When the golf course takes up more acreage than the community, you can tell where priorities lie!
Such is the case with Gaillardia Country Club in Oklahoma City, OK. Gaillardia has always been one of the premier country clubs in the area, if not the country. The club was originally owned by the Gaylord family, a prominent Oklahoma family that owned the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Family patriarch Edward King Gaylord got into the newspaper business at the age of 29, with the dream of running his own paper someday. He had heard good things about the Oklahoma Territory and traveled southwest to Oklahoma City to see for himself.
Gaylord liked what he saw and purchased the struggling Daily Oklahoman. He quickly turned the paper around, and it soon had the largest circulation in Oklahoma. Sadly, Edward King Gaylord passed away in 1974 at the age of 101. The company’s reins were handed to his son, Edward L. Gaylord, who started a major diversification. During the 1980s, The company made several large purchases, including the Opryland complex in Nashville and the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. The Gaylord Entertainment Company was spun off in 1989.
In the fall of 1995, a subsidiary of the Oklahoma Publishing Company broke ground on Gaillardia, named for the red-and-yellow state wildflower. This master-planned community in northwest Oklahoma City is first-rate, particularly the awe-inspiring 55,000-square-foot Normandy French clubhouse. When the Gaylords decided to exit the golf business in 2002, Gaillardia was purchased by Phil Herrington and The Herrington Group.
As you might expect, golf is the main focus at Gaillardia. When it came to selecting a golf course architect, the Gaylords wanted someone who would create a design that was environmentally friendly and capitalized on the area’s natural beauty. After meeting with several, the Gaylords hired Toledo, Ohio native Arthur Hills, whose philosophy was to use what the terrain gives you. Hills also has a reputation for being environmentally friendly. This led to less than 200,00 cubic yards of dirt being moved, which is well below the norm.
In 2003, the Gaylord Learning Center opened. It was the perfect golf course amenity, with indoor golf instruction and a short-game practice area. The short-game area is modeled after the one at Augusta National Golf Club.
In 2004, Tom Kite & Co. was hired to do a major renovation of the golf course. Since not much could be done about the original routing, Kite focused on the course’s bunkering and bringing the existing water hazards into play on more holes. Case in point, the 7th hole was originally a straight par 4 with water barely a factor. Kite moved the green to the right, bringing the pond into play. This appealed to both aggressive players who must hit their approach shots over water, and conservative golfers who can take a longer yet safer line down the left side of the hole. Other changes included narrowing several fairways, reworking a few greens, and converting the 18th from an easy par 5 into a challenging par 4 that only gets tougher when playing into the wind.
In 2014, Concert Golf Partners stepped in and purchased Gaillardia Country Club, just before it went into foreclosure. They paid off the existing bank loans and addressed the club’s much-needed capital improvements. Moving forward, Gaillardia’s elite membership will enjoy a well-capitalized and professionally operated club with no assessments; it’s sure to become one of the finest clubs in the Midwest.
Gaillardia is not without its share of notoriety; The club has hosted two PGA Senior Tour Championships, the Shell “Wonderful World of Golf” Match Play Tournament, and is often played by PGA TOUR professionals who just happen to be in the area! The clubhouse has been recognized as one of the top 100 clubhouses in the world; other publications put it in the “Top 100 Best Residential Golf Communities in the U.S.”
The golf course makes good use of the usual hazards – namely, sand and water – and Mother Nature throws in a third – the wind! These Oklahoma winds can consistently reach 50 miles per hour in the spring, and while it can make a long par 5 reachable in two, it can also make a short par 3 more like a challenging par 4. Keeping the blustery winds in mind, Hills built the greens considerably flatter than those on the majority of his designs.
Oklahoma winters can get downright nasty, and playing a round of golf is rarely an option. That’s where Gaillardia’s Simulator Room shines. The Trackman simulator is versatile, whether used for game improvement or entertainment. It’s packed with features designed to help you get the most out of each experience. You can work on things like drives and full-length shots, approach shots, and chip shots, with hazards that make each session come to life. On the entertainment side, you can challenge friends to rounds of golf on over 260 virtual courses or play games like Capture the Flag, Bullseye, and Closest to the Pin with the kids. It’s just another way Gaillardia promotes family togetherness!
Just a short walk from the main clubhouse is the Sports Complex, fitness center, swimming pool, and driving range. Inside, you’ll find three Har-Tru tennis courts, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, pickleball courts, and a family-friendly playground area.
Gaillardia Country Club presents a family-focused atmosphere and strives to provide something of value for each family member. During the summer, families gather at Gaillardia’s aquatic center with its junior Olympic-sized swimming pool, a children’s wading area, a splash pad, and both low and high dives, something seldom seen these days. There are several family-themed events during the summer, including Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day, “dive” in movies, kids’ campouts, and barbeque nights.
Dining and entertaining are important to many members, especially when it comes to entertaining clients and friends. The club’s seasoned food service staff calls you by name as you enjoy dishes prepared by the Executive Chef and his talented culinary team. They offer farm-to-table specialty entrees and almost exclusively made-from-scratch meals using seasonal, fresh, and locally sourced ingredients. These dishes are best paired with selections from the club’s extensive wine and beverage lists.
As you can imagine, Gaillardia Country Club is a much sought-after venue for corporate and charitable golf outings. Gaillardia’s professional staff has put together a wide range of tournament and special event package rates that include guest fees, cart fees, range balls, Pro Shop gift certificates, and complete food and beverage services. Only a few dates are open each year, so if you are also interested in hosting an event, contact the Pro Shop.
Gaillardia Country Club is also a very popular venue for weddings and believes that yours should reflect your style as a couple. Their Formal Lawn is the perfect setting for your outdoor ceremony and can accommodate up to 400 guests.
Gaillardia offers several membership plans, including a Full Golf Membership, which gives access to the golf course and practice facilities for you, your spouse, and children under the age of 25. You will also have complete access to the pool, fitness center, tennis courts, and social and dining events. A Junior Golf Membership offers the same benefits for those under 40. And, as a Member of a Concert Golf property, you’ll have the option for reciprocal privileges at other Concert venues in their portfolio. For more information on Gaillardia Country Club or to become a member, visit www.gaillardia.com.