Rick,
You should check out Harper's Official Golf Guide. It is available for free download on Google. It was published in 1901 and, in short, documents many of the golf clubs that were around in the US at that time. It does not list Onteora at all. Of course, it also doesn't list Middlesboro in KY so take it for what it's worth.
http://books.google.com/books/about/Harper_s_Official_Golf_Guide.html?id=BbAUAAAAYAAJ
Brian:
There is also a version of the 1900 Harper's Report available on the USGA site. As many know, that version goes into a bit more detail as to who was responsible for laying out the courses included in the listing.
There is also book entitled "Golf in America" (also found on the USGA site) that was published in 1895 and goes into a good bit of detail regarding many of the courses in existence at that time. I do not think this book provides and exhaustive list of the courses that had been built in America to that date (probably due to a regional focus), and I think its publication probably added to the lore of St. Andrews being considered the first course built in America. It is, however, and excellent contemporaneous resource. Here's a list of the courses covered:
St. Andrews Golf Club (inc. 1888) - club built a 6 hole course which was abandoned. A second six hole course was built which was played over for two years until the land was sold for building. Club moved to the Odell Farm property at that time and built a 9 hole course. The book notes that the club intends to extend the course to 18 holes.
Shinnecock Hills Club (inc. 1890) - laid out by W. Davis in 1891, with the spring of 1892 seeing the game "firmly established in its new home." As of 1895, the course had an 18 hole course and the ladies course.
Newport Golf Club - founded in January 1893.
Tuxedo Golf Club - game began there three years ago (1892?), though play on the present links only dates from July of 1893. Hole names at the time - The Orchard, The Railroad, The Dismal Swamp, The Heavenly Twins, The Brown, The Alps (a template?), The Devil's Hole and House.
Morris County Golf Club - already possessing the full number of 18 holes. Course is noted as being new.
Golf Club of Montclair - club was organized in October 1894. 9 holes were laid out rather hurriedly.
Orange Mountain Golf Club - organized during the past year.
Richmond County CC - 9 holes so far, intended to increase the number during the coming season.
Meadow Brook Hunt Club - very good links laid out over rolling country.
Country Club of Brookline - golf has obtained a strong footing.
Essex County Club - Willie Campbell was the professional for the 1894 season.
Warren Farms Golf Club.
Myopia Hunt Club - game was started last summer.
Prides Golf Club - course laid out in 1893.
Merion Cricket Club - has an excellent links.
Germantown Cricket Club - has an excellent links.
Philadelphia Country Club - game started about two years ago, regular course laid out in summer of 1894.
Chicago Golf Club (at Belmont) - inc. July 1893. Predated by a small golf club at Lake Forest organized by Hobart C. Chatfield-Taylor. In December 1894 club authorized the purchase of the land in Wheaton for the construction of the new course.
Country Club of Colorado Springs - took up the game in 1891. Course has only 9 holes, to be extended to 18. The "disease of golf" has taken deep root.
Notation of another golf course near Denver.
The book also makes note of the clubs in Canada, including the Royal Montreal Golf Club (1873), Quebec Club (1874) and Toronto Golf Club (1876 - only 18 hole course in the country (Fernhill course which was built in 1882)). Additional Canadian courses include the Niagara Golf Club (1882), Kingston (1891), Ottawa (1891), Deer Park Club (1894), London Club (1894) and Hamilton Club (1894).
Back later to discuss additional information from other sources.
Sven