Mission Hills Country Club at 53rd and State Line is shown on an early Hall Bros. Post card, as it looked when it opened with a dinner dance for 300 members and guests May 15, 1915.A news story of the day said, It harmonizes well with a strikingly handsome site. The great English lounging room was pictured as well as the golf links across the street on the Kansas side, with several women golfers enjoying the game in long skirts, which nearly touched the greens.The $50,000 building of stone and stucco suggesting the Spanish mission precedent was designed by Shephard, Farrar and Wiser.The golf links occupied 125 acres in an irregular tract, extending from State Line to Belinder and from 52nd to 56th. There was an option to purchase at the end of 10 years.Ira E. Gaskill, an early-day member, believes the club paid about $125 an acre for the beautiful rolling grounds. He was a young bank executive of the Drovers' National Bank and had played at the old Evanston Golf Club before Mission Hills was founded.In 1956 the old club quarters were outgrown, and the new 1¼-million-dollar Mission Hills clubhouse of white slump brick and glass was built across the state line, near 55th and Mission Drive.All 18 holes on the old golf course were re-numbered and several new greens were built under the supervision of William Diddle, Carmel, Ind., golf course architect.The old clubhouse and 6.6 acres were then sold to Lewis Kitchen, realtor. The structure underwent extensive remodeling and refurbishing and it was reopened as the Carriage Club.Kansas City TimesOctober 27, 1972
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