The owners of the Long Beach Company, developers of the Long Beach community, hired Dr. William Hall to create the routing for the Long Beach golf course. Dr. Hall was a local dentist, an excellent player, and a member of the other local private club, Pottawattomie Country Club (founded in 1918). It is believed that Dr. Hall supervised the course construction during 1920 and 1921 and the course was open for play in the spring of 1924. The Long Beach Country Club itself was incorporated in the State of Indiana on February 29, 1924.

The early golf course history of the club is otherwise very sketchy, as all club records went up in smoke in a fire that destroyed the clubhouse in 1935. The course, however, retains its original routing and most tees and greens are in their original locations.

In 1975, architect Ken Killian was asked to develop a master renovation/modernization plan for the course. The Board of Directors at that time, however, chose to accept only a portion of Mr. Killian's recommendations. Over the next few years, the number 15 and number 16 greens were rebuilt, fairway bunkers were added on number 9 and number 18, and the number 14 green was expanded.

As the club membership grew during the 1970's and 1980's, Dr. Michael Hurdzan was contracted to develop a master plan for the renovation and remodeling of the course in 1989. Dr. Hurdzan's plan still guides the on-going upgrades of the course, which have included:

• Rebuilt and lengthened number 13 - 1991 and 1992 (to solve drainage problems)
• Rebuilt and reshaped all green and fairway bunkers - 1992 and 1993
• Reconfigured number 16 green area and number 17 tee complex - 1996 and 1997
• Expanded number 18 green and number 17 green - 1993 and 1998
• Rebuilt number 1 tee and adjoining putting green complex - 1999

The course features:

• Wonderful vistas from high atop sand dunes on the 1st, 10th, and 17th tees
• A par of 35/37 = 72 with a rating/slope of 72.1/132 from the 6,542 back tees
• Three par 3's in the first five holes and three par 5's in the last five holes
• Three par 3's over 200 yards.six par 4's over 400 yards
• Smallish 1920's style greens, great bunkering, and water hazards on four holes
• Majestic, century old stands of black and white oaks
• And, superb grooming and conditioning

It is one of the most challenging 6,542 yard courses anywhere! The course ratings and slopes are:

• Blue course 72.1/132
• White course 71.9/129
• Red course 66.9/117
• Ladies' Red course 72.1/124

Enjoy these vintage photo ensembles - and welcome to Long Beach Country Club!

Click image for larger view

Click image for larger view