The first board consisted of Oliver Havard, Charles Oakes, Robert Trinkley, Edwin Kohler, Nolan Benner, George Brooks, Zeke Witwer, Edwin Pidcock, Clarence Harman, Lyman Josephs, C. L. McElyea, David Williams, Lee Chestnut, and Claude Yost. Havard was named president; Oakes, vice president and treasurer; Trinkley, secretary; Kohler, solicitor.

Meanwhile, preliminary work was well underway on the golf course, which Frank Meehan had been commissioned to design. Preparing the land was a difficult task. Many tons of stones and rocks had to be removed. Havard devised a tool of spikes and hooks for digging that was found to be extremely useful by the 50 to 75 members who gathered to work on weekends.

On November 9, 1929, Allentown’s Mayor, Malcolm Gross, before a gathering of distinguished guests, used a gold niblick to take a divot that marked the start of course construction. A nine-hole course with sand greens was routed through the lower meadow and put into play six months later. On October 3, 1930, President Havard could tick off the club’s accomplishments, in large part due to the dedication and the physical effort of many members: the construction of an 18-hole golf course, the building of a swimming pool and tennis courts, the installation of a sewage disposal plant, the renovation of quarters to house the greenkeeper and the golf professional, the planting of 6,000 trees, as well as a number of lesser projects.  The original farmhouse (circa 1760) was converted into what may be “America’s oldest halfway house.”

The converted barn on Brookside road that served as Brookside’s original clubhouse was expanded over time to include dining room and banquet facilities. Brookside thrived, attracting business owners, physicians, business professionals and their families to the warm and welcoming environment. The golf course hosted major regional tournaments and pro-ams and became renowned as a shot maker’s course with deceptively tricky greens. But as Brookside Road (which had to be crossed to reach the golf course) became busier and facility needs expanded, the membership decided to invest in a new clubhouse to be situated on the west side of the golf course. The Club purchased 200 acres of adjacent farmland and in 1989 the new 25,000 square foot clubhouse was dedicated. The complex featured what many considered to be the Lehigh Valley’s best golf practice facility, an expansive new pool overlooking the golf course, pond and mountains and state of the art tennis facilities. Seasonal indoor tennis was soon added with the purchase of “the bubble.” In 2010 the Club received a state grant through the Wildlands Conservancy for the restoration of the Swabia Creek which has resulted not only in the environmental preservation of the Club’s waterways for the future but a dynamic restoration and enhancement of many of the most challenging holes on the golf course.

With the growth of the surrounding community and a continued commitment to being a true “members’ club”, where members continue the traditions of our founders with active engagement in all aspects of Club life, Brookside has continued to grow and prosper. The Club continues to be a “home away from home” for hundreds of families and new members who are building their own traditions, making new friends and truly enjoying this special place and its comfortable and cordial atmosphere of “elegance without pretense.”

Click here to view our 90th Anniversary Book