SPONSORED CONTENT T H E N N OW A LWAYS | I S S U E 9 6
HE LAKELAND COUNTRY CLUB has
The Oldest Private Club in Lakeland is a Timeless Gem for Locals to Enjoy
THE LAKELANDER
Written by RJ Walters Current Photos by Dan Austin Historic Photos provided by The Lakeland Country Club Designed by Briana Chenot
24
Est. 1924
been a home away from home for many Lakelanders for many years—100 to be exact. Opened as The Lakeland Yacht & Country Club by A.H. Stahl in 1924, the grounds was once home to the original Cleveland Heights golf course and clubhouse and it has been a premiere spot for many debutante balls, holiday meals, private celebrations and so much more. In 2019, the club entered a new chapter of its history with the opening of a brand new building that pays some homage to the original club’s architecture, yet is home to contemporary amenities like a state-of-the-art workout facility, a robust tennis program, a gorgeous kid-friendly pool and dining experiences that are aiming to be the best in the area. General Manager Patrick Reilly said the historic club is still a “hidden gem” in some senses, but he and his team are excited to change that and build off the momentum the club has experienced from a surge of younger families becoming members. “People who drive by the building may not realize that this club is a community of people that are similar to a family,” he says. “There are generations of families that support the Club and are now bringing in a younger demographic, with their children, to build the membership for the future.”