Spring Hill Country Club History - Albany Golf

FOUNDERS:
AL FORTIER
BUD FORTIER

Spring Hill Country Club Founding History

In 1959, Al Fortier and his son “Bud” purchased the property on which Spring Hill Country Club now resides. The Fortiers designed the eighteen-hole course including an irrigation system. Al and Bud’s vision for a country club in the community began in earnest that same year as the inside nine holes were shaped and planted. Favorable fall weather provided for a strong grow-in and the course opened to the public for play on May 2, 1960 as Spring Hill Golf and Country Club.

Prior to opening the golf course, a clubhouse was designed and built, which also included living quarters for Al Fortier and his wife. There were numerous additions and remodels made to the original clubhouse through the years. The pro shop was operated within the clubhouse until it was relocated--during a remodel in 1975--to the location between the 1st and 10th tees. The original clubhouse stood just south of the putting green where the west parking lot is now located and was demolished following completion of the new clubhouse in July of 2001.

In 1961, a group of members entered into an agreement with the Fortiers to establish Spring Hill as a private country club and the original by-laws were written and approved on July 19th. It was agreed that upon reaching a membership level of 250, the membership would purchase the property from the Fortiers. The purchase transpired in April of 1964. Membership continued to grow and in April of 1976, the membership was closed at 500 members and the by-laws amended.

Money raised by membership fees was used to construct a swimming pool and dressing facility in the summer of 1961 as the first amenity toward establishing a country club atmosphere. Although the golf course was open to the public, the pool was for members only.

The outside nine holes (which became the front nine) was constructed under separate contract by Bud Fortier in 1964 and opened for play in 1965. With the original sequence of play, Spring Hill was a unique golf course with six each par 3’s, par 4’s and par 5’s, never playing two holes with like par in sequence. Spring Hill has been featured in golf magazines because of these features. The nines were reversed in 2000 following course renovations in preparation for construction of the new clubhouse.