Oakland Hills Breaks Ground on New Clubhouse
Oakland Hills Country Club broke ground on a muti-year construction project, six days before Christmas, according to a news release provided by the historic club.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on the site of its original clubhouse that was destroyed by an accidental fire on February 17, 2022.
"Today is a momentous day for Oakland Hills members and staff who stand together, much like we did nearly two years ago watching flames rise from our clubhouse, but with a renewed excitement for the future. The Next 100 Project is the result of significant planning by the entire Oakland Hills family that will define the Championship golf experience for generations to come at our Club and beyond," said Oakland Hills President K. Dino Kostopoulos in the release.
“The Next 100” is the Club’s forthcoming construction project encompassing a new clubhouse, new Greens and Grounds complex, repurposing of an existing building, and modifications to its golf practice range and parking facilities. When completed, the iconic views of the South Course from the pillared veranda as well as the vista from the course back to the clubhouse will be restored.
"It is seldom that a great golf course and a great clubhouse work so dramatically together to enhance each other's image,” stated longtime member Richard Howting, while speaking about renowned Detroit architect Howard C. Crane during the groundbreaking ceremony. The clubhouse will restore numerous leading elements of Crane’s original design and be combined with modern building techniques to expand amenities and functions of the structure.
A significant improvement will be the relocation of the ballroom to the second floor with outdoor balconies enabling the creation of connected lounge, dining and bar experiences on the main floor.
“Every room will have expansive views and energy unachievable in the clubhouse we lost,” detailed Oakland Hills Member Doyle Mosher during the ceremony.
Additional notable changes include a larger women’s locker room; expanded outdoor dining areas; wide history halls containing the Club’s memorabilia and championship trophies; and a fitness facility in an adjacent building. In the lower level, significant improvements will benefit clubhouse and golf course operations including cart and golf bag storage, culinary facilities, caddie room and administrative offices.
The project was presented and approved by membership in December with an estimated cost of $96.5M. Construction will be funded by insurance proceeds, member assessment and member dues.
Construction activities are already underway with a grand opening of the clubhouse anticipated in 2026.
Foundation work will be conducted through much of 2024 with no interruption to the North and South Course hosting the 76th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
“The USGA is pleased to see Oakland Hills and its membership take this significant step in its rebuilding process,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer. “This coming year marks the start of the next chapter in our long and meaningful relationship with the club, which includes eight upcoming championships, and we could not be more excited to stage the U.S. Junior Amateur there next summer.”
With eight USGA championships on the schedule in the next 29 years, Oakland Hills Country Club is a major host in the region’s sports landscape; together with the NFL Draft and the NCAA Men’s Final Four which will be coming to Detroit in 2024 and 2027 respectively.
The South Course, site of six U.S. Opens from 1924 through 1996, reopened in the summer of 2021 after a masterful restoration to the Donald Ross design by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner.
The new clubhouse will sit where the original stood for more than 99 years. That is the piece of land touching the parking lot, between the lone tree on the left and extending toward the flagpole. Features of the South Course from left to right: 18th green, practice green, 10th tee, 9th green, 1st tee.
