BY FREDERIC D. MEEHAN – February 26, 1952

(Author’s Acknowledgements–

The writer is indebted to the following individuals for needed information relative to the compilation of the history of the Northampton Country club: James J. Abbott, Miss Harriet P. Abbott, Dr. H.W. Alden, Homer Bachand, Fred D. Cary, Ralph Parsons, Charles A. Stearns, Miss Cora Walker, Charles W. Walker. Appreciation is also extended to the staff members of the Forbes library in locating pertinent articles in the files of the Daily Hampshire Gazette. – Fred Meehan.)

While the history of the Northampton Country club during its 54 years of existence is not startling, its records reflect the growth of the city itself. Woven within its history one can note the names of many of Northampton’s famed civic-minded citizens, some still living, many who have passed away. Actually, the history of the club is divided into two parts. From 1898 until 1910 club activities centered at the Warner Meadows Golf club, the present site of Look Park, and the remainder of its history centers in its present location. From a historical standpoint, the earlier period is more interesting.

How Times Have Changed!

At the turn of the twentieth century, golf was a comparatively new game and familiar to only a very small segment of the population. It was considered an “old man’s game.”) Very few young men indulged in it; the consensus was that once could always to golf when he was too old for any other sport. While the younger male generation scoffed at such a silly game, a few golf-conscious members of the Smith college faculty and student
body, in conjunction with interested townspeople, collaborated in initiating plans for a golf course in Northampton. In 1898 a program was arranged whereby the college girls would raise $350 and the interested townspeople $300. On June 7, 1898 in the “Hampshire Gazette and Northampton Courier” appeared the first indication that the aims of Northampton’s golfers would fructify:
“The golf players are to have a clubhouse built of the Warner farm between Florence
and Leeds. It is to cost $650, and be quite a pleasant Country clubhouse, standing on the
brow of a hill, with a good expanse of meadow near at hand and woods and hills far
beyond”.
Prof. Frank A. Waterman was elected president and William A. Clark, secretary-
treasurer.

They Were Intrigued

From the time the club was founded in 1898 until 1900 the membership continued to grow, reaching a total of 250, equally divided between Smith college students and Northampton citizens. Considering the work at hand, there could have been few idle members. Considerable money was expended for improving the grounds, and still greater plans were considered for enlarging the clubhouse so as to provide room for lockers, a shower bath and workroom. It was the general opinion among the members in 1900 that the nine-hole course of the Warner Meadow club was one of the best nine-hole courses in the state.

They Were Gregarious

Of particular interest to the golfers in these days were tournaments for club members and team matches with other clubs. Annually the club played Greenfield, Westfield, Mt. Tom, Holyoke, Oxford and Springfield. With all the clubs the local team had fairly good luck, but Springfield always proved to be its nemesis. While planning these club-and-club matches, the player felt little concern that certain inconveniences if travel were encountered to and from the opposing club. Lacking Fords or Cadillac’s, the intrepid golfers would arrive at their opponents’ course either by trolley, train or self-locomotion. When playing against Greenfield, for example, the members of the team would first assemble at the Northampton railroad station, travel by train as far as possible, the proceed by trolley car and make the last, long mile trek on foot.

The Show Went On

Once in the summer of 1901, while playing at the Westfield course, a terrific rainstorm developed. So intense was the rainfall that, while playing in the tournament, caddies were sent ahead to show the players the direction in which to play. Even while approaching the green from a short distance, the caddies served as sentinels to stand by the pin. By the time the match was completed the driving rain had washed out the trolley tracks, leaving but one means of return to Northampton-the train. Unfortunately, the last train for the day had already left Westfield.

Hold That Express

Consequently, Alexander McCallum asserted his influence and the crack non-stop express from Albany to Springfield was persuaded to pick up the wet, but triumphant Warner Meadows team at Westfield and transport them to Springfield, Needless to say, the hour was very late by the time the members finally arrived in Northampton by train. They were made of the same stuff as the early pioneers! Naturally, travel from Northampton to Leeds for several years was made by trolley, and for this reason the clubhouses at both the old and new location were placed as near the trolley line as topography would permit.

