Looking Back: The construction of the St. Clair Shores golf course

ST. CLAIR SHORES — In 1926, an 18-hole golf course for the Detroit Masonic Country Club was started on the north side of Masonic Boulevard. It would be the club’s second course and would open in August 1929.

Later in 1929, severe storms damaged the DMCC buildings and grounds. The stock market crash toward the end of that same year meant that the finances of both the club and its members were severely eroded. The club dissolved in 1932, and by 1944, the Village of St. Clair Shores had received the land in lieu of back taxes. However, both of the DMCC golf courses continued to operate until 1945.

From 1947 to 1961, the Lakepointe Country Club operated what had been the second DMCC golf course. The original course was allowed to go to seed and eventually a school was built on the property. The development of Interstate 94 cut into the golf course land and the course was supposed to be redesigned. But by 1967, the course had closed.

The property remained vacant until 1973, when the city of St. Clair Shores purchased it. In 1976, the St. Clair Shores Country Club opened on the site. It is now known as the St. Clair Shores Golf Club.

This photo shows work being done on the course in 1975. The pond is at the 15th green.

To view this image and other historic photographs, visit the Digital Media Archive at www.scslibrary.org.

— Submitted by Heidi Christein, archivist, St. Clair Shores Public Library