Historic Pelham

Pelham has a long tradition of supporting the ancient sport of golf. I have written before about golf in 19th century Pelham. For examples, see:

Mon., Jan. 11, 2010: The First Pelham Country Club's Plans for a July 4, 1898 Opening of its New Nine-Hole Golf Course Accessible by a New Trolley Line.

Thu., Nov. 26, 2009: The First "Pelham Country Club" Established in 1898 Built a Nine-Hole Golf Course in Pelham in 1898.

Tue., Oct. 20, 2009: Manager of Pelham Manor Golf Links Committed Suicide Over Debt to Club in 1899.

Mon., Mar. 09, 2009: Another Brief Account of Golf at Pelham Manor in 1895.

Mon., Jan. 14, 2008: Golf at Pelham Manor in 1895.

Thu., Jul. 19, 2007: Members of The New York Athletic Club Were Duped Into Believing the Club Created a Small Nine-Hole Golf Course in Pelham Manor in 1897.

Bell, Blake, The Early Days of Golf in Pelham, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 36, Sep. 10, 2004, p. 12, col. 2.

I also have written on many other occasions about golf in the first decade or so of the 20th century as well. I have listed examples of such additional writings with links at the end of today's Historic Pelham blog posting.

One of the early efforts to establish golf in the Village of Pelham Manor occurred in 1895 when Mrs. John Cunningham Hazen (of Hazen's School for Girls) and her daughter, Miss Edith Cunningham Hazen established a club and laid out a tiny course on Prospect Hill in Pelham Manor. In truly "Trump-Like" fashion, the Hazen women decided to market the new golf club as an incredibly exclusive club limited to only one hundred members from Pelham Manor and New Rochelle combined.

A brief article on the organization of the exclusive golf club and the opening of its new links appeared in the November 8, 1895 issue of the Daily Argus published in Mount Vernon, New York. The text of the article is transcribed below, followed by a citation to its source.

"Pelham's One Hundred to Play Golf.
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PELHAM MANOR, N.Y., Nov. 6.--The Golf links, on Prospect Hill, belonging to the Pelham Manor Golf Club were formally opened yesterday afternoon. A big tent was put up at the grounds, and an informal reception was held from 2 o'clock p.m. until 6 o'clock p.m. Several of the most prominent women of Pelham Manor and New Rochelle received the guests. Altogether the event was very swagger. Only the smartest set of Pelham Manor and New Rochelle were present.

The Pelham Manor Golf Club was organized by Mrs. John Cunninham [sic] Hazen and Miss Edith Cunninham [sic] Hazen. It is a strictly society club. The membership is to be limited to one hundred, and persons are admitted to membership only by invitation. In fact it is intended that the Golf Club shall consist of the 'One Hundred,' of Pelham Manor and New Rochelle. It is going to be quite dangerous to ask any one if he is a member of the Golf Club unless it is certain that he has been taken into the field. Otherwise the question will prove embarrassing as no one will be able to admit with good grace that he is not a member.

The Golfers will play every pleasant day until cold weather sets in."

Source: Pelham's One Hundred to Play Golf, Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Nov. 8, 1895, Vol. XV, No. 1101, p. 3, col. 2.