Pelham Country Club is a

country club A country club is a privately owned club, often with a membership quota and admittance by invitation or sponsorship, that generally offers both a variety of recreational sports and facilities for dining and entertaining. Typical athletic offer ...

located in

Pelham Manor Pelham Manor is an affluent village located in Westchester County, New York. As of the 2020 census, the village had a total population of 5,752. It is located in the town of Pelham. History The Bolton Priory, Edgewood House, and Pelhamdale are ...

Westchester County Westchester County is located in the U.S. state of New York. It is the seventh most populous county in the State of New York and the most populous north of New York City. According to the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population o ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. The club hosted the

PGA Championship The PGA Championship (often referred to as the US PGA Championship or USPGA outside the United States) is an annual golf tournament conducted by the Professional Golfers' Association of America. It is one of the four men's major championships ...

1923 Events January–February * January 9 – Lithuania begins the Klaipėda Revolt to annex the Klaipėda Region (Memel Territory). * January 11 – Despite strong British protests, troops from France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr area, t ...

, in which

Gene Sarazen Gene Sarazen (; born Eugenio Saraceni, February 27, 1902 – May 13, 1999) was an American professional golfer, one of the world's top players in the 1920s and 1930s, and the winner of seven major championships. He is one of five players (along ...

defeated

Walter Hagen Walter Charles Hagen (December 21, 1892 – October 6, 1969) was an American professional golfer and a major figure in golf in the first half of the 20th century. His tally of 11 professional majors is third behind Jack Nicklaus (18) and Tiger ...

after 38 holes of play.

History

In 1900, Dr. Charles Ripley Gillett and his brother bought clubs and balls, planted cans in the ground of a cow pasture and proceeded to teach themselves the game of golf, which had recently been introduced into the United States from Scotland. Soon after, the first Pelham Country Club was formed. This club laid out a nine-hole course on the rolling meadows known as the 'Carson Place'. Dr. Edward P. Fowler of New York City bought the Carson place as a summer home. He lived in the farmhouse and rented the grounds to the Pelham Country Club for a golf course. After some time Dr. Fowler decided to divide his property and the club had to look for a new home. The members explored the possibilities of the Disbrow Farm located far out in the rural northern end of

New Rochelle New Rochelle (; older french: La Nouvelle-Rochelle) is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state. In 2020, the city had a population of 79,726, making it the seventh-largest in the state of ...

. It comprised 180 acres of level land, which had been under cultivation for several years. After much discussion, the Pelham Country Club made the move to what would then be called the '

Wykagyl Golf Club Wykagyl Country Club is a golf course in the Wykagyl section of New Rochelle, New York. Through the years, the club has hosted major professional and amateur tournaments and is considered to be one of the premier "classic courses" in the country. ...

'. A few years later Mr. George Phelps started another Pelham Country Club. In 1908 the members decided to expand their club quarters and in 1919 it was decided to convert the Country Club into a Golf Club.

Devereux Emmet Devereux Emmet (December 11, 1861 – December 30, 1934) was a pioneering American golf course architect who, according to one source, designed more than 150 courses worldwide. Early life Devereux Emmet was born in Pelham, New York, on December ...

a noted golf architect from Pelham, NY, was commissioned to lay out the 18-hole course. Construction was started in 1920, and the course was ready by July 1921. The official opening of the golf course was on July 11–12, 1921, when the

British Open The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Founded in 1860, it was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Later th ...

Golf Champion

Jock Hutchison Jack Falls "Jock" Hutchison (June 6, 1884 – September 27, 1977) was a Scottish professional golfer. Hutchison was born in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, the son of William and Helen (née Falls). His name was registered as John Waters Hutchis ...

, and the English golf stars Abe Mitchell and George Duncan played the course with an immense gallery following them. In September 1923, the PGA Championship was played at Pelham Country Club with golf's most prominent players participating. Gene Sarazen and

stole the show, when they finished even-up in the 3-hold final, and went on to extra holes.

References

External links

Official site
Pelham, New York Geography of New Rochelle, New York Sports in New Rochelle, New York Golf clubs and courses in New York (state) Sports venues in Westchester County, New York Golf clubs and courses designed by Devereux Emmet 1921 establishments in New York (state) {{golfcourse-stub