Country Club of Green Valley Celebrates 55 Years

The new year finds Country Club of Green Valley celebrating their 55th anniversary as a private golf course and country club. It was late 1969 when the Green Valley Development Company planned several new subdivisions including Country Club Estates, reserving certain blocks for a future golf course. The Country Club of Green Valley was incorporated in January 1970 and soon thereafter, construction began on the clubhouse and first 9 holes of the club’s golf course. The dining room and bar opened in January 1971, and the first foursome struck their inaugural drives on the first hole in February of that same year.

The course and clubhouse continued to expand over the next few years, and the back nine holes opened to member play in October 1973. By that time, the club’s swimming pool had been installed and the expansion of the bar as well as the construction of the large banquet room were well underway.  

As one would expect, the last 5+ decades have brought many changes to the golf course and club in general. The course has survived some destructive storms and floods with the worst occurring in 1977, 1993, and 2021 and still managed to thrive with increasingly dry summers. Even with changes, the overall course layout has stayed true to its original design – just as famous course architect, Red Lawrence, had originally intended.  

Over the years, spaces within the clubhouse were changed and expanded to accommodate the growing membership and town. Initially, all golfing members owned their own golf carts and drove them to the club from their homes. As Green Valley expanded, all club members no longer lived close to the course. Thus, cart storage areas were added beginning in 1990. The large space that once held the club’s massive kitchen and part of the banquet room was divided from the rest of the clubhouse in the mid-2000’s and Country Club of Green Valley became landlords to a tenant restaurant.

Interestingly enough, the club now boasts several second-generation members. The O’Briens began visiting back in Country Club of Green Valley’s early years. Both Mike and Sharon were in college in the 70’s when their parents retired and left Illinois for the desert southwest. Members Dow and Becky Powell along with Becky’s brother Dan Smith now own homes on the course and call Green Valley home for a good part of each year. Becky and Dan’s parents joined Country Club of Green Valley in the late 70’s and they both visited whenever possible and a few years later, Dow and Becky were married here. While none of them ever envisioned they too would end up members at their “parents club”, all said they wouldn’t change a thing.

Throughout the club’s 55 years, Country Club of Green Valley has provided its members with a beautiful tree-lined golf course along with an active and varied social life. General Manager, Seth Hagen, adds “And even after all these years, we still have the friendliest golfers in the Valley!”