About Us
The character of the 7,389 yard core golf layout varies from undulating terrain to old growth forests to spectacular water holes, while gnarly-edged bunkers, imaginative green complexes, immaculate Zoysia fairways and large, rectangular Bentgrass tee boxes add dimension and challenge. A true masterpiece designed to stand the test of time, The Dalhousie Golf Club is undoubtedly one of the best courses in the Midwest.
Memberships are available: National, local and social.
Real Estate opportunities are available.
Photo by Patrick Koenig
Nicklaus Design
The name Nicklaus has long been associated with greatness on a golf course. The 20 major championships. The electrifying finishes. The sheer will to win. Jack’s achievements are legendary.
However, the name Nicklaus transcends his dominance as a player and extends far beyond Jack alone. Today, Nicklaus also stands for superior golf course design, a result of Jack’s more than three decades as a renowned golf course designer and his sons’ and son-in-law’s solid reputations as designers themselves.
Together, they represent Nicklaus Design, a team of the world’s most accomplished golf course design associates, agronomists, industry consultants, and experts in golf course construction and marketing. Just as Jack once raised golf to a higher level, Nicklaus Design has elevated the standards of golf course design.
History
The legacy of Dalhousie began in the late 1700’s when Rebecca Ramsey left her home in Scotland, a land of stunning geography with its lochs, glens and highlands. Rebecca Ramsey was a sister to The Earl of Dalhousie and was raised in the Dalhousie Castle in Scotland, belonging to the Ramsey clan since 1280.
Rebecca married Alexander Giboney in the “new world” and traveled to the Cape Girardeau, Missouri area because of her relative Andrew Ramsey who was one of the first settlers to the district. Although there are historical traces of Native American encampments on the 1000+ acres of land now called “Dalhousie,” the lasting settlers of this land were Alexander and Rebecca Giboney and their descendants. Their family received a Spanish Land Grant in 1798, signed by Louis Lorimier, Spain’s trusted agent for the region. Thus, ownership of the land preceded the Louisiana Purchase arranged by President Jefferson with Napoleon in 1803.
Adjacent to the Dalhousie Community is an antebellum mansion designed by Rebecca and her son, Andrew, in 1812 with the intent of replicating the architectural features of the original Dalhousie Castle. The home was called Elmwood due to the large number of elm trees on the land and is now occupied by the Evans Family, the 6th generation of direct descendants of Rebecca Ramsey.
An important resident of Elmwood was Louis Houck, a prominent figure in Cape Girardeau in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and husband to Mary Hunter Giboney. As a railroad entrepreneur, Houck laid the first railroad line into Cape Girardeau. In his 25-years of railroad construction, he laid 500 miles of track in southeast Missouri, thereby significantly affecting the economic development of the region. Houck was very instrumental in the development of the Normal School (now Southeast Missouri State University) and locating it in Cape Girardeau. He served as President of the Board of Regents for 36 years.