The History of Newport Country Club

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THE HISTORY of the

NEWPORT COUNTRY CLUB by FREDERICK WATERMAN

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NEWPORT COUNTRY CLUB Newport, Rhode Island

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THE HISTORY of the

NEWPORT COUNTRY CLUB

by FREDERICK WATERMAN

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P ROLOGUE The wind comes out of the southwest most days, lifting the cool, ocean air and brushing it over the land. The ships of settlers, slavers, smugglers, and the navies of three nations rode this breeze to the safety of the deep-water harbor and the gentle city that is like no other.

The island, shaped and smoothed by glaciers, retains a rawness along its edges where the elements still reign and where human nature, after we have worn each other down, goes to restore itself. The Indians called the land Aquidneck; the strangers, heading down the coast, stopped here and never left, drawn by the feel of the place and the possibilities of the port.

The land was fertile, but there wasn’t enough of it, nor strong rivers to power mills, so this could not be a home to industry. At first, it was a trading place, a rival to New York and Boston, then it became a refuge from Southern heat and Northern cities, and finally a resort where the industrialists came to enjoy the fortunes they had made elsewhere. And with them they brought the old Scottish game, which they made America’s own, out on Brenton Point, where it was meant to be, where the wind will blow forever, over the land and the sea.

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Table of Contents Foreword: Past and Present ...............................................13

Chapter 5: The Ancient Game Arrives..............................68

Chapter 1: The Rise and Fall .............................................14

Chapter 6: White Gold and The Havemeyers..................80

Chapter 2: Resorting to Newport .....................................28

Chapter 7: The Early Years................................................92

Chapter 3: Building Newport ............................................38

Chapter 8: Losers and Winners........................................120

Chapter 4: The Gilded Age ..............................................54

Chapter 9: Early Mourning ..............................................138

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Chapter 10: Playing the Land............................................152

Chapter 15: The First Lady...............................................252

Chapter 11: The Quiet Years ............................................182

Epilogue: Present and Future..........................................270

Chapter 12: Renewal ........................................................196

Appendices ........................................................................276

Chapter 13: Every Hundred Years ....................................212

Index .................................................................................294

Chapter 14: Past Renovation ...........................................224

Acknowledgments ............................................................302

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F O R E W O R D

H

PAST AND PRESENT if not cared for,

Manice, the club’s vice-president, and I

becomes lost, distorted, and finally just

both admired The Story of Golf at The

assumptions of what might have been.

Country Club, put together four years ago

ISTORY,

More than 120 years have passed since

by our brethren in Brookline, Mass., that

golf arrived on Brenton Point, but the

earned the USGA’s award for best golf book

history of the Newport Country Club

of the year. So, we hired the book’s editor:

does not start with the 1890s, it goes

Frederick Waterman, who is The Country

back further, to the 1630s, to the start of

Club’s golf historian and the winner of

Newport itself.

awards as both a journalist and sports-

Because this small, cosmopolitan port

writer, and its designer, Larry Hasak, the art

has a unique character, it was inevitable that

director of LINKS magazine and more than

it would create a club as distinctive as itself,

a dozen other golf books.

with a clubhouse as grand as the million-

The timing of this book was propi-

aires’ mansions, with views of a sea once

tious. Twenty-seven years have passed since

plied by local pirates, and land that was

the printing of Alan Schmacher’s fine

occupied during the Revolutionary War by

booklet, The Newport Country Club: Its

the army of French saviors, led by Rochambeau.

Curious History, and a private collection of newspaper clippings

But Newport Country Club (NCC) has a second bloodline, one

and documents related to the club’s history was recently discov-

that starts with America’s Industrial Revolution of the 1800s, one

ered and donated to NCC. Also, the Newport Country Club

that can be traced through the post-Civil War, national Gilded Age

Preservation Foundation, so ably led by James Haas during the

to the extravagant crescendo of Newport’s own Gilded Age.

renovation of the clubhouse, understood the importance of NCC

A complete and true history of the Newport Country Club

preserving its history.

needed to be more than just descriptions and images of the course,

Here, we believe, is a book as distinctive as the club and the

the clubhouse, and significant tournaments we have hosted. Robert

city itself.

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— Barclay Douglas, Jr., President, December 2013

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C H A P T E R

O N E

THE RISE AND FALL

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C H A P T E R

O N E

THE RISE AND FALL “Geography is destiny.” ~

T

NAPOLEON

The founding of this self-assured, unconventional city and the

HE DINNER TOOK PLACE IN 1766, and it is hard to

evolution of its character came about, like much of history, by

imagine it happening anywhere but Newport.

