What were the first 76 Golf Clubs in the US?

[Sven Nilsen]

Here's the last set from 1895:

1895

Allegheny Country Club - Sewickley, Pennsylvania (Pre-1900 – Unknown)

Ardsley Country Club - Ardley-on-Hudson, New York (1896 – Dunn)

Baltusrol Golf Club - Springfield, New Jersey (1895 – Keller)

Brooklawn Country Club - Fairfield, Connecticut (1895 – Unknown)

Cincinnati Golf Club - Cincinnati, Ohio (1895 – White)

Clinton Country Club - Clinton, Connecticut (1922 – Unknown)

Concord Country Club - Concord, Massachusetts (1895 – Unknown)

Country Club of Rochester - Rochester, New York (1896 – Findlay)

Cummaquid Golf Club - Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts (1896 – Lloyd)

Duxbury Yacht Club - Duxbury, Massachusetts (Pre-1901 – Unknown)

Greenock Country Club - Lee, Massachusetts (1915 – Ross)

Lake Zurich Golf Club - Lake Zurich, Illinois (1895 – Foulis)

Lexington Golf Club - Lexington, Massachusetts (1895 – Unknown)

Loon Lake Golf Club - Loon Lake, New York (1895 – Dunn)

Misquamicut Golf Club - Westerly, Rhode Island (1895 – Park)

Nittany Country Club - Wayne, New Jersey
-I have record of a course in PA by this name, but nothing in NJ.

Onwentsia Club - Lake Forest, Illinois (1896 – MacDonald/Foulis/Foulis/Whigham)

Pinehurst Country Club - Pinehurst, North Carolina (1897 – Culver)

Portland Country Club - Falmouth, Maine (1898 – Findlay)

Reservation Golf Club - Mattapoisett, Massachusetts (Pre-1901 – Unknown)

Sadaquada Golf Club - Whitesboro, New York (1895 – Rawlins)

Salem Golf Club - Peabody, Massachusetts (1895 – Unknown)

San Francisco Golf Club - San Francisco, California (1895 – Robertson/Harvey)

Sharon Country Club - Sharon, Connecticut (1896 – Unknown)

Soangetaha Country Club - Galesburg, Illinois (1895 – Bendelow)

Springdale Golf Club - Princeton, New Jersey (1895 - Unknown)

Stockbridge Country Club - Stockbridge, Massachusetts (1894 – Unknown)

Tatnuck Country Club - Worchester, Massachusetts (1898 – Campbell)

Twin Lake Village Golf Club - New London, New Hampshire
-I have no information on this course.

Van Cortlandt Park Golf Club - Bronx, New York (1895 – Peters)

Waterbury Country Club - Waterbury, Connecticut (1895 – Fenn)

Wentworth-by-the-Sea Golf Club - New Castle, New Hampshire (Pre-1900 – Unknown)

Waumbek County Club - Jefferson, New Hampshire (Pre-1900 – Norton)

Wollaston Golf Club - Milton, Massachusetts (1895 – Freeman/Brock)

[Tim Martin]

What's that nine holer on the north shore of Lake Otsego?  That historic, fun little sucker is from about 1892.  

Otsego Golf Club is in the shadow of Cooperstown and a great warm up for Leatherstocking. There are some really cool holes as it is golf in it's purest form. Not to be missed if you are in the area.

[Sven Nilsen]

Here's a rough break down of courses built in five year intervals leading up, during and after the Golden Age (with a large margin of error):

Up to 1894:     112
1895 - 1899:    963
1900 - 1904:    500
1905 - 1909:    288
1910 - 1914:    447
1915 - 1919:    675
1920 - 1924:    1878
1925 - 1929:    1599
1930 - 1934:    295
1935 - 1939:    109

The two biggest individual years I have are 1925 (approximately 535 new courses) and 1922 (around 475).  All of the lowest output years were during the Depression, although the construction between 1903 and 1908 was pretty sparse.

There are an additional 200 or so courses that fit into the model somewhere for which I do not have a date.

[Sven Nilsen]

Here's a list of the courses noted in the USGA list Jim posted whose courses date from 1895 or later.  The first date noted is what I have for the golf course, the second is the founding of the club.

Let me know if you see anything that looks out of sorts.

Chicago GC - Wheaton, IL (1895/1892 – MacDonald/Whigham/Foulis/Foulis)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Philadelphia Cricket Club - Philadelphia, PA (1895/1854 – S. Handford)
Milton-Hoosic GC - Canton, MA (1895/1892 – Unknown)
St. Louis CC - St. Louis, MO (1895/1892 – Foulis/Foulis)
Rockaway Hunting Club - Cedarhurst, NY (1895/1878 – Unknown)
Storm King GC - Cornwall, NY (1895/1894 – Unknown)
Westchester CC - Rye, NY (1895/1894 – Sands)
Vesper CC aka Lowell CC – Lowell, MA (1895/1875 – Unknown)
Hampton Roads GC - Hampton Roads, VA (1895/1893 – Unknown)
Essex County CC – West Orange, NJ (1895/1887 – Findlay)
CC of Asheville - Asheville, NC (1895/1894 – Unknown)
Janesville CC - Janesville, WI (1895/1894 – Unknown)
Milwaukee CC - Milwaukee, WI (1895/1894 – Foulis/Wall)
Baltusrol GC - Springfield, NJ (1895/1895 – Keller)
Brooklawn CC - Fairfield, CT (1895/1895 – Unknown)
Cincinnati GC - Cincinnati, OH (1895/1895 – White)
Concord CC - Concord, MA (1895/1895 – Unknown)
Lake Zurich GC - Lake Zurich, IL (1895/1895 – Foulis)
Lexington GC - Lexington, MA (1895/1895 – Unknown)
Waumbek CC – Jefferson, NH (1895/1895 – Norton)
Loon Lake GC - Loon Lake, NY (1895/1895 – Dunn)
Misquamicut GC - Westerly, RI (1895/1895 – Park)
Sadaquada GC - Whitesboro, NY (1895/1895 – Rawlins)
Salem GC - Peabody, MA (1895/1895 – Unknown)
San Francisco GC - San Francisco, CA (1895/1895 – Robertson/Harvey)
    -Became Presidio GC when SFGC moved to a new location.
    -1999 OGG - Laid out by Wm Robertson in Nov. 1895.
Soangetaha CC - Galesburg, IL (1895/1895 – Bendelow)
Van Cortlandt Park GC - Bronx, NY (1895/1895 – Peters)
Waterbury CC - Waterbury, CT (1895/1895 – Fenn)
CC of Farmington - Farmington, CT (1896/1892 – Fenn)
Sharon CC – Sharon, CT (1896/1895 – Unknown)
Fairfield Golf & CC - Fairfield, IA (1896/1892 – Unknown)
Poland Spring GC - Poland Spring, ME (1896/1893 – Fenn)
Cummaquid GC - Yarmouth Port, MA (1896/1895 – Lloyd)
Chevy Chase Club - Chevy Chase, MD (1896/1892 – Unknown)
The Apawamis Club – Rye, NY (1896/1890 – Unknown)
   -Moved to current site in 1899.
Bedford Golf & Tennis Club - Bedford Village, NY (1896/1892 – Unknown)
Ardsley CC - Ardley-on-Hudson, NY (1896/1895 – Dunn)
CC of Rochester - Rochester, NY (1896/1895 – Findlay)
Wentworth-By-The-Sea GC – Portsmouth, NH (1897/1895 – Wright)
Tatnuck CC - Worchester, MA (1898/1895 – Campbell)
Powelton Club - Newburgh, NY (1898/1892 – Unknown)
The Country Club - Cleveland, OH (1898/1889 – Mitchell)
Exeter CC - Exeter, NH  (Pre-1899/1889 – Unknown)
Binghamton CC - Binghamton, NY (Pre-1899/1889 – Unknown)
Westhampton CC - Westhampton, NY (Pre-1899/1890 – Unknown)
Pittsburgh Field Club – Pittsburgh, PA (Pre-1899/1882 – Unknown)
Point Judith CC - Narragansett, RI (Pre-1899/1894 – Unknown)
Ausable Club – Ausable, NY (Pre-1900/1888 – Unknown)
Buffalo CC - Buffalo, NY (Pre-1900/1889 – Unknown)
Allegheny CC - Sewickley, PA (Pre-1900/1895 – Unknown)
Edgewood Club of Tivoli - Tivoli, NY (1900/1880 – Unknown)
CC of Bristol - Bristol, TN (1900/1894/ – Findlay)
Ridgewood CC - Ridgewood, NJ (Pre-1901/1890 – Unknown)
Waveland Golf Course - Des Moines, IA (1901/1894 – Dickinson)
Duxbury Yacht Club - Duxbury, MA (Pre-1901/1895 – Unknown)
White Bear Lake Yacht Club - White Bear Lake, MN (1912/1889 – Watson)
Greenock CC - Lee, MA (1915/1895 – Ross)
Kahkwa Club - Erie, PA (1916/1893 – Ross)
Olympic Club – San Francisco, CA (1917/1879 – Reid/Fovargue)
Clinton CC - Clinton, CT (1922/1895 – Unknown)
Passaic County Golf Course - Wayne, NJ (1925/1892 – Unknown)
Germania Town & Country Club – Saginaw, MI (1930/1856)

