Country clubs, yacht clubs, and golf clubs often are steeped in heritage, which is a significant part of their charm. Members and their guests can wander the facilities and get a sense of club legacies that date back a century or more.
That longevity adds to the prestige of a club and gives members a sense of involvement in something with roots and staying power — something proven.
It also leads to numerous challenges. Older clubs are expensive to maintain and, at the same time, interior design features can become outdated. A concept that was charming in the 1950s may be unworkable in the fast-paced world of today.
As a result, clubs must find ways to perform modern renovations, upgrades, and expansions even as they work to maintain their historic character — all the while providing premium member experiences during construction periods.
With COVID-19 largely in the rear-view mirror, clubs throughout metro Detroit have done considerable work on their facilities over the course of the past year to maintain or grow their membership base. Others completed projects they had started and are now reaping the rewards of their investments.
For example, the Detroit Athletic Club is located in a venerable Albert Kahn-designed building that provides panoramic views of the central business district, Comerica Park, Ford Field, Little Caesars Arena, and the nation’s second-largest collection of historic theaters.
Over the past decade, the DAC has spent more than $100 million to renovate and enhance its offerings. One of the largest and most challenging improvement projects got underway in April in The Abbey — the centerpiece of which is a bowling alley that was first opened in 1915, when the club moved from its original campus immediately north of what today is The Whitney restaurant at Woodward Avenue and Canfield.
The eight bowling lanes themselves weren’t significantly changed, but the surrounding space received a complete update, including new separate locker rooms for men and women, a pro shop, a horseshoe-shaped bar, and an open restaurant that promotes comradery. Overall, the renovation added 660 square feet of space to The Abbey.
“The architectural highlight is the horseshoe bar, which is close to the bowling lanes and was designed to bring together the (dining and) social aspect because they used to be somewhat separated,” says Charles Johnson, executive manager of the DAC. “Now the dining activities take place behind the bowling lanes, and we added a full-service restaurant, which we didn’t have previously.”
Johnson says the redesigned dining area, complemented by a new kitchen, will make it possible to prepare food to order from an expanded menu. The added improvements also are intended to create a more social environment for a vibrant bowling league with more than 700 active bowlers.
The improvements follow major upgrades to other areas of the club in recent years, including an updated business center, a restored natatorium, redesigned dining facilities, and a quick-service café.
If bowling got an upgrade in downtown Detroit, golf got one in Southfield. This year, Plum Hollow Country Club completed a $2 million golf course renovation that introduced new tee boxes and bunkers, and took out some trees for the purpose of widening the fairways.
Rick Burkardt, general manager of Plum Hollow, says the tree removal reflects the inevitable result of what seemed like a great idea back in the 1950s. “About 70 years ago, everyone got the idea, let’s plant trees,” Burkardt says, “(because then) we’ll have shade.”
Many of the planted trees were silver maples, which Burkhardt says are more widely known as “the weeds of trees.” Once they reach a certain age, they start throwing off limbs frequently — especially in high winds. To deal with the problem, Plum Hollow brought in golf course architect Drew Rogers to design more angles for each fairway, giving golfers more options for how to approach each hole.
Plum Hollow also added a 10,000-square-foot practice putting green, in addition to renovating both the men’s and women’s locker rooms and a pool house, the latter of which features new flooring and cabinets as well as activities like foosball and PlayStation systems for kids.
Appealing to the younger generation was the motivation for the sailing-focused Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit to take on a major renovation that began during the pandemic-induced lull of 2020. As part of the now fully-completed project, Bayview tore down its clubhouse, which was originally constructed in the 1930s.
Bayview’s membership stood at 350 and falling when the club’s leadership made the decision to replace the old, 10,000-square-foot clubhouse with a 12,800-square-foot upgrade. While the new clubhouse maintains old features such as the massive fireplace and the Mackinac Room, it’s designed to be more appealing to younger people who might consider membership.
The $6 million project yielded a new kitchen as well as an entry hallway that features trophies and highlights the club’s history. New food and beverage facilities and banquet space, as well as a second bar and dining room, were also part of the renovation.
According to Bayview Yacht Club General Manager Matt Prost, the renovation has had the intended impact on membership.
