The most original, original Donald Ross golf course.
A unique history, a golf course – unlike anywhere – right here at Lakeside Park Club.
First, LPC was the very first golf course in Richmond in 1896. Lewis Ginter, a prominent Richmond businessman, developer, hotelier, philanthropist and world-traveler, created Lakeside Park. The site included a man-made lake for swimming and boating, extensive grounds for hiking and bicycling, and a zoo.
In 1895, Ginter added golf to the Park by hiring Willie Tucker to layout a Scottish style course called Lakeside Links. The course, the very first in Richmond, opened in 1896 with 9 holes. Around the same time, a club of golf and cycling enthusiasts developed a separate membership as part of the Lakeside Wheel Club. Many members pedaled their bikes as they played and carried their clubs.
Membership grew to over 300. The initiation fee was $20 with annual dues at $12. In 1898, Golf magazine reported that Lakeside boasts “in the natural lay of the land, the course is second to none in the country.” The story continued “The pine forests make for a delightful, picturesque background and the course which is throughout in excellent condition to play.”
Today, LPC members play over the exact same grounds as those early biking, golfing pioneers. In fact, a recent visit by The Donald Ross Society concluded that the course has retained a remarkable amount of original Ross design elements.
The LPC bear logo represents our unique history of zoo, lake and golf.
“Lions, tigers and bogeys, Oh my.”
Remember the zoo Ginter included in the very first Lakeside Park? Well, today, it’s impossible to forget because remnants of metal cages and concrete basins still exist on the golf course. At one point, the zoo included spotted leopards, monkeys, lions, bears and alligators.
Ginter, who traveled extensively, brought back to Richmond many rare trees from Asia and Europe and planted them throughout the park. The property now features 56 types of trees, many imported by Ginter.
