Dave Gourlay, general manager of Colbert Hills golf course, stands in the newly built clubhouse, to open soon. The new facility replaces two mobile homes out of which the course has operated since 2000. Above, leather chairs provide a comfortable perch in the pro shop. Staff photos by Rod Mikinski.

Ten years later, Colbert Hills is moving out of the trailer park. In the next few days, club officials will formally open a clubhouse that befits the best public course in the state.

The 14,000-square-foot facility, which cost $5 million financed through private donations, has been under construction since last year a few yards from the first tees of both the regular and par-three courses. The lush amenities, which incorporate cedar, pine and native limestone with a touch of Brazilian granite for the bar, are a far cry from the two mobile homes in which the club operated since its opening in 2000.

David Gourlay, general manager at Colbert Hills, wants the new clubhouse to become a gathering spot for golfers and non-golfers alike.

''My goal is that I want everybody to come up,'' he said. ''I want everybody to see the memorabilia, to try the restaurant.'' He believes a big problem in that respect may be a perception that Colbert Hills is a private club. ''It's the furthest thing from that,'' Gourlay said.

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