The New Pelham Bay Golf Course Became Popular in 1903

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There were early, slow efforts to build the first nine holes of the Pelham Bay Golf Course (which was redesigned by John van Kleek in 1937). Val Flood, New York City's "golf professional" was overseeing construction of the course. Although the first nine holes of the course were scheduled to open in August, 1900, its condition in September of that year -- a full month later -- was described as "chaotic".  Soon, however, the course opened.  I previously have written about early efforts by New York City to develop a golf course in the Pelham Bay area.  See, e.g.:  

Fri., October 2, 2009:  Failed Efforts in 1900 to Build a Golf Course on Hunter's Island Rather than on the Mainland in Pelham Bay Park.

Tue., December 20, 2005: An Early Description of Construction of the First Nine Holes of the Pelham Bay Golf Course.

Thu., March 19, 2009: More on the Early Efforts To Develop the First Nine Holes of the First Pelham Bay Golf Course.

By 1903, the little golf course in Pelham Bay Park was growing in popularity.  An interesting article about the course appeared in the October 2, 1903 issue of The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.  Interestingly, the article describes a short cut used by golfers to get from the Pelham Manor Depot on the New Haven branch line to the course that saved about a half mile.  The route was described as the "old wagon trail through the woodland."  A careful analysis of old maps clearly indicates that the reference is to an old wagon trail that ran from today's Manor Circle along today's Beech Tree Lane to connect with the ancient roadway at the end of Beech Tree Lane that ran to the stone bridge that once connected the mainland with Hunter's Island where golfers could turn onto today's Shore Road to get to the Pelham Bay links.

Below is the text of the article.

"PUBLIC LINKS AT PELHAM BAY POPULAR.
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Course Now Catches the Overflow from Van Cortland Park.
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CADDIES ARE NOT TABOOED.
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New Rochelle Players Are Using the Links-Pelham Country Club Active.
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(Special to the Eagle.)

Pelham Manor, N.Y., October 2 -- Five times as many people are using the public golf links at Pelham Bay as last season.  The attendance on Sunday now averages 250 persons.  The course is beginning to catch the overflow from the public links at Van Cortland Park and folk who can afford the extra time and money necessary to reach Pelham Bay make no mistake in going there. 

The course was opened three or four years ago, but not until this summer did it attain much vogue.  It is located a mile from the Pelham Manor railroad station by the old wagon trail through the woodland.  By road it is nearer a mile and a half away.

The first hole overlooks Pelham Bay and the landing at Glen Island.  Altogether the city owns 1,700 acres of attractive pasture and woods hard by, which makes the extension of the links from nine to eighteen holes only a question of time.  Indeed, influence has already been exerted looking toward the doubling of the course, but the approach of the municipal election has caused the delay inevitable in all public improvements.

Caddies can be engaged at this course, although tabooed at Van Cortland.  The greatest drawback just now is the ack of locker rooms, although one of the Bronx social clubs, which uses the course, as the New York Golf Club does the Van Cortland links, has provided temporary arrangements in the tool house.  The Hunter Island Inn serves the purposes of a club house.

New Rochelle folk are using the course extensively, there being no golf club in that town.  It is almost 3,300 yards long and gives opportunity for more effective play than most public links.  J. M. Bennetts, formerly of the Ocean Country Club, Far Rockaway, is the professional.

The Pelham Country Club, located a mile the other side of the station and away from the water, is negotiating for land from the estate of Mrs. Black, which will bring the last holes close ot Long Island Sound.  This club, although practically a private organization, has developed a number of excellent players, as shown last week in the open tournament of the Westchester Country Club.

The members intend to widen the activities until the Pelham becomes one of the leading Hudson River clubs.  So far only club tournaments have been held.  At any rate the club must act soon, for building operations threaten to encroach on its present domain."

Source:  Public Links at Pelham Bay Popular, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Oct. 2, 1903, p. 12, col. 4.

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