“It’s definitely grown the membership,” Prost says. “The renovation was for the purpose of attracting a next generation of sailors, and we’re absolutely growing in the 20-to-40 demographic, which is fantastic. And we’re seeing much more engagement. A lot of the members who live out of town are coming in more, and the locals are in here more often because they’re taking advantage of the banquet space.”
According to Prost, the upgraded facilities also helped Bayview attract a new executive chef and food and beverage director.
Whereas Bayview is a venue for sailboats, Pontiac’s M1 Concourse is all about motion of the automotive variety. Late last year, the motor track playground at Woodward Avenue and South Boulevard completed a 28,000-square-foot event center. The facility was originally intended to host both special events and a public restaurant, but the pandemic changed that plan — at least temporarily.
“Given that the restaurant business suffered harder than most any other business sectors because of COVID-19, and it has not come back with leaps and bounds, we’ve been using the entire building for private and corporate events, and it’s been very successful,” says Tim McGrane, CEO of M1 Concourse.
Along the way, M1 has made progress on two other initiatives. First, it has completed the construction of all the condominium-style garages that are available for sale to individuals and companies. The garage interiors are custom-designed, and often feature a mezzanine level along with a variety of other build-out options.
The garages can be used for many purposes, including entertaining friends or hosting business sessions, and there’s even a boxing training center. Finally, M1 is developing a new, 3,000-square-foot automotive service center — slated to open in spring 2023. It will have three service bays, a customer service area, and a section that’s available to showcase other services.
McGrane says the service center will be available to garage owners as well as to groups using the event center. Auburn Hills-based Prefix Co. has already contracted to operate the facility. “They see this as a unique opportunity for their company to be both the operator of this facility and to have a portal into the world of M1,” McGrane says.
Other clubs throughout the region have taken on upgrades of various kinds. At the Birmingham Country Club, a new outdoor pavilion was constructed that includes a large outdoor fireplace. The pavilion, designed to host more outdoor gatherings, was completed in late spring.
At the same time, the club gave its patio a face-lift to include new outdoor tables and chairs with umbrellas and new place settings. Also in the works are new pickleball courts, to tap into the growing popularity of the sport both here and nationwide.
During the summer, Royal Oak-based Red Run Golf Club unveiled its newly redesigned golf course and halfway house — the course work cost $2.3 million and produced both new and upgraded bunkers and tee boxes. The new course opened in late April. The 1,700-square-foot halfway house, built at a cost of $3 million, replaced a slightly smaller one.
In addition, the historic clubhouse was renovated at a total cost of $3 million. The new space includes a larger mixed-grill area and a new porch, along with a veranda.
Meanwhile, Great Oaks Country Club in Rochester Hills, which was established in 1971, decided in 2021 to develop its first master plan in more than 20 years for its golf course, and subsequently hired architect Chris Wilczynski to lead the effort.
The new layout calls for the removal of some trees to address drainage, erosion, and flooding, while some holes were lengthened or shortened to accommodate the skill levels of all golfers. That followed the completion in 2019 of a new outdoor pool area for Great Oaks by Roncelli Inc. in Rochester, which included a 22,800-square-foot pool deck, a renovated locker room building, and the addition of 400 square feet of space to the concession building.
Roncelli also added new roofs to both buildings, and installed a splash pad and a 700-square-foot pool bar cabana.
While the golf season has ended, area clubs have been steadily offering more indoor events during the winter months to help drive revenue, along with embracing club-sponsored activities away from their grounds, such as hockey or fishing.
Perhaps the rebuild that’s attracting the most public curiosity is the Oakland Hills Country Club clubhouse in Bloomfield Township, which burned down in March 2022 following a construction accident. The total loss of the century-old clubhouse followed a $12 million renovation of Oakland Hills’ South Course, which was completed in summer 2021 and included expanding all 18 greens, widening fairways, and rebuilding the bunkers.
The Oakland Hills fire also raised the question of insurance coverage for country clubs. Plum Hollow’s Burkardt says he and his board had already taken the step to ensure they were better covered shortly before the fire at Oakland Hills. The decision, he says, was prompted by a fire at the historic clubhouse at Redford Township-based Western Golf and Country Club in 2018. Western subsequently rebuilt its clubhouse and reopened in 2020.
