The course and the game of the 30’s and 40’s differed in many ways from today. Large areas of rough, only occasionally cut with a haymower, were everywhere waiting for the errant shot. As the summers passed, the fairways baked to the consistency of concrete, which delighted the golfers’ taste for distance, if not for lie. One of the chief activities of the greenskeeping staff was weeding the greens, a never-ending and usually stalemated battle against plaintain, clover and chickweed.
During this period, an 18 hole round averaged three hours in duration. Caddies regularly completed two 18 hole jobs on a weekend, one before and one after lunch. By the end of the 30’s, affluence still didn’t describe the lot of caddies. They received $.50 for 18 holes, with a $.10 “drink” awarded to the faithful lads for extra effort.
Around the middle 40’s, we numbered a southern gentleman among our membership. Not only was his accent unique but he apparently “marched to a different drummer.” He used to appear for golf with trousers cut off above the knee and pulling his bag on a wheeled contrivance. Odd fellow that!
The modern era might be dated from 1950. Changes in clubhouse and course happened with regularity from that date. The old barn was replaced by more suitable quarters. In 1954, a well-equipped pro shop and bar were added within the old clubhouse; in 1955, the 4th hill was removed to eliminate a blind hole and in 195?, an elaborate new cocktail lounge was completed.
In 1960, a new direction for the club was taken with the construction of a 23,000 swimming pool. Because of the model facility, club membership now had something to offer for the entire family.
The decade of the 60’s, which began on such a high note, was the most active and prosperous in the club’s history.
No other single event was as critical to the club’s future as the resolving of the stock issue by decree of the Probate Court. Until this judgment, individual directors had to assume personal responsibility for loans for clubhouse and course improvements. This event also meant that, for the first time in the history of the club, banks would consider loans for construction or expansion with club assets as collateral.
The 60’s reads as a chronology of accomplishment. The loan for the cocktail lounge was repaid; modern maintenance equipment for the course was purchased; tees were rebuilt, relocated or expanded; superfluous traps were removed and needed traps added. In 1965, the irrigation system, the most vital mechanical element in course conditioning, was completed by our neighbors, the Ducharme Company.
In 1965, the Pattrell property was purchased. The dream of an 18 hole was nearly realized during the early 60’s and the Pattrell property was necessary to keep that dream alive.
In 1969 the Morrisey property was also purchased to allow for expansion of parking facilities. When construction of the new clubhouse began in 1970, this old homestead was converted to temporary service as the center of club activities.
In 1970, our eagerly awaited new clubhouse was completed. Long talked of and hoped for, this building was the end product and concrete expression of the imagination, effort and courage of our club’s leadership during the 60’s.
The new building has beauty of line, practicality of function and quality of construction. Architect Gordon Wiedenkeller’s unusual design was brought to life by the outstanding work of our contractor, Frederick J. Ostrowski.
What of the years to come for the Northampton Country Club? John Sherman, in a speech to the Senate in 1890, said: “The best prophet of the future is the past.”
Our past sparkles, can our future be less than bright?