The Fayette Golf Club officially dedicated its new Wilhoit Family Clubhouse with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, celebrating a community-wide project more than a year in the making.

Leah Flaspohler, president of the Fayette Golf Club, addressed the crowd moments before the ribbon was cut and expressed deep gratitude for the support that made the new building possible.

“A very special thanks goes out to Dave Huntsman. He was our leader,” Flaspohler said moments before the ribbon was cut. “The names on the Kenny Blakely Wall of Honor, thank you so much. The names on the bricks and pavers meant so much to us. All of the donations, time, labor, and equipment donations are just overwhelming and awesome. We could not have done it without that.”

Flaspohler also extended special recognition to the Wilhoit family, for whom the clubhouse is named.

“I want to give a huge thanks to the Wilhoit family,” she said. “Thank you for being here. It is our honor to name our clubhouse after you. The Wilhoit Family Clubhouse. All of your support over the years has meant so much to us.”

The Wilhoit family owns the land on which the course was built.

Fundraising for the project began in fall 2024. The old clubhouse, a former WWII Army barracks, was demolished at the end of 2024, and construction of the new facility followed. The club raised more than $150,000 through the sale of signs, pavers, and bricks.

The “Kenny Blakely Wall of Honor” on the south side of the building recognizes Blakely’s decades of support. An active member since the 1950s, he also made a major donation that helped the project move forward.

Major contributors included Sand Green VIP sponsors who gave $10,000 or more: the Jacobs Family, Show-Me Ductless, Kenneth and Bonnie Blakely, Dave and Becky Huntsman, and Commercial Trust Company.

Ace sponsors contributed $5,000 each: the Braun Home, the Wilhoit Family, Joe and Kayla Strodtman and family, Matthew and Jennifer Vandelicht and family, Todd and Leah Flaspohler, Fred and Sheri Eaton and family, Jeff and Lori Strodtman of Strodtman Real Estate, and Kurt and Jo Rohr.

Eagle sponsors gave $2,500 each: Richard and Barbara Fowler, Bruce and Jan Addison and family, Tess Hayes and family, Tony and Sherri Williams and family, Mark and Rebecca Harbison and family, Garth and Stacy Menees and family, David and Elaine Smith, the Hilderbrand Family, the Schnell Family, Central Methodist University, and Exchange Bank.

Dozens of additional donors purchased bricks and pavers that line the pathway in front of the clubhouse. Flaspohler noted that the outpouring of donated materials, labor, and equipment far exceeded expectations.

Board members overseeing the project were Leah Flaspohler, Dave Huntsman (VP and clubhouse project leader), Matt Vandelicht (treasurer), and members Travis McCann, Garth Menees, Todd Flaspohler, Jamie Callahan, and Fred Eaton.

Club member Joe Strodtman provided design assistance.

The new clubhouse features a large garage on the west side that now houses the club’s tractor, mowers, and other equipment, freeing up space in the cart sheds for more member use. On the east side is a spacious event area complete with a full kitchen, two restrooms, tables, chairs, and two televisions.

A centerpiece of the kitchen is an island built by Todd Flaspohler. Its countertop was crafted from original flooring saved from the old clubhouse, complete with visible cleat marks from the metal golf spikes once worn by players.

Future additions include a “History Wall” that details the Wilhoit family’s ownership of the land since the 1940s, along with old newspaper articles, photos, and written history of the course. “Champions Walls” will display plaques honoring past men’s, women’s, senior, and handicap champions dating back to the 1970s.

An outdoor patio with seating wraps around the east side and front of the building. A covered awning protects visitors from errant golf balls aiming for the ninth green, which sits a few yards from a new gravel walkway beside the clubhouse. Space is also available for barbecue grills during tournaments and events.

Flaspohler said the new facility represents what the club and the broader Fayette community can accomplish when they work together. Already the new clubhouse has been rented out for events, which helps bring in revenue during the winter months.

Annual dues for membership at the nine-hole sand-green course run from $275 for families to $50 for junior memberships. Daily fees for nonmembers to play are $10. Membership fees are due by June 1 each year, payable to Matthew Vandelicht at 100 Johmeyer Street in Fayette or via Venmo: @fayettegolfclub.

Annual events at the course include a member-guest tournament on May 30, the Sand Green Classic Tournament on July 18, the Kenny Blakely Classic Tournament on August 1, the Club Championship on August 16, and a couples tournament on October 4. League nights begin May 14 and run every Thursday through August 13, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Questions should be directed to Leah Flaspohler at (660) 537-1110.