[Sven Nilsen]

This next list sets forth golf courses built before 1895 (with the date of formation of the club noted where available).  Some of this is based on club histories, some taken from the early guides and some taken from news reports.  Its a work in progress, and will inevitably require some updating.  For example, the 1885 date given for York CC may be entirely unreliable, but it is the date the club notes in the history section of their website for the first course laid out by Grier Hersh.  The second listing below contains notes from the history of golf in the US or courses for which I have limited information.  

I hope to explore each of these in more detail were information is available, and will happily provide the source of any information noted below to aid the discussion.  Col. Gillespie, of Sarasota fame, is an obvious first target, as certain reports have his first course in 1883, others in 1886, while an account from Willie Hoare (who worked with Gillespie on many of his early courses) debunks the 1886 date.

Any comments, updates and corrections of blatant errors are welcome.

Oakhurst Golf Links – White Sulphur Springs (1884/?? – Montague)
York CC – York, PA (1885/?? – Hersh)
   -1885 date for Hersh’s first course comes from the Club History.
Sarasota GC – Sarasota, FL (1886/?? – Gillespie)
   -Willie Hoare noted course was built much later.
Dorset Field Club - Dorset, VT (1886/1886 – Unknown)
Castine GC – Castine, ME (1887/?? – Unknown)
Merchiston Ranch (aka Kemp) – Nance County, NE (1887/?? – Findlay)
   -Legend of Findlay building a small course while visiting family in Nebraska..
Onteora GC – Tannersville, NY (1887?/1887 – Unknown)
   -Sources have the golf course “established in the 1890’s”
Quogue Field Club - Quogue, NY (1887/1887 – Unknown)
Foxburg CC - Foxburg, PA (1887/1887 – Fox)
St. Andrew's GG - Hastings-on-Hudson, NY (1888/1888 - Reid)
-Club changes locations several times.
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
        -Noted in an October 4, 1891 NYT article.
Middlesboro Club - Middlesboro, KY (1889/1889 – Unknown)
Kineo GC – Kineo, ME (1889 – Unknown)
Tuxedo GC - Tuxedo Park, NY (1889/1885 – Unknown)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Wichita CC – Wichita, KS (1890/?? – Unknown)
Lawrenceville School GC – Lawrenceville, NJ (1890/?? – Unknown)
Plainfield GC – Plainfield, NJ (1890/1890 – Unknown)
Dutcher Golf Course – Pawling, NY (1890/?? – Unknown)
Bluff Point CC – Plattsburgh, NY (1890/1890 – Unknown)
Philadelphia CC – Philadelphia, PA (1890/1890 - Unknown)
   -2nd course built in 1894 by Tucker.
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Newport GC - Newport, RI (1890/1893 – Unknown)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Burlington CC – Burlington, VT (1890/?? – Unknown)
Meadow Brook Club - Jericho, NY (Pre-1891/1881 – Unknown)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
        -Noted in an October 4, 1891 NYT article.
Aetna Springs GC – Pope Valley, CA (1891/?? – Unknown)
Colorado Springs GC – Colorado Springs, CO (1891/?? – Unknown)
   -AKA Cheyenne Mountain GC.
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Grindstone Neck GC - Winter Harbor, ME (1891/1891 – Unknown)
Kebo Valley GC – Bar Harbor, ME (1891/?? – Unknown)
Maidstone Club - East Hampton, NY (1891/1891 – Unknown)
Shinnecock Hills GC - Southampton, NY (1891/1891 – Davis)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
        -Noted in an October 4, 1891 NYT article.
Palmetto Club - Aiken, South Carolina (Pre-1892/1892 – Hitchcock)
Mare Island GC – Vallejo, CA (1892/?? – Unknown)
Greenwich CC - Greenwich, CT (1892/1892 – Curtiss)
Glen Arven CC - Thomasville, Georgia (1892/1892 – Unknown)
Sioux City Boat Club – Sioux City, IA (1892/1887 – Unknown)
   -Same as Dakota Dunes CC?
Downers Grove Golf Course aka Belmont GC/Chicago GC - Downers Grove, IL (1892/1892 – Macdonald)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Senator John B. Farwell Estate – Lake Forest, IL (1892/?? – Macdonald)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Highland Golf Links – North Truro, MA (1892/1892 – Unknown)
The Country Club - Brookline, MA (1892/1882 – Curtis/Bacon/Hunnewell)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Lakewood GC – Lakewood, NJ (1892/?? – Dunn)
Merchantville CC – Merchantville, NJ (1892/1892 – Unknown)
Moorestown Field Club - Moorestown, New Jersey (1892/1892 – Findlay)
Otsego GC - Otsego, NY (1892/1894 – Unknown)
Gearhart Golf Links - Gearhart, Oregon (1892/1892 – Unknown)
-Other sources have 1891
Warren GC – Warren, PA (1892/?? – Unknown)
Homestead (The) – Hot Springs, VA (1892/?? – Unknown)
Burlingame CC - Hillsborough, CA (1893/1893 – Unknown)
Riverside GC – Riverside, CA (1893/?? – Maud/Pedley)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in March, 1894.
Litchfield GC – Litchfield, CT (1893/1892 – Bendelow)
CC of New Canaan - New Canaan, CT (1893/1893 – Unknown)
Riverside GC - Riverside, IL (1893/1893 – Havemeyer)
   -2nd course built in 1894 by Foulis
Essex CC - Manchester, MA (1893/1893 – Unknown)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Pride GC – Pride’s Crossing, MA (1893/?? – Unknown)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Segregansett CC - Taunton, MA (1893/1893 – Unknown)
Wollaston GC fka Quincy GC - Milton, MA (1893/1895 – Campbell)
Town & Country Club - St. Paul MN (1893/1888 – McRee/Peet)
Bala GC – Philadelphia, PA (1893/?? – Dunn)
Clarion County GC fka Foxburg GC – Foxburg, PA (1893/?? – Fox/Harvey)
