Over 80 years of providing top quality customer service to golfers,
family, and friends of the Chippewa Valley!
On July 4, 1925 the first organizational meeting was held for the purpose of building a second private club in the city of Eau Claire. The event that created the desire to build a new club occured when Eau Claire County Club denied some of their members the privilege of bringing guests from New York City to a club sponsored function. At the time, these guests were in Eau Claire discussing the possible purchase of the then Gillette Rubber Company. Unhappy with the Eau Claire Country Club’s guest policies, approximately 100 people organized and contributed $100 each to purchase land for a new golf club.
Between 1925 and 1926, these new club members leased land at the Lake Hallie Golf Course during the construction of Hillcrest’s nine-hole golf course. A prominent member, Dr. Herbe Grewe, owned a considerable amount of land along the southern boundary of the golf course. When the decision was made to expand the course, Dr. Grewe sold the land to Hillcrest for the amount he originally paid for it. In 1969 construction of a second nine holes began. Much of the construction was organized and designed by Mr. Glen Bartlett. With very little budget to work with, Mr. Bartlett organized working parties to shape and seed many of the new greens, tees, and fairways.
In 1971 Hillcrest Golf & Country Club had, for the first time, an 18 hole golf course. As the opening ceremonies began a brief delay ensued as fire trucks were called to put out a kitchen fire. If there is one word that would describe Hillcrest Golf & Country Club members the word would be survivor. The club has survived the Great Depression, several tornadoes, numerous vandalisms, destructive tree diseases, and significant flooding and erosional problems. If these setbacks were not enough a horrific fire in 1977 burned Hillcrest’s Clubhouse to the ground. Despite all this adversity Hillcrest today is flourishing as a Club. The golf course is uniquely beautiful and challenging. Our clubhouse and golf services are equal to our member’s expectations. Still today, Hillcrest remains the Club of choice in the Eau Claire area.
