History Of Clio Country Club
Clio Golf Course, Inc. The Early Years
By Ira D. Bare THE IDEA
In the beginning, there were several people in the Clio Area who perceived a need for a golf course in this area to serve Northwestern Genesee County and Southwestern Saginaw County the Clio, Mt. Morris, west Flint, Montrose, Frankenmuth, Birch Run area. The golfers among us were required to drive to Brookwood, Kearsley, Swartz Creek, Genesee Hills, Chesaning, Green Acres, etc. The first meeting of this nucleus was held in the office of the author, but, unfortunately, we do not have a record of the date nor the people in attendance. Clio Golf Course, Inc. was officially awarded corporate status by the Michigan Department of Commerce on October 26, 1960. Four or five meetings had been held prior to that time.
I will not dwell upon nor recite long lists of names of people who were instrumental in this formation process, and there were many. However, the people who devoted a great deal of effort to the organizing and formation of a cohesive group to proceed with the golf course would include Donald L. Scott, Cashier of the then Clio State Bank (now Clio Branch of NewCentury Bank), Bernard Dyball, owner of a gas station in Clio where the minipark is now located, Oscar Hall, a retired Clio High School agricultural teacher, William Tobias, local realtor and insurance agent, and your author. They were among the 13 original incorporators and were the primary original movers.
The idea was to build a golf course in this area at a minimal investment in terms of money. Part of the inspiration came from the construction of the Chesaning golf course which was constructed to a great extent with unpaid efforts of local golfers. At that time, the going rate for construction of each hole of golf, including the green, was approximately $10,000.00. We felt that using the efforts of members would result in a great cost savings in this area. Also, it was part of our plan to encourage and seek public play of the facility during the early years to form a source of badly needed revenue with the plan of discontinuing public play when the course was completed and finances were under control. I quote from the original stock selling prospectus which was approved by the Michigan Corporation Division in 1961.
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