   -Believe this was the second course built by Fox.
      -1899 OGG - Laid out by J.M. Fox and F.L. Harvey in June 1893.
CC of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA (1893/?? – Unknown)
Overland Park Club – Denver, CA (1893/?? – Unkown)
Morristown Field Club – Morristown, NJ (1893/?? – Brinley)
Town and Gown GC – Colorado Springs, CO (1894/?? – Unknown)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in Jan. 1894.
Hillandale GC – Stamford, CT (1894/?? – Phelps)
Hinsdale GC – Hinsdale, IL (1894/?? – Coffeen)
Cohasset GC - Quincy, MA (1894/1894 – Unknown)
     -Noted in a July 11, 1894 The Evening Telegram article.
Myopia Hunt Club - Hamilton, MA (1894/1894 – Members)
-First course laid out by three members.
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Nahant GC – Nahant, MA (1894/?? – Unknown)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in 1894.
Siasconset Golf Course - Siasconset, MA (1894/1894 – Findlay)
Stockbridge GC - Stockbridge, MA (1894/1893 – Unknown)
Weston GC - Weston, MA (1894/1894 – Harland)
     -1899 OGG - First laid out in 1894.
Baltimore GC - Baltimore, MD (1894/1894 – Oldham)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in Nov. 1894 by S. Oldham.
Elkridge Hunt Club – Baltimore, MD (1894/?? – Chalk/Oldham)
Campobello GC – Eastport, ME (1894/?? – Unknown)
Kenwood Golf Links – Kansas City, MO (1894/?? – Unknown)
Wana Luna Club – Hot Springs, NC (1894/?? – Unknown)
Glen Ridge GC – Glen Ridge, NJ (1894/1894 – Bendelow)
Montclair GC - Montclair, NJ (1894/1893 – Unknown)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Morris Country GC - Morristown, NJ (1894/1894 – Unknown)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Orange Mountain GC – Orange, NJ (1894/?? – Unknown)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Rutgers University GC – Piscataway (1894/?? – Unknown)
Albany CC - Albany, NY (1894/1890 – Unknown)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in 1894.
H.M. Pratt Private Course – Glen Cove, NY (1894/?? – Bendelow)
Knollwood CC - Elmsford, NY (1894/1894 – Park)
Richmond County CC - Staten Island, NY (1894/1888 – Hunter/Armstrong/Park)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Portage Club - Akron, OH (1894/1894 – Goodrich/Raymond)
Cowanesque GC – Lawrenceville, PA (1894/?? – Smith)
Washington Golf & CC - Arlington, VA (1894/1894 – Unknown)
Tacoma GC - Tacoma, WA (1894/1894 – Bailliee/Members)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in Dec. 1894.
Germantown Cricket Club – Philadelphia, PA (Pre-1895/?? - Unknown)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Cambridge GC – Cambridge, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
Great Barrington GC – Great Barrington, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
Lenox Club – Lenox, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Nichols)
Nashawtuc GC – Concord, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
Newton Centre GC – Newton Centre, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
Newton GC – Newton, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
Stokes Private Course – Lenox, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
Warren Farm GC – Brookline, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
North Jersey CC aka Paterson GC – Paterson, NJ (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
South Orange Field Club – South Orange, NJ (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
Castleton GC – Staten Island, NY (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
New Windsor GC – New Windsor, NY (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
Richfield Springs CC – Richfield Springs, NY (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
Merion Cricket Club – Haverford, PA (Pre-1895/1865 – Unknown)
   -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Rudyard Kipling Private Course – Brattleboro, VT (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)


Others:

Albany, NY (1659/NA)
   -Forbidden to play golf in the streets.
Fayetteville, NC (1728/NA)
   -Reference to golf being played.
Harleston’s Green – Charleston, SC (1786/NA – Unknown)
South Carolina GC – Charleston, SC (1788/NA – Unknown)
Savannah GC – Savannah, GA (1794/?? – Unknown)
Burlington GC – Burlington, IA (1881/?? – Unknown)
Princeton GC – Princeton, IN (1883/?? – Unknown)
Kingman GC - _____, KS (1887/?? – Unknown)
Ridgeway CC - _____, NJ (1890/?? – Unknown)
Geneva Club - _____, NY (1890/?? – Unknown)
Eagle Springs Golf Resort - Eagle, WI (club founded in 1893, golf course date unknown)
Harbor Point GC - Harbor Point, ME (club founded in 1893, golf course date unknown)
Montgomery - __________, ___ (1894/?? – Unknown)
Springdale GC - Princeton, NJ (club founded in 1895)
Twin Lake Village GC - New London, NH (club founded in 1895, did course predate club?)
Nittany CC - Wayne, NJ (club founded in 1895, did course predate club?)
 

[David_Tepper]

"San Francisco Golf Club - San Francisco, California (1895 – Robertson/Harvey)"

Sven -

The site/location of the golf course established in 1895 as the SFGC was what is now the Presidio Golf Course. The SFGC left the site of their first course in the Presidio some time after the turn of the 20th Century. I believe the SFGC group built a new course in the Ingleside district of town and then moved to their current location.

A new group (which became the Presidio Golf Club) was formed to operate the golf course in the Presidio when the SFGC group moved on.