Godfrey Malbone, one of the town’s wealthiest men and

chance. In 1638, William Coddington, John Clarke, and 12 other

politely referred to as “a merchant,” was also less politely but more

emigrés to the newly formed state of Massachusetts found themselves

accurately known as “a privateer.” Malbone wasn’t a pirate himself,

at odds with their pious fellow colonists (Clarke was outraged to be

he just owned the ships whose crews were pirates and who smug-

arrested for “illegal worship”), and a move away seemed wise. Headed

gled home what they had stolen to avoid British import duties.

for Delaware, the small band was on its way through the aptly named

Malbone’s mansion was considered the grandest in the colonies,

settlement of Providence when they met the theologian and linguist

and he gloried in hosting great parties and feasts, sometimes given

Roger Williams. He suggested that the wanderers consider a nearby

for his returning buccaneers, other times for the more respectable

island and took them on a canoe trip down to the island of “Aquid-

residents of Aquidneck. At the start of a dinner for the latter group,

neck,” as the Indians called it, which translated to “Isle of Peace.”

his mansion caught fire. Malbone uttered “a great oath,” then,

The travelers liked what they saw and bought the land from a repre-

realizing that the house could not be saved, ordered his servants to

sentative of the sachem Canonicus for a price that included a few

bring the food and tables out onto the lawn so that his guests could

dozen coats with the brass buttons that the Indians prized.

eat while watching the mansion burn.

One year later, nine of the newcomers sought to establish a

That is Newport.

town on the southern part of the island. They rejected one area,

Overleaf: On August 9, 1778, the British and French navies, historically enemies and on opposite sides in the American Revolutionary War, met off the coast of Newport.

Opposite: A 1777 map showing Newport Harbor, the waterfront, and the location of Newport’s streets, much as they have remained.

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now known as Easton’s Beach, because it was unsuitable for ships;

claiming that he, alone, had discovered Aquidneck and bought the

their eventual choice was a “thickly wooded swamp” on the south-

island from the Indians. As a result, in 1651, Coddington was de-

west shore, next to perhaps the finest harbor in the colonies.

clared Aquidneck’s governor for life. He returned home, outraged

Massachusetts and Connecticut, recognizing the appeal of the

the populace with the announcement of his all-powerful status,

land around Narragansett Bay, both claimed ownership, with

and within a year was chased out of Rhode Island. Oliver Cromwell

Massachusetts even forging documents to support its claim. Roger

(soon to be named the Lord Protector of England) ordered Cod-

Williams, seeking to protect his Providence settlement,

dington to surrender his claims, which he did. Rhode Island,

headed to England in 1644 (at a time when

having successfully resisted and scared away this “gover-

Atlantic crossings usually took at least a

nor for life,” had proven its truculent nature

month) and obtained for “the colony of

and gained a vital triumph.

Rhode Island and the Providence Planta-

Newport, now free to establish its own

tions” the first patent (deed) ever granted

identity, was well-situated halfway between the trad-

to a political civil state in America (Massa-

ing centers of ambitious New York and Puritan

chusetts Bay Colony, for example, was owned by

Boston. The deep-draft harbor was one reason for the

a trading company; Maryland was a proprietary

town’s appeal, but a second was spiritual, rather than

colony, given to Lord Baltimore). What the

geographic. In the 1650s, while freedom of religion

charismatic Williams obtained for Rhode

was promised in Rhode Island, Quakers were

Island was a separation of church from state,

being put to death on Boston Common, and

for he believed it “monstrous” to compel

Jews in Portugal were practicing their religion in

conformity to any religious belief.

secret, as they had done for more than a century to avoid torture

After Williams’ return, the four Rhode Island towns of

and death at the hands of the Inquisition. In England, after

Newport, Portsmouth, Providence, and Warwick agreed upon the

Cromwell’s death in 1658, the ensuing political uncertainty resulted

structure of the colony’s government, and peace was anticipated

in the monarchy’s return to power (the Restoration); the question

— except that the imperious Coddington, seeking to rule Aquid-

then arose whether decisions by the previous, non-monarchy

neck, headed to London in 1649 and lied to English authorities,

government would endure.

