Calvert officials dedicate new golf clubhouse

The final day of April seemed like a good time to celebrate the completion of an anticipated capital project that finally reached its 18th hole.

During the indoor portion of the dedication of the Chesapeake Hills clubhouse in Lusby, Commissioner Mark C. Cox Sr. (R) gave the attendees a history lesson on the facility, which first opened in 1968 as a privately owned country club.

The country club ownership changed hands a few times during its early history.

It was in 2001 when Calvert County government purchase a parcel on HG Trueman Road with a plan to build a technology park across the way from the course. That was also when the county commissioners began the discussion of asking the Maryland Economic Development Corporation to purchase the recreation facility as an amenity for business park tenants.

After a few years of losing money, the county commissioners voted 3-2 in August 2008 to buy the golf course from MEDCO for $3.65 million. One of the commissioners voting opposed, Jerry Clark, was in attendance April 30 at the clubhouse ceremony.

“I thought we were paying too much for it,” Clark told Southern Maryland News of his 2008 vote.

The clubhouse project plan began as a renovation but the building sustained water damage in winter 2018 so it subsequently became a replacement project.

The new 8,150-square-foot building cost nearly $6 million. The commissioners approved a $3.17 million budget adjustment in June 2022 to keep the project in the pipeline when materials prices and labor costs escalated.

The clubhouse includes a banquet facility, bar and grill, conference room and pro shop.

As it was back in its country club days, the clubhouse will be venue for social events, including wedding receptions. The golf course is managed by Calvert’s parks and recreation department.

Bob Branham, parks and recreation director, said the project was completed because of “hard work and partnerships.” He cited “collaborations with several departments, including planning and zoning, public works, and communications and media relations.

To the golf course patrons, Braham said, “Thanks for bearing with us.”