DT   

[Sven Nilsen]

"San Francisco Golf Club - San Francisco, California (1895 – Robertson/Harvey)"

Sven -

The site/location of the golf course established in 1895 as the SFGC was what is now the Presidio Golf Course. The SFGC left the site of their first course in the Presidio some time after the turn of the 20th Century. I believe the SFGC group built a new course in the Ingleside district of town and then moved to their current location.

A new group (which became the Presidio Golf Club) was formed to operate the golf course in the Presidio when the SFGC group moved on.

DT   

David:

That is my understanding as well.  As for SFGC's new course, I believe they moved in 1905 to the Ingleside location, which was taken over by the California GC in 1918 after SFGC moved to their new Tillinghast course.  When CGC moved in 1926 it became Ingleside GC.

I'll add in clarifying information as it comes up.

Sven

[David_Tepper]

Sven -

I have been told the Presidio Golf Course is the 2nd oldest course in California and that only the Delmonte course in Monterey is older. I cannot say for sure if that is true.

Maybe you can.

DT

[Sven Nilsen]

David:

Aetna Springs may have them both trumped if the 1891 date is correct (the club's website has 1893).

Mare Island is another candidate, as is Riverside/Pedley Farms.

Sven

[Sven Nilsen]

Here's a February 22, 1936 article from The Bulletin discussing Col. Gillespie's first course in Florida.  Certainly not a contemporaneous source, but if the account in the diary is correct it appears his two hole practice course was indeed built in 1886.

[Sven Nilsen]

Here's an article forwarded by Jim Kennedy on Cohasset (from the July 11, 1894 The Evening Telegram):

[Sven Nilsen]

Two more articles from Jim Kennedy.  The first is a listing of the clubs expected to form the USGA.

Here are the clubs noted (anything marked with an "*" is noted in the Pre-1985 list above, those that are underlined aren't).  I am guessing that a few of these may not yet have had courses of their own at the time this article was published:

Shinnecock Hills GC* - Charter Member
Rockaway GC - Guides have the 9 hole course laid out by Willie Dunn in 1895, was there a course that preceded Dunn's work?
Myopia GC*
The Country Club* - Charter Member
Essex County GC*
Newport GC* - Charter Member
Morris County GC*
Tuxedo GC*
Washington GC*
Chicago GC* - Charter member, club moved to new location around this time.
Richmond County GC*
CC of Westchester - Guides have original 7 hole course laid out in fall of 1895.
Warren's Farm GC*
Staatsburgh GC - The 1901 Guide notes this club was formed in 1896, perhaps the course predated organization.
Kittenhouse GC - Never heard of it and have no record of it.
Merion Cricket Club*
Germantown Cricket Club*
Belmont Cricket Club - Assuming this is the original Aronomink, which I don't believe was built until 1896.
Philadelphia Cricket Club - Another course where the Guides have it first being laid out in 1895.
Otsego GC*
GC of Montclair*
Orange GC - is this Orange Mountain GC or South Orange Field Club?
Unquowa GC - Guessing this is a reference to Brooklawn CC, which was built in 1895.
Hollywood - is this the club that became Norwood?
New Windsor GC* - seems like this club disappeared between 1908 and 1916.
Lakewood GC*
Hohokus GC - founded in 1893, not sure when the course was built.
Prides's GC*
Boston - Is this Wollaston/Quincy, Cambridge, Newton Centre, Newton or Weston?
Lenox Club*
Evanston GC - I have no record of this club before an 1897 article saying a new club was formed and a course was selected.
Bar Harbor GC - Is this supposed to be Kebo Valley?
University Golf Club of Philadelphia - I do not believe this club ever had its own course



The second discusses Orange Mountain GC:

[Sven Nilsen]

Found it interesting that St. Andrew's does not appear in the list of courses in the article above, unless it's one of the names I could not identify.

[Sven Nilsen]

Updating the list of Pre-1895 courses to make additions and to add in certain source information (using the earliest sources I have at hand):

