The People:
While the course and the clubhouse are the foundation, people are the heart and soul of the club. The seventy years of the club's history have been marked by some unforgettable characters. Johnny Randall served as Golf professional and Club Manager for twenty-five years from 1933 until his death in 1958. His chef and principal assistant is simply remembered to long time members like club historian Clare Fahrer as "Burky", a 350 pound gentleman who ran his operation from a chair built especially for his size. One of the most familiar people at the Club, "Burky" served the membership for a period from 1929 until his death in 1961.
It has been pointed out that among current employees, three have been employed for more than thirty years while another four have served the membership for more than twenty years.
Having adopted gender neutral membership rules in 1996, the club has grown to a membership level which includes two hundred thirty senior members and a combined membership class total of four hundred eighty-nine. While drawing substantially from the Strongsville community, recent growth has included members from Hinckley, Valley City, Olmsted Falls and Brunswick as well as other portions of southwest Cuyahoga County.
The membership itself is warm and friendly. New members often comment on the welcome which they receive and the ease with which they are adopted into the Columbia Hills family. In addition to the traditional Member-Guest Invitational, Match Play Championship and Women's Championship, family oriented programs at the club include numerous couples' golf events.
A Ladies' Association with both a social and golf program, a junior golf program with more than one hundred participants, and a swim team which competes against other west side clubs combine to offer many opportunities for both social and golfing members. Highlights of the off season include a Country Fair, Thanksgiving Dinner, Christmas Eve candlelight buffet and a gala New Years Party.
In recent years, the Club has opened its doors to many civic and charitable organizations. The, Southwest Community Health Foundation, the Cleveland Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Strongsville Chamber of Commerce, Berea Children's Home, the Cleveland National Airshow and the Berea Rotary have chosen Columbia Hills as the host site for events. In addition, the club has welcomed both the Cleveland Women's Golf Association and the Northern Ohio Golf Association for numerous events.