Shelby’s Only Private Country Club Announces J.L. Suttle Tennis Center and Cleveland Country Club Aquatic Center

Cleveland Country Club is excited to announce plans to invest nearly two million dollars in capital improvements to its outdoor tennis facility and to create a brand-new aquatic center. The tennis amenities will include new dedicated pickleball courts, resurfaced hard tennis courts, new and improved court lighting, amphitheater style terraced seating, and more. Conceptual plans have been completed and working drawings are in process for the Cleveland Country Club Aquatic Center which promises to feature an exciting new resort-style swimming experience.

The J.L. Suttle Tennis Center – Anticipated Completion Fall 2022

Named in loving memory of the late J.L. Suttle, Shelby businessman, family man, philanthropist, tennis enthusiast and longtime member of the Club. The newly named J.L. Suttle Tennis Center is made possible through a generous donation of $150,000 from Carole and Jack Arey, Sallie and Linton Suttle and Natalie and Vance Suttle. Scheduled for completion this fall, the J.L. Suttle Tennis Center will feature a new tennis amphitheater, state of the art LED lighting and new dedicated pickleball courts.  J.L.’s Court, which was previously dedicated in Mr. Suttle’s honor, will be upgraded with a new clay surface, new LED lighting, fencing and other updates.

Court 2, which was previously dedicated in memory of NC Tennis Hall of Fame inductee and longtime former Club member, the late A.W. Buck Archer will receive new LED lighting, new clay surfacing, fencing and other upgrades. The renovations to Buck’s Court are made possible thanks to a generous $25,000 donation from Buck’s daughter, Kay Archer Price and her husband, Kim Price.

The Betsy Martin Hard-Court Facility will also be included in the renovations. Thanks to a generous donation of more than $25,000 from Mimi and Tom Martin in loving memory of their daughter, the late Elizabeth “Betsy” Martin, the Cleveland Country Club will apply Sportmaster Acrylic tennis coatings and new Sportmaster color. The Riteway Crack Repair System will have the courts looking brand new in time for the Fall tennis season.

Betsy Martin was an avid athlete and a long-time member of the Club. She was the President of her Senior Class at Shelby High School where she also competed as the State Doubles Tennis Champion. Hard courts remain the surface of choice for many of our junior and high school tennis players and this project will include the installation of two fiberglass practice backboards for each court. Long term plans for the hard-court facility include a new spectator venue with comfortable seating that allow parents to observe and cheer for their children during competitive tennis matches.

Cleveland Country Club Aquatic Center – Anticipated Completion Summer 2023

Slated to be completed in the Summer of 2023, the Cleveland Country Club Aquatic Center will be a member-favorite amenity. The new and expanded resort style pool experience will include a splash pad and lanes for lap swimming. Members will be able to enjoy poolside food and beverage service at shaded tables and comfortable lounge chairs. Demolition of the previous pool has been completed and design plans for the new aquatic center are nearing completion. A groundbreaking ceremony is in the works for later this Summer.

“Our Club is currently blessed with a dedicated and loyal membership that has donated more than three million dollars over the last three years to restore, reinvent and recapture an idea that was conceived in the ‘roaring twenties’ by a group of Cleveland County visionaries,” said David Teddy, Cleveland Country Club Board President. “Perhaps the most important decision that has been made during my tenure as President, is the Board’s decision to replace an aged pool complex that was built in the early 1960’s with a new resort style Aquatic Center. Our new aquatic center will synergize and transform the entire member experience into a full-fledged family lifestyle Club. Once the renovations are complete on the tennis and pool side of the street, Cleveland Country Club, in partnership with our excellent management team at Bobby Jones Links, will be positioned for growth, success and a “whole bunch of fun” for the next 100 years.”

Memberships are available as well as private event space for members and non-members. Contact the club for more information by visiting https://clevelandcountryclub.net. Cleveland Country Club is managed by Bobby Jones Links.

About Cleveland Country Club

Established in 1927, Cleveland Country Club in Shelby, North Carolina, offers its members and guests a traditional private club experience with a unique blend of southern hospitality. The course features a par 72, 18-hole golf course with newly renovated bunkers and spans 6,409 yards with a 71.2 USGA golf course rating. Additional amenities include a recently renovated dining experience, indoor and outdoor dining options, a full-service golf and tennis pro shop, putting and practice facility, golf lessons and clinics, tennis instruction for juniors and adults, and a year-round member event calendar.

About Bobby Jones Links

Bobby Jones Links is an Atlanta-based club management company. Bobby Jones Links’ partners and leaders have broad experience building, owning and operating more than 200 clubs worldwide. Bobby Jones Links’ expertise goes beyond just golf and country clubs, with work on additional projects and amenities such as lodging, spas, marinas, property owner associations, and real estate developments. Visit www.bobbyjoneslinks.com to get to know how Bobby Jones Links makes a difference for their clients and associates.