens unhampered by age and helped by minimal play were highly praised and declared superior to most local courses. At first, few roughs had been cleared. A ball was either in the fairway or lost--a great challenge to most. Largely due to the Master's Tournament, the first few months brought many people from the golf world to play - Byron Nelson, Gene Sarazan (later a nonresident member), Tony Jacklin and officials from the Royal and Ancient in Scotland. This fortunate exposure was priceless.

     An arrangement with Sports Illustrated brought over 100 business people to Augusta for Master's Week, allowed them to play the course and thus gaining additional exposure and income for the Club. By mid-1969 lots for homes were ready and the first house (built for Mark Darnell) was started in November of that year.  However, the growth of real estate sales was very disappointing. Local people thought it was too far from the city and believed it could not succeed.  Fortunately, people moving from other parts of the country often said it was great to have this facility so close to town!

     At the end of 1973 nearly 100 homes were established in the first two developed sections. The West Lake Board with marvelous courage and great optimism decided to undertake a number of expansion projects concurrently --- development of a third section of home sites along what is now West Lake Drive, large expansion of the clubhouse, automation of the golf course irrigation system and construction of 8 composition clay (soft) tennis courts.

     These improvements were completed in 1974 were largely financed with bank loans and by the assessment of members who by then numbered 275. The rapid increase in operating costs of the Club along with the explosive increase of interest rates created substantial losses in 1975 and 1976 which could not be offset by the moderate increase in real estate sales and Club income. By late 1975, the need for additional lot inventory required developing a new section beyond the clubhouse on Pebble Beach Drive. The struggle through 1976 and 1977 with moderate growth in sales failed to offset the higher operating costs of the Club. Even an aggressive, successful drive for the new members was not enough to solve this continuing problem which was compounded by the explosive rise in interest rates by now at 23%. In mid-1977 bankers were pressing for payments of interest and principal. At the same time some West Lake Officers were in difficulties with other investments and had reduced leverage with bankers.

     By late 1977, something had to be done. A sale of the Club facilities to the Club members was negotiated between the banks, West Lake Development Co. and West Lake Members, Inc. In effect, the banks lent Members funds to buy the Club facilities at a favorable price leaving the Development Company with the balance of the land and the larger portion of the debt. This deal was formally concluded in December 1977.

     The idea of building West Lake in Columbia County, decided on that hot July day in 1963, was to be historic. As we look back over the explosive growth of Columbia County, we must remember the risks and entrepreneurial spirit of those founders. They had no assurances of success. They were told it would not work. Time has proven that it would not only work, but would flourish.