The Links Club

[Jeff_Mingay]

(From a link on another thread - thanks) I just came across a very interesting blog on C.B. Macdonald's Links Club, in Manhattan.

Check it out:
http://top100golf.blogspot.com/

[Philippe Binette]

interesting stuff Jeff,

it could be fun to start something like that somewhere, especially in Montreal...

a place to have a drink, a bunch of golf books and enough room to hold a putting contest...

[Jeff_Mingay]

Philippe,

Maybe we can convince Zokol and his partner, Terry Donald, to do it in Vancouver:

The Sagebrush Club, downtown, where golfing members of Sagebrush Golf and Sporting Club can meet in the city.

Driving time from Sagebrush to Vancouver is comparable to the drive from Manhattan out to National Golf Links of America.

Interesting idea.

[Mike Phelan]

Wow, I just spent two hours skimming that whole blog at work ......thanks for the link!;D

[Philippe Binette]

Jeff, that sounds fun

I realised that a club doesn't need a course at St Andrews where there's 7 clubs with playing rights on the old course and none of these clubs possess a course.

The club is more a place to have a meal and drink after the round.

I could imagine a group of 30 - 40 people having an address in the city to meet and talk golf and negociate playing rights with a course.

 

[Philip Gawith]

I visited there Jeff a few years ago. It is quite an atmospheric place but the link you are referring to does a much better job describing it than I can. Mike Sweeney mentioned its existence to me and I contacted the club, said I was keen to have a look, and they were quite gracious and open to a visitor.

[PCCraig]

This does look really neat.

Philip,

 How did you contact the club? I am in NYC from time to time and would love to stop in, if possible.

Thanks

[Philip Gawith]

As I recall i wrote a polite letter to then - and possibly still current - chairman, Steve Mcpherson. the club manager replied on his behalf and that was that.

[PCCraig]

Thanks so much for the information, next time I head down there I may a have to plan in advance.

Pat

[Jeff_Mingay]

I'd like to publicly apologize to The Links Club and its members for possibly encouraging an interest in the place!

My sincere apologies  

[John Sabino]

Jeff - no need to apologize - that's why I do the blog, so places like The Links Club take themselves less seriously.

Philip - you are fortunate to have visited without a member, you must be a true gentleman.

Joe

[Jeff_Mingay]

I was just kidding, Joe.

Nice job with the article though. I plan to frequent your blog.

Cheers,

[John_Cullum]

Joe

You should have asked if anyone had seen Hamilton Hearst lately?

[Larry_Keltto]

<<a place to have a drink, a bunch of golf books and enough room to hold a putting contest...>>

If memory serves, Bertie practiced his putting on occasion at The Drones Club.

[Garry Cox]

Thanks for the link to the blog.

I was fortunate to be invited for dinner at The Links Club about 4 years ago.  I was walking to the club thinking I was looking for a sports bar with a golf motif.  I found the building but there was no identification that I could see outside especially in the dark.  I walked back to a building with a doorman and told him what I was looking for and he stated it was right where I was looking a minute  before.  I responded to the doorman that there is no sign or identification.  He said that is the idea!

The blog described the atmosphere perfectly.

I should have reponded to the earlier posting re:  The Most Urban Golf Club?

Answer: The Links Club.

I will continue to read the blog.

[Mark Hissey]

I was there two years ago with Tom Doak and Jim Urbina. It is indeed a really interesting place. Some very heavy hitters for members too.

[wsmorrison]

Tom and I drove up to NYC for a wonderful evening at the Links Club.  It is a beautiful building with a lot of cozy rooms.  We had a large gathering of GCAers at a large round dinner table.  The conversation was very stimulating.  

Didn't someone blow up the building next door recently in an attempted suicide because of a messy divorce proceeding?

Larry,

Bertie Wooster, Tuppy Glossip, Bingo Little, Gussie Fink-Nottle, and Barmy Fungy Fipps all hung out at the Drones Club.  What a wonderful series.  My oldest son (16) bought all the DVDs and we enjoy watching them all.  The scene at the Drones Club golf outing with the barking Westie and the buzzer device was hilarious.  Bertie's pull hook into the tent on the first tee was great.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Wayne,

You're right. I recall hearing about that explosion in the news, and someone pointing out The Links Club was next door.

[George_Bahto]

One of the highlights of my life over the past few years was an evening I spent at The Links Club giving a C B Macdonald presentation to a large group of Links members.

Totally scared stiff with that huge painting of Macdonald looking down at me at times but the members were so nice and made me feel very comfortable.

It was an evening I'll always remember.