Palm Beach Country Club history

After continued denials to play the public course, the golfers, Doctor Collie and John W. Stevens, retained William Holland, West Palm Beach’s first African American attorney, and filed a lawsuit in 1955.

In 1965, a group of dedicated African American West Palm Beach golfers organized a club and named it FAIRVIEW GOLF CLUB. The original founders were: John W. Stevens, David Bennett, Pete Toomes, Howard Stevens, Wilson McDonald and Dan Calloway.

The Club grew and by 1969 had a membership of 59 golfers and adopted its first Constitution and By-Laws.

The new Club opened its doors in 1970.

In 1982, FAIRVIEW became affiliated with the Sunshine State Amateur Golf Association (SSAGA). The Club is one of 13 affiliated chapters throughout southeast Florida.

FAIRVIEW hosted its first SSAGA two-day tournament in 1983 and hosts one bi-annually.

The Club obtained 501(c)(3) tax exempt status and in 1996 incorporated.

In 2005, exactly thirty-five years after the current Clubhouse opened to the members, the first step of the major renovation of the Club was completed.

In 2015, the Club determined to complete a total renovation of the pool deck, including replacement of the pool, after nearly 50 years of service to the membership.

The Pool pre-construction excitement culminated in a huge “Farewell to the Pool Party”, which was held in early Spring of 2016.

On February 4, 2017, a Grand Opening Party welcomed the membership to their new facility with astonishment at the magnificent results.

Over the summer of 2019, the Club completed the restoration of all the classic member spaces on the second floor, including the Ocean Room, Ocean Lounge, Garden Terrace, and adjoining grand hallway.