$6M renovation project will upgrade this State College country club. Here’s how
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- State College’s Centre Hills Country Club approved a $6 million renovation project.
- Plans call for a new pool complex, improved tennis and pickleball courts and more.
- Construction is expected to begin in May and conclude by summer 2027.
A major development project hopes to help a State College country club continue attracting new members.
Centre Hills Country Club members recently approved plans for $6 million renovations that will improve recreational facilities and key infrastructure as part of “one of the most significant facility upgrades” in its history, officials said. The efforts will install a new aquatic complex, grow racket sport facilities and flesh out other amenities at Centre County’s only fully private country club, located at 153 Country Club Road in the State College borough.
Work on the renovations is expected to begin in May, club officials said. The project should conclude by summer 2027.
Plans to upgrade the country club’s facilities, which have been in the works for years, were largely influenced by members who provided feedback and direction as officials settled on priorities for the project. David Woodle, the project manager, said it upgrading the club’s pool quickly became a strong desire for members and club officials alike.
“It’s something we’ve needed to do for a long time,” Woodle said. “Our pool is older than me, which means it’s fairly old. Everyone at the club knows we’ve needed to do it, but we wanted to make a comprehensive plan. If we’re going to go in there and update and tear up some things, we might as well fix what we’ve needed to fix.”
Centre Hills’ new aquatic complex will feature a resort-style pool with lap lanes, a sloped-entry splash area for children, an expanded deck and shaded seating. The project will also expand the club’s dining facilities to serve the pool area.
Bill Hayes, the club’s chairman, said efforts to improve dining options are another key component of the project. Centre Hills recently hired a new general manager with a culinary background who hopes to boost the quality of the club’s dining experience and options, he said.
“One thing that 100% of our members do is eat,” Hayes said. “So, it’s important that we remain focused on that as a priority for the project.”
Elsewhere, upgrades to the racket facilities at the club will install modern tennis and pickleball courts, improved lighting and a covered pickleball facility suitable for year-round use. The club’s racket facilities complement its 27 golf holes spread across three nine-hole layouts, one of which serves as the home course for State College Area High School’s boys’ and girls’ golf teams.
Other work around the club includes the construction of a new pool house, expanded parking lots and improvements to landscaping.
Woodle said adding more support and dedicated spaces for pickleball, the rapidly growing racket sport, was another priority for club members.
“Pickleball has become so popular that our tennis courts are being used for pickleball,” Woodle said. “Now, by adding four new pickleball courts and then upgrading and resurfacing our tennis courts, that gives us the capability to avoid overlapping usage.”
Hayes, the club’s chairman, noted that Centre Hills officials aimed to ensure event spaces were upgraded, too, to maintain the club’s status as a premier event venue in State College.
“Some of the investment will be less visible but nevertheless still important to the whole community,” Hayes said. “Our banquet facilities and outdoor patios also serve as venues for weddings and other events. We needed to make sure that we have the capacity to support the expectations of both our members and outside folks who utilize those facilities for recruiting or fundraising events.”
Though the wide-ranging project aims to improve recreation, dining and other facilities at the 104-year-old country club, project officials believe the improvements will provide a boost for membership retention and recruitment. The club maintains a 350-person membership quota and asks interested community members to email Centre Hills at office@centrehillscc.com or call 814-238-0111 to inquire about joining.
Club officials hope the renovations will help Centre Hills meet the changing needs of its members while attracting young and growing families, its chairman said.
“The motivation behind this is to ensure that the club remains an attractive venue for our community and our members,” Hayes said. “We want to keep it growing and viable. That means we’re offering facilities at the level that meet expectations in the community. There is a cost to membership that we want to keep reasonable and accessible, but we also want to provide good value for our members. This is an exciting step for us. We’re moving ahead and ensuring that Centre Hills remains an attractive option in the community.”
For more information on Centre Hills Country Club, visit its website or social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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