Blythefield Country Club

Blythefield Country Club is a William Langford and Theodore Moreau design from 1929 in Belmont, Michigan, a suburb northeast of Grand Rapids, where the original layout has been refined over decades to produce a private course that has hosted the Meijer LPGA Classic and multiple Western Golf Association major events. The course formally opened on June 14, 1929 in a ceremony attended by Walter Hagen and Horton Smith.

Blythefield Country Club was established in 1928, taking its name from an Olde English word meaning "quiet fields." The land that became Blythefield was originally part of a country estate assembled around 1920 by financier Joseph Brewer, who purchased most of what was then known as Plainfield Village to create a private villa; the golf club was subsequently developed across the road from Brewer's property. The formal opening ceremony on June 14, 1929, was a distinguished occasion — the dedication foursome included Walter Hagen, one of the greatest players of the era; Horton Smith, who would go on to win the first Masters Tournament in 1934; celebrated local golfer Maurie Wells; and Blythefield's first golf professional, Nick Weber. The presence of such accomplished players at the opening reflected the ambitions of the club's founders, who sought to create a facility of regional significance in the Grand Rapids area of western Michigan. William B. Langford and Theodore J. Moreau, the course's designers, were a prominent Chicago-based architectural partnership active throughout the Midwest during the 1920s and 1930s. Langford in particular was a significant figure in midwestern golf course architecture, completing dozens of courses across Illinois, Michigan, and the surrounding states with a design philosophy that emphasized strategic interest and the natural use of terrain. The Blythefield site northeast of Grand Rapids offered the partners rolling terrain with mature hardwood cover, natural drainage, and the topographic variety that their design approach favored. The Rogue River flows through the property, adding to both the aesthetic and strategic character of the layout. The course's history of competitive golf began with the 1953 Western Amateur, won by Dale Morey.

The 1961 Western Open followed, won by Arnold Palmer two strokes ahead of Sam Snead — one of Palmer's signature victories during his dominant years on tour. The 2005 Western Junior extended the club's WGA major hosting record further still, won by Rickie Fowler in an early indicator of his professional promise. Together, these three Western Golf Association major championships confirmed Blythefield's standing as a regional venue capable of hosting significant amateur and professional events. Bruce Matthews III and Jerry Matthews undertook a renovation in 1985 that updated the course's infrastructure while preserving the essential character of the Langford and Moreau routing. The club's most visible contemporary association is with the Meijer LPGA Classic, which was founded in 2014 and has been held at Blythefield annually since then.

The inaugural tournament was won by Mirim Lee in a playoff with Inbee Park. Subsequent champions have included Lexi Thompson, Sei Young Kim, Brooke Henderson, Nelly Korda, and Jennifer Kupcho, bringing top professional women's golf to Grand Rapids every year and raising millions for Meijer's Simply Give food bank program. Blythefield's position as a private club northeast of Grand Rapids has allowed it to maintain the conditions and member experience appropriate to its historical standing and tournament history.