Pine Knob Golf Club Logo

Call the Pro-Shop

a

Call for Weddings

Pine Knob Mansion and Carriage House Logo
Pine Knob Golf Club Shield logo
a
Pine Knob Golf Club Shield logo
Pine Knob Golf Club Shield logo
a
Pine Knob Golf Club Shield logo
M

History

Pine Knob Golf Club » History

History of Our Mansion

Colonel Sidney Dunn Waldon was born in London, England, on January 29, 1873, the son of James Ley and Julia (Dunn). Educated in London and South Kensington Schools, the Colonel came to the United States in 1893.

The Colonel was vice-president of Packard Motor Company and later vice-president of Cadillac Motor Company. He belonged to the Detroit Athletic Club, Grosse Pointe Country Club, and Bloomfield Hills Country Club. Mr. Waldon had numerous interests, most importantly aviation. He promoted air races, flew with the Wright Brothers, and was a member of an aviation circle. He created a landing field near Mt. Clemens, now known as Selfridge Air Force Base. When the United States entered World War I, Colonel Waldon enlisted and was one of the men picked to help build the United States Air Force.

Read More

In 1927, desiring a place to live where he could escape the outside world, Colonel Waldon purchased 850 acres of land in Clarkston, Michigan. He hired H. A. O’Dell to design a home for him. The result was a 19-room English Manor residence built on the hilltop, with an elevation of 1221 feet (the highest point in Southeastern Michigan). The Carriage House, several hundred feet from the mansion, was constructed for the caretaker and his family. Behind this home were barns that housed his fine thoroughbreds and exquisite carriages.

One of the most impressive rooms of the Mansion is the Great Hall. The east and west ends of the space have arched ceiling-to-the-floor and stained glass windows that offer magnificent views at sunrise and sunset. The entire space holds grandeur and grace within its unique architecture. As you gaze above and around the room, you are transported to another time by the arched ceilings, stone walls, ornate fireplace, and acoustically perfect design. The Colonel’s library is located just off the main entrance. The library is now where guests place gifts for the bride and groom or where the wedding cake and other pastries and desserts are displayed.

Pine Knob Mansion and Carriage House possess perhaps the most impressive landscape in Michigan. A serpentine wall on the south side surrounds the Mansion. The Mansion overlooks the championship 27-hole public golf course. The natural elevation affords views over 30 miles of the surrounding communities and landscape. On a clear day, you can see downtown Detroit and the skyscrapers clustered there. The Carriage House, with ceiling to the floor windows, allows for a picturesque view of the 1st hole. The course is rated as “one of the best Public courses in Michigan” and winds around the former Waldon Estate in a manner designed to complement the land’s natural beauty.

It’s with great pride that we strive to maintain the same early principles employed by Colonel Waldon and his staff. We trust that Colonel Waldon would be proud that his great house is still standing and providing hospitality to all who seek it.

Contact Us
Skip to content