USGA Five Founding Clubs??

[Josh Smith]

A pretty amazing group of Clubs:
Shinnecock, Chicago GC, Newport, The Country Club and St. Andrews in Yonkers, NY.

I consider myself moderately well versed in knowing about the first four listed.

How come I know nothing about St. Andrews?  Can any of you share insight into this course, its history, and what it is today.  

Thanks.

[Jeff Doerr]

Not that I know much on the old history Josh, but the history section is decent.

http://www.saintandrewsgolfclub.com/

[HamiltonBHearst]

I have never seen the place but I encourage you to use the search function.  There were a few on the site that preferred the club to Garden City.  It was perhaps the most ridiculous thread ever on this site as someone was basing their preference in clubs on the "kosher" food factor.

[Josh Smith]

Jeff,  

      This is from the link you gave me.  


America's oldest golf club (1888) and founding member of the USGA, Saint Andrew's is one of golf's venerated historical venues. Only 20 minutes drive from New York City, the membership and their guests enjoy the game in a spectacular setting and play one of the area's best-conditioned and exciting layouts - a challenging par-71 golf course, re-designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1983

Saint Andrew’s members play on a superb Jack Nicklaus signature golf course laid out on the same rolling Westchester County site that the club moved to in 1897. In explaining the philosophy behind his design, Nicklaus said, “I must think back to the way they’d build a course at the turn of the century, visualize that, and then try to build that vision to modern standards . . . a course in the Merion mold.”

      Got It!    Thanks

[Jeff_Mingay]

Josh,

Following the quote you've posted, and considering I've not visited St. Andrews (NY), one must ask: how did Nicklaus and co. do with their attempt to design and construct a new course at St. Andrews in the "Merion mold"?

Anyone?

[Tom_Doak]

I cannot believe that Jack Nicklaus compared his work at St. Andrews Golf Club, to Merion.

Josh:  I wrote up the course in The Confidential Guide.  I would prefer if nobody quoted from that here, but let's just say I did not compare it to Merion.

[Scott Stearns]

St. Andrew's (note the apostrophe-not included in the scottish version) was originally laid out in Yonkers, NY.  Notable among its members was Andrew Carnegie, of Pittsburgh, but also NYC.  

the club may be most noted for its staging of a "US Open" among four professionals competing at match play.  CB Macdonald objected to the idea of a single club holding a national championship, and so a meeting was held in New York at Delmonico's restaurant (exists today in another location) among five clubs to establish the USGA.

Course was moved north of Yonkers to Hastings on Hudson---original course is lost to development.  Nicklaus was brought in in the '80's to modernize the layout, and the modernization was funded via sale of condos on the course itself.  

Course is a shadow of the other four clubs, which is why you have never heard of it.  But there is a John Reid Room at the club which houses a number of artifacts of the original club.

[Jeff Johnson]

What year was the USGA Founded?  I thought the Town and Country Club in St.Paul, established in 1887, was also a part of the fournding Clubs?  Robert Foulis was the golf pro at the time I believe.  

Jeff Johnson

[JohnV]

What year was the USGA Founded?  I thought the Town and Country Club in St.Paul, established in 1887, was also a part of the fournding Clubs?  Robert Foulis was the golf pro at the time I believe.  

Jeff Johnson

From the USGA Website:

1894

    * In September, William G. Lawrence wins a "national amateur championship" at Newport (R.I.) Golf Club. In October, Laurence B. Stoddard wins a "national amateur championship" at St. Andrew's Golf Club.
    * C.B. Macdonald, runner-up in both events, calls for the formation of a governing body to run a universally recognized national championship.
    * The Amateur Golf Association of the United States — soon to be called the United States Golf Association — is formed on Dec. 22. Charter members are Newport Golf Club, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, The Country Club (Brookline, Mass.), St. Andrew's Golf Club (Yonkers, N.Y.), and Chicago Golf Club.

Macdonald won the first "official" US Amateur at Newport in 1895.

[Brad Tufts]

There's a pretty good little chapter on St. A's in NY in Dan Wexler's first book I believe.  

It includes a drawing of the original (original classic-era course in Yonkers before Nicklaus) routing, and some photos.  If I remember correctly, the highlight was a downhill doglegging short par 4.  The tee shot was hit from over 100 ft. above the fairway, and the player descended an enormous set of wooden stairs straight down the hill to the fairway.