The loss of Oakland Hills’ historic clubhouse stunned the region and prompted widespread questions about a rebuilding effort, now in the planning stages. To help accommodate play on the club’s two 18-hole golf courses — the other being the North Course — Oakland Hills hosted a number of gatherings during the summer under tents, in lieu of a proper clubhouse. Groups also utilized the neighboring Birmingham Athletic Club.
“We are resolved and dedicated to come back stronger than ever,” Richard Palmer, president of Oakland Hills, said shortly after the fire. “We’re confident about our future and all the great things we hope to achieve.”
Club Life
A resource guide to the top private clubs in southeast Michigan.
Barton Hills Country Club
730 Country Club Rd.
Ann Arbor
734-663-8511
bartonhillscc.com
Members: 600 (estimate)
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: Signature Donald Ross golf course; tennis courts; fitness center; renovated dining room, wine bar, and resort-style pool complex with an outdoor pavilion.
Bayview Yacht Club
100 Clairpointe St.
Detroit
313-822-1853
byc.com
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: Indoor and outdoor dining, banquet space, marina, sailing lessons and races, regattas, and cruising activities.
Birmingham Athletic Club
4033 W. Maple Rd.
Bloomfield Township
248-646-5050
bacmi.net
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: Indoor and outdoor dining, two pools, tennis, squash, paddle tennis, pickleball, fitness center.
Birmingham Country Club
1750 Saxon Dr.
Birmingham
248-644-4111
bhamcc.com
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: 18-hole golf course, pool, tennis, fitness facilities, indoor and outdoor dining, pickleball (future).
Bloomfield Hills Country Club
350 W. Long Lake Rd.
Bloomfield Hills
248-644-6262
bloomfieldhillscc.org
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: Golf course, dining facilities.
Bloomfield Open Hunt
405 E. Long Lake Rd.
Bloomfield Hills
248-644-9411
bohclub.com
Members: Contact for information
Initiation fee: Contact for information
Monthly fee: Contact for information
Offerings: Dining room, swimming pool, fitness studio and yoga center, indoor and outdoor tennis, platform tennis, stables, indoor and outdoor equestrian facilities, kids’ activity center.
Country Club of Detroit
220 Country Club Dr.
Grosse Pointe Farms
313-881-8000
ccofd.com
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: 18-hole golf course, cross-country skiing, clubhouse, indoor and outdoor dining, tennis, paddle tennis, pool, bowling, fitness center, children’s day camp, guest rooms, dog park.
Dearborn Country Club
800 N. Military
Dearborn
313-561-0800
dearborncountryclub.net
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: 18-hole Donald Ross golf course, swimming, fitness area, dining, banquet facilities, junior golf, swim team.
Detroit Athletic Club
241 Madison St.
Detroit
313-963-9200
thedac.com
Members: NA
Initiation fee: Multiple offerings
Monthly fee: Based on age
Offerings: Fully restored Albert Kahn-designed clubhouse built in 1915, full-service athletic facilities, pool, restaurants, ballrooms, meeting rooms, guest rooms, newly-renovated bowling alley, salon, pavilion, named No. 1 Athletic Club in the country in 2018.
Detroit Golf Club
17911 Hamilton Rd.
Detroit
313-927-2457
detroitgolfclub.org
Members: NA
Initiation fee: Available upon membership inquiry
Monthly fee: Available upon membership inquiry
Offerings: Two 18-hole golf courses, clubhouse, three dining venues, swimming pool, swim team, tennis courts, fitness center.
Detroit Yacht Club
One Riverbank Rd., Belle Isle
Detroit
313-824-1200
dyc.com
Members: More than 800; less than half are boating members
Initiation fee: $1,500 (active members), $3,000 (boating active members)
Monthly fee: $384 (active members), $424 (boating active members)
Offerings: Restaurant and bar, outdoor and indoor pools, swim team, adult and junior sailing, kayaking, tennis courts, social activities, more than 300 boat slips for boating members.
Edgewood Country Club
8399 Commerce Rd.
Commerce Township
248-363-7112
edgewoodcountryclub.org
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: 18-hole golf course, casual and fine dining, outdoor pool, fitness center, massage therapist, event space.
Franklin Hills Country Club
31675 Inkster Rd.
Franklin
248-851-2200
franklinhills.com
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: Albert Kahn-designed clubhouse, Donald Ross 18-hole golf course, tennis, swimming, banquet space, dining room.
