Honoring Ansley’s Legacy, Supporting Its Future
From its founding in Ansley Park to the development of its clubhouse, athletic traditions and Settindown course, Ansley Golf Club’s history reflects more than a century of growth, community and continued investment in the member experience.
One of Atlanta’s Oldest Golf Clubs
Ansley Golf Club was founded in 1912 by Edwin P. Ansley who envisioned a golf club as the cornerstone of a residential development located on the old Collier Estate property which was then on the outskirts of Atlanta. Ansley believed that golf course would attract buyers to the new “suburban” Ansley Park neighborhood. He visualized a course that would “afford plenty of sport for experienced golfers and, at the same time, not be too difficult for those who wish to play purely for recreation.” With the help of three friends and several prominent citizens, a 9-hole course was designed and built for approximately $100,000. The Ansley Park Golf Links became one of the earliest golf clubs in Atlanta.
In the beginning, the course was semi-public with a greens fee of 15 cents. In 1914, several of the regular golfers wanted to make the course private and purchased the course from Edwin Ansley and its other owners. They elected officers and directors, adopted a constitution and bylaws and incorporated Ansley Park Golf Club. The club’s name was changed 40 years later to Ansley Golf Club.
The Golf Course
In 1924, significant modifications were made to the golf course. A sportswriter of the era said the reworking of the course “improved the nine holes to a degree that must have tested the imagination of those patient and persistent devotees who played there back in 1912 and 1913. It now has a thoroughly good par of 35.” In 1931, further alterations were made raising par to 36. An additional set of tees was added to each of the holes to allow golfers to play 18 holes for the first time.
In 1949, Bob Hope played an exhibition at Ansley with the famous golfer Louise Suggs. Throughout its long history, the golf course has seen extensive changes and improvements. Around 1952, an Ansley board member who was also a city alderman prevailed upon the city to build a dam creating the lake on number 7 and the “snake pit” was no more. In 1983, Ansley was one of the first clubs in Atlanta to be rated on the new USGA Course and Slope Rating System. In 2001, in conjunction with the city of Atlanta’s rebuilding of the sewer system, the greens were reconstructed again. In 2009-2010, extensive improvements were made to the course. The fairways were replaced with zoysia grass and champion Bermuda grass was put on all greens.
The Clubhouse
As the club grew, the clubhouse became the center of Ansley’s social and member life. The first clubhouse was built in 1915 – a small building designed primarily for service. In 1928, the clubhouse was rebuilt into the first satisfactory structure and contained dining rooms, a kitchen and a golf pro shop. Ansley’s amenities continued to expand with extensive expansions in 1949-1950 and again in 1994. Other renovations and improvements continued until it was clear in the late 1990s that the growing membership could not be supported by a too-small, aging building with spiraling maintenance expenses. After widespread discussions, the membership voted to demolish the existing clubhouse and build a new main clubhouse, which opened in November 1999.
The Pool
The pool added another important dimension to club life, expanding Ansley’s identity beyond golf. While several early brochures mention a pool, the first pool was not constructed until 1934. The pool was a fill-and-draw design; every Sunday night in the summer, it was drained, scrubbed with chlorine bleach, and refilled before opening on Tuesday. The pool was not of regulation length until it was renovated in the 1950s, when the pool terrace was constructed along with a concession stand selling soft drinks and sandwiches. In 1958, the first swim team was formed and interclub competitions began. The swim team soon floundered but was revived in 1971 as the Piranhas. In 1986, the name was changed to the Sharks. In 1988, the Sharks began their long string of consecutive private country club swim team championships.
Tennis
Tennis became one of the club’s most visible examples of how Ansley’s athletic traditions continued to broaden over time. While Ansley began as a golf club, several members were tennis players. Records from 1940 indicate that there was at least one lighted tennis court. In 1964, three all-weather courts were added behind the old pool. In 1970, lights were installed, another court was added, and the first full-time tennis pro was hired. Tennis began to grow rapidly in the mid-1970s, driven by the formation of the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA). The first Ansley Golf Club tennis pro-am was held in 1990, benefiting what is today known as Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The annual pro-am tradition continues to this day and now encompasses golf, pickleball and other activities.
Settindown
Settindown marked a major expansion of Ansley’s golf legacy and fulfilled the membership’s long-standing desire for a championship 18-hole course. That dream became a reality in 1999 with the acquisition of Settindown Creek Golf Club in Roswell. The John Hall and Bob Cupp designed course took its soul from the great links courses in Scotland, using the heathland style. Settindown is consistently ranked as one of the top courses in Georgia and has hosted numerous USGA, PGA, NCAA and Georgia Golf Association tournaments.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
Today, the Ansley Golf Club Foundation carries this history forward by honoring Ansley’s legacy and supporting its future. Through thoughtful stewardship and the generosity of those who value the club’s traditions, the Foundation helps preserve the places, programs and experiences that have shaped Ansley for generations – and ensures they continue to serve members and their families for years to come.
