Special to the Times Journal
Courtesy Lakewood Country Club
In May 29-June 4 Issue

Lakewood Country Club is celebrating their 40th Anniversary by inviting you to their “Open House” on June 1st – June 12th.  During this time, everyone from Russell Springs and Jamestown are encouraged to experience the exciting atmosphere Lakewood has to offer.  

Highlighting the “Open House” will be access of the elite 18 hole golf course and the six lane- 25 meter swimming pool, for free for this time period only!

This exclusive offer is only available to residents from Russell Springs and Jamestown and potential first time members.

As a special offer during the Open House, Lakewood Country Club would like to present to the first 20 new members the price of $825.00-- in addition to receiving $100.00 in golf credit to use at the club or 5 free 18 hole cart rentals.  With this membership your family can enjoy all that Lakewood offers including the first class golf course and swimming pool.

Lakewood Country Club was established in 1968 and has grown into a course that is known around the state.

You might be very interested to learn, that there are several founding members of the club that were substantial influences for the club and without them the course may have never come into existence.  One of the biggest roles was taken by the late Jack Stephens, who made it a passion to have one of the best courses in our region.

Also, Jetha Hopper and Dr. Vic Henry had substantial roles in the success of Lakewood, who helped obtain the last FHA Loan for golf courses in the area.

It all started with only a 9-hole course, much like all the others in the surrounding areas at the time.  

Additional construction on the course began in 1984 to make the course a complete 18 hole venue, which was successfully completed in 1986.
 
In the early years Lakewood was under the direction of the sturdy hands of Mr. Johnny Whittle, who worked the season from March 15 to October 15.  

Mr. Whittle had the future insight to open a pro shop which included selling golf merchandise, snacks, and range balls.  

He was known for his personal attention to the finest details that made Lakewood special. His successor, Mr. Don Luttrell, took the reigns and continued the notable success of the club.

During this time, the golf course itself was under the direction of Charles Loy for several years.  

He was hired as the official greens keeper by founding member Jack Stephens.  Mr. Loy played an integral role in elevating Lakewood County Club to the level of prominence that it has today.

He helped build the original nine holes designed by Mr. England. A few years later in 1984, Mr. Loy, Mr. Coe, and others started the construction of the new holes and concluding the course to 18 holes.
 
Mr. Charles Loy has been a considerable component of Lakewood Country Club’s accomplishments and the club owes him overwhelming gratitude for all the hard work he put into making this such a challenging course.

When Charles Loy retired, Jimmy Reeder took over until the end of 2007, when Jeff Pettyjohn became the new Superintendant.
 
Mr. Pettyjohn graduated from Western Kentucky University and upon graduation can boast an impressive resume as being employed at very prestigious courses in Bowling Green, at Eagles Nest Country Club in Somerset, and at the Robert Trent Jones Trail in Alabama.  Jeff is married to Dr. Terri Wade Pettyjohn, a veterinarian who is works at the Cumberland Animal Clinic in Russell Springs.

Currently, Lakewood Country Club is under supervision of Mr. Greg Coe, who was hired as the club’s manager in February of 1983 by Brad Clark the plant manager of FOL.

Mr. Coe’s main responsibilities at that time included supervising the transition of the course into 18 golf holes and launching the establishment of high quality tournaments for club members and guests.

Mr. Coe is a championship golfer himself and also spends his time teaching at Russell County Middle School. His wife, Stacy Coe, is a guidance counselor at Russell County High School; they have one daughter, Brianne Coe.

The next chance to participate in a tournament at Lakewood Country Club is the Club Invitational -- June 14th- 15th which is a 36 hole medal play tournament.

The tournament is limited to the first 120 players and requires your current handicap or your local head pro to verify. It will consist of 10 flights with 12 players in each flight- with prizes for the top six positions in each flight.The Championship flight is by declaration and the rest is pre-flighted by handicap.

1st Place : Titleist AP1 Irons (3-
PW)        
2nd Place: Titleist 907D2 Driver         
3rd Place: Titleist Rescue Club
4th Place : Golf Bag
5th Place : FootJoy Golf Shoes
6th Place : Dozen Titleist ProV1
Golf Balls

Many areas in our state can only admire a course like Lakewood Country Club.  

Russell County should be very proud of the progressive development of our course that has hosted many tournaments including the Kentucky Golf Association Pepsi Tour event, both boys and girls KIT High School Tournaments, and numerous other prestigious tournaments that have brought in some of the top golfers in the state.

Come participate with everyone at Lakewood’s 40th Anniversary Open House and experience for yourself the challenge of a top rated course June 1st - June 12th for first-rate golf and swimming.