Club History

Early Land Ownership (1815–1916)

Around 1815, William Macomb divided his estate among his three sons—William, John, and David. David Macomb received the central portion of Grosse Ile but was later forced to sell due to financial difficulties. The northern 441 acres were transferred to Owen T. Reeves, and in 1823 the entire property was purchased by Col. John Evans.

In 1833, Henry Raymond acquired the land for his family. A respected figure in both civic and religious life, Raymond owned the property until 1850, when he relocated to Bay City. In March 1853, Rev. Charles Fox and his wife, Anna Maria (Rucker) Fox, purchased the land. During this time, Rev. Fox operated the ferry connecting the island to Trenton.

On May 23, 1854, the Fox family home was destroyed by fire, and Rev. Fox passed away shortly thereafter on July 24, 1854. Anna Maria retained ownership of the property and ferry until 1873, when she sold both to her younger brother, Louis S. D. Rucker.

It is believed that Cornelius Vanderbilt, founder of the New York Central Railroad, commissioned a mansion on the property for Col. Rucker, a construction engineer involved in the railroad’s expansion. This residence later became the club’s original clubhouse. Rucker lived there from 1879 until his wife’s death in 1897, after which the house remained vacant for many years while the surrounding land continued to be farmed. When Rucker died in 1908, the estate passed to his eldest son, Louis S. D. Rucker Jr. Around 1912, Mr. Henry Knight, caretaker of the old railroad bridge on the island, occupied the house.

In 1916, the land was sold to John M. Welch, a prominent developer who envisioned a large recreational complex featuring golf courses, tennis courts, baseball fields, skating rinks, and more.

The Birth of Island Country Club (1919–1932)

By 1919, Welch leased part of the property to the Island Golf Association, a group of Detroit and Downriver businessmen who aimed to create a premier golf destination. Their ambitious plans included two 18-hole courses, residential development, a boathouse, and docks to support a projected 1,200 members. Renowned golf course architects Donald Ross and Walter Hatch were selected to design the courses.

Although the full vision was never realized, it laid the foundation for Island Country Club, which was officially incorporated on March 31, 1920.

Ernie Way, then greenskeeper at Detroit Golf Club, was hired to construct a temporary 9-hole course while a permanent 18-hole Donald Ross layout was developed. By the early 1920s, nine Ross-designed holes were complete, creating a full 18-hole experience alongside Way’s original course. By the mid-1920s, the full Ross design was completed, with construction credited to both Way and club professional George Hosner.

Plans to maintain all 27 holes were abandoned in 1925, and the original nine holes designed by Way were later sold and developed into residential lots to the Jewell family. This is now the current site of Jewell colony.

In 1929, a major construction project was completed, including a modern locker room, golf shop, bag storage area, and lounge. This building was the foundation of today’s current clubhouse. Course updates were also made which included extending the first hole to 430 yards and relocating the 18th green closer to the clubhouse.

Despite its strong standing among Detroit-area clubs, the Great Depression forced a reorganization of Island Country Club in 1932.

West Shore Golf Club (1933–1944)

In 1933, John M. Welch regained control of the property and renamed it West Shore Golf Club, reflecting its location along West River Road. During this period, he also developed the surrounding Golf View Estates neighborhood.

In July 1938, a storm partially destroyed the original “White House” clubhouse. Financial challenges followed, and Welch defaulted on loans in May 1941. After his death in 1942, the property fell into financial distress. The club’s assets were sold, and in 1944 the remaining 121 acres reverted to the State.

Later that year, the State sold the property to the Book-Cadillac Company, which held it briefly before selling it to William L. Stadler and his wife, Ruth. They renamed it West Shore Golf and Country Club.

West Shore Golf & Country Club (1944–Present)

In 1943 and 1944, the Detroit Lions—then coached by Gus Dorais—used the 13th fairway as a practice field, while only nine holes were available for member play.

In March 1961, West Shore was incorporated, and the club began leasing the property from the Stadler family. Sometime between 1966 and 1971, the original “White House” clubhouse was demolished, leaving the current clubhouse as the sole facility for the club’s operations. In 1972, the membership purchased the course and its buildings for $800,000, securing long-term stability.

From the mid-1970s through the mid-1980s, additional land acquisitions strengthened the course layout. A major renovation in 1986 shaped much of the clubhouse as it stands today.

The club continued to evolve with key improvements:

The current halfway house opened in 1984 alongside a course reconfiguration
Tee and green renovations in 1987–1988 adjusted the course to a par of 71
Drainage improvements were completed in 1991
A new irrigation system was installed in 2001
Cart path upgrades were completed in 1998
Additional bunkers and course enhancements were added in 1995, 2002, and 2004

Many of these updates were guided by Matthews and Associates, often in response to the loss of more than 300 trees due to the Emerald Ash Borer.

In the late 1990s, a marina project was approved but ultimately abandoned due to environmental concerns and changing market conditions.

Following the financial challenges of the early 2000s, membership declined. However, the surge in golf participation during the COVID-19 pandemic revitalized the club, growing membership from approximately 140 to nearly 400 today.

Since 2020, numerous improvements have been made to both the clubhouse and golf course, continuing a strong tradition of investment in the club’s future.

Rediscovering the Past

Much of this rich history has only recently been uncovered through staff research (Bilicki/Wilson) and digitized archives. Earlier accounts had suggested the club was established in 1908 and credited George Ferry as the original architect. Ongoing research has helped clarify and preserve the true origins of West Shore Golf & Country Club.