History of the Golf Club of Avon

1978: Membership was slightly on the increase, up to approximately 1,240 members. Board minutes became scant and it is difficult to determine what occurred in the Board meetings. The clubhouse renovations were completed and a Grand Opening was held in October. The Board unanimously approved the purchase and construction of two paddle courts at a cost of $35,000 with the expectation that the sport would be self-sustaining. A new pool complex- new bathhouse and snack bar, and other renovations, but not a new pool- was approved (and completed in 1979).

1979: Early in the year, the club purchased a “piano-cord” and related cassettes for $3,100. As the Avon area continued to grow, the Board noted “an evident decline in patronage of the restaurant.”

Proposals were made for a new irrigation system for the golf course and a new pro shop. A special meeting of the members was held in October and by a vote of 131-44, the members approved spending $500,000 toward the purchase of an irrigation system and construction of the pro shop.

1980-1989 1980: Membership remained fairly steady with 1,216 members (the golf wait list was at 63). The new pro shop opened in June. The new irrigation system had numerous delays but was ready for testing in August. Vandalism remained an issue: “because of children running with horses, two greens were damaged.” The parents paid for the damages. A new green was completed on Three Red. 1981: The Board discussed generating “energy with the use of a windmill” with the thought that the electric carts would be powered by the windmill. An anemometer was installed to record wind velocities and the matter was referred to committee for further study. Due to defoliation from gypsy moths, there was a special assessment of the members to cover the cost of treating the trees. In another unexpected expenditure, the club’s tenant at 150 Country Club Road left the house in “deplorable condition” and the club spent over $10,000 repairing the damage. Membership declined to 1,115 members at year-end (down 100 members from the prior year), a trend that would continue for several years.

On the course, the Board approved the use of one nine on weekend mornings for walkers and pull carts. The other two nines were for golfers using caddies and electric carts. This action was very controversial and, by mid July, the policy had been changed and pull carts were no longer permitted before 11:00 a.m. A program to clean out and add sand to the club’s bunkers was approved. The new green on Three Red experienced substantial problems.

1982: The Board approved a new logo (the now familiar pond and geese logo) to further identify the club. The club also installed its first computer system. For golfer safety reasons, Country Club Road was striped (this was handled by the Avon police). Greens on One Red and Six Red were rebuilt. Fifty percent of the hole-in-one fund was dedicated to the planting of new trees.

It was a very expensive time to borrow money: the club’s long term debt of $800,000 was financed in equal parts at interest rates of 15% and 12.5%. The Board solicited member interest in member bonds being issued to pay off some or all of the club debt (the members would lend the funds to the club and take back a bond). Membership was down to 1,070 members. Despite the economic challenges, the House Committee reported that a spring brunch was sold out and that the brunch included Noel Coward’s “Private Lives” as performed by the Alpha Omega Players.

23