Roger Williams, leader of the Providence Plantation, which advocated religious freedom, persuaded a group of outcasts from more pious Massachusetts to consider settling on the island of Aquidneck.

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T H E

R I S E

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F A L L

King Charles II, whose father had been deposed and beheaded

already begun arriving, seeking the town’s religious freedom and

by England’s Puritan forces (led by Cromwell), believed in the

protection. There they built what became the oldest, extant Friends

then-radical concept of “soul liberty,” but the concept of

Meeting House and synagogue in the United States. Soon, Newport

religious freedom had never been

was also home to “four sorts of An-

tied to democracy. Newport’s John

abaptists,” Presbyterians, Congrega-

Clarke, a minister, a physician, and

tionalists, followers of the Church of

an Englishman by birth, had

England, and Independents.

returned to England in 1651 to dis-

The cosmopolitan community

prove Coddington’s claim to auto-

grew quickly, gaining 2,500 residents

cracy, then remained for 12 years as

by 1680, and the unlikely mix of

Rhode Island’s agent, pursuing a

traders, craftsmen, merchants, smug-

new charter for the colony. Persua-

glers, slavers, pirates, and artists

sively and diplomatically, Clarke

lived peacefully with each other.

convinced the king to take the

The absence of crime within

extraordinary step of giving legal

Newport is mentioned in many his-

authorization to religious freedom.

tories; what happened out on the

On July 15, 1663, King Charles II

ocean was, of course, quite different.

consented

request

Like Godfrey Malbone, other wealthy

because “it is much on their hearts

citizens had profited greatly from

(if they may be permitted), to hold

piracy, and many local sailors worked

forth a livlie experiment ... with a

on those ships. Newport’s laws were

to

Clarke’s

full libertie in religious concernments...” This same concept, 124

carefully worded so that piracy was difficult to prove, and during

years later, was re-phrased and included in the U.S. Constitution.

the second half of the 1600s, the smallest colony in America earned

Because of Clarke’s early work on Newport’s statutes, by the late

its nickname “Rogue Island.”

1650s, before the royal charter was granted, Quakers and Jews had

Eventually, the Royal Admiralty back in England had enough of

John Clarke, a founder of Newport, wrote Rhode Island’s 1663 charter, which was signed by England’s King Charles II and guaranteed religious freedom; the principles of Clarke’s philosophy were echoed in the U.S. Constitution.

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the rampant piracy: the next century opened with the trial and hang-

built on the hills above town; and seven distilleries and three sugar

ing of Captain Kidd in London in 1701 and, during the next 25 years,

refineries that provided an essential corner of the three-continent,

more than 400 pirates were put to death in the New World, with the

slaves/sugar/rum Triangular Trade. Not all of the slaves bought in

largest legal execution in American history taking place on Newport’s

Africa were sold in the West Indies or other American colonies: in

Gravelly Point. Twenty-six pirates who had attacked the HMS Grey-

the 1750s, 16 percent of Newport’s population was black, and

hound were hanged on July 19, 1723, after a trial in which the prose-

approximately one-third of the white families owned slaves. Among

cutor said of the pirates: “... every Man may be lawfully destroyed.”

them were some of Newport’s best cooks, including the remarkably

And their punishment did not stop with death: after the hangings,

named Cuffy Cockroach, a slave from the Gold Coast whose specialty

their bodies were tarred, left on display for three months to deter

was turtle feasts because every ship captain arriving from the West

would-be pirates, then buried off Goat Island in Newport Harbor

Indies was expected to bring a turtle and a small barrel of limes for

between the low- and high-tide marks, so that their souls would never

the accompanying rum punch.

be at rest.

By the middle of the 1700s, Newport’s cool breezes had begun

The port’s cavalier attitude toward smuggling chafed the British,

attracting summer visitors from along the colonies’ eastern seaboard

and local disdain for England’s tariff and tax laws was so great that

as far south as Charleston and Savannah, and the town’s healthy cli-

smuggling was considered an honorable occupation in Newport. One

mate was highly valued during a century in which New York City

visitor said that the tax collector dared not “exercise” his office for

was ravaged by seven major yellow-fever epidemics.

