Tucked into the rolling pastures and wooded ponds of Southeast Michigan, The Huntsman Hunt Club has spent nearly half a century turning a family farm into one of the region’s most storied private clubs.
But long before it became known for its grounds and sporting tradition, it was simply home — and that sense of place still defines it today.
In 1979, Nora Tebben and her son, James, set out to transform their family farm into a private club — one that embodied all the tradition and elegance of the British Upland Hunt. Nora ran the clubhouse, overseeing everything from reservations to the kitchen, while Jim built out the grounds, staff and vision. His son, Jonah — then still a teenager — worked alongside him, absorbing the values and legacy that would later define his own stewardship of the property.
In 2002, Jim set his sights on expansion. He traveled to restaurants around the country, occasionally asking for kitchen tours after a meal just to study the layout and equipment of the best in the business. That research shaped the clubhouse’s transformation: With a loyalty to the history of the century-old clubhouse, hand-hewn post-and-timber beams, floor-to-ceiling fieldstone fireplaces and a top-of-the-line kitchen were built to create a rustic, refined lodge atmosphere, where beauty lingers well after a meal.
The dining room’s menu changes with the seasons, leaning on what’s fresh, organic and local — as near as The Huntsman's own extensive garden, where fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables are harvested and served, farm to table.
Jim led the club until his passing in 2012 — today, Jonah carries the standard forward, continuing to invest in the grounds and the experience members have come to expect. Most recently, the club has upgraded the clays course, added new automated wobble trap machines and building post-and-beam stands with tin roofs to shelter shooters from inclement weather.
With more than 900 acres of fields designed for upland hunting, the private shooting preserve has pheasant and chukar partridge hunts from August through April each year, along with expert guides to accompany members.
For member Mike Renton, a Rochester-based custom home builder who has belonged to The Huntsman for more than 13 years, the club has become something closer to an extension of home.
“What draws me back isn’t just the grounds — it’s the whole feeling of the place,” Renton says. “The setting is stunning, the clubhouse is warm and welcoming, and so many of my closest friends are members, too. It’s tradition and community all in one.”
Renton, an avid participant in gun dog competitions, is often joined at the club by his two English pointers, Max and Lady. He’s also a regular at the club’s restaurant, where the elk and quail are among his favorites.
On these pages, we are given a glimpse of the quiet corners of the club through the eyes of Renton — whose deep roots in building, family and the outdoors serve to embody the spirit of craftsmanship and connection that The Huntsman celebrates.