Tri-City Country Club celebrates its 70th Anniversary!!

Every successful organization needs to seek new members and fresh energy to continue to exist.  With all of the new options in the Tri-Cities sometimes long established businesses and clubs need to reach out to remind people they are there.  That’s what generated the idea of a community open house according to TCCC board member Dennis Young.  The Tri-Cities Country Club is particularly interested in attracting new young members and retirees new to the community who will find membership an attractive option.  

The original Twin City Golf Club was formed in 1938.  Back then the city of Kennewick purchased the property known as Hover’s Fountain Park from the KID for $100 for the purpose of creating a golf course.  The Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked with the members of the Twin City Golf Club built the original 9 hole course.  Kennewick specified in the first lease to the club that none of the materials or labor had been provided by the city for the new course.  The original lease with the city required that the course should always allow for public play.  Many Tri Citians don’t realize that the provision continues today.  The first lease provided for a fee of $1.50 for 18 holes or $1.00 for 9 holes on weekends and a membership fee of no less than $18 for a year.  Currently weekend green fees are $45 and membership dues are $2400 per year for the entire family. 

It was 1948 when the Twin City Golf Club was renamed the Tri-City Country Club. For the next 40 years community leaders and businessmen knew that the Country Club was the center of important community events, the splashy receptions, and was the place to be seen.  

 Throughout the 50s and 60s it was also the premier golfing destination in the Tri-Cities hosting prestigious events and tournaments.  In the 70s, 80s, and 90s new longer courses at meadow springs and canyon lakes and horn rapids were built.   Now it is known more as the “shotmakers” course and the most couple friendly course in the area.  Friendliness and hospitality remain hallmarks of the course and “Tumbleweed” is still among the best women’s tournaments in the state.  The Tri-City “Guys and Dolls” Couples tourney in July also draws entries from a wide area.

J.R. Williams, a 53 year member remembers when every important business deal seemed to take place either in the lounge or the dining room at “the club”.   Times have changed and there are now many more fine dining options in the area, but the dining room at the Country Club still has one of the best views and perhaps the most elegant ambience in all of the Tri-Cities along with a continuing emphasis on fine cuisine. 

While, in the 40s and 50s the late night poker games, the steam room and 19th hole bar were the stuff of legends, today members are more likely to bring families to the swimming pool in the summer or work out in the exercise facility, play table tennis and then take a sauna on the non golfing days in the winter.  Most also celebrate holiday events in what members believe is the most elaborately decorated dinner and banquet facility in the Tri-Cities.  

The course still hosts many weddings and receptions during the year and hosts a limited number of community fundraising golf tournaments during the year.  TCCC also does community service by hosting a Kennewick high school golf tourney in spring and a cross country meet in the fall. 

Mike Ballard, a recent Seattle retiree and new member marvels at the fact that he and his wife Nancy can play golf nearly every day of the year without battling for a tee time.  Long time member Bruce Arey is even more grateful for the fact that he can play a full round of golf in a little over 3 hours any day, or evening of the week.  “I can play  on a weekend morning and still have most of the day available for those weekend chores, and I can play 18 holes after work all summer.”

While the course is short and the par is 65, member Ed Shenk points out that many visitors shoot higher or the same scores as they do at home courses with pars 5 to 7 strokes higher.  “It’s a challenge because of the trees, the slopes of the greens and the necessity of hitting accurate shots,” he explains.

Not all Tri-City Country Club members are golfers.  Some are social members who simply belong for the clubhouse facilities.  They tend to belong for the social activities such as wine dinners, the holiday galas monthly extravaganzas and birthday and anniversary dinners, and other fun special events and dinners.  There are also special music events for dancing and/or listening two or more times each month.  Others simply like having a place to have a special social or business lunch.  Members also enjoy the privilege free booking of private or business meetings and banquets. Besides, that there will always be something special about good food in a quiet environment.