History
classic layout, timeless design, comfortable playability...

The actual grand opening of the Shrine Country Club of Lincoln took place in the fall of 1929. Just prior to that event, on August 7, 1929, Sesostris Temple of Lincoln held a reception at the nearly completed clubhouse in honor of the visiting Imperial Potentate, Leo W Youngworth, of Los Angeles. The event created more than a little interest in the city and large coverage in the Nebraska State Journal. The Sunday, August 4, 1929, edition of the paper devoted the better part of an entire section to articles and photos of the facility and the event.

The golf course had been open since March 31 (and actually some of the preceding fall of 1928). The ten-page special section told readers in great detail of the planning and construction of the clubhouse, playgrounds, picnic area, and golf course.

The clubhouse was designed by the architectural firm of Davis and Wilson and built by Olson Construction Co. The architecture was considered to be of Spanish-Moorish style. The decor featured parchment colored interior walls. The Shrine colors of red, green, and yellow were used with the Shrine emblems in decorating the beamed ceilings in the larger rooms.

The building was 261 ft. by 144 ft. and was topped by a 28 ft. square tower. The original arrangement featured a "grille" in what is now the pro shop, and a soda fountain just to the west and north. The men's locker room and a lounge were also in the east wing on the first floor. The second floor also had men's lockers and the manager's apartment and bedrooms for those employed in the house. In the basement, a large space was to be prepared for an indoor putting green. The original plan also showed a huge ballroom at the south end of the west wing, nearly twice the size of the present ballroom. Evidently funds never became available for its construction.

The Sesostris Temple membership at that time was 2,400 and all were automatic members of the country club and granted its use except for the golf course and locker room. There was an extra charge for access to those facilities. About 300 had committed to golf course membership at the time of the opening.

The "playgrounds" were intended to be a family picnic type of area, and many sports were included in the design. A pond was built and stocked with fish. A six-sided picnic shelter house equipped with four open hearth fireplaces was constructed. The shelter still stands and is visible through the trees from "0" Street today. A baseball diamond, croquet court, shooting range, wading pool, children's playground equipment, and outdoor fireplaces were also constructed. The club also purchased a four-year option on an additional 80 acres on the west side of the playgrounds, but never exercised the option. Future plans were for a third nine holes and eventually expansion to 36.

The golf course was designed by William A. Tucker of New York. Mr. Tucker also designed the course in Glacier Park for the Great Northern Railroad. Originally designed to play at 6,600 yards, it was considered to be about 300 yards longer than most courses of the day. All eighteen greens were said to be visible from the clubhouse at the time.

Five miles of underground water mains were laid to carry water from the 14 inch well to all greens and tee boxes. It was considered to be an automatic watering system-by the standards of the era. Total cost of the land and all improvements were in excess of $440,000.

Times were good in most of the country during the '20s and Lincoln evidently shared in profits and optimism; however, the stock market crash and the depression were just around the corner. These two factors, along with what may have been too much too quick, proved to be more debt than the club could support and by 1936 the Shrine had ceased to operate the facility.

Following the closure of the Shrine Club the facility had two different owners from 1936 to 1943. In fact there was a short period that the property was vacant and ceased operations. In 1943 Hillcrest Country Club was formed. Hillcrest has occupied and managed the facilities since.