Knickerbocker Country Club, "East side, West side", from
Golf Clubs of the MGA. Founded: 1914; Architcts: Donald Ross, Herbert Strong, Geoffrey Cornish; Course Opened: 1915; Tees: Forward par 74, 5851 yards, 74.2/129; Middle par 72, 6410 yards, 71.1/126; Back par 72, 6628 yards, 72.1/128.
Knickerbocker was incorporated on December 1, 1914, at the home of one Malcolm Mackay on Knickerbocker Road in Tenafly, for the purpose of enjoying golf, tennis, and other sports -- on a site slightly more than 10 miles from midtown Manhattan.
The course progressed from the east side of Knickerbocker Road to the west. The first nine holes, on land leased from Mackay for $1 a year, were built "according to a plan" by Donald Ross. They opened July 4, 1915, at which time the Club was negotiating for additional land to the west. Nine new holes, also Ross "designs", were ready by that December, some built on wetlands, others cut through forest. The course featured "long curving holes, deep pits, and sugarloaf mounds" in the Ross style. A third nine was added for the 1925 season, the work of Herbert Strong. A few of the west holes were altered or abandoned at this time; only six holes from that nine remain relatively intact today.
Three years later, the Club spent $69,000 to purchase a house west of the road, intending to make it the new clubhouse. But the Depression ended any sych plan; in fact, the house had to be sold at a significant loss. Financial troubles also led to the abandonment of the original nine east of the road in 1928. The remaining 18 holes were used almost as is until 1973, when Geoffrey Cornish repositioned and remodeled six greens, bringing the course to its present configuration. The clubhouse underwent a complete renovation and expansion, completed in 1996. Knickerbocker has been described as deceptively difficult, the result of narrow fairways, sharp angles, and small greens. The best-kown hole is the 12th, which plays from an elevated tee into a wide fairway sliced across by a brook at the end of the drive zone. A large pond hugs the left side of the angled green.
Knickerbocker has had only five professionals in more than 80 years. First was a Scot named Willie Collins (1915-'25). Jack Hobens (1926-'41) won the 1908 Met Open at Baltusrol, played in several U.S. Opens while professional at Englewood before coming to Knickerbocker, and was among the founders of the national PGA. He was followed by Willie Walker (1942-'52), brother of Cyril Walker, the Englewood pro who won the 1924 U.S. Open.
Otto Greiner served Knickerbocker for 32 years (1953-'84). During his tenure he won the 1954 Met Open, 1956 New Jersey PGA, and the inaugral Dodge Open in 1964, and played in 10 U.S. Opens. A member of the New Jeresey PGA Hall of Fame, Greiner was named NJPGA Professional of the Year in 1973. The man Sam Snead once balled "the boldest putter I've ever seen" established the course record 64 the first time he played the course -- while interviewing for the head professional position!
Ed Whitman, in the shop since 1985, has been a leading force in New Jersey professional ranks for the past decade, twice winner of the State Open, four-time NJPGA Stroke-Play champion, and holder of several other regional titles. Whitman has been acclaimed NJPGA Player of the Year four times.
Prominent among current members is Dennis Slezak, 1991 Met Amateur cahmpion.
The inagural New Jersey Open was staged over Knickerbocker's "recently remodeled" course in May of 1921, when Peter O'Hara of Shackamaxon carded 148 for two rounds, three strokes better than amateur Frank Dyer. Wes Ellis won the 1963 NJPGA Championship, his complete perforamance taking place west of Knickerbocker Road. Only the clubhouse now lies to the east.
There's a driving range and short game practice area on the east side too. As one can see, the Club has a long history of head professionals that are accomplished players.