New-York tribune., 1901-10-13
W. p IOUGH.
GOLF ON STATEN ISLAND
THE RICHMOND COUNTY COUNTRY CLUB
ITS ATTRACTIVE SITUATION.

| The Richmond County Country Club. of Staten
Island, furnishes a signal instance of the popu-
larity golf has had among clubs originally estab-
| hshed to maintain pack of hounds and to hunt
! the fox, for. like the Myopia, Devon, Meadow
! Brook Essex County and Westchester Country
| clubs, Richmond County which few years back
was one of the crack hunt clubs OF the country is
now almost well known for it's devotion the
! Scottish game.
| Originally established in 1888 in the old Glove
! Road, the destinations of golf weaned it's MEM
bers from the sports of the chase that in 1897 a
move was made to the present quarters near Gar
| retson. IN order that Tore ample grounds might
| permit the equipment of a links The Alexandra
estate. with it's Old mansion and capacious grounds.
perched on the hills back of Garretson. the spot
| chosen for the home. and it's selection has
proved the wisdom of those who in the rolling
| Staten Island hills site pregnant with golfng
! possibilities. To-day the club ranks one Of the
| hest golf clubs in the East. Many of it's members
| are as well known in Manhattan as on Staten ISL
; and. and it's popularity is evident from the fact
that almost four hundred names included in
! its rolls.
It is an ideal spot for any outdoor sport this old
estate overlooking the bay. magnificent panorama
presents itself from almost every point prop
| erty. Beneath the waters OF the Lower Bay.
widening out into the broad blue eXpanse of the
Atlantic while in other directions the eye meets
nothing but rolling woodland and the greenest Of
green turf The Alexandra mansion is a spacious.
decidedly comfortable structure of three stories,
built in Colonial style. with large airy, high cell
| inged rooms and ample halls. veranda surrounds
the house. and from the back similar view
| that from the links greets tho eye. On this
| veranda in bygone years the owner of the Alex
| andre line OF steamers used 10 sit. spyglass in
| hand, and the horizon for his incoming ships
| The property includes about ninety acres and is
about minute ride the Midland Railway
from the st. George ferry. Three-quarters of mile
| away is Midland Beach. in plain view from the
clubhouse. and the trolley service has thus proved
| excellent for members running down from Man
| haitian for afternoons outing the links. The
| president OF the club is F. S. Turning vice-presi
! dent George Cromwell: secretary, Ex- Norton;
treasurer. Stacy c. Richmond. and captain. John
| r. Chadwick
The general condition of the course is excellent.
Much time and money have been spent In bringing
| IT up the standards required by a modern golf
club and the result has been eminently satisfac-
| tory notable feature is that. with the exception
OF three cop bunkers. all the hazards provided
by the natural lay OF the grounds The entire cir
cult IS arranged to take in every latent possibility
An instance OF this is the ravine which back
OF the first hole. This same ravine has been used
as n partial hazard the second hole, entirely as
a hazard at the third. where there is drop Of al
most hundred feet in ll2 yards and again at
the fourth natural hazard at all
The outward tourney lies in the fields to the north
OF the clubhouse while the hOmeward trip is to the
south OF IT. The entire distance Is 5179 yards, Tor
which the bogie is figured at II strokes. Albert E.
Paterson who last year held the important position
OF captain of the greens. holds the amateur
record at so. while the professional record Is H.
made by the former English champion, Harry var
don on his recent trip TO this country Mr.. Pater-
son also holds the George Hunter gold medal, which
carries with II championship Of the club First
offered 1895 this medal is now the Oldest gohns
trophy in the country. the famous John Reld
medal at St Andrews having been finally disposed
Of two years ago. The Hunter medal contest Is
one of Richmond Countys notable events, and the
keenest rivalry exists among the members for the
honor which victory brings. Mr. Patersons win
ming score this year 81, while the eight VINO
qualified for the presidents cup, another OF the i'm
portant trophies the year, Charles T. Stout
r D. Wrenn c. w. Pierson w. 7. Lough, H. G.
Plimpton Gordon Willis and John r. Chadwick
These eight are thus in the very front rank of the
clubs golfers and together with c. W. Taintor
and James Park. perhaps the best known.
Other good players T. w Hoxie. f. o. Schuy-
ler j. f. q. Higgins Fl. h. Slayback Laurence b.
stoddart Eugene l.. Richards. jr. A. L. Walker,
r. F. Bonner. w. 2. Larned Ralph Lane. Thomas
S Hope Simpson r. ?. &. Bucklin. w. H. Busk.
] NJ Carrere, De Frees Critten J. F. Faber. {.
A. Fry. Richard Agar, Otis l" NllhamS' K ST.
George Walker J. Y. G. Walker. II. H. Shearson,
w H. Lowry. A 2. Kelley and Vincent Hook
meyer. The club has never gone out of it's way
to secure notorety. has given only one open tour
In It's history. and has never claimed a
championship. It is one of the most conservative
members of both the United States and Metro
politan Golf associations. and its team has taken
prominent part in the matches of the last season.
There are four classes of members: Resident,
resident. associate and summer. the latter being
permitted to join Tor five months only and with
initiation fee. For resident and nonresident
members the initiation fee Is $50 while the annual
S25 the latter.
Summer members pay $50 and II Is interesting to
note that three of this class last summer at
time widely known for their prominence in
MIS- furnishing another illustration OF the inrOads
golf is making Into the territory or other sports
These three Bob Wrenn. the former
mis- champion of the United States his brother
George Wrenn. and A. f.. Foote. formerly New
England tennis champion.
The green committee of n big club IL always an
important body. Those who look after Richmond
Countys green's are Otis L. Williams John X. |
Chadwick Ralph Lane. L. o. Schuyler A f. !
committee. composed of Ernest Flagg and j. Fl. |
Alexandra. Ben Tew, for five years under Wi
lie Davis. at Newport, is the clubs professional. |
and while not well known as a player. he knows |
a thing or two about turf and course building.
is shown by the present condition of the grounds.
The directors are J. II. Alexandra. Henry B. Mont |
Flagg E. o. Schuyler n. S Walker. jr, and Cor |
don Willis. On the house committee are W. L. !
Clarke H. B. Montgomery. Stacy c. Richmond |
and George Cromwell. A committee on ''niscel- |
naneous shorts Completes the clubs of1ciai fam
lily. This committee includes n. S Walker, jr., |
Horace A. Davis. Gordon Willis and J. Y. G.. /
Walker.
Like most of the golf clubs hereabouts Rich
mond County began with nine hole links. but
II not long before this outgrown and
nine more holes added to keep pace with the grow
compares favorably in length and variety with any
in the metropolitan district. detailed summary
OF the holes and distances together with the boyle
score. may be shown as follows:
OUT
ya53s af!'' 3. iis SIS s,e s l5s 4 52s;!s
IN.