Our History
_The origins of Owasco Country Club began with a group of persons
interested in the formation of a golf club. These gentlemen: Messrs. W.
R. Hopkins, H.D. Peck, W.H. Seward, Jr., F.L. Peet, H.F. Dayton, James
A. Seymour, C.I Avery, F.L. Allen, H.R. Allen, W.J. Elder, J.E. Elder,
J.D. Teller, A.A. Boyd, and G.L.B. Martin met at the chalet at the
Dolphin Club on the 7th of September 1896 and organized the Auburn Golf
Club. This initiation fee was to be one dollar and the dues one dollar.
As taken from the minutes of a meeting September 1896, "A membership of 54 was secured. The club leased for nominal sum of money 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 six holes were laid out."
All this is not part of Fort Hill Cemetery. The links were used until January 10, 1987. The record for the season for the six holes played was made by W.H. Seward Jr. with 27 strokes. Caddies were tipped 10 cents.
At a meeting April 3, 1897 the dues were raised to $6 for gentlemen and $4 for ladies! It was moved the name of the club be changed to the "Iroquois Club of Auburn." On May 10th of that year it was moved by W.H. Seward Jr. that the vote taken on the club name be reconsidered. 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 older 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 building was offered for sale for $10,000. This was turned down because of lack of sufficient transportation at that time. The trolley route ended at Owasco Park.
In 1901 this same group, Judge John D. Teller, Messrs. D.M Dunning, George Underwood and George 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 about 50 acres, including the homestead, for the sum of $6,000. Acceptances for membership were received from about 50 persons and it was resolved that a country club be organized. Names as members to draw up the constitution were: Messrs. George H. Nye, D.M Dunning, Frank Richardson, Mrs. William Hills, Mrs. A.G. Beardsley, Mrs. C.D MacDougall, Mrs. C.I. Avery and Mrs. William Woodruff.
September 30, 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 County Club" and a design of a pipe and a golf club crossed in the center. The club colors — Gold and Blue. It is interesting to note that no games were allowed played on Sunday. The original house was moved to the west, and the new clubhouse was built for the sum of $4,809. In 1906 an addition was made the 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 to 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 (Grant property) just west of the clubhouse (where we now have a circular driveway) 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 $3,550. Plans for another nine golf holes were started and the possibility of two more tennis courts (there were then four) was considered.; these replacing the first tee, which would shorten the hole by 100 yards. Work was deferred, however, until the end of World War I. Even so, 22 acres adjoining the club on the west side and owned by the Owasco Club Park Association, was leased for five years (with option to purchase) for $3,000.
As time went on the idea of an 18 hole golf course began to fade and the land and property were gradually sold off.
Today we are known as one of the most challenging and beautiful nine hole golf courses in Upstate New York.
The number of members has been kept necessarily small so that we have remained very much a "family club."
As taken from the minutes of a meeting September 1896, "A membership of 54 was secured. The club leased for nominal sum of money 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 six holes were laid out."
All this is not part of Fort Hill Cemetery. The links were used until January 10, 1987. The record for the season for the six holes played was made by W.H. Seward Jr. with 27 strokes. Caddies were tipped 10 cents.
At a meeting April 3, 1897 the dues were raised to $6 for gentlemen and $4 for ladies! It was moved the name of the club be changed to the "Iroquois Club of Auburn." On May 10th of that year it was moved by W.H. Seward Jr. that the vote taken on the club name be reconsidered. 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 older 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 building was offered for sale for $10,000. This was turned down because of lack of sufficient transportation at that time. The trolley route ended at Owasco Park.
In 1901 this same group, Judge John D. Teller, Messrs. D.M Dunning, George Underwood and George 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 about 50 acres, including the homestead, for the sum of $6,000. Acceptances for membership were received from about 50 persons and it was resolved that a country club be organized. Names as members to draw up the constitution were: Messrs. George H. Nye, D.M Dunning, Frank Richardson, Mrs. William Hills, Mrs. A.G. Beardsley, Mrs. C.D MacDougall, Mrs. C.I. Avery and Mrs. William Woodruff.
September 30, 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 County Club" and a design of a pipe and a golf club crossed in the center. The club colors — Gold and Blue. It is interesting to note that no games were allowed played on Sunday. The original house was moved to the west, and the new clubhouse was built for the sum of $4,809. In 1906 an addition was made the 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 to 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 (Grant property) just west of the clubhouse (where we now have a circular driveway) 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 $3,550. Plans for another nine golf holes were started and the possibility of two more tennis courts (there were then four) was considered.; these replacing the first tee, which would shorten the hole by 100 yards. Work was deferred, however, until the end of World War I. Even so, 22 acres adjoining the club on the west side and owned by the Owasco Club Park Association, was leased for five years (with option to purchase) for $3,000.
As time went on the idea of an 18 hole golf course began to fade and the land and property were gradually sold off.
Today we are known as one of the most challenging and beautiful nine hole golf courses in Upstate New York.
The number of members has been kept necessarily small so that we have remained very much a "family club."
