Clewiston Golf Course Celebrates Nearly a Century of Play, Preserving 1929 Design

The Clewiston Golf Course, a cornerstone of local recreation and history, approaches its centennial, having opened its nine-hole course on February 23, 1930. The course, originally conceived as part of John Nolen's 1929 master plan for the city, has evolved from a vision into a beloved community asset.

Residents benefit from a course that maintains its historical integrity while offering modern play. The original 1929 Stiles and Van Kleek nine-hole layout remains incorporated into the current 18-hole facility, providing a unique blend of historical design and contemporary golfing experience. This continuity ensures that a piece of Clewiston's past is preserved for future generations of golfers.

The journey to the course's opening began in 1928 when the City of Clewiston commissioned golf course architects Stiles and Van Kleek to design an 18-hole course. Construction continued through 1929, including the planting of hundreds of trees. Captain F. Deane Duff, a World War I veteran and local engineer, supervised this construction. Duff, who worked for the Sugarland and Clewiston Drainage Districts, also served as General Manager of the Clewiston Development Company, which later became the United States Sugar Corporation.

When the nine-hole course officially opened, it featured water hazards, rolling greens, and a tee box rising more than 20 feet high. It measured 3,270 yards with a par of 37. The shortest hole was the third at 135 yards, and the longest was the fourth at 530 yards. Daily green fees were 50 cents, or $2 per month for an entire family. Before this, a smaller five-hole course at Civic Center Park in downtown Clewiston offered short game practice by the late 1920s, and it continued to be maintained for children under 14 after the main course opened. The Clewiston Golf Course remained a nine-hole facility until the late 1960s, when the City added an additional nine holes.

The Clewiston Golf Course continues to offer a challenging and historic experience for local golfers. Its enduring design and rich history make it a significant landmark in the Glades & Hendry Region.