Published: July 05, 2009 08:40 pm      

Lewisburg Elks Lodge facilities open to public

LEWISBURG — Anytime the sun is shining, it’s a safe bet someone is taking a swing on the Lewisburg Elks Lodge golf course. The par-70, 5,900-yard public course was designed by Ray Vaughan, and it attracts just as many guests as Elks members these days, according to club manager Roy Painter.

“Our figures for the last couple of years show about 11,000 member rounds (annually) to about 10,000 guest rounds,” Painter says.

Golfers can take carts out as early as 7 a.m., when the in-house pro shop opens. “There’s no restriction on when carts have to be in, but we ask they be returned by dark, for safety’s sake,” Painter notes.

In addition to appealing to individual golfers, the course plays host to regular league play and numerous charity tournaments.

“The lodge is very active in the community in fundraising,” Painter says. “Various churches, the YMCA, the United Way — they all have fundraising tournaments here. We have a tournament scheduled pretty much on a weekly basis.”

Also, the annual State Elks Golf Tournament was held Father’s Day weekend, and the West Virginia Amateur qualifying event was played here in June. A night golf tournament is scheduled for this month.

Every Thursday, a senior league of 32 to 36 people tees off at 9:30 a.m., while on Friday evenings a couples league tees it up at 6 p.m. for a nine-hole round followed by dinner in the lodge’s lounge. Typically, 25 or 26 couples participate in that league, Painter said. A skins game on Saturday mornings rounds out the organized adult golf events.

A junior summer camp, with an enrollment of 20 youngsters between the ages of 6 and 13, is now under way on Monday and Thursday. Mondays are set aside for instruction in small groups. “They’re learning golf and life skills,” Painter notes. On Thursdays, the kids play golf from 5 to 7 p.m.

Golf teams from both Eastern Greenbrier Middle School and Greenbrier East High School regularly practice and compete on the Elks Lodge course. “They’ll bring in three or four schools at a time for a match,” Painter says.

The golf course isn’t the only feature of the lodge complex, known colloquially as the country club, that is open to the public.

The pool is open from noon to 6 p.m. every day through August, with night swimming offered from 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Would-be swimmers can even sign up for lessons.

“The pool is rented a lot for birthday parties and other group parties — sports teams rent it for an end-of-season celebration sometimes,” Painter says.

Overlooking the pool and golf course is a covered picnic shelter, which is the staging area for several picnics every summer, including one on the Fourth of July, open to all.

“Everything here is driven by the (fraternal lodge’s) trustees,” says Painter, who is also an Elks member. “The members, both golf and Elks, put on the events. They are the backbone of this facility.”

Another public portion of the country club is its restaurant, Blackwell’s, known for its fine dining and Sunday brunch, as well as a spectacular view of the golf course. Owned and operated by LeeAnn and Tim Rodgers, the restaurant’s menu is upscale, but the atmosphere in the dining area is relaxed and casual.

Blackwell’s is open for lunch (11-2) and dinner (5-9) Thursday through Monday.

Just down the hall from the restaurant, a separate banquet/meeting room holds up to 300 people.

For more information on the Elks Lodge or the golf and swimming facilities, call 304-645-3660. To make reservations at Blackwell’s Restaurant, call 304-645-0100.

— E-mail: talvey@register-herald.com