West Lake Country Club

Photo Credit: West Lake Country Club

WEST LAKE COUNTRY CLUB

West Lake Country Club was opened for play in March of 1969 and designed by Ellis Maples of Pinehurst, North Carolina. West Lake Country Club was built on a 700 acre site with water coming into play on 7 of the 18 holes. Known for its impeccable playing conditions and TifEagle Bermuda greens that run 11.0-12.0 on the stimpmeter. West Lake will motivate and reward players of all skill levels with tee options ranging from 5,289 to 6,857 yards.

Golfers who have played West Lake commented, “West Lake is a tough course as it has right and left dog legs. You have to know how to work the ball to play some of these holes." “A wonderful old style coarse. Never boring to play. Not terribly long but the undulating greens makes it always a challenge. A lot of history at this place."

The idea to build West Lake began on a hot July Saturday in 1963 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!" So, they did.

A corporation, West Lake Development Company, was created with 50 participants owning equal shares of stock. James G. Swift, a local engineer (and one of the 50) was engaged to design the project. In mid-1966, Donald Ross protégé Ellis Maples from Pinehurst, NC, was chosen to design the 18-hole golf course. Maples had designed the outstanding Pinehurst No. 5. His chief assistant on the job was Ed Seay, who later became the principal architect for Arnold Palmer’s Company.