After more than 100 years in operation, Owensboro Country Club is in the midst of a rebranding process that includes demolition of their clubhouse along with the erection of a new facility and events venue called The Paddock. A key component of the rebranding includes changing the organization’s name to The Country Club of Owensboro.
Demolition began at approximately 9 a.m. Tuesday morning and is set to continue throughout the week.
Looking to incorporate the history of the club, community and state alike, the board of directors alongside general manager Dane McLaird explored many options. With a rich history in bourbon, tobacco, and horseracing, the house committee eventually decided to pursue a horse racing theme, hence the name The Paddock.
“We’re looking to rebrand and recreate. We’re tearing down the past and building the future,” McLaird said. “We’re able to create a brand that ties our junior programs together, our menu items, name of rooms and areas throughout the facility, along with the halfway house.”
The new events venue will be called the Champions Room, while the new bar is craftily titled the Silks Lounge. The halfway house, which is centrally located on the golf course to provide golfers with snacks and drinks, will likely be called The Turn.
Initially struggling to develop a theme, the club elected to change their name to The Country Club of Owensboro to allow a broader range of history to draw upon. A recurring idea was to build on the county’s only Kentucky Derby winner, Spend A Buck.
“Spend A Buck won the Kentucky Derby in 1985 and was a favorite aspect in our local history of Owensboro and Daviess County,” McLaird said. “This iconic thoroughbred was the center of our concept that we could use to help create names and ideas for our new branding and marketing approach.”
The club is nearing completion on a five-hole Par-3 course that will play a major role in their junior golf programs and lesson opportunities. Other junior programs include swimming and tennis, all of which will fall under the mascot name of the Thoroughbreds as part of the revitalization.
The Country Club of Owensboro believes their new logo pays tribute to their 100 years of success while also commemorating their grounds and history.
“This is an exciting time at the club and I can’t thank the many people that played a pivotal role enough,” said McLaird. “This brand, name, and logo will lead us into the future for another 100 years.”