Sunday Golf Taboo – But –

Throughout the years the club operated at Warner’s Meadow, Sunday golf was strictly taboo. “it is true,” as Fred Cary states, “two or three of us might put mid-irons in our pants and play the most distant holes a few times, but if any official of the club appeared, back would go the mid-iron and we would pretend to be hunting for golf balls.” The rule was strictly enforced and on one dared openly oppose it. Although the young men, for the most part, avoided the game, the large number of women who played was surprising, considering golf was still in its infancy. Not only were college girls present in large numbers on the course, but also wives of the menfolk
members. By and large, the women far outnumbered the men in early days.

Hallowed Names

Among the earliest members of the club, who worked zealously for its success, were Frank Lyman, Alexander McCallum, Eugene E. Davis, O. Wendall Edwards, William A. Clark, Sam Lee, George B. McCallum, Charles W. Walker, Dr. Edward Brown, Judge Rufus H. Cook, “Chad” Clark, Harold Lee, H. R. Graves, Ben Hinckley, George W. Cable, Bob Lee, George S. Swift, E. H. Bannister, Merton Rust, Raymond King, James T. Abbott, Harry Eastman, L. B. Parsons, Dana Pearson, George W. Clark, Henry L. Moore, Wood Williams, George L.
Emerson, Donald Gilfillan, J. Malcolm Warren, Theo bald M. Connor, Warren King, Prof. Frank A. Waterman, R. L. Williston, E. K. Abbott, Rev. F. H. Kent, William H. Feiker, Dr. William Collins, Dr. Elmer E. Thomas, H. L. Williams, Dr. A. G. Minshall, Charles Bowker, Harry Southard, Clifton Day, Joseph Shearn, Dr. E. H. Copeland, F. N. Kneeland, Harold Bosworth, C.N. Fitts and R. L. Baldwin.

Women Were Well Represented

Besides the large number of college girls who played early in the history of the club, some of the more prominent Northampton included: Miss Cora Walker, Miss Harriet Abbott, Mrs. Charles Bowker. Mrs. O. Wendall Edwards, Mrs. Frances Abbott, Mrs. Arthur Warner, Mrs. J. T. Abbott, Miss Janet Sheldon, Miss Fanny Hastings, Mrs. Sam Lee, Mrs. H. L. Williams, Mrs. S. Berenson, Mrs. Warren King, Mrs. George Spear, Mrs. Stephen Butler and Mrs. George B. McCallum.

Tennis Early Played a Part

Tennis was not unknown in the early history of the club. Two courts, well tended, afforded the net enthusiasts the opportunity to perfect their game. The outstanding tennis players at the Warner Meadow club were Merton Rust, Charles W. Walker, Ben Hinckey, Dr. William Collins, Dr. Edward Brown, Warner Oland, Harold Bosworth, Ellsworth Davenport (leading tennis referee at today’s most important tennis tournaments), Dr.
A.G. Minshall, Ned Abbott, William Feiker and Dr. Elmer E. Thomas. When the present Country club opened, four courts were laid on new grounds, but they received less play as the years went by. Many of the members of the club, who were exclusively tennis fans, either journeyed to the Smith college courts when they were made available to the public, or longevity required a less exhausting sport. Probably the highlight of the brief tennis history at the club was the exhibition match between the once famed, “Bill” Tilden and A. H. Chapin, an outstanding amateur of Springfield. More than a thousand enthusiastic spectators witnessed the match. Eventually, it was felt the upkeep of the courts was economically unfeasible and one by one they were removed, giving way to the present practice putting green and a small wooded area for social picnics.

1900’s Officers

The board of directors chosen on March 6, 1900, comprised Prof. J. T. Stoddard, H. L. Williams, C. A. Clark, R. L. Williston, W. A. Clark, with Miss A. Berenson and the Misses Sheldon, Wurster, Palmer and Valentine of the college. The officers elected were: President, J.T. Stoddard: secretary and treasurer, W. A. Clark. The outstanding committees were as follows: Green-E.E. Davis, G.B. McCallum, R. L. Williston, F. A. Waterman, Miss Janet Sheldon, Miss Fanny Hastings: membership-W. A. Clark, C. N. Fitts, O. W. Edwards, R. L. Baldwin and S. W. Lee Jr.; house-R. L. Williston, Mrs. H. L. Williams, Mrs. S. Berenson; handicap-F. A. Waterman, A.
McCallum, W. M. King.