Our History
The Owasco Country Club originated with a group of persons interested in the formation of a golf club in 1896. These gentlemen: Messrs. W.R. Hopkins, H.D. Peck, W.H. Seward, Jr., F.L. Peet, H.F. Dayton, J.A. Seymour, C.I. Avery, F.L. Allen, W.J. Elder, J.E. Elder, J.D. Teller, A.A. Boyd, and G.L.B. Martin met at the chalet of the Dolphin Club on the 7th of September 1896 to organize the Auburn Golf Club. The initiation fee was to be $1 and the dues $1.
As taken from the minutes of that meeting, “A membership of 54 was secured. The club leased for a nominal sum from F.H. Fay, the Williams lot on Easterly Ave. Maj. W.C. Beardsley kindly gave to the club the use of his pasture land adjoining the Williams lot. On this ground 6 holes were laid out.”
All of this is now part of Fort Hill Cemetery. The links were used until January 10th, 1897. The course record for the six holes played was held by H.W. Seward Jr. with 27 strokes. Caddies were tipped 10 cents. At a meeting on April 3rd, 1897 the dues were raised to $6 for gentlemen and $4 for ladies. It was moved and adopted that the club name be changed to “Iroquois Club of Auburn.” On May 10th, 1897 it was moved by W.H. Seward Jr. that a vote be taken to reconsider the club name. George Underwood moved that the name of the club be “Owasco Golf Club”.
In 1899 a group of gentlemen from the Owasco Golf Club, with the approval of the elder members, consider the purchase of Buck Point (on the west side of Owasco Lake) for a country club and social gathering place for their families. This farm (owned by Mrs. D.M. Osborne) with 200 acres of land, house and farm buildings, was offered for sale at $10,000. This idea was voted down due to lack of transportation at the time. The trolley route ended at Owasco Park.
In 1901 this same group, Judge J.D. Teller, Messrs. D.M. Dunning, G. Underwood and G.H. Nye, after a general meeting and discussion, leased the Sittser place (at the foot of Owasco Lake) for three years at $200 per annum, with an option to purchase approximately 50 acres, including the homestead, for the sum of $6,000. Acceptances for memberships were received from roughly 50 persons and it was resolved that a country club be organized. Names as members to draw up the constitution were: Messrs. G.H. Nye, D.M. Dunning, F. Richardson, Mrs. W. Hills, Mrs. A.G. Beardsley, Mrs. C.D. MacDougall, Mrs. C.I. Avery and Mrs. W. Woodruff.
On September 30th, 1901 the land was purchased and plans for a new clubhouse submitted.
At a December 1901 meeting it was resolved that the seal of the corporation be a disc containing the words Owasco Country Club and a design of a pipe and golf club cross in the center. The club colors – Gold and Blue. It is interested to note that no games were allowed to be played on Sunday.
The original clubhouse was moved to the West, and a new clubhouse was built for the sum of $4,809. In 1906 an addition was made to the house and veranda.
In 1908 the Rochester House (now owned by Kim Vorreuter) and five acres of land were purchased for $5,150. The house was rented to club members or friends of members and brought in considerable income for the club. Club privileges were extended to those renting.
In 1910 a new room with a fireplace was added. This was called the men’s room and no ladies were permitted except on dance nights and then only after 9:00 p.m. This room is now our lounge. A new rule in 1911 gave the men permission to have meals served in this room. The same year, land (the Grant property) just west of the clubhouse (where the circular driveway is now) was purchased.
What was originally a bath house became the pro shop in 1913.
The year 1916 saw the addition of more property. The Boudiette Farm north of the club was purchased for $6,100 and four acres of land from the Sharp property (South and adjoining the club) for $3,350. Plans for another 9 holes were started and the possibility of two more tennis courts (there were four then) were considered. They would replace the first tee and shorten the hole by 100 yards. Work was deferred however, until the end of World War I. Even so, 22 acres of land adjoining the club on the West side and owned by the Owasco Club Park Association, was leased for 5 years (with an option to purchase) for $3,000.
As time passed the idea of an 18-hole golf course began to fade and the land and property were gradually sold off. The club remained member-owned and operated through the entire 19th century.
Only in recent history has the club been privately owned. In late 2015, member Gerald Crowley purchased the club from the membership amid some financial struggles for the price of $883,000. Mr. Crowley passed away recently leading the purchase of the club by Kless Myers Owasco, LLC a partnership between two successful local PGA Professionals who also own Sunset Ridge Golf Club in Marcellus, NY and operate Lyndon Golf Course in Fayetteville, NY.
