Excelsior Springs Historic Golf Course The City of Excelsior Springs is proud to offer one of the areas most beautiful and historic public golf courses. The golf course opens 1/2 hour after daylight and closes at sunset, 7 days per week. The 19th Hole Bar and Grill is open daily, and is available for group banquets. For pricing, tee times, memberships, or any other questions contact the golf course at 816-630-3731 or visit the website. It's history ... In 1910, a new Missouri corporation was formed, the General Realty & Mineral Water Company. The corporation was formed in March with Dr. William A. Bell, George Kessler, and Charles Fish in control of the management of approximately 200 acres of land, with an additional 326 acres to be obtained. Dr. Bell’s son, Major William A.J. Bell, was president of the company. The proposed lines of development were placed in the hands of George Kessler, who concentrated on mapping out the golf course development, which opened 9-holes in 1912 for the east hill as a park. Included on the property was the cabin of Edwin and Letice O'Dell. Tom Bendelow, the noted course architect of Chicago, had his expert hand in the shaping of the Excelsior Springs course, his plans revised by Fish, the secretary of the club and manager of the Golf Hill Properties, and Alex Ross, its Scottish golf professional. Martha Neil Ross, wife of Alex Ross, was in charge of the culinary department. A veranda was added to the cabin and later extended and enclosed with glass, making it possible to care for more than 100 persons at lunch. In 1915, the second 9-holes of the course were opened. In 1916, the dedication of the first 18 holes was held. The third 9-holes were opened in September 1927, and by 1928, an additional 9-holes were in play. At that time the golf course was the only 36-hole course between Chicago and the Rocky Mountain region. In 1930, the Excelsior Springs Golf Course suffered a loss in the death of Alex Ross. A year later, on August 9, 1931, it suffered another loss in the death of Charles Fish. Fish had devoted 45 years to the development of Excelsior Springs. In 1936, the City of Excelsior Springs leased the golf course. In 1949, the city bought the golf course properties, 285 acres, for $85,000, and built an airport on the back 18-holes. In 1969, a new clubhouse with an English-style architecture was built around the cabin. The cabin itself was jacked up and placed on a concrete foundation. Now completely enclosed by the clubhouse, it remains protected from the elements and open to the public. There are doors in the middle of the west and east walls, the fireplace on the north wall with a door to its right, and a main floor window and the loft window above it on the south wall. Electricity has been added to the cabin and a tin chandelier with electric bulbs that look like candles has been added. The O'Dell cabin is considered to be the oldest existing building in Ray County, Missouri and was located on Old State Road, the first route across Missouri, the stopping place for western travelers. The cabin is listed on the Clay County Register of Historic Places.