“fear of the fury and unruliness of the people.” The Newporters

American colonies’ largest cities and towns were sorting out

enjoyed their effrontery, but they would pay for their hubris.

their relative importance. Salem and Marblehead (both in Massa-

During the 1700s, shipbuilding became Newport’s first major

chusetts) were challenging Boston, New York, and Philadelphia as

industry, producing more than 170 ships in one three-year period

the most populous and commercially successful ports. Newport,

and attracting the complementary talents of sailmakers, blacksmiths,

capitalizing upon its opportunistic sea trade and enjoying its im-

coopers, and rope-makers. The town, to accommodate the increasing

pertinence towards Great Britain, was also prospering and, by 1774,

number of ships and cargoes, built more than 150 wharves and 400

its population of more than 9,000 made it one of the colonies’ five

warehouses. Newport’s growing commerce included 17 factories pro-

largest communities and home port for more than 500 ships — but

ducing oil and candles from whale sperm; a brewery; six windmills

these included slaving ships, too, that brought an unknown number

Opposite: The story that French troops, during the Revolutionary War, camped on the land that became Newport Country Club always seemed more myth than fact. This detail from a 1780 French army map shows that the story was true. The map’s thin black lines are roads, the placement of which are strikingly similar to present-day roads on Brenton Point. The scale of this remarkably accurate map was one inch to 100 feet.

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(NCC 9th Fairway)

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N E W P O R T

C O U N T R Y

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C L U B

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T H E

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of slaves into Newport and the colony that had declared itself a

were exceptionally cold, the invaders tore down 480 Newport build-

haven for religious freedom.

ings and turned them into firewood. An attempt to dislodge the

Arrogance often carries the seeds of its own punishment, and

occupying troops took place in August 1778, but American troops

three incidents altered Newport’s future: the first occurred in 1764

and the French navy failed to coordinate their strategy and timing,

when, in one of the first-ever acts of American colonial hostility

and the Battle of Rhode Island took place without French support;

against the crown, Newport fired upon a British ship sent to enforce

the outcome was, at best, inconclusive. When the British and Hess-

custom tariffs, then took crewmen as prisoners; next came the 1769

ian soldiers decamped in the fall of 1779, they left a “barren city,”

burning of a British customs ship at Goat Island; and, finally, the

according to one observer.

1772 burning of the Gaspée, a British naval ship moored near pres-

The next summer, more foreign troops arrived — but from

ent-day Warwick. With that, Rhode Island had gone too far.

France, and led by the comte de Rochambeau. Anger was the first

In 1774, the 20-gun British warship HMS Rose sailed into

response of depleted Newport, but de Rochambeau, who combined

Narragansett Bay; bombarded Newport, Jamestown, and Bristol;

courtly manners with a hearty masculinity, won over the military-

and took control of the waterway, effectively ending all smuggling

weary residents — both men and women. A majority of the 5,750

there. Newport was a center of revolutionary anger and, in the

French troops set up camp among the apple orchards above

spring of 1776, Rhode Island moved a step ahead of the other

Newport’s downtown, within sight of the windmills in the area of

colonies when its General Assembly, meeting in Newport, voted its

present-day Bellevue and Narragansett Avenues. Other troops were

own declaration of independence and cut its ties with England.

stationed on Brenton Point, including the land that would become

Seven months later, a British fleet arrived and, facing no armed

the Newport Country Club (see map on page 21).

opposition, took over the island of Aquidneck and moved into

The soldiers responded with exceptional discipline to their

Newport. Businesses closed and merchants fled, along with half of

respected commander, whose family history of military service

the residents; the town’s bright future as an American center of

reached back 700 years to the Crusades. By the comte’s order, every

commerce was gone forever.

purchase by a soldier was paid for, including use of the orchards. Due

For the next three years, the remaining Newporters, numbering

in great part to the presence of the French army, Newport’s economy

fewer than 5,000, were forced to take in and feed the approximately

began to revive. By the latter half of the 11-month French encamp-

8,000 British and hired Hessian troops. Because two of the winters

ment, parties and balls were being held, including one attended by

Opposite: Easton’s Beach, on the east side of Newport, became a popular bathing alternative to the deep-water harbor on the west side.

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Washington’s Letter to the Jews of Newport IN AUGUST 1790,

George Washington came to Newport, where Moses

Seixas, warden of the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, delivered an eloquent address, praising the new president’s stance on religious freedom. “Deprived as we heretofore have been of the invaluable rights of free Citizens, we now ... behold a Government, erected by the majesty of the People — a Government which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance ... deeming every one of whatever Nation, tongue, or language, equal parts of the great governmental Machine.”