Oakhurst Golf Links – White Sulphur Springs (1884/?? – Montague)
York CC – York, PA (1885/?? – Hersh)
     -1885 date for Hersh’s first course comes from the Club History.
Sarasota GC – Sarasota, FL (1886/?? – Gillespie)
     -Willie Hoare noted course was built much later.
Dorset Field Club - Dorset, VT (1886/1886 – Unknown)
Castine GC – Castine, ME (1887/?? – Unknown)
Merchiston Ranch (aka Kemp) – Nance County, NE (1887/?? – Findlay)
     -Legend of Findlay building a small course while visiting family in Nebraska..
Onteora GC – Tannersville, NY (1887?/1887 – Unknown)
     -Sources have the golf course “established in the 1890’s”
Quogue Field Club - Quogue, NY (1887/1887 – Unknown)
Foxburg CC - Foxburg, PA (1887/1887 – Fox)
St. Andrew's GG - Hastings-on-Hudson, NY (1888/1888 - Reid)
     -Noted in 10/91 NYT article and Golf In America (1895)..
Middlesboro Club - Middlesboro, KY (1889/1889 – Unknown)
Kineo GC – Kineo, ME (1889 – Unknown)
Tuxedo GC - Tuxedo Park, NY (1889/1885 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Wichita CC – Wichita, KS (1890/?? – Unknown)
Lawrenceville School GC – Lawrenceville, NJ (1890/?? – Unknown)
Plainfield GC – Plainfield, NJ (1890/1890 – Unknown)
Dutcher Golf Course – Pawling, NY (1890/?? – Unknown)
Bluff Point CC – Plattsburgh, NY (1890/1890 – Unknown)
Philadelphia CC – Philadelphia, PA (1890/1890 - Unknown)
     -2nd course built in 1894 by Tucker.
     -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Newport GC - Newport, RI (1890/1893 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Burlington CC – Burlington, VT (1890/?? – Unknown)
Meadow Brook Club - Jericho, NY (Pre-1891/1881 – Unknown)
     -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
     -Noted in an October 4, 1891 NYT article.
Aetna Springs GC – Pope Valley, CA (1891/?? – Unknown)
Colorado Springs GC – Colorado Springs, CO (1891/?? – Unknown)
     -AKA Cheyenne Mountain GC.
     -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Grindstone Neck GC - Winter Harbor, ME (1891/1891 – Unknown)
Kebo Valley GC – Bar Harbor, ME (1891/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article (as Bar Harbor).
Maidstone Club - East Hampton, NY (1891/1891 – Unknown)
Shinnecock Hills GC - Southampton, NY (1891/1891 – Davis)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
     -Noted in an October 4, 1891 NYT article.
Mare Island GC – Vallejo, CA (1892/?? – Unknown)
Greenwich CC - Greenwich, CT (1892/1892 – Curtiss)
Glen Arven CC - Thomasville, Georgia (1892/1892 – Unknown)
Sioux City Boat Club – Sioux City, IA (1892/1887 – Unknown)
     -Same as Dakota Dunes CC?
Downers Grove Golf Course aka Belmont GC/Chicago GC - Downers Grove, IL (1892/1892 – Macdonald)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Senator John B. Farwell Estate – Lake Forest, IL (1892/?? – Macdonald)
     -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Highland Golf Links – North Truro, MA (1892/1892 – Unknown)
The Country Club - Brookline, MA (1892/1882 – Curtis/Bacon/Hunnewell)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Lakewood GC – Lakewood, NJ (1892/?? – Dunn)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
Merchantville CC – Merchantville, NJ (1892/1892 – Unknown)
Moorestown Field Club - Moorestown, New Jersey (1892/1892 – Findlay)
Otsego GC - Otsego, NY (1892/1894 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
Gearhart Golf Links - Gearhart, Oregon (1892/1892 – Unknown)
     -Other sources have 1891
Warren GC – Warren, PA (1892/?? – Unknown)
Palmetto Club - Aiken, South Carolina (1892/1892 – Hitchcock)
     -1892 date from the club's online history.
Homestead (The) – Hot Springs, VA (1892/?? – Unknown)
Burlingame CC - Hillsborough, CA (1893/1893 – Unknown)
Riverside GC – Riverside, CA (1893/?? – Maud/Pedley)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in March, 1894.
Litchfield GC – Litchfield, CT (1893/1892 – Bendelow)
CC of New Canaan - New Canaan, CT (1893/1893 – Unknown)
Riverside GC - Riverside, IL (1893/1893 – Havemeyer)
     -2nd course built in 1894 by Foulis
Essex CC - Manchester, MA (1893/1893 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Pride GC – Pride’s Crossing, MA (1893/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Segregansett CC - Taunton, MA (1893/1893 – Unknown)
Wollaston GC fka Quincy GC - Milton, MA (1893/1895 – Campbell)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer.
Town & Country Club - St. Paul MN (1893/1888 – McRee/Peet)
Hohokus GC - Hohokus, NJ (1893/1893 - Rowbotham)
     -Noted in 11/94 New York Sun and 12/94 The Sun articles.
Bala GC – Philadelphia, PA (1893/?? – Dunn)
Clarion County GC fka Foxburg GC – Foxburg, PA (1893/?? – Fox/Harvey)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out by J.M. Fox and F.L. Harvey in June 1893.
CC of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA (1893/?? – Unknown)
     -Date for this course comes from later sources, perhaps built later?
Overland Park Club – Denver, CA (1893/?? – Unkown)
      -Noted in Golf In America (1895), but not by name.
Morristown Field Club – Morristown, NJ (1893/?? – Brinley)
     -1900 Harpers notes laid out in 1893 and 1894.
Town and Gown GC – Colorado Springs, CO (1894/?? – Unknown)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in Jan. 1894.
Hillandale GC – Stamford, CT (1894/?? – Phelps)
     -1900 Harpers notes laid out in 1894.
Hinsdale GC – Hinsdale, IL (1894/?? – Coffeen)
Cohasset GC - Quincy, MA (1894/1894 – Unknown)
     -Noted in a July 11, 1894 The Evening Telegram article.
Myopia Hunt Club - Hamilton, MA (1894/1894 – Members)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Nahant GC – Nahant, MA (1894/?? – Unknown)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in 1894.
Siasconset Golf Course - Siasconset, MA (1894/1894 – Findlay)
Stockbridge GC - Stockbridge, MA (1894/1893 – Unknown)
     -1900 Harpers notes links laid out in 1894.
Weston GC - Weston, MA (1894/1894 – Harland)
      -1899 OGG - First laid out in 1894.
Baltimore GC - Baltimore, MD (1894/1894 – Oldham)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in Nov. 1894 by S. Oldham.
Elkridge Hunt Club – Baltimore, MD (1894/?? – Chalk/Oldham)
     -1900 Harper's notes links laid out in October, 1894.
Campobello GC – Eastport, ME (1894/?? – Unknown)
     -1900 Harpers notes links laid out in June, 1894.
Kenwood Golf Links – Kansas City, MO (1894/?? – Unknown)
Wana Luna Club – Hot Springs, NC (1894/?? – Unknown)
     -1900 Harper's notes links have been in use since 1894.
Glen Ridge GC – Glen Ridge, NJ (1894/1894 – Bendelow)
     -Not sure if Bendelow did the original course.
Montclair GC - Montclair, NJ (1894/1893 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Morris Country GC - Morristown, NJ (1894/1894 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Orange Mountain GC – Orange, NJ (1894/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Rutgers University GC – Piscataway (1894/?? – Unknown)
Albany CC - Albany, NY (1894/1890 – Unknown)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in 1894.
H.M. Pratt Private Course – Glen Cove, NY (1894/?? – Bendelow)
Knollwood CC - Elmsford, NY (1894/1894 – Park)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer.
Richmond County CC - Staten Island, NY (1894/1888 – Hunter/Armstrong/Park)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Staatsburgh GC - Staatsburgh, NY (1984/1896 - Davis/Dinsmore)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and 5/96 The Evening Post article.
Portage Club - Akron, OH (1894/1894 – Goodrich/Raymond)
Cowanesque GC – Lawrenceville, PA (1894/?? – Smith)
     -1900 Harper's notes laid out in September, 1894.
Washington Golf & CC - Arlington, VA (1894/1894 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
Tacoma GC - Tacoma, WA (1894/1894 – Bailliee/Members)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in Dec. 1894.
Brooklawn CC - Fairfield, CT (Pre-1985/1895 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article (as Unquowa GC).
Evanston GC - Evanston, IL (Pre-1895/?? - Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
Cambridge GC – Cambridge, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer.
Great Barrington GC – Great Barrington, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer.
Lenox Club – Lenox, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Nichols)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
Nashawtuc GC – Concord, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
      -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer.
Newton Centre GC – Newton Centre, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer.
Newton GC – Newton, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer
Stokes Private Course – Lenox, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Daily Argus News article.
Warren Farm GC – Brookline, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Hollywood GC - Hollyood, NJ (Pre-1985/?? - Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
North Jersey CC aka Paterson GC – Paterson, NJ (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
      -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer.
South Orange Field Club – South Orange, NJ (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer.
Castleton GC – Staten Island, NY (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted as a women's club in 11/95 The Golfer.
New Windsor GC – New Windsor, NY (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
Richfield Springs CC – Richfield Springs, NY (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Daily Argus News article.
Rockaway Hunting Club - Cedarhurst, NY (Pre-1985/1878 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
Westchester CC (aka CC of Westchester) - Rye, NY (1895/1894 – Sands)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
Belmont Cricket Club - Philadelphia, PA (Pre-1895/?? - Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
Germantown Cricket Club – Philadelphia, PA (Pre-1895/?? - Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Merion Cricket Club – Haverford, PA (Pre-1895/1865 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Rudyard Kipling Private Course – Brattleboro, VT (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Daily Argus News article.


