Colonial Country Club

Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, opened in January 1936 as Colonial Golf Club, founded by Fort Worth businessman Marvin Leonard, who sought to introduce bentgrass greens to the area. Leonard enlisted Texas architect John Bredemus and Oklahoma architect Perry Maxwell, known as the father of Oklahoma golf for designs like Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa. Leonard selected elements from their independent plans for the par-70 layout along the Clear Fork of the Trinity River. In 1940-41, Perry Maxwell led significant revisions—including lengthening to over 7,000 yards, remodeling greens and holes 3-5, and adding bunkers—to prepare for the 1941 U.S. Open, won by Craig Wood after Leonard guaranteed the USGA $25,000. On December 31, 1942, Leonard sold the club to members for his original cost, renaming it Colonial Country Club. Since 1946, it has hosted the PGA Tour's longest continuously running non-major at one venue, now the Charles Schwab Challenge, with winners including Ben Hogan five times—earning the nickname Hogan's Alley—Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Jordan Spieth, and others. It also hosted the 1975 Tournament Players Championship and 1991 U.S. Women's Open. Beginning in 2023, Gil Hanse completed a major $25 million renovation in 2024, improving drainage, irrigation, and greens while honoring the original design.