North Jefferson County’s oldest golf course is celebrating its 50th birthday.

Cumberland Lake Golf Course, located on Pinson’s northeast side near Palmerdale, reached that milestone this year. The course started out as a private, members-only course, and offered properties for homes adjacent to the course. Over time, the course opened to the public as well, with members enjoying various discounts — as well as the right to fish for lunkers in the namesake lake that borders the 18th hole.

The course started as a nine-hole layout, then expanded to 18 holes three years later.

Some of those who built homes near the course back in late 1902 and early 1980s still live there.

“Back in the 1980s, this club was a happening kind of place,” said Director of Golf Gary Lloyd.

The organization has gone through its share of ups and downs over the years, even declaring bankruptcy at one time. Some of the members ended up buying the course. The current owners are Terry Estes, Bill Whilden and John Grabowski, who play in a games twice a week.

Johnny Howell is usually a part of that group; he’s a former principal at Pinson Valley High School. There’s typically a $5 Nassau on the line — “We just trade the money back and forth after matches,” he said.

The course measures 5,067 from the ladies’ tees, all the way to 6,843 yards from the blue tees. Numerous sand traps dot the layout.

It’s a course popular with high school golfers; teams from Pinson Valley and Mortimer Jordan call the course home. In fact, Garrett Johnson — a state finalist for the Blue Devils — is the club champion and Caleb O’Toole of the Indians was the runner-up.

The course is about three miles off Highway 79 on Cumberland Lake Road. Their website: cumberlandlakegolf.com