The book “Lake Creek – The Impossible Dream 1970-1992,” written Richard Gaffney and Charles Slagle, recounts the country club’s early history. 

It details the transformation of “a Gravel Pit Farm to a Glorious 18-hole Country Club,” and the motivated local men and women who made it happen. 

The origins of Lake Creek go back to August of 1970 when Storm Lake voters defeated a $250,000 bond issue to finance the expansion of the nine-hole Storm Lake Municipal Golf Course, now known as Sunrise Pointe Golf Course.

There just wasn’t support in Storm Lake for a larger golf course even though the municipal course was, as they said, packed.

⇒ MORE: First club manager Jorgensen fondly remembers inaugural summer

Local attorney Wendell Pendleton had been the architect of the bond issue and he wasn’t about to give up on the idea. He along with golfers Paul Dlugosch, W. B. Bauer, Joe McCormick, Omer Roth, Stan Haahr, James Haahr, E. M. Bodaken and Norm Berg immediately formed a new non-profit corporation with hopes of building a private 18-hole country club to be financed by private investors. 

Stocks were sold at $1,000 per share and 100 signatures were gathered in the few weeks. But the project was estimated to cost anywhere between $500,000 and $1 million and main street wasn’t necessarily behind it.

With the argument that the new course would be good for the town and “Not many county seat towns, except Spencer have an 18-hole. Hate to have them get ahead of us,” life insurance salesman Milt Rystad convinced Lake Avenue shoe store merchant Wayne Forbes to support the project. The other merchants followed.

What was known as the “gravel pit farm” west of Storm Lake was purchased as site for the new course in November. The “lake” formed by the former gravel pit and the creek running through the property were seen as “marvelous natural hazards” and inspired the name “Lake Creek.”

An architect was hired and four contractors came on board, Paul Park, Omer Roth, Dan Christensen and Ken Mohr. 

The layout of the property included 18 fairways and greens, a clubhouse location and 40 building lots along the fairways.

On Jan. 28, 1971, Joe McCormick, who ran the local Mid Bell Music store, was named chairman of the new clubhouse committee. The Embers restaurant and bar, now La Isla, would become the hangout for the planners.

In spring of 1971 construction began at Lake Creek Country Club, with 145 shareholders onboard. 

Expenses mounted and the planners had no real credit, so Pendleton, Dlugosch, McCormick, W. B. (Bud) Bauer and Milt Rystad signed a written offer to personally guarantee their purchase of the LCCC building lots for $100,000. Using the offer as collateral, they were able to borrow $50,000 ($25,000 each from the Security and Commercial Bank).

In June The Storm Lake Register called the new Lake Creek Country Club “one of the most daring developments ever undertaken in Northwest Iowa.”

  Supporters pitched in: Christensen Bros was able to obtain three free concrete bridges, W. J. Wiegand installed the water system, W. B. Bauer took care of seeding and fertilizing the fairways, the greens and the roughs. Noel Anderson took care of water hydrants and Bill Foote the furnaces and air conditioning. 

In October an auction was held to sell the 40 building lots, with sales totaling $192,600.

“This cash infusion assures the completion of our project, Pendleton stated.

Christiansen Brothers Construction Co. was able to complete the paving of St. Andrews Drive and the clubhouse parking lot in the fall of 1971. At this time some of the lots were being built upon and the clubhouse was going up.

Lake Creek’s grand opening took place in June and on June 17 it was officially open for play.

Since then, the facility has welcomed literally thousands of golfers, as well as meetings, wedding receptions, class reunions and family parties. As stated in the book, “It all makes a lasting positive impression on visitors to the City Beautiful.”