Wampanoag Country Club

Last updated
Wampanoag Country Club
Wampindian2j.jpg
Club information
Location West Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Established1928
TypePrivate
Operated byIsaac W. Storandt
Total holes18
Events hosted Connecticut Amateur  : 1930, 1939, 1955, 1963, 1973, 1982, 2003
Connecticut Open  : 1932, 1937, 1940, 1950, 1968, 1980
Website https://www.wampanoagcc.com/
Designed by Donald Ross (golfer)
Par 72
Length7,011
Course rating 73.4

Wampanoag Country Club is a country club in West Hartford, Connecticut. The club was created in the early 1920s by the famed golf course architect Donald Ross. His design was considered "one of his masterpieces" and the club hosted the Connecticut Open, PGA Tour-level event, shortly after its creation. In the 1950s, "a new era" was inaugurated when new clubhouse was created. The club has continued to host significant tournaments through the 21st century, including the Connecticut Amateur and the Connecticut Women's Open.

Contents

History

In the early 1920s, 330 men from the area decided to spend $1,000 each to purchase territory near Hartford to create a country club. [1] The club's property was acquired in April 1924. [2]

The course was designed by the well-known golf course architect Donald Ross. [2] In June 1924, builder Peter Sazio and engineer Fred Dale began work on creating the course. Shortly thereafter, "[e]ntire charge of the proposition" was given to J.G. Kanter, an "expert" golf course construction engineer. [2] In 1925, the course was under construction. [2] As of February 1925, everything was moving ahead of schedule. [2] The course was to exist upon 185 acres. [2] The course was intended to have moderate terrain, never rising above "fifty feet" with "undulations [that] gently rise and fall" and a lack of "steep hills." [2] The engineering was known to be ahead of its time and the bunkers were intended to be "self-draining." [2]

The members of the club also wanted a clubhouse. Construction of the clubhouse was intended to begin in the spring of 1925 and the clubhouse was expected to open concurrent with the golf course. [2] However, building the "golf course was above expectations" and the intended clubhouse was not completed. [1] The members decided to purchase a farmhouse on North Main Street and use that as a clubhouse. [1]

In 1928, the golf course was complete. William B. Goodwin would be the first president. [3] [4] Over half a million dollars had been invested to create the club. [3] It was also announced that the entrance membership fee was $1,000 and annual membership fees were $150. [3] Membership was then limited to 350 people but was intended to expand to 400 people. [3]

In the 1930s, the course began hosting significant tournaments. The club hosted the Connecticut Open, then a PGA Tour-level event, several times during this era. [5]

In 1954, construction for a new clubhouse began. [1] The Anderson Fairoaks Construction Company was commissioned to build the clubhouse. [1] On January 22, 1955, the new clubhouse with "ranch-style architecture" opened. [1] A swimming pool and locker room were new additions from the old clubhouse. [1] According to The Hartford Courant , "[o]nly minor changes" were made to the golf course. [1]

A few months after the opening of the new clubhouse, the course hosted the Connecticut Amateur. [1] Wampanoag has hosted the tournament several times since then. [6] In the late 20th and early 21st century, Wampanoag has hosted a number of other significant tournaments. In 1998, the course hosted the Kennedy Cup, an event pitting local golfers from Hartford County, Connecticut against amateur golfers from Wexford County, Ireland. [7] In 2005, the course hosted the Connecticut Women's Open. The event was won by Elizabeth Janangelo, a member of the club. [4]

Scorecard

Wampanoag Country Club [8]
Tee Rating/Slope 123456789Out101112131415161718InTotal
Par443545443364553443443672
SI (Men)155137391111710861214218164
BlueM: 72.4 / 1363703991994654024923374391593,2623844635092253684271743664323,3486,610
WhiteM: 71.5 / 134

W: 77.8 / 141

3613921934583814763274291523,1693684535052193584021613584203,2446,413
YellowM: 69.5 / 1273583531584173544343244251422,9652724184561842753471523423762,8225,787
RedW: 72.5 / 1283553651533403554033154201472,8532353944621872603701453263002,6795,532
SI (Women)713171311591518481214216106

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Griffith, Owen (January 22, 1955). "Wampanoag Country Club Opens New Building Today". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "New England's Finest Golf Course". Hartford Courant. February 1, 1925. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Wampanoag Members Plan Construction". Hartford Courant. June 10, 1928. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  4. 1 2 "Wampanoag Country Club : Golf". Wampanoag Country Club. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  5. ↑ "Connecticut Open: Past Champions". Connecticut State Golf Association. Connecticut State Golf Association. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  6. ↑ "Connecticut State Golf Association". Connecticut State Golf Association. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  7. ↑ Lemos, Phil (July 23, 1998). "A Friendly Version of Teeing Off". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  8. ↑ "Wampanoag Country Club: Scorecard" . Retrieved Oct 4, 2022.

41°48′02″N72°45′19″W / 41.80056°N 72.75528°W / 41.80056; -72.75528

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