Others:

Albany, NY (1659/NA)
     -Forbidden to play golf in the streets.
Fayetteville, NC (1728/NA)
     -Reference to golf being played.
Harleston’s Green – Charleston, SC (1786/NA – Unknown)
South Carolina GC – Charleston, SC (1788/NA – Unknown)
Savannah GC – Savannah, GA (1794/?? – Unknown)
Burlington GC – Burlington, IA (1881/?? – Unknown)
Princeton GC – Princeton, IN (1883/?? – Unknown)
Edgewood GC - Tivoli, NY (??/1884 - Unknown)
Kingman GC - _____, KS (1887/?? – Unknown)
Ridgeway CC - _____, NJ (1890/?? – Unknown)
Geneva Club - _____, NY (1890/?? – Unknown)
Eagle Springs Golf Resort - Eagle, WI (club founded in 1893, golf course date unknown)
Harbor Point GC - Harbor Point, ME (club founded in 1893, golf course date unknown)
Montgomery - __________, ___ (1894/?? – Unknown)
Springdale GC - Princeton, NJ (club founded in 1895)
Twin Lake Village GC - New London, NH (club founded in 1895, did course predate club?)
Nittany CC - Wayne, NJ (club founded in 1895, did course predate club?)
Kittenhouse GC - _______, ___ (Pre-1985/??)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.

[Sven Nilsen]

Posted below, again courtesy of the bottom less supply of articles from Jim Kennedy, is a May 7, 1896 The Evening Post article discussing Staatsburgh GC, which was laid out on the estate of William B. Dinsmore.  The article gives a date for the course from the Spring of 1894, and notes it was laid out by W.B. Dinsmore Jr. (the land owner's son), and Willie Davis.

Its still there today as Dinsmore GC.

[BCrosby]

Sven -

Is "Palmetto Club" the "Palmetto Golf Club"? If so, was Leeds' work at Palmetto a redo of a course originally by Hitchcock (a new name new to me)?

Bob

[Sven Nilsen]

Bob:

Here's the reference:

http://www.palmettogolfclub.net/uploads/3/4/0/8/3408231/our_history.pdf

Sven

[Sven Nilsen]

The next series of posts will contain excerpts from an June 18, 1895 article from The Sun entitled "Golfing In America."  The article (again forwarded by Jim Kennedy) is the most comprehensive contemporaneous summary of the early courses in this country that I have seen.  I believe Jim has pulled most of the maps out of the article for inclusion in the Routing thread.  If any are missing, please let me know and I'll add them in.

The article takes up a full page, fully seven columns wide.  In order to show it here I'll be breaking it down into sections, the first containing the first three columns.  I apologize if its hard to read in parts, but its the best resolution I could capture (here's a link to an expandable PDF of the article if you want to view the whole thing:  http://tinyurl.com/metvlbs).

Summary of the first three columns:

Royal Montreal GC - founded in 1873.

St. Andrew's GC - founded in 1888 by Robert Lockhart, John Reid, J.B. Upham, Harry Holbrook, H.O. Tallmadge and Kingman Putnam.
     -first links of six holes in the pastures behind H.O. Tallmadge's residence in Yonkers.
     -moved four years later to a 30 acre plot north of the first grounds, links had six holes.
     -moved again in April, 1894 to its current (1895) location at Odell Farm.

August Bellmont Private Course - being built at Babylon.

Bayard Cutting Private Course - has links at Islip.

John Jacob Astor Private Course - located at Rhinecliff.

Stattsburgh GC

E.N. Howells Private Course - in Poughkeepsie.

New York/New Jersey Clubs - CC of Westchester, Meadowbrook Hunt Club, Rockaway Hunt Club, Richmond County CC, Tuxedo Links, Orange Mountain GC (started by women), Morris County GC (started by women), Paterson, Hohokus, Glen Ridge, Summit (junior club), Lakewood and Asbury Park

Boston Clubs - The Country Club, Essex County CC, Lowell CC, Myopia Hunt Club and about fifty other points.

Washington, Chicago, St. Louis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Denver, Colorado Springs, San Francisco and San Mateo also have clubs.

Philadelphia - Philadelphia CC, Bryn Mawr College Links, Devon GC, Merion Cricket Club and Germantown Cricket Club.

Newport GC, Kebo Valley GC, Bridgeport GC and Shinnecock HIlls GC are also mentioned.

Baltusrol GC - planned to be a winter club, 9 hole course has been laid out.

Lakewood GC - golf was played there last winter and the course has 9 holes.

Hohokus GC - golf was also played there last winter

In the second to last full paragraph, there's a reference to Newport's new clubhouse, followed by the comment that "a new 18-hole course is to be opened on which Park is to work for a fortnight or more in July designing the intricate hazards and puzzling bunkers."  This is the first reference I've seen to Willie Park working at Newport, and perhaps its a mistaken reference to Willie Davis who is attributed with adding the second nine holes.

The section closes with an interesting account of the first "amateur championship."

[Sven Nilsen]

The 4th - 6th columns.

There's some interesting discussion about plans for the first Open championship, the founding of the USGA, the use of caddies and early design practices.

Tuxedo GC - noted as having 9 holes, and a description of each of the holes is provided.

The article also contains discussion of the play of St. Andrew's, Morris County (originally 7 holes, work begun on a new 18 hole links which opened on June , Buffalo CC, CC of Westchester (using a temporary links after closing of the links on the Morris Park race course) and Shinnecock (noted as having two courses), among others, as best as I can make out.

[Sven Nilsen]

Here's the last section:

[Sven Nilsen]

Just going to start referring to these as "JK" articles.

This one is on Hohokus GC (New York Sun - November 6, 1894).  Stewart Rowbotham, who is noted in the article as the club's secretary, is cited in the 1899 Official Golf Guide and the 1900 Harper's Guide as first having laid out the course.

[Nigel Islam]

I believe that CC of Indianapolis was formed circa 1896 with a golf course and Louisville CC was formed in 1895. The former still exists as another club. Also Cherokee in Louisville claims 1895 as there inception. Not sure if that information is relevant or not.

[Sven Nilsen]

Updating the list of earliest golf courses (Pre-1895) again.  I've separated out the courses that I do not have a definite date for at this point that have enough evidence to suggest that they may have been built prior to 1895.  The third group contains courses that are worthy of note but there does not exist enough substantiating information to add them to either of the other two groups.

