1928              History of the Orleans Country Club              2012

Once it was a fairground -- then a farm -- but 84 years ago 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".

 In the early 1920's Newport, Barton, and Derby already had golf courses. Many of the Orleans men played the rugged Barton cow pasture but didn't want to continue putting money into a course leased by a farmer and with the cows used as "fairway mowers." The fairground offered a flat meadow surrounded by woods and a farmhouse, which could be converted, to a clubhouse. An old County road bisected the property where fairs were held in the 1870's, and an oval race track running broadside to the present 12th tee, 14th green, across to the 16th tee continued into the fairways leaving humps and ridges which translates today into slight uphill, downhill, and sidehill lies. After raising $9,550, construction was underway for six holes in the meadow, the "dog-leg" carved out of the woods, the uphill and downhill holes culminating in front of the farmhouse, converted into the clubhouse with porches on three sides, a fireplace, and locker rooms.

 
When the snow cleared in the spring of 1929, OCC was ready and in business at a cost of $13,000. Dues were $10 and greens fees $1 ($ .60 for 9 holes).

 
In 1951 a new section was added to the clubhouse for a men's locker room (now ladies) and the kitchen remodeled.

 
When 127 acres became available across the road for $5,000, the "new" nine became a reality.

 
After removing the porches in 1958 a 72'x36' addition was added providing for the large dining room, new locker rooms, pro shop, and the kitchen as we know the building to be today.

 
Over the years there have been gradual course improvements, irrigation system, ponds, new tees and greens, and removal of the old barn adjacent to the 9th fairway.

 
In recent years membership has ranged around 400 or more, and activities are constant throughout the season.

 
Ladies' activities began in 1929 as indicated by having on record a Club Champion that year. Since then there have been Twilight League, Member-Guest events, Best-Ball matches, and State and Club tournaments, all of which are still open to all members.

Spring of 2004 marked an important year at the club when major renovations took place to upgrade the building with a more inviting entrance, new windows for the kitchen and pro shop, rewiring, air conditioning, redecorating and new carpeting throughout and remodeling of the men's bathroom.

By 2010 new red/gold tee boxes were in full use at holes #4, #5, #6, #10, #11 and #16 providing better playability for all abilities of play.

By Pat Hunt

Presented to Orleans Country Club
June 23, 1960
By Derick Studio

The New Derk
Oil Painted Picture, Done in Opaque Oils, With Permanent Quality, Made to Order
The Derick Studio, Orleans, VT

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 80's & 90's 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