Marking history

Spokane Country Club will celebrate its 100-year anniversary of the move to its current site with an open house from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Friday, April 29.

As part of the celebration, the club will be offering 100-day trial memberships (April 23-July 31) to anyone who might have an interest in joining the 450 families who currently use SCC’s course, pro shop, practice facilities, clubhouse and swimming pool.

Anyone interested in learning more about the open house – which will include hors d’ oeuvres, refreshments and tour of the facilities – or a trial membership is asked to call (509) 466-2121.

“It’s our 100th year at this location,” said general manager John Stone, “and we wanted to do something special to celebrate.”

The club, which was founded in 1898 on Spokane’s South Hill, moved to its present location at 2010 W. Waikiki Road, in 1911, after its clubhouse – which was designed by renowned architect Kirtland K. Cutter and constructed near where Hart Field is located today – burned down in 1908.

The clubhouse first built at the club’s current site burned to the ground in 1946, and the building that stands today was erected a short time later thanks to donations from its members, which included legendary singer Bing Crosby.

The rich history of Spokane Country Club includes its hosting of the first women’s United States Open in 1946. Patty Berg, who won the event, was made an honorary member of the club until here passing in September of 2006.

The Club has also played host to some of the other greatest names in golf, thanks to a series of exhibitions staged by the Junior League of Spokane from the late 1970s to the late 1990s.

In 1979, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Rod Funseth took part in the exhibition, and four years later, Watson was joined in 1983 exhibition by Lee Trevino, Tom Kite and Jerry Pate.

The Junior League’s exhibition foursome in 1986 included Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw, Peter Jacobsen and Fuzzy Zoeller. And in 1993, Nancy Lopez became the first female invitee, joining in the featured group.

The final exhibition was staged in 1997 and featured Annika Sorenstam, along with Tom Lehman, Jacobsen and Tom Weiskopf.