When you next walk inside the lobby of The Golf Club at Yankee Trace, the amount of light may very well be the first thing that strikes you. Where dark, brown paint dominated the decor for more than two decades, the walls, trim, and fixtures are now modern and bright. The new motif is more reflective of the organization thriving outside of the clubhouse, on the course’s 27 holes of championship golf.
2020 was Yankee Trace’s best year yet. The course accomplished the feat of nearly 70,000 rounds of golf, as the community celebrated 25 years along Yankee St. in Centerville.
“This comprehensive renovation was designed to grow business. The work has updated the facility and given it a more welcoming aesthetic,” Yankee Trace Administrator Steve Marino said.
Marino said that the team reused materials when possible—like painting chandeliers and table bases—and deferred to expert opinion on where to save on costs.
Jennifer Kelleher Wiley, an interior decorator with MODA4 Design, worked extensively on the project. She is also the lead designer on downtown Dayton’s Arcade project.
“My vision for the space at Yankee Trace was to create a comfortable, classic, and sophisticated environment that can be used for multiple types of events, from weddings to business events. We want the space to serve as an elegant backdrop, so events can take on their own personality in the space,” Wiley said.
Wiley says that her goal was to enhance the beautiful space already in the building. “The lighter colors and updated lighting—as well as some new focal points, like a bar and dressing up the fireplaces—have added a lot to the space and allowed it to stand out,” she said.
The remodel centered around the lobby, ballroom, and restaurant areas. The restrooms, as well, were essentially gutted and redesigned. Now each restroom has a separate lounge area for guests and event hosts, which includes new wooden lockers on the men’s side.
“The improvements are phenomenal. I hope this shows the city’s commitment to continuing investing in community gathering spaces. We saw during the pandemic just how important places like The Golf Club at Yankee Trace are for exercise, dining, and fellowship,” Centerville Council Member Mark Engert said.
Construction group Wilcon was awarded the project, after a public bidding process. Wilcon crews have also done work for Dayton Country Club, Carillon Brewery, and Kettering Physicians Network.
“These changes leave us better suited to host events individually or concurrently, including grab-and-go food during a round of golf, casual indoor and outdoor family dining, and an upscale banquet and events center for parties of up to 400 guests potentially,” City Manager Wayne Davis said.
The next phase of the remodel will focus on the patio space behind the clubhouse. Plans call for expanding the patio and creating tiers of seating and event space. The bar and fireplace will likely be shared indoor-outdoor spaces, and designers are working to make many of the areas functional through the colder months.