Oakhurst Golf Links – White Sulphur Springs (1884/?? – Montague)
York CC – York, PA (1885/?? – Hersh)
     -1885 date for Hersh’s first course comes from the Club History.
Sarasota GC – Sarasota, FL (1886/?? – Gillespie)
     -Started as a two hole practice course.
Dorset Field Club - Dorset, VT (1886/1886 – Unknown)
Merchiston Ranch (aka Kemp) – Nance County, NE (1887/?? – Findlay)
     -Legend of Findlay building a small course while visiting family in Nebraska.
Onteora GC – Tannersville, NY (1887?/1887 – Unknown)
     -Sources have the golf course “established in the 1890’s”
Quogue Field Club - Quogue, NY (1887/1887 – Unknown)
Foxburg CC - Foxburg, PA (1887/1887 – Fox)
St. Andrew's GG - Hastings-on-Hudson, NY (1888/1888 - Reid)
     -Noted in 10/91 NYT article and Golf In America (1895).
Middlesboro Club - Middlesboro, KY (1889/1889 – Unknown)
Kineo GC – Kineo, ME (1889 – Unknown)
Tuxedo GC - Tuxedo Park, NY (1889/1885 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article, 6/95 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Franklin Park GC - Boston, MA (1890/NA - Wright/Smith)
Lawrenceville School GC – Lawrenceville, NJ (1890/?? – Unknown)
Plainfield GC – Plainfield, NJ (1890/1890 – Unknown)
Dutcher Golf Course – Pawling, NY (1890/?? – Unknown)
Bluff Point CC – Plattsburgh, NY (1890/1890 – Unknown)
Philadelphia CC – Philadelphia, PA (1890/1890 - Unknown)
     -2nd course built in 1894 by Tucker.
     -Noted in 6/95 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Newport GC - Newport, RI (1890/1893 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article, 6/95 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Burlington CC – Burlington, VT (1890/?? – Unknown)
Meadow Brook Club - Jericho, NY (Pre-1891/1881 – Unknown)
     -Noted in October 4, 1891 NYT article, 6/95 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Aetna Springs GC – Pope Valley, CA (1891/?? – Unknown)
Colorado Springs GC (aka Cheyenne Mountain GC) – Colorado Springs, CO (1891/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 6/95 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Grindstone Neck GC - Winter Harbor, ME (1891/1891 – Unknown)
Kebo Valley GC – Bar Harbor, ME (1891/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article (as Bar Harbor) and 6/95 The Sun article.
Maidstone Club - East Hampton, NY (1891/1891 – Unknown)
Shinnecock Hills GC - Southampton, NY (1891/1891 – Davis)
     -Noted in October 4, 1891 NYT article, 12/94 The Sun article, 6/95 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Mare Island GC – Vallejo, CA (1892/?? – Unknown)
Greenwich CC - Greenwich, CT (1892/1892 – Curtiss)
Glen Arven CC - Thomasville, Georgia (1892/1892 – Unknown)
Sioux City Boat Club – Sioux City, IA (1892/1887 – Unknown)
     -Same as Dakota Dunes CC?
Downers Grove Golf Course aka Belmont GC/Chicago GC - Downers Grove, IL (1892/1892 – Macdonald)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article, 6/95 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Senator John B. Farwell Estate (aka Lake Forest GC) – Lake Forest, IL (1892/?? – Macdonald)
     -Noted in Golf In America (1895).
Highland Golf Links – North Truro, MA (1892/1892 – Unknown)
The Country Club - Brookline, MA (1892/1882 – Curtis/Bacon/Hunnewell)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article, 6/95 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Lakewood GC – Lakewood, NJ (1892/?? – Dunn)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and 6/95 The Sun article.
Merchantville CC – Merchantville, NJ (1892/1892 – Unknown)
Moorestown Field Club - Moorestown, New Jersey (1892/1892 – Findlay)
Otsego GC - Otsego, NY (1892/1894 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
Gearhart Golf Links - Gearhart, Oregon (1892/1892 – Unknown)
     -Other sources have 1891
Warren GC – Warren, PA (1892/?? – Unknown)
Palmetto Club - Aiken, South Carolina (1892/1892 – Hitchcock)
     -1892 date from the club's online history.
Homestead (The) – Hot Springs, VA (1892/?? – Unknown)
Burlingame CC - Hillsborough, CA (1893/1893 – Unknown)
Riverside GC – Riverside, CA (1893/?? – Maud/Pedley)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in March, 1894.
Litchfield GC – Litchfield, CT (1893/1892 – Bendelow)
CC of New Canaan - New Canaan, CT (1893/1893 – Unknown)
Riverside GC - Riverside, IL (1893/1893 – Havemeyer)
     -2nd course built in 1894 by Foulis
Essex CC - Manchester, MA (1893/1893 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article, 6/95 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Pride GC – Pride’s Crossing, MA (1893/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Segregansett CC - Taunton, MA (1893/1893 – Unknown)
Wollaston GC fka Quincy GC - Milton, MA (1893/1895 – Campbell)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer.
Town & Country Club - St. Paul MN (1893/1888 – McRee/Peet)
Hohokus GC - Hohokus, NJ (1893/1893 - Rowbotham)
     -Noted in 11/94 New York Sun article, 12/94 The Sun article and 6/95 The Sun article.
Bala GC – Philadelphia, PA (1893/?? – Dunn)
Clarion County GC fka Foxburg GC – Foxburg, PA (1893/?? – Fox/Harvey)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out by J.M. Fox and F.L. Harvey in June 1893.
Overland Park Club – Denver, CA (1893/?? – Unkown)
      -Noted in Golf In America (1895), but not by name, and in 6/95 The Sun article.
Morristown Field Club – Morristown, NJ (1893/?? – Brinley)
     -1900 Harpers notes laid out in 1893 and 1894.
Town and Gown GC – Colorado Springs, CO (1894/?? – Unknown)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in Jan. 1894.
Hillandale GC – Stamford, CT (1894/?? – Phelps)
     -1900 Harpers notes laid out in 1894.
Hinsdale GC – Hinsdale, IL (1894/?? – Coffeen)
Cohasset GC - Quincy, MA (1894/1894 – Unknown)
     -Noted in a July 11, 1894 The Evening Telegram article.
Myopia Hunt Club - Hamilton, MA (1894/1894 – Members)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Nahant GC – Nahant, MA (1894/?? – Unknown)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in 1894.
Siasconset Golf Course - Siasconset, MA (1894/1894 – Findlay)
Stockbridge GC - Stockbridge, MA (1894/1893 – Unknown)
     -1900 Harpers notes links laid out in 1894.
Weston GC - Weston, MA (1894/1894 – Harland)
      -1899 OGG - First laid out in 1894.
Baltimore GC - Baltimore, MD (1894/1894 – Oldham)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in Nov. 1894 by S. Oldham.
Elkridge Hunt Club – Baltimore, MD (1894/?? – Chalk/Oldham)
     -1900 Harper's notes links laid out in October, 1894.
Campobello GC – Eastport, ME (1894/?? – Unknown)
     -1900 Harpers notes links laid out in June, 1894.
Kenwood Golf Links – Kansas City, MO (1894/?? – Unknown)
Wana Luna Club – Hot Springs, NC (1894/?? – Unknown)
     -1900 Harper's notes links have been in use since 1894.
Glen Ridge GC – Glen Ridge, NJ (1894/1894 – Bendelow)
     -Not sure if Bendelow did the original course.  Noted in 6/95 The Sun article.
Montclair GC - Montclair, NJ (1894/1893 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Morris Country GC - Morristown, NJ (1894/1894 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article, 6/95 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Orange Mountain GC – Orange, NJ (1894/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 6/95 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Rutgers University GC – Piscataway (1894/?? – Unknown)
Albany CC - Albany, NY (1894/1890 – Unknown)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in 1894.
H.M. Pratt Private Course – Glen Cove, NY (1894/?? – Bendelow)
Knollwood CC - Elmsford, NY (1894/1894 – Park)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer.
Richmond County CC - Staten Island, NY (1894/1888 – Hunter/Armstrong/Park)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article, 6/95 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Staatsburgh GC - Staatsburgh, NY (1984/1896 - Davis/Dinsmore)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article, 6/95 The Sun article and 5/96 The Evening Post article.
Portage Club - Akron, OH (1894/1894 – Goodrich/Raymond)
Allegheny CC (aka CC of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA (1894/1895 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 6/95 The Sun article.
Cowanesque GC – Lawrenceville, PA (1894/?? – Smith)
     -1900 Harper's notes laid out in September, 1894.
Washington Golf & CC - Arlington, VA (1894/1894 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and 6/95 The Sun article.
Spokane Unnamed GC - Spokane, WA (1894/?? - Unknown)
     -Noted in 7/94 Spokane Daily Chronicle article.
Tacoma GC - Tacoma, WA (1894/1894 – Bailliee/Members)
     -1899 OGG - Laid out in Dec. 1894.


