A new clubhouse and a renovated golf course were opened at the Patterson Club today in the Greenfield Hills section of Fairfield. The club, founded in 1929 by employees of General Electric, spent $17 million to build the 53,000 square foot building. It was designed by Southport's Mark P. Finlay Architects and replaced two buildings at the facility that dated back to 1884.The club was originally a social and dining club in Bridgeport, but was expanded to include a golf course in the 1940s. The proposal was made and construction of the replacement buildings began in 2006. Nearly 24 months later, construction has been completed.
"The history of the club was so important in this project," Mark P. Finlay said. "We re-invented the club to meet the needs of current membership without losing the history of the original buildings."
Finlay is an award-winning architect who has also designed more than 20 clubs ranging from locations in Nantucket, Mass., Costa Rica, New Canaan and Ridgefield. In addition he is well-known for his residential work.
He said that the idea behind the design was to keep the clubhouse's farmhouse vernacular architecture, while integrating it into the area between the 9th and 18th holes. "The new building is designed to engage the golf course and improve the functionality of the club, enhancing the golf experience," Finlay said. "Relocating the clubhouse will provide golfers with a much easier transition on and off the course."
Finlay worked with golf course designer Rees Jones, the son of legendary designer Robert Trent Jones, who designed the golf course in 1947 to ensure that the clubhouse fit into the original layout.
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