La Follette Country Club has been there for generations

Since 1923, there has been a La Follette Country Club

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Bonds helped start the La Follette Country Club and its then seven greens on what was once Judge Jesse Rogers Farm. The club started in 1923 with the help of lots of interested supporters.

“The club did well until World War II, then slumped, but it made a comeback in the time of 1945-47. That was about the time they went to Oak Ridge and purchased two surplus buildings for a clubhouse,” said Bill Cox.

Cox, 93 as of August 11, remembers the 1950 prom being held at the clubhouse. “About the same time, we even had a golfer qualify for the U.S. Open at Chicago. However, that didn’t turn out too well,” said Cox.

Cox explains that the club had another down turn in the early 1960s. “About 1964, a group of us led by Jack Rogers (Rogers Dock), Jim Crutchfield, Cooster Smith, Ed Balloff, Al Morton, Jim Agee and others really drove growth of the club,” said Cox.

From there, the club built to a 125 member closed membership. “I was club president in the late 1960s to about 1970,” added Cox.

About 1972, Cox, Mike Rogers, grandson of Judge Rogers, and Bobby Heatherly were very instrumental in the building of the swimming pool. “Mike and Bobby really did more work than anybody, club-wide; even built mounds on number 8. Now, I did help build the pool and cart barn,” said Cox.

Heatherly was roasted in 2022 at the WLAF Studios. Connect HERE to listen in on the fun.

“When Bobby Heatherly came onboard, he really built it up,” said Cox. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-09/24/2025-6AM)