Four days later, Washington replied in writing. In what became known as “Washington’s Letter to the Jews of Newport,” the president affirmed the new federal government’s support of all religious beliefs, then Washington, as if repeating an oath, rewrote Seixas’s words exactly: “which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance.”

Then, referencing the Bible, he added the hope that “every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.”

Each year, Washington’s letter is read aloud at Touro Synagogue in Newport.

General George Washington traveled to Newport in March 1781 to meet with the French commander, the comte de Rochambeau, then returned as president in 1790.

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T H E

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General George Washington, who came to Newport in March 1781

harder; then the Great Gale of 1815 finished them off when Narra-

to meet with de Rochambeau and plan what proved to be the war’s

gansett Bay rose 10-20 feet above normal, swamping the waterfront

decisive campaign. Four months later, de Rochambeau led his troops

and combining with the wind to demolish warehouses, stores, and

to Yorktown, Pa., leaving in Newport a touch of Europe that has never

homes, while smashing ships together.

completely disappeared.

Once again seeking a livelihood, the city tried and failed to have

After the War of Independence, one visitor said a “reign of soli-

the U.S. Naval Academy situated there. Newport managed to attract

tude” took over Newport, while an-

only one lace factory and one cotton

other observer praised the town’s

mill (at a time when there were 126

“well-bred people” for their “polished,

cotton mills in Rhode Island), and

agreeable manners,” but said the

although Newport shared the meet-

“decay of business” had caused it to be

ings of the state’s General Assembly

an “unhappy” place. Those merchants

with Providence, it was gradually

who abandoned the town during the

losing out to the larger city.

British occupation weren’t returning,

In 1828, the writer James Feni-

having established themselves else-

more Cooper wrote: “There are few

where. With only half its population

towns of any magnitude, within

left, no trade, and no industry, New-

our broad territories, in which so

port was like an unconventional, en-

little change has been affected in a

tertaining friend looking for a way to

half a century as in Newport.”

support himself.

The Englishman Adam Hodgson visited Newport at approxi-

The opening of trade with China in the 1790s sparked optimism

mately the same time and wrote that he had rarely observed

that Newport — incorporated as a city in 1784 — might become a

“a more desolate place ... or one which exhibited more evident

home port for ships capable of making the voyage around the world.

symptoms of decay.”

But the fading of the slave trade and the Embargo Act of 1807-09

It was becoming clear that Newport’s future would be found

put its foot on Newport’s hopes; the start of the War of 1812 pressed

in its past.

Newport was the port of entry for an unknown number of slaves taken from Africa.

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The comte de Rochambeau, commander of the French forces sent to help America win its Revolutionary War, maintained discipline without threats and was known for his bravery, tact, and charm. The poem (opposite) was written by Nora Perry (1832-1896).

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THE ROMANCE of a ROSE It is nearly a hundred years ago, Since the day that the Count de Rochambeau — Our ally against the British crown — Met Washington in Newport town.

Lifted it up with a Frenchman’s grace, And kissed it back, with a glance at the face Of the daring maiden where she stood, Blushing out of her silken hood.

This daughter of his, with her wit and grace, And her dangerous heart and her beautiful face, Should be on her way to a sure retreat, Where no rose of hers could fall at the feet

’T was the month of March, the air was chill, But bareheaded over Aquidneck hill, Guest and host they took their way, While on either side was the grand array

That night at the ball, still the story goes, The Marshal of France wore a faded rose In his gold-laced coat; but he looked in vain For the giver’s beautiful face again.

Of a curséd Frenchman, high or low; And so while the Count de Rochambeau In his gold-laced coat wore a faded flower, And awaited the giver hour by hour,

Of a gallant army, French and fine, Ranged three deep in a glittering line; And the French fleet sent a welcome roar Of a hundred guns from Canonicut shore.

Night after night and day after day, The Frenchman eagerly sought, they say, At feast, or at church, or along the street, For the girl who flung her rose at his feet.

She was sailing away in the wild March night On the little deck of the sloop Delight; Guarded even in the darkness there By the wrathful eyes of a jealous care.

And the bells rang out from every steeple, And from street to street the Newport people Followed and cheered, with a hearty zest, De Rochambeau and his honored guest.

And she, night after night, day after day, Was speeding farther and farther away From the fatal window, the fatal street, Where her passionate heart had suddenly beat

Three weeks after, a brig bore down Into the harbor of Newport town, Towing a wreck, — ’t was the sloop Delight, Off Hampton rocks, in the very sight

And women out of the windows leant, And out of the windows smiled and sent Many a coy admiring glance To the fine young officers of France.

