The History of The Sedalia Country Club
1903 - The Beginning
1906-1907 - Getting Started
The next year, The Club purchased a block of ground adjoining the Missouri State Fairgrounds. This land was on the east side of the fairgrounds and facing South Limit Avenue. On March 22, 1906 the Sedalia Country Club became a corporation. A clubhouse was built at a cost of $4,200 and opened in June 1906. By then, the regular membership had grown to 88.
In 1907, 60 additional acres were purchased and a nine-hole golf course was laid out.
1911 - Building High Standards
While the Club upheld its high standards as a golf club, it was the social scene that was bringing a lot of attention. The Sedalia Country Club was The Place to be for many social functions, outstanding parties and entertaining honored guests, such as the formal reception and dinner given in honor of President Taft in 1911.
Over the years, The Club was remodeled and redecorated several times, adding locker and shower rooms, a golf shop and the construction of a swimming pool.
1927 - Horton Smith, SCC Golf Pro
In the year 1927, Horton Smith accepted the Golf Professional position at The Sedalia Country Club. The Springfield native became a hall of fame golfer with many accomplishments including PGA President and the first ever Masters Champion.
1963 - The Surf Club
"A Place in the Sun for the Entire Family"
The Walnut Hills neighborhood organized The Walnut Hills Surf Club Inc., a private corporation organized for swimming and other recreational purposes. The Walnut Hills Surf Club pool was constructed in the spring of 1963. Formal dedication ceremonies of the club were held on July 20th, 1963.
The Surf Club promised, "a spacious clubhouse with a snack bar, modern bathhouses, tennis courts, shuffle board, sunning areas with chaise lounges, picnic area, ample parking space for both automobiles and bicycles An Olympic sized swimming pool, a beginners pool, a wading pool...all the privacy of an exclusive club. Lifeguard in attendance at all times."
On August 10th, 1963 a competitive swim clinic was given by Dave Kerridge, coach of the Columbia Southwest Swim Club.
The original membership cost was $125 for a "life-time, one-time membership" or $40 for an annual membership.
1977 - A Comeback Story
On May 4, 1977, a massive tornado ripped through Sedalia and destroyed the clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis courts, and other club facilities. In the months that followed, many proposals were offered for the future of the Sedalia Country Club. In July, the membership voted to purchase the Walnut Hills Country Club and the two clubs merged in the Walnut Hills neighborhood just west of Sedalia on August 22, 1977.
At this time, The Club included the clubhouse, Surf Club, tennis courts and the golf course that was designed by Floyd Farley.
Many renovations have been made at The Club over the years including the restructuring of the pool, the addition of new kitchen facilities, enlarging the dining area, redesigning of the golf course by Roger Packard and adding a large back patio area.
One of the more interesting aspects of the Sedalia Country Club is the presence of a small graveyard on the golf course. This small cemetery has burial markers with dates prior to the Civil War.
Located in the rough between the 10th, 11th, and 18th holes, the Shobe-Jamison-Quisenberry Cemetery is the final resting place of members of some of Pettis County’s oldest families that were buried between 1859 and 1921.
January 24, 1971 Sedalia Democrat Article