Once it was a fairground – then a farm. In 1928, it became Orleans Country Club.
Back in 1928, the club letterhead boasted “the best little golf club in the world where good folks get together and enjoy each other”. Year after year this little missive has remained true of the club.
In the early 1920’s, Vermont golf towns Newport, Barton, and Derby already had courses. Meanwhile, the Orleans golfers played in the rugged Barton cow pasture.
The men, however, wanted to find a way to not put money into a course leased by a farmer. A course that used cows as “fairway mowers.” The local fairground offered them a flat meadow, surrounded by woods and a farmhouse, to build a golf course. The meadow became the links and the old farmhouse turned into a clubhouse.
Special thanks to Harry Mueller for taking photos of them for use on our web site.
The Orleans Country Club course has come long way. An old county road bisected the property that hosted fairs until the 1870s along with an oval racetrack ran that broadside to what is now the 12th tee. It also cut through the 14th green and across to the 16th tee into the fairways, leaving humps and ridges. Today, these pieces of history have resulted in slight uphill, downhill and side hill lies. Golfers 80 years ago eventually raised $9,550, and construction began on six holes in the meadow. They carved a “dog leg” out of the woods and connected it all to end in front of the farmhouse, which made a great makeshift clubhouse, complete with porches, a fireplace and locker rooms.
When the snow melted in the spring of 1929, Orleans Country Club opened. Total cost ended at $13,000. Back then, membership dues were $10 and greens fees cost $1 or $.60 for a hole.
The Club Continues to Grow
Orleans Country Club continued to develop into a Vermont golf institution. In 1951, the course added a new section to the clubhouse for a men’s locker room. Workers also renovated the kitchen.
Soon after, the course purchased 127 acres across the road for $5,000, and a “new” nine was born.
Then in 1958, management replaced the porches with a 72 X 36-foot addition, creating a large dining room, new locker rooms, pro shop and kitchen.
In other words, they built the clubhouse golfers still enjoy today.
Since then, the Orleans Country Club course has undertaken gradual improvements — an irrigation system, ponds, new tees and greens, and the removal of an old bard adjacent to the ninth fairway.
The Country Club Today
Membership booms today, surging in recent years to more than 400. Activities abound at the course throughout the season.
Orleans Country Club is proud of its history, especially beginning ladies’ activities in 1929, which is indicated by a the Club Champion record that year. In subsequent years, the course has hosted a Twilight League, member-guest events, best ball matches, and state and club tournaments — all open to members.
Spring of 2004 welcomed another major renovation, when the building received a more inviting entrance, new windows for the kitchen and pro shop, rewiring, air conditioning, redecorating, new carpeting and a remodeled men’s bathroom.
Recent Renovations
In 2010 new red/gold tee boxes were in full use at holes #4, #5, #6, #10, #11 and #16, providing better playability for all skill levels.
More welcome renovations to the Pro Shop and the Bar area were done in 2013 completed by a group of volunteers and overseen by carpenters Darryl Davis and Tony Daniels. Perfect timing for our 85th Anniversary.
Memories on a Locker Door
Another piece of Orleans Country Club history had been recorded by longtime member Woody Pike. He had been keeping track of his matches for years on his locker room door through the 80s, 90s and beyond. There was even a hole-in-one recorded on July 14, 1983 on hole #13 with a 9 iron. During the summer of 2011, the locker door was removed and presented to Woody for all the memories.
Orleans Country Club History Album
Pat Hunt has put together a historical album of Orleans Country Club which is located in our pro shop. It captures the essence of OCC and we will be forever grateful for Pat’s efforts on this project.
Thank you PAT!!!
The New Derk: Oil Painted Picture, Done in Opaque Oils, With Permanent Quality, Made to Order