A throb too much for the cool control A Puritan teaches to heart and soul; A throb too much for the wrathful eyes Of one who had watched in dismayed surprise

Of the land she sought, she and her crew And all on board of her, full in view Of the storm-bound fishermen over the bay, Went to their doom on that April day.

And the story goes, that the belle of the town Kissed a rose and flung it down Straight at the feet of de Rochambeau; And the gallant marshal, bending low,

From the street below; and taking the gauge Of a woman’s heart in that moment’s rage, He swore, this old colonial squire, That before the daylight should expire,

When Rochambeau heard the terrible tale, He muttered a prayer, for a moment grew pale; Then “Mon Dieu,” he exclaimed, “so my fine romance From beginning to end is a rose and a glance.”

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C H A P T E R

T W O

RESORTING TO NEWPORT

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RESORTING TO NEWPORT “T here must still be further decay till it becomes a small neat summer residence for idle people of easy fortune only.” ~ SAMUEL WARD, 1793

T

HE SUMMER HEAT WAS NEWPORT’S SAVIOR.

from sewage-contaminated food and water. In the summer of 1832,

In Baltimore, New York, and Boston, when odorless winter

a cholera epidemic struck New York City, killing more than 3,500

yielded to spring, the familiar stench returned. As the temperatures

people, and no one knew why. Because of fear and ignorance,

rose and the heat became oppressive, the air grew putrid from the

human contact was avoided: a resident wrote: “... one may take a

manure in the streets and the night soil in the open-air sewers.

walk up & down Broadway & scarce meet a soul.”

In the 1800s, cities were growing faster than man’s understand-

Medical knowledge was lacking, but one fact was obvious:

ing of how hundreds of thousands of people could live in close

illness and disease struck more often in large cities. New York City,

quarters and remain healthy. Yellow fever, typhoid fever, cholera,

grown as big as Newport once wanted to be, possessed a sometimes-

consumption (later known as tuberculosis), and scarlatina (scarlet

fatal squalor, and those who lived out in the country were wary of

fever) were a constant fear and a major reason why, in 1850, the

the potentially infectious city residents. When epidemics struck

average life span of an American was 39 years.

New York City, the little port on Narragansett Bay was viewed as a

Doctors didn’t know that consumption and scarletina were

safe and healthy refuge, but steamships from the big city were not

contagious, spread by sneezes and coughs; that yellow fever was

always allowed to land and were, instead, ordered to moor off-shore

carried by mosquitos; and that typhoid fever and cholera came

for a time beneath a yellow quarantine flag.

Overleaf: The second Ocean House, built during 1845-46 in a style that drew upon Gothic Revival characteristics, was 260 feet long.

Opposite: Newport Harbor. During the first three-quarters of the 19th century, sailing ships gradually yielded most of their commercial business to steamships; paddle-wheel steamer ferries between Newport and New York City were highly profitable.

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In the first half of the 1800s, American cities grew rapidly

Slavery, essential to Southern finances, was outlawed in New

because of immigration (new arrivals were nearly 10 percent of the

England, which led the crusade for abolition of the horrific prac-

U.S. population by 1850) and the attraction of jobs created by the

tice. But the North’s moral stance had a certain disingenuousness

Industrial Revolution. Cotton gins, spinning mules, and power

because slavery had already served its purpose there, with Rhode

looms were making cotton cloth; sewing machines were replacing

Island profiting from the trade more than any other American

hand-stitching; and steam engines

colony or state, financing nearly a

were the new source of power, allow-

thousand slaving ships’ journeys

ing mills and factories to be built

before 1807.

anywhere that enough workers could

The country was changing in its

be gathered, not only next to rivers.

attitudes and opportunities, and in

The “cottage industries” that used

its work and amusements. Factory

manual labor in homes or crafts-

owners’ families, desperate to escape

men’s shops were giving way to semi-

the cities’ summer heat, now had the

skilled labor in factories, working on

means and the methods because

machine-operated assembly lines.

the invention of railroads and

The highly profitable “American sys-

steamships had contributed a new

tem” of interchangeable parts pro-

concept to 19th-century life: travel-

duced clothes, shoes, firearms, clocks,

ing for pleasure. Smooth rides on

bicycles, sewing machines, and thou-

rails were replacing weeks in horse-

sands of other products. Farming gave way to manufacturing as

drawn carriages bumping over ill-cared-for country roads, and

the country’s biggest employer, and the United States began to

reliable, inexpensive journeys on steamships were taking the place

divide itself into Northern and Southern interests: the North em-

of more dangerous, weather-dependent sailing trips. In 1832, one

bracing the new, industrial possibilities while the South remained

disapproving observer wrote of this new freedom of movement:

firmly agrarian in its economy and culture.