Grosse Ile Golf and Country Club
9339 Bellevue
Grosse Ile
734-676-1166
gigcc.com
Members: 500+
Initiation fee: Starts as low as $1,000, depending on type of membership and age
Monthly fee: Starts as low as $73, depending on type of membership and age
Offerings: Donald Ross-designed 18-hole golf course; two full-service dining rooms; swimming pool; GIGCC swim team; clay and hard surface tennis courts featuring adult and youth leagues, individual instruction, and professional tennis staff; social events year-round for all ages.
Grosse Pointe Yacht Club
788 Lake Shore Rd.
Grosse Pointe Shores
313-884-2500
gpyc.org
Members: 770
Initiation fee: Active (boating) $12,500; social $5,000
Monthly fee: Active (boating) $703; social $570
Offerings: Named a Platinum Club of the World; three dining rooms with views of Lake St. Clair; ballroom and main dining room with Italian architecture perfect for weddings, special occasions, or corporate events; fitness center; Olympic-size pool, bowling recreation center, and a family activity center; 2,440-square-foot Marine Activity Center with sailing, watersports, and boat rentals.
Indianwood Golf and Country Club
1081 Indianwood Rd.
Lake Orion
248-693-9100
iwgcc.com
Members: 500+
Initiation fee: Class A Membership NA, Class B Membership $3,500, Family Fitness Membership $1,500, Social/Pool Family Membership $899
Monthly fee: Class A Membership NA, Class B Membership $130, Family Fitness Membership $130, Social/Pool Family Membership $130
Offerings: 18-hole New and Old golf courses, driving range, Junior Golf Program for children, clubhouse, dining areas including Pipers Pub and Men’s Grill, health club, variety of club and social events.
Knollwood Country Club
5050 West Maple Rd.
West Bloomfield Township
248-855-1800
knollwoodcountryclub.net
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: 18-hole golf course; four Har-Tru clay tennis courts; aquatics facility with locker rooms, snack bar, and outdoor dining; 55,000-square-foot clubhouse; fitness center; pickleball; golf simulator studio; banquet space for 400 people; Troon Privé – Private Clubs of Distinction; member golfing privileges at Troon-managed clubs, resorts, and courses worldwide.
Lochmoor Club
1018 Sunningdale Dr.
Grosse Pointe Woods
313-886-1010
lochmoorclub.com
Members: 691
Initiation fee: Interim Golf (40+) $5,000; golf intermediate (30-39) $3,000; golf junior (21-29) $1,500; social intermediate (21-34) $500; social (35+) $1,500
Monthly fee: Interim Golf (40+) $695; golf intermediate (30-39) $595; golf junior (21-29) $376; social intermediate (21-34) $272; social (35+) $392
Offerings: 18-hole golf course; men and women’s golf leagues; creative pop-up dining events and seasonal menus; summer patio bar and outdoor dining; wine club that features wine tastings/dinners; swim team for children; tennis programs; junior sports such as golf and tennis; Lochmoor Athletic Center with year-round golf training; four Trackman simulators; 1,000-square-foot indoor golf practice area with chipping, putting green, and sand bunker; fitness center; two tennis courts; bar; food service.
M1 Concourse
1 Concourse Dr.
Pontiac
866-618-7225
m1concourse.com
Members: 150
Initiation fee: $30,000
Monthly fee: $412.50
Offerings: Seven hours of track time per week; use of M1 Fleet Vehicles such as Dodge Hellcats and Lexus Performance Coupes; instruction provided by high-level driving instructors, including notable racers such as Johnny O’Connell; autocross competitions; guest events for friends/family of members to drive; exclusive social events.
Meadowbrook Country Club
40941 W. Eight Mile Rd.
Northville Township
248-349-3600
meadowbrookcountryclub.com
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: 18-hole golf course; 25-meter pool, lap pool, and wading pool; fountain and wading pool for little ones; private tennis programs led by Wayne Jackson; tennis events, lessons, and tournaments; indoor and outdoor dining options.
