Cold War Life in Berlin Series: Part 1, The USABGCC. The US Army Berlin Golf and Country Club. The CC was one of the last places closed when the US Army left the city, the US Army and Air Force golfed there from 1946-1994. We handed it back to the Germans who did this excellent job of renovation. I cant wait to go back and play 18 on one of my favorite places in the world. My locker was #33 from 1986-90/ I got my handicap into single digits for a season.
So, i’m in contact with these guys, check out the pics especially the one from 1946!: “Interestingly, -Golf Club Berlin- was originally founded at that location in 1895 by American and British diplomats. The Wannsee golf compound was built and opened in 1926, and called -Golf und Land Club Berlin Wannsee-. The Club became known world wide and was popular with its international guests. Numerous national and international matches and tournaments were held there.
During World War II, the large compound was utilized by Germany forces for military training. Antiaircraft (FLAK) positions were established there against Allied air raids. During fighting in 1945, (tank attack) the legendary side sustained severe damage and its famous clubhouse totally destroyed.
After moving into West Berlin, U.S. Army repaired the club for its own use and renamed it, -Golf & Country Club Berlin-. For several years, it was off limits to the German public which had to move its sports activities to Kladow, a sub district of Spandau in the British Sector.
In the 1950s, German sportsmen were invited to return and former club members were allowed to use a section of the Wannsee Golf compound again. The first common match was held in 1953; many followed. Berlin and American sports enthusiasts played and practiced together.
With German reunification, the U.S. Army finally returned this famous compound back to its Berliner owners. The main ceremony, with General Haddock took place in 1990, followed by a 1994 ceremony with General Yates. In 1995 the legendary site celebrated its 100 years anniversary.
By 2007 the -Golfplatz- has grown. A new club house was erected in 1997. New buildings were added, surrounded by a fantastic golf course and landscaping. Now there is an 18-hold championship course and a genuine 9-hold “all day” practice site. Conditions are great for 27-hole tournaments, -the 6020 yards- provides an international limit. The courses’ soft, green “carpets” are beautiful and an “American flair & spirit” seems to exist there.”
The Americans and Brits founded the place. I love that picture from 1946 that shows no matter where the US Military goes, golf follows, such as the Most Dangerous Course in the world at Camp Bonniface, DMZ, Korea. Here is a video of it. What the Germans did was take 10-18 of the Army course and make it the practice 9 while taking 1-9 and the neighboring German course and make that the 18 hole course.
The Course itself was normally in fabulous condition. We stole the Scottish Groundskeeper from RAF Gatow’s course. We could pay him more because we had German members that were charged and astronomical fee to be members at the club. Golf is a very expensive sport in Germany., even more so in the city surrounded by a wall. I paid a paltry sum to be a member as it was based on rank as i was only e-4 at the time.
One of the most understood and rarely, if ever broken rules was that rank stops at the door. I saw the course manager (a retired Colonel) dress down a younger officer that insisted on pulling rank. That didn’t last long. Rank was determined by handicap posted weekly for all to see. The lower the handicap, the higher your ‘rank’. I got mine nice and low and was sought out by Germans and military and civilians to play golf with them and maybe teach them a thing or two. One of my regular partners was a senior VP for a large, and famous, manufacturing firm tat made motorcycles, really nice motorcycles. I used to golf (and have beverages) with Pan Am pilots that were members there.
We had a nice bar and a dining room where we had an African chef. He was young and really good. He would take ideas and suggestions from all of us and do his best to make the dish. We would have BBQ occasionally on the weekends. The bar was quite nice too, much beer and liquor and a nice view out onto the course. We would gather at the bar to watch sporting events live from the states. It would be 0300-0400 when some of them ended, but at least there, no one cared because hey, your a member of the club. Like I said, I really like what the Germans have done with the pace and cant wait to get back for 18 and a beer.
So here are some pics of me golfing at the US Army Berlin Golf and Country Club (I lifted the graphic form these guys)