“The practice of summer traveling among the gentry and their

Cholera killed tens of thousands of Americans during a pandemic in the 1830s and 1840s. In this handbill from the 1840s, New York City’s “Medical Counsel” offered recommendations to avoid the illness. The true cause of cholera was not identified until 1854, by Englishman John Snow.

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imitators is quite a modern affair. Our forefathers, when our cities

Bellevue, established in 1825, renovated itself to become one of

were small, found no place more healthy or attractive than their

Newport’s first large hotels, and the popularity of the little city grew

homes.” This was probably true in

quickly, to the extent that, each summer

America, where the era of the resort

month, hundreds of visitors arrived,

was just beginning, but Europeans had

failed to find accommodations, and left

been going to spas since the Bronze Age

the same day.

(roughly 3000 to 600 B.C.) to “take the

A tenet of business is that supply

waters” (internally or externally) at

meets demand, and Newport re-

hot springs in places later known as

sponded with the massive Atlantic

Serangeum, Greece; Wiesbaden, Ger-

House — its white-columned portico

many; Baden, Austria; Aix, France; and

redolent of Washington, D.C.’s White

Bath, England.

House — and the luxurious Ocean

Saratoga Springs, N.Y., aided by

House, which started with 125 lodging

steamships plying the Hudson River

rooms, burned down within four years,

during the 1830s, became one of Amer-

and was rebuilt with long, double-

ica’s first popular resorts, attracting such

tiered porches and accommodations

notables as the orator Daniel Webster

for 600, earning sufficient fame to

and U.S. Vice-Presidents John C. Cal-

become the namesake for the “Ocean

houn and Martin Van Buren. Saratoga’s

House Polka.” The Atlantic House and

appeal to genteel society was augmented

The Ocean House were built atop the

by the construction of grand hotels and

raised spine of Newport, and the city

ballrooms. The same evolution would be true for Newport, al-

was becoming known as “Saratoga By The Sea.” Along Bellevue

though the “watering” there meant bathing at Easton’s Beach rather

Street (as it was then known), a cooling breeze from east or west,

than drinking the iron-rich water that Saratoga advertised. The

north or south, could be felt (thus the earlier placement of the

Music score of the “Ocean House Polka,” one of four polkas written for the 1856 The Season in Newport, which also included polkas named for the Atlantic House, Bellevue House, and Fillmore House hotels.

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windmills). The hotels featured ornate dining rooms, parlors, and

introductions were expected. Without having the usual clues to

ballrooms, with well-tended paths and grounds that presented an

status or class that a common acquaintance might provide, guests

opportunity for ladies to “promenade,” as was the style of the day.

would turn to the next person and strike up a conversation. Thus,

In the new hotel culture, strict social proprieties could not be

anyone with fine clothes and good manners could reinvent himself

maintained. With hundreds of strangers living in one building and

or herself. As Boston attorney George Makepeace Towle observed,

dining at long, public tables in massive dining rooms (in the second

American resorts included “spurious Italian counts and German

Ocean House, the dining room was 130 feet long), no formal

music teachers with a spiritual air” because, inevitably, confidence

“City and Harbor of Newport, from Fort Adams”— an easterly view, drawn by John Collins.

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had money to spend, so local businesses adapted to their tastes,

men would blend into the migratory community of a resort.

Because the Industrial Revolution had put more money into

offering fine clothing and shoes and expensive gifts. In 1850, the

more hands, a social democratization was taking place in America,

Newport Mercury observed: “Newport has doubtless settled into a

and at its new resorts. Now, not only the wealthy went to Newport

watering place and for the future must only be known as such. This

or Saratoga: individuals of various backgrounds could now afford

we cannot but deplore ... [but] we have grown dependent upon

a few days or weeks at a resort, which meant a constant turnover

them [visitors].”

of guests. As one resort visitor wrote: “I have been here but a few

After decades of decline, the small, humbled city began to revive,

weeks and have survived several generations.”

