After two years of construction and even more time in the planning stages, The Club at Lac La Belle is ready to introduce something a little different. Uncle Henry's Backyard, a new 9-hole par-3 course, officially opens for play on May 22, 2026.
The grand opening is not just a ribbon-cutting moment. From May 22 through May 28, the course will be dedicated entirely to local charitable causes, giving golfers a chance to walk the new layout while supporting the community. Details on the featured charities can be found at mailchi.mp/clubatlaclabelle.
Behind the Name
The name goes back further than you might expect. Henry Shufeldt was a Chicago distiller who built a considerable fortune after marrying Emeline Egan in 1859. His distillery was good enough to earn a gold medal at the 1878 Paris World's Fair, and he brought his brothers-in-law into the business while establishing family homes in both Chicago and Oconomowoc.
In 1895, Shufeldt built the first golf course in Oconomowoc, right in his own backyard, and in doing so, accidentally launched two careers that would shape American amateur golf. His young nephews, Chandler and Walter Egan, picked up the game on that backyard layout and never looked back.
Beginning in 1902, the Egan brothers became champions in every sense. Between them, they collected college titles at Harvard, Olympic gold medals, Western Amateur championships, USGA Amateur titles, and even an Oconomowoc Open for good measure. All of it traces back to a backyard course their uncle built 130 years ago.
That is a story worth naming a golf course after.
About The Club at Lac La Belle
The Club at Lac La Belle is located in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. For more information or to plan a visit, go to clubatlaclabelle.com.
