Bellerive Country Club, Michigan
12925 Ladue Rd
Saint Louis, MO 63141
Bellerive Country Club was founded in 1897 as one of the first country
clubs in the then rapidly growing city of St. Louis. In 1957, the club’s
original location was sold to the University of Missouri for its St. Louis
campus. This allowed Bellerive to move to its current 289-acre spacious
location. The club is outstanding in all aspects and has been designated
as one of the Platinum Clubs of North America.
Bellerive’s relocation did not happen by accident. Many visionary
members (one of whom, at the time, was Hord Hardin, Sr., President of
the United States Golf Association and Chairman of the Masters), made
the Bellerive dream come true. The club’s visionaries personally
acquired the land before the club even approved relocating. These club
leaders knew it should happen, so they made sure the land was available.
Then, when the club’s membership agreed to the move after once voting
it down, the club’s board went about master planning one of the
most coordinated and best planned country club facilities in North America.
Robert Trent Jones, Sr., designed the over 7,000 yard championship golf
course. A very well respected clubhouse architect and a superb landscape
architect were also selected. This design team developed a country club
layout that had good spatial relationships, adequately-sized facilities
and future expansion capabilities. Today, after 44 years, the club is
still a near-perfect example of clubhouse architecture and golf course
design.
From its inception, Bellerive Country Club has been positioned as one
of the premier golf courses and country clubs in the nations. Hord Hardin’s
vision for a superlative golf course was realized in the club’s
hosting of the 1965 U.S. Open. In addition, the club hosted the first
Mid-Amateur Championship in 1981, the 1992 PGA Championship and the 2001
World Golf Championships-American Express Championship. Bellerive will
also host the 2004 U.S. Senior Open.
Yet, while golf is king at Bellerive, the club is a strong family-oriented
country club with large swimming and tennis complexes, platform tennis,
a croquet court and a beautiful 70,000 square foot clubhouse.
 Bellerive
has had a history of fine general managers. Kevin Carroll, CCM, (winner
of the 2002 Excellence in Club Management Award) has been directing Bellerive’s
operations since 1996. Tony Mancuso, CGCS, is Bellerive’s Golf Course
Superintendent and brings his expertise and more than 23 years of experience
to the golf course.
From Bellerive’s inception, talented members have contributed their
time and effort to serve as presidents, board members and committee members.
The club members participate in all activities, and there is a definite
focus on keeping the club up with the times. Strategic planning and surveys
are done, and the club continuously strives to serve the next generation
of younger members and their families. The club continually reinvests
in its golf and clubhouse facilities.
The Bellerive Country Club story is worth retelling since it points out
the benefits of visionary leadership, high quality facilities and fine
operations. Any club that meets these criteria will always be successful.
Congratulations to the leadership, management and members of this fine
St. Louis country club.
Bellerive Country Club Facts:
Membership:
396 Regular, 40
Junior, 31 Non-golfing
Senior, 44 Life,
50 Associate (widow),
54 Non-resident
Initiation fee:
$65,000 (no equity)
Monthly dues:
$560 for Regular
membership
Dining minimum:
$600 per six months
(active members)
Annual Food &
Beverage Sales:
$2.3 million
Clubhouse size:
70,000 sq. ft.
Last major upgrades:
$3.5 million interior
upgrade in 1996;
$750,000 upgrade
to women’s
locker room in
2003
Golf course: 18-hole
designed by Robert
Trent Jones, Sr.
Golf practice
facilities: extensive
range and short
game area
Annual golf course
maintenance cost:
$1.14 million
Tennis: 7 Har
Tru courts
Platform tennis:
2 courts with
warming hut
Swimming: Main
“L”
shaped pool with
wading pool and
all support areas
Croquet court
Car parking: 300
capacity
Total land area:
289 acres
Major challenges
for the future:
Maintaining the
club at the highest
possible quality
level for maximum
membership enjoyment
while continuing
to support the
game of golf by
hosting major
championship events.
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Robert
Trent Jones Golf Courses