in part because of the improved travel options: trains from Boston

Newport, though unable to generate its own industry, now rec-

now reached down to Fall River, where passengers could transfer to

ognized its appeal and understood its customers. The hotels’ guests

a Newport-bound steamship, while New Yorkers and travelers from

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further south could take trains to Wickford, R.I., then board one of

from disapproving, older relatives and neighbors with long mem-

the many steamships that regularly crossed Narragansett Bay.

ories. Resorts made difficult the careful guarding of young women

Newport’s popularity and status grew at the same time that the

and gave them an opportunity to escape their daily, expected roles

country’s class structure was being overhauled. Previously, the rich-

and the protective circle of familiar friends.

est Americans had been landowners, traders, or merchants; now,

Newport, once near the geographic center of American com-

the establishment of factories and the advent of railroads and

merce, watched the country expand to the south and west and,

steamship companies had cre-

by 1850, found itself tucked up

ated a new segment of wealth,

into the country’s northeast

including

owners

corner, from where it was clear

whose workers were drawn from

that Newport could never have

the new class of immigrants,

achieved its mercantile dreams:

mostly European, at the other

its geography was against it.

end of the economic spectrum.

And, there may have been a se-

In the first half of the 1800s,

cond reason: the character of

the United States was still find-

Newport’s people. They may

ing its way. This bold experi-

have lacked the relentless am-

ment in democracy had started

bition so crucial to great suc-

with several advantages: no

cess. Why? Perhaps they were

aristocracy to overcome; a con-

too well-balanced and had too

company

tinent of virgin land; remarkable natural resources; and an adven-

healthy a perspective on life to be obsessed with money-making;

turous, independent population. Still to be decided was its morals:

living next to the sea can do that. But, one Rhode Island native,

would they be closer to the Puritans of Massachusetts or the lais-

living down in New York City and working as a tailor, recognized

sez-faire fun-lovers of New Orleans? Summer travel provided an

an opportunity and he seized it, changing Newport and its

opportunity for people to step out of their everyday lives, away

reputation forever.

Above: The Atlantic House, a Greek Revival-style resort hotel, was situated at the corner of Bellevue Avenue and Pelham Street, next to Touro Park.

Opposite: View of Newport and the harbor, a daguerreotype apparently taken from the Atlantic House in the mid-1800s.

The stone structure in Touro Park is Newport Tower, believed to be the remains of an English-design windmill built in the late 1600s.

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C H A P T E R

T H R E E

BUILDING NEWPORT

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T H R E E

BUILDING NEWPORT “Newport or Saratoga? — That is the question now among the ... fashionable belles and beaux of this city and of Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Which is to be the fashionable place?” ~ NEW YORK EVENING EXPRESS

I

T WAS an age of

is the story of Alfred Smith, whose foresight laid the foundation

opportunity.

for Newport’s greatest fame.

In America, a clever man could make a fortune investing in rail-

roads or steamships, catch the upswing in a land speculation, or be

The hotels at the north end of Bellevue Street were highly

among the first to recognize a need, an interest, or a market.

profitable in the first half of the 19th century, but the daily to-

Commerce was booming because faster, cheaper transportation

getherness imposed upon hundreds of guests did not appeal to

meant that products could be sold far beyond the borders of a city,

everyone. Smith, born in nearby Middletown, R.I., was the unas-

a state, or even the country itself.

suming son of a deacon, and after learning the tailor’s trade in

The profits began to multiply, and the names of the rich

Newport and Providence, made his way down to New York City.

started to emerge: John Jacob Astor, the fur trader and real-estate

A possessor of the frugal gene, Smith slept in his shop to save

investor; Cornelius Vanderbilt, the steamship and railroad owner;

money until, at about the age of 30, he arranged a trip back to

Charles Scribner, the publisher; Potter Palmer, the Chicago hote-

Rhode Island and was asked by a wealthy customer to deliver the

lier and businessman, et al. But history often misses the other

funds for a real-estate purchase in Newport — and the tailor rec-

names, those of the individuals who saw an opportunity, seized it,

ognized the opportunity.

and after changing the course of events, quietly stepped back. That

In 1835, George Engs, Rhode Island’s lieutenant governor,

Overleaf: Bellevue Avenue in the 1880s. In the foreground is the Travers Block, designed by Richard Morris Hunt; to the right is the Newport Casino, designed by McKim, Mead & White for the mercurial James Gordon Bennett, Jr. