History on Foxburg’s side
FOXBURG — While Foxburg Country Club provides a history lesson in terms of golf, its message has never been totally received.
“We’ve been here 137 years and many people still believe we’re a private club,” Board of Governors member Stephen Buzard said. “I know the golf course’s name suggests that and we’ve thought about changing the name ... It’s just that we don’t want to mess with any of the history here.”
A Golf Hall of Fame museum is on the second floor of the clubhouse building at Foxburg. A lantern sits in front of the clubhouse, by the practice green, and was given to the facility by St. Andrews Golf Course in England years ago. A new Foxburg Country Cub logo shows that lantern.
“We do offer a membership here, but this is very much a public course,” Buzard said. “We also offers specials that have become very popular.”
The first five holes at Foxburg were designed by Joseph M. Fox, who had visited St. Andrews, in 1887. The nine-hole course was completed in 1893. Alternate tee boxes enable golfers to play 18 holes. The longest hole on the course from the white tees is 485 yards, the shortest 134.
Each hole is unique and has a name reflecting that. The holes are called Baseball, Sheol, Chestnut Tree, Long, Hill, Glory, Ten Strike, Putter’s Grief and Yellow.
Tee times are encouraged. Golf fees with a cart on weekdays is $33 for 18 holes, $39 on weekends. A Monday and Wednesday seniors special (age 62 and older) features 18 holes with a cart, and a hot dog, for $18. Wednesdays are also Ladies Night as women can play nine holes with a cart for $20. Nine-hole fees are usually $24 and $29.
“We hired a new superintendent, Jim Gregorich, a year ago and he’s doing a great job in refurbishing the course,” Buzard said. “With no irrigation system in place, the greens and fairways would dry out during the heat of summer. But that’s all changing.
“Foxburg Golf Preservation (FGP) is an organization that’s already raised $1.5 million toward upgrading the golf course. They’re also seeking a $2 million grant toward that project.”
FGP plans to install an irrigation system and renovate the course through working on bunkers, taking out some trees, etc.
“This course is on its way to returning to its quality of years ago,“ Buzard said. ”Golfers this year have already noticed improvement. If people don’t experience a quality golf course, they’re not coming back. We know that.
“We’re also maintaining the historical perspective here. We rent hickory sticks if people want to play golf like it was played years ago. Each tee box has sand and water. Golfers used to mix those elements together to form a tee. Anyone playing the course is welcome to do that.”
Buzard said food trucks featuring burgers, tacos and pizza will be coming to the course this summer. Hot dogs, chips and drinks are available in the clubhouse, along with golf apparel featuring Foxburg Country Club’s new and old logos.
Foxburg is hosting the 2024 Starkey-Colony Foxburg Fest Shootout on June 14, a Ryder Cup-type event featuring 93.7 The Fan radio personalities Joe Starkey and Jim Colony as team captains. The event is a fundraiser benefitting the restoration and preservation of the golf course. Call Andrew Rapp at 724-602-7478 for more information.
Memberships are available at Foxburg Country Club for $500. That covers unlimited golf all year and eligibility for member events, such as a member-guest golf outings and members-only play on Thursday evenings.
