History

One Saturday night in March 1924, Claude Holmes, a foreman for the McHenry-Clark Construction Company, was with Doc Hare at the home of Emerson Herrick. While sipping a 1922 Lodi Zinfandel, the discussion of the evening turned to golf. Holmes thought traveling to the Stockton Club to play took too much time away from the business. Perhaps some pasture land Holmes was renting nearby from Thompson-Folger, on which he kept his two horses, would be suitable for a small golf course. That evening, Holmes challenged Em and Doc to a game of golf to be played at the rented pasture located on the south bank of the Mokelumne River in Woodbridge. 

The three would-be golfers arrived the next morning equipped with shovels, rake, lawn mower, brooms and wheelbarrows to clear the way for their game. After three full Sundays of dedicated labor, the course was ready. Tomato cans were inserted on the two greens served as cups, and mounds of wet sand formed on top of ordinary door mats became tees. A toss of the coin won Em Herrick the honors, and with a mighty baseball swing he drove the first ball.  

By June 1924, more than $150 had been spent clearing brush to form more greens and tees, and the pasture had now been transformed into five golf holes. Holmes announced the plans for a golf club to the public, and by June 21, more than 115 people had expressed interest in becoming members. One month later on July 24, 1924, the Woodbridge Golf and Country Club was incorporated. Entrance fees were set at $15 with dues at $2 a month. Claude Holmes was elected to serve as the first president of Woodbridge Golf and Country Club. In 1926, a two-room shack with a porch was built to serve as a clubhouse, and the course itself was expanded to nine holes.

A new clubhouse was constructed in 1938 and still remains today as the Elks Lodge. In 1952, another 12 holes were developed north of the Mokelumne and combined with six of the original first holes to make Woodbridge a complete 18-hole course. The present clubhouse was finished and opened for occupancy in 1957.

September 1979 marked the opening of another nine holes of golf, nine tennis courts, a swimming pool, clubhouse with full dining and beverage facilities, and complete golf and tennis pro shops.

Woodbridge Today

In 2018, the members approved a $4 million Capital Improvement Plan, resulting in a renovation of the Club's tennis courts, nearly $1 million in improvements to the golf course, and the creation of a 4,000 square foot fitness center. Projects to continue improving the Club's amenities and offering more services to its members continue and are ongoing.