Our Story
Welcome to our unique and beautiful country club, situated on more than 400 acres of wooded, rolling hills and offering first-class amenities for our Members. When you walk through the doors of our Old English-style clubhouse, you'll be treated like family. Come enjoy a world where your every need is anticipated, where you can enjoy an active lifestyle and luxurious amenities.
Constantly Growing And Changing Since The 1970's
In the early 1970s, Granger was an undeveloped rural area known for its family farms where you could buy fresh corn in the summer and delicious apples in the fall. A one-room schoolhouse once stood where University Park Mall is now located. Adams Road was a country lane few people traveled. This was farm country, a world removed from the city of South Bend. But that all changed in 1976 with the opening of a new subdivision called Knollwood.
Knollwood was principally the creation of two men, David Eckrich and Ernie Shrock. They broke ground on the golf course on April 16, 1975. Schrock was mainly involved in building the golf course while Eckrich handled the marketing and management of the development.
On June 23, 1976, the golf course opened, and the first Knollwood Invitational was held shortly thereafter. In addition, a small clubhouse, outdoor swimming pools and six lighted tennis courts were also opened in June of 1976. The dream had become a reality as the public flocked to the rolling hills of Knollwood, anxious to become homeowners in the new subdivision.
By 1978, most of the 350 home sites were sold. Dave Eckrich and Ernie Schrock decided to stay with Knollwood and expand the development to the west since there was a demand for more home lots. At this time, Eckrich and Schrock bought out their partners in the Greenway Corporation and together formed the Knollwood Corporation. Their intention was to build another nine holes of golf together with an additional 250 home sites.
With the expansion of the residential area of Knollwood, it became necessary to expand the recreational facilities and the clubhouse in 1978 and 1979. Then, in the spring of 1980, the new nine-hole golf course in Knollwood West opened, making it a 27-hole golf course.
By the early 1980’s, it was decided to expand Knollwood to the east by adding an additional nine holes of golf and a new subdivision to be known as Quail Ridge with an additional 390 home sites. This gave Knollwood Country Club two 18-hole golf courses.
In 1983, the Knollwood Corporation decided to sell the country club to the Invitedoration of America (CCA) for $2.3 million. The Knollwood Corporation then became the Adams Road Development. Its goal was to develop the final nine holes of golf as well as the residential areas surrounding these golf holes: Quail Ridge North, Quail Ridge South and Knollwood Park Villas.
Meet the Team
Meet some of the people who make it possible.
Cale Bolinger
General Manager
Serving since 2020
574-271-4822
About Cale
Cale was appointed Director of Food and Beverage for Knollwood Country Club in February of 2020. Cale comes to Knollwood with tenured background in Catering and Restaurant Operations Management. Before joining the leadership team at Knollwood, Cale worked in a leadership role with Darden Restaurants overseeing Corporate Training of New Restaurant Openings as a Managing Partner. Cale was involved in the opening of 17 LongHorn Steakhouse locations spanning from Bismarck North Dakota to Decatur Alabama over 14 years of service.Cale and his wife Nicole have settled into the community and plan to grow with in both Knollwood, and Michiana, as they look to start a family. When Cale is not at the Club, he enjoys golfing and attending sporting events. In his down time, he enjoys completing his never-ending honey do list, obsessing over his landscaping and grilling no matter the weather. Cale is excited to be of service for all the Members here at Knollwood.