Renovation Makes Madison Course the Clubhouse Leader

The , which was founded in 1896, claims to be one of the oldest courses in the United States. All well and good and there's nothing quite so valuable as an historic lineage. But what do you do when the old girl is, to put it delicately, showing her age?

If you're the members of the MGC, you undertake a massive renovation of the clubhouse, with significant improvements from top to bottom, and then you throw a celebratory ribbon-cutting and open house to usher in what you hope will be a new era for the venerable club.

Click on the gallery to see images of the big day.

The former clubhouse dated from the club's founding in 1896 with later add-ons, according to club board member Ted Russell. It was poorly insulated, if at all, and had been in disrepair for years. When the membership decided to move ahead with much-delayed new construction, plans were laid for a demolition and makeover that would bring the club up to par with other clubs. The result, according to Russell: The members were awed by the results at the March 19 event.

The renovation by architect Rosen Group of Summit and contractor Orchard Hills Design & Construction of Mendham expanded the approximately 5,000 square-feet of the original structure's footprint. Russell said the layout is now far more efficient, with the lockerroom and restrooms moved to ground level, greatly improving the flow of traffic. An office was created for the golf pro, the pro shop enlarged, and there's more room for bag storage and equipment repairs. The kitchen has been updated and enlarged for more efficient operations. The main club room has a dramatic vaulted ceiling and the interior is finished with beautiful moldings and other fine details absent from the original building.

While updating the structure, it's also hoped that the project will help to expand the club's membership of 190.