Courses that may have been built prior to 1895:

Brooklawn CC - Fairfield, CT (Pre-1985/1895 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article (as Unquowa GC) and in 6/95 The Sun article (as Bridgeport GC).
Evanston GC - Evanston, IL (Pre-1895/?? - Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
Cambridge GC – Cambridge, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer.
Great Barrington GC – Great Barrington, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer.
Lenox Club – Lenox, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Nichols)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
Nashawtuc GC – Concord, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
      -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer.
Newton Centre GC – Newton Centre, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer.
Newton GC – Newton, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer
Stokes Private Course – Lenox, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Daily Argus News article.
Warren Farm GC – Brookline, MA (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Asbury Park GC - Asbury Park, NJ (Pre-1895/?? - Unknown)
     -Noted in 6/95 The Sun article.
Hollywood GC - Hollyood, NJ (Pre-1895/?? - Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
North Jersey CC aka Paterson GC – Paterson, NJ (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
      -Noted in 6/95 The Sun article and 11/95 The Golfer.
South Orange Field Club – South Orange, NJ (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Golfer.
Summit GC - Summit, NJ (Pre-1895/?? - Unknown)
     -Noted in 6/95 The Sun article.
Bayard Cutting Private Course - Islip, NY (Pre-1895/?? - Unknown)
     -Noted in 6/95 The Sun article.
Castleton GC – Staten Island, NY (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted as a women's club in 11/95 The Golfer.
E.N. Howells Private Course - Poughkeepsie, NY (Pre-1895/?? -Unknown)
     -Noted in 6/95 The Sun article.
John Jacob Astor Private Course - Rhinecliff, NY (Pre-1895/?? - Unknown)
     -Noted in 6/95 The Sun article.
New Windsor GC – New Windsor, NY (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
Richfield Springs CC – Richfield Springs, NY (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Daily Argus News article.
Rockaway Hunting Club - Cedarhurst, NY (Pre-1985/1878 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and 6/95 The Sun article.
Westchester CC (aka CC of Westchester) - Rye, NY (Pre-1895/1894 – Sands)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article and 6/95 The Sun article.
Belmont Cricket Club - Philadelphia, PA (Pre-1895/?? - Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.
Germantown Cricket Club – Philadelphia, PA (Pre-1895/?? - Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article, 6/95 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Merion Cricket Club – Haverford, PA (Pre-1895/1865 – Unknown)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article, 6/95 The Sun article and Golf In America (1895).
Rudyard Kipling Private Course – Brattleboro, VT (Pre-1895/?? – Unknown)
     -Noted in 11/95 The Daily Argus News article.


Others:

Albany, NY (1659/NA)
     -Forbidden to play golf in the streets.
Fayetteville, NC (1728/NA)
     -Reference to golf being played.
Harleston’s Green – Charleston, SC (1786/NA – Unknown)
South Carolina GC – Charleston, SC (1788/NA – Unknown)
Savannah GC – Savannah, GA (1794/?? – Unknown)
Burlington GC – Burlington, IA (1881/?? – Unknown)
Princeton GC – Princeton, IN (1883/?? – Unknown)
Edgewood GC - Tivoli, NY (??/1884 - Unknown)
Kingman GC - _____, KS (1887/?? – Unknown)
Castine GC – Castine, ME (1887/?? – Unknown)
     -Club website has first reference to golf in 1896.
Wichita CC – Wichita, KS (1890/?? – Unknown)
     -Club website notes club formed in 1900.
Ridgeway CC - _____, NJ (1890/?? – Unknown)
Geneva Club - _____, NY (1890/?? – Unknown)
Eagle Springs Golf Resort - Eagle, WI (club founded in 1893, golf course date unknown)
Harbor Point GC - Harbor Point, ME (club founded in 1893, golf course date unknown)
Montgomery - __________, ___ (1894/?? – Unknown)
Springdale GC - Princeton, NJ (club founded in 1895)
Twin Lake Village GC - New London, NH (club founded in 1895, did course predate club?)
Nittany CC - Wayne, NJ (club founded in 1895, did course predate club?)
Kittenhouse GC - _______, ___ (Pre-1985/??)
     -Noted in 12/94 The Sun article.

[Sven Nilsen]

Another JK article, this one from the May 12, 1895 edition of The Sun.

Not sure if there is any significance to the five founding clubs of the USGA being listed first.  The list has a couple of names we haven't seen just yet:

Illinois GC - another name for Downers Grove/Belmont.
Kenwood CC - listed in this article as located in Chicago, different course from the Kenwood in KC?
Poughkeepsie GC - same as E.N. Howell's Private Course?

[Jim_Kennedy]

Maybe Franklin Park needs to be added to the roster:
 
In 1890, roughly two years after a transplanted Scot named John Reid and several friends laid out a crude three-hole course in Yonkers, New York, and kindled a passion for the game that would spread throughout the nation, a rough course was laid out at Franklin Park. Opened as a course "for everyone," Franklin Park claimed a niche in early American golf as the nation's second public course. Van Cortlandt Park, a layout in the Bronx, beat Franklin Park to the proverbial punch ...  From A Clearing In the Distance by Witold Rybczynski ( a book  about Frederick Law Olmsted)

A well after-the-fact article lends credence to the above: