The History of Galveston Country Club
Founded in the spring of 1898, Galveston Country Club (GCC) is the oldest chartered country club in Texas and one of the most storied golf facilities in the state. For more than 125 years, GCC has stood as a symbol of resilience, community, and love for the game of golf—surviving hurricanes, fires, and financial challenges, only to emerge stronger with each generation.
Beginnings on the Island
At the height of Galveston’s golden age, the city thrived as a bustling port, financial hub, and cultural leader. It was only natural that the “gentleman’s game” of golf found its first Texas home here. Thirty original members formed the club in 1898, securing Scottish architect and Open Champion Mungo Park, who designed GCC’s first nine-hole course and served as the club’s first professional.
Just two years later, the devastating 1900 Storm—still the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history—destroyed the clubhouse and course. Yet members rebuilt, setting a precedent of perseverance that has defined the club ever since.
Moves, Rebuilds, and Resilience
In 1910, the club relocated to Dickinson Bayou, renaming itself the Oleander Country Club. After a tragic fire in 1918, members returned the following year to Galveston, where legendary architect Donald Ross designed a new course near 61st Street and Avenue S. The club quickly became a social hub, hosting prestigious tournaments such as the 1926 Women’s Texas Amateur and welcoming legends like Bobby Jones in 1928.
Despite further challenges—hurricanes in the 1940s, declining membership during WWII, and another devastating fire—the club’s commitment to golf endured. In 1946, members purchased land at 12 Mile Road and Stewart Road, overlooking scenic Lake Como. Architect Ralph Plummer laid out a new 18-hole course, which opened in 1947, and a modern clubhouse followed in 1949. This site remains GCC’s proud home today.
Legends of the Game
Few clubs can claim ties to so many icons of golf.
- Mungo Park, Open Champion of 1874, designed the original course.
- Donald Ross, famed for Pinehurst No. 2, created GCC’s third course.
- A.W. Tillinghast, master designer of Winged Foot and Baltusrol, visited in 1937 to refine GCC’s layout.
- Jackie Burke Jr., 1956 Masters and PGA Champion, served as GCC’s head professional in the 1940s, setting a course record 63 that bested Byron Nelson’s 65.
Their influence cements GCC’s legacy as a cornerstone in the story of golf in Texas.
The Modern Era
The course was rebuilt in 1961 following Hurricane Carla and underwent significant renovations in 1990 and 2003, when Sea Dwarf Paspalum grass was introduced—an innovative, saltwater-tolerant turf that thrives in coastal conditions. Today, the course remains renowned for its tight fairways, small undulating greens, and the ever-present Gulf breezes that make it a true shot-maker’s test.
Galveston CC has hosted major championships throughout its history, including multiple Texas Amateurs and Women’s Texas Amateurs. More recently, the club has re-emerged on the competitive stage, hosting the 2021 South Amateur, a U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier, and the 2023 Texas Shootout. Future plans include welcoming more Texas Golf Association championships.
A Club for Generations
Today, GCC is home to over 1,600 members, including 400 stockholders, and offers a rich mix of golf, dining, tennis, swimming, and social experiences. More than just a golf course, it is a gathering place where families and friends create lifelong memories.
As past president Jackie Fluke has said:
“Many of our members live in Houston and come down to the island to relax. That’s what we offer—the chance to get away from the stress of everyday life.”
From its founding in 1898 through today, Galveston Country Club is not only the birthplace of golf in Texas—it is a living legacy of tradition, resilience, and community.