In the early 1950's an idea of a golf course in the forest began to germinate. Southwest Forest Industries was interested since it meant a recreational area for their executives working in McNary. The U.S. Forest Service was approached to have some land around a former Civilian Conservation Corps Camp set aside. The Forest Service did not approve of the idea at the time, but in 1954 they did agree and a large area of beautiful forestland was made available.

The White Mountain Golf Club was organized May 8th, 1954 with Milt Coggins Sr., Richard H. Lee, and James J. Cox named as incorporators. Forest Service permits were approved later that year on August 16th. When the first board was elected, Milt Coggins, Sr. was chosen President; Thomas J. Frost, Vice-President; Frank Crosby, Treasurer, and James J. Cox, Jr., Secretary. Capital stock was offered at $180 a share and by May of the following year, the Treasurer reported 234 signed and fully paid contracts for the purchase of one share of the Capital Stock of the Corporation.

The first nine holes were built through multiple volunteer efforts, including major firms leaving heavy equipment on weekends for use on the course. Southwest Forest Industries helped in financing the first clubhouse and lumberman Harold Britt volunteered return use of lumber trucks to bring back supplies free. One day while playing a championship match, Gray Madison lined up rows of golf spectators with instructions to walk forward slowly and pick up every rock they saw on the course.

A swimming pool that didn't survive the winter, and tennis courts that did, were also provided. Through a series of complicated trades between the Country Club, the White Mountain Summer Homes Association, the Forest Service, and Southwest Forest Industries, 700 acres of National Forest land became private property of the homeowners and 166 acres for the golf course was purchased by the Club for $175,000.

By 1967, Joe Clifford, Past President, reported that after 10 years, "We are out of Forest Service Control."

With the Homeowners Association retaining control of their own roads and the Country Club agreeing to the installation of "guard gates," the White Mountain Country Club has retained a premier position in the White Mountain area, offering a retreat amid the pines where privacy is one of the premiums and beauty on of the dividends.