Oakhurst Golf and Country Club
7000 Oakhurst Lane
Clarkston
248-391-3300
invitedclubs.com/clubs/oakhurst-golf-country-club
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: 18-hole golf course, six tennis courts with USPTA pro available for clinics or private lessons, executive chef, cabana bar, junior Olympic-size resort-style pool, 1,600-square-foot fitness center, variety of social functions.
Oakland Hills Country Club (clubhouse being rebuilt)
3951 West Maple Rd.
Bloomfield Township
248-644-2500
oaklandhillscc.com
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: South and North 18-hole golf courses, tennis, swimming.
Orchard Lake Country Club
5000 West Shore Dr.
Orchard Lake Village
248-682-0100
orchardlakecountryclub.com
Members: 650
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: 18-hole golf course and driving range; six-tiered clay tennis courts and four platform tennis courts; seasonal menus prepared by award-winning chefs; lakefront dining; ballroom for wedding celebrations; racquet classes, competitions, and tournament training for all ages; personal training and group fitness programs; sailing clinics and swim lessons for children.
Paint Creek Country Club
2375 Stanton Rd.
Lake Orion
248-693-4695
paintcreekgolf.com
Members: NA
Annual fees: $99 to $5,349
Offerings: Golf course, fitness center, pool, 20,000-square-foot clubhouse, 300-seat dining room.
Pine Lake Country Club
3300 Pine Lake Rd.
Orchard Lake
248-682-1300
pinelakecc.com
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: Golf course, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, Olympic-size pool, fitness center, clubhouse, dining room, grill.
Plum Hollow Country Club
21631 Lahser Rd.
Southfield
248-357-5333
plumhollowcc.com
Members: 400
Initiation fee: $20,000 (stock), $1,500 (social)
Monthly fee: Varies based on membership category
Offerings: Golf course, caddie program, three Har-Tru clay tennis courts, Olympic-size pool, swim teams, casual and fine dining options.
Polo Fields Golf and Country Club
5200 Polo Fields Dr.
Ann Arbor
734-998-1555
polofieldsccmi.com
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: Golf course, clubhouse, indoor and outdoor dining, pool, lounge area, fully-equipped fitness center, snack bar, patio, golf simulator, year-round events.
Red Run Country Club
2036 Rochester Rd.
Royal Oak
248-548-7500
redrungolfclub.com
Members: 690 families
Initiation fee: $6,000 (social), $20,000 (golf)
Monthly fee: $331 (social), $755 (golf)
Offerings: Golf course, Olympic-size pool, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, fitness center, indoor golf practice area, bowling leagues, casual and formal dining.
Shenandoah Country Club
5600 Walnut Lake Rd.
West Bloomfield Township
248-683-6363
shenandoahcc.net
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: Golf course (open to public), clubhouse, dining, partitionable 11,336-square-foot banquet room, two pre-function areas, 4,000-square-foot outdoor terrace, pool and splash pad, fitness center.
Tam-O-Shanter Country Club
5051 Orchard Lake Rd.
West Bloomfield Township
248-855-1900, ext. 408
tamoshantercc.org
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: Golf course, clubhouse, dining, four hydro-clay and two hard-surface tennis courts, Olympic-size heated pool, fitness center, banquet facilities, youth programs, pickleball.
Wabeek Club
4000 Clubgate Dr.
Bloomfield Township
248-855-0700
wabeekcc.com
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: Golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye; clubhouse; formal and casual dining; pool; tennis; fitness center; spa; banquet and event space; kids room; TrackMan golf simulators; sport court for basketball, volleyball, and youth tennis configurations.
Western Golf and Country Club
14600 Kinloch
Redford Township
313-531-1240
westerngcc.com
Members: 425
Initiation fee: $18,000
Monthly fee: $600
Offerings: 18-hole Donald Ross-designed golf course, year-round events, four dining rooms, swimming pool, tennis, pickleball, snack bars, Kid Kamp, golf simulators, junior programs, and a brand-new clubhouse that opened in 2021.
Wyndgate Country Club
1975 W. Gunn Rd.
Rochester Hills
248-652-4283
thewyndgate.com
Members: NA
Initiation fee: NA
Monthly fee: NA
Offerings: Two 18-hole golf courses, clubhouse, gardens, banquet and event facilities, junior golf program, golf lessons, club fitting, club repair, Olympic-size pool, splash pad, 3-foot-deep transitional pool, swim team.
