Club History

In the early 1960's, a local developer, Coral Ridge Properties, flush with profits from Coral Ridge and Galt Ocean Mile in Fort Lauderdale, set its compass west, searching for a new frontier. Their venture ended with the purchase of 24 square miles of land from the Lyons family and other farmers. This parcel of land backed up to the everglades conservation area in northwestern Broward County. Used mostly for vegetable farming and cattle grazing, the land was considered to be inaccessible. The only access to this area was a two-lane stretch known as Wiles Road. Today it is lined with businesses, best known as US-441.

Coral Ridge Properties proceeded to develop the land and was granted a charter for a new city. Coral Springs went from being a dream to a reality. Although an abundance of coral was unearthed, no one has ever found a spring.

Celebrities, such as Johnny Carson, heavily promoted the new city. Some may question what happened to the original slogan, "the city in the country", but everyone soon realized that coral springs was a huge success. Details of those early days are well documented in historical notes written by Stuart Mc Giver, celebrating the city's 25th anniversary.

In the late 1960's, Coral Ridge Properties developed a neighborhood in Coral Springs and called it The Country Club. It consisted of family homes on lots that were a minimum of 1/3 acre. 160 of these lots were adjacent to land that was designated for a golf course. 156 of these now front the golf course, while the remaining 4 front the area located by the tennis courts.

Following the fashion of the day, the entire neighborhood was ringed with multi-family parcels. It was not given the type of identity one sees in a today's modern subdivision, such as well-defined entrances and the aura of exclusivity. Oddly enough, there was no direct vehicular connection between the neighborhood and what was to become the golf clubhouse.

Despite these shortcomings, the country club remains a desirable neighborhood and the golf course is one of the true gems of Broward County. Many homeowners on the golf course are also club members, commuting to and from the club in their private golf carts.

Coral Ridge Properties had a lease-option agreement with noted golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones, to build the Coral Ridge Country Club and American Golfers Club in Fort Lauderdale. When the development of the city of Coral Springs began, the hierarchy of Coral Springs Development, President Jim Hunt, Sr. and Joe Taravella, allowed Jim Hunt, Jr. the opportunity to design Broken Woods Country Club. Jim, Jr. Was a "hands on" designer, a quality golfer and an avid fan of the game.

Jim, Jr. lived and played golf at Rolling Hills Country Club in west Fort Lauderdale. Trying to emulate rolling hills' course design, he realized that not enough land was available to build an 18 hole championship course. In 1965, nine holes on the south side of Hampshire Drive were completed, and in 1969, the remaining nine holes were added between Hampshire Drive and Cardinal Road.

When it came to land in The Country Club development, Coral Ridge Properties decided that it would be better to follow the Robert Trent Jones program in Fort Lauderdale. They entered into an agreement with William W. Ullman, President of Colonial Gardens in Marietta, Ohio. Ullman engaged the services of golf course architect Edmund Ault of Bethesda, Maryland to design the course within the available 165 acres. The land was completely barren and flat, without any natural features to build on. Numerous bodies of water were created for drainage and irrigation, with the excavation materials being used to contour the holes.

The Country Club Of Coral Springs opened its doors on Thanksgiving Day, 1969. Many of the earliest members came from Pittsburgh, retiring from Westinghouse and taking their retirement to South Florida. At the time, Coral Ridge Properties was owned by Westinghouse, who offered them discounts on club memberships and lots in The Country Club development.

Ullman flew potential members from Galt Ocean Mile to view the property. To assist him in the promotion of these properties, Ullman hired John Schlee, a PGA Tour player at the time. John's job was to ensure that promotional packages were placed in player's lockers at all PGA Tour stops, and that the name Coral Springs Country Club was prominently displayed. John went on to win the Hawaiian Open in 1973 and finished second in the U. S. Open that same year.

Bill Ulmann was a driven and hard working entrepreneur that lived on the premises. Lacking the proper finances, the course and facilities were taken over by Coral Ridge Properties in 1970 after only eight months. The name of the club was changed to Coral Springs Golf and Tennis Club. Ullman had a contract with the PGA Tour to hold an event at the club the following November. Coral Ridge Properties now had the responsibility for what was to be known as the FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) Coral Springs Open.

During the Coral Ridge Properties stewardship, local politicians, police officials and local clergy were granted honorary memberships. Since Coral Springs had only 1,489 residents, hardly enough to support two country clubs, the membership base consisted mainly of people from surrounding communities.