| Copyright © 2013 Richmond Country Club |
The year 2008 marked RCC's 50th Anniversary! 
Richmond Country Club had its beginnings back in the mid-40s when a group of ardent golfers formed a club called Cedar Crest, a “club within a club” and played at Langara Golf Course. In 1951, this group of young Vancouver Jewish business and professional men led by Alfie Evans, Dave Sears, Bud Lando, Arthur Sereth and Sam Wasserman purchased a nine-hole golf course in West Vancouver (Glen Eagles Country Club). They did this because there were few, if any, country clubs in the Lower Mainland who admitted Jewish members. Many of those “original” Glen Eagles’ members (and their families) are still members of Richmond Country Club.
Over the next eight years, Glen Eagles struggled to increase its membership for the nine-hole course, reaching a peak at 240 dues-paying members, before being sold to the Municipality of West Vancouver in 1959. Proceeds from the sale were used to purchase 130 acres of farmland on Steveston Highway in Richmond. Under the leadership of a small group of people from the Jewish Community, and with the support of many interested members, Richmond Country Club was created. The services of golf course architect, A. Vernon Macan, were engaged to build an outstanding course, with 5,000 new trees planted in a park-like setting.
When the RCC clubhouse was destroyed by fire in 1979, a new 85,000 square foot clubhouse was built from the insurance proceeds, sale of shares and a small mortgage. The clubhouse incorporated facilities for indoor tennis, squash and racquetball, social and banquet events with the existing 18-hole championship golf course, outdoor tennis and outdoor swimming pool. These facilities are the basis for the unique family membership concept that is the present-day Richmond Country Club.
In 1991, both the clubhouse and golf course were renovated at a cost of over $3 million. Robert Muir Graves Architect was appointed to complete the golf course design and construction project. This involved replacing every bunker and tee box on the course, a new irrigation system, removal of over 200 trees and expansion of the lakes on the 7th and 12th holes. The clubhouse renovation was designed by Hemmingway Nelson Architects and involved added clubhouse amenities such as a Fitness Centre, new décor, additional parking and significant swimming pool improvements. In 1998 Johnston Sport Architecture designed a new Fitness Centre which doubled in size and includes state of the art equipment.
Historically, Richmond Country Club was known as "the Jewish Club"; most of its members were Jewish. While we do treasure our Jewish heritage and will always continue to honour it, we also embrace those who share our values. Our goal is to attract a diverse group of members, who want to be part of our social community; who are looking for family activity or an athletic outlet, and who want to get involved.
While other facilities in the area may claim the distinction, Richmond Country Club is the region's only full-service "country club". In fact, in order to deepen our members' enjoyment of the Club, exciting plans are in the works for 2009 and beyond, not only to upgrade our golf facilities, but also to enhance the value of membership for non-golfers as well.
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