Roster of Club Professionals
1912-1913 Walter Hagen
1913-1914 Tom Jones
1914-1921 John Walker
1921-1925 Josh Merriweather
1925-1928 Jack McGregor
1928-1937 Jim McGregor
1937-1967 Ward Mitchell
1967-1971 Skip Lawler
1971-1981 Pat Kelly
1981-1988 Bill Galloway
1988-2010 Thom Forrest
2010-2016 Mark Flurschutz
2021-present Wade Malicky
As taken from the minutes of that meeting, “A membership of 54 was secured. The club leased for a nominal sum from F.H. Fay, the Williams lot on Easterly Ave. Maj. W.C. Beardsley kindly gave to the club the use of his pasture land adjoining the Williams lot. On this ground 6 holes were laid out.”
All of this is now part of Fort Hill Cemetery. The links were used until January 10th, 1897. The course record for the six holes played was held by H.W. Seward Jr. with 27 strokes. Caddies were tipped 10 cents. At a meeting on April 3rd, 1897 the dues were raised to $6 for gentlemen and $4 for ladies. It was moved and adopted that the club name be changed to “Iroquois Club of Auburn.” On May 10th, 1897 it was moved by W.H. Seward Jr. that a vote be taken to reconsider the club name. George Underwood moved that the name of the club be “Owasco Golf Club”.
In 1899 a group of gentlemen from the Owasco Golf Club, with the approval of the elder members, consider the purchase of Buck Point (on the west side of Owasco Lake) for a country club and social gathering place for their families. This farm (owned by Mrs. D.M. Osborne) with 200 acres of land, house and farm buildings, was offered for sale at $10,000. This idea was voted down due to lack of transportation at the time. The trolley route ended at Owasco Park.
In 1901 this same group, Judge J.D. Teller, Messrs. D.M. Dunning, G. Underwood and G.H. Nye, after a general meeting and discussion, leased the Sittser place (at the foot of Owasco Lake) for three years at $200 per annum, with an option to purchase approximately 50 acres, including the homestead, for the sum of $6,000. Acceptances for memberships were received from roughly 50 persons and it was resolved that a country club be organized. Names as members to draw up the constitution were: Messrs. G.H. Nye, D.M. Dunning, F. Richardson, Mrs. W. Hills, Mrs. A.G. Beardsley, Mrs. C.D. MacDougall, Mrs. C.I. Avery and Mrs. W. Woodruff.
On September 30th, 1901 the land was purchased and plans for a new clubhouse submitted.
At a December 1901 meeting it was resolved that the seal of the corporation be a disc containing the words Owasco Country Club and a design of a pipe and golf club cross in the center. The club colors – Gold and Blue. It is interested to note that no games were allowed to be played on Sunday.
The original clubhouse was moved to the West, and a new clubhouse was built for the sum of $4,809. In 1906 an addition was made to the house and veranda.
In 1908 the Rochester House (now owned by Kim Vorreuter) and five acres of land were purchased for $5,150. The house was rented to club members or friends of members and brought in considerable income for the club. Club privileges were extended to those renting.
In 1910 a new room with a fireplace was added. This was called the men’s room and no ladies were permitted except on dance nights and then only after 9:00 p.m. This room is now our lounge. A new rule in 1911 gave the men permission to have meals served in this room. The same year, land (the Grant property) just west of the clubhouse (where the circular driveway is now) was purchased.
What was originally a bath house became the pro shop in 1913.
The year 1916 saw the addition of more property. The Boudiette Farm north of the club was purchased for $6,100 and four acres of land from the Sharp property (South and adjoining the club) for $3,350. Plans for another 9 holes were started and the possibility of two more tennis courts (there were four then) were considered. They would replace the first tee and shorten the hole by 100 yards. Work was deferred however, until the end of World War I. Even so, 22 acres of land adjoining the club on the West side and owned by the Owasco Club Park Association, was leased for 5 years (with an option to purchase) for $3,000.
As time passed the idea of an 18-hole golf course began to fade and the land and property were gradually sold off. The club remained member-owned and operated through the entire 19th century.
Only in recent history has the club been privately owned. In late 2015, member Gerald Crowley purchased the club from the membership amid some financial struggles for the price of $883,000. Mr. Crowley passed away recently leading the purchase of the club by Kless Myers Owasco, LLC a partnership between two successful local PGA Professionals who also own Sunset Ridge Golf Club in Marcellus, NY and operate Lyndon Golf Course in Fayetteville, NY.
Roster of Club Professionals
1912-1913 Walter Hagen
1913-1914 Tom Jones
1914-1921 John Walker
1921-1925 Josh Merriweather
1925-1928 Jack McGregor
1928-1937 Jim McGregor
1937-1967 Ward Mitchell
1967-1971 Skip Lawler
1971-1981 Pat Kelly
1981-1988 Bill Galloway
1988-2010 Thom Forrest
2010-2016 Mark Flurschutz
2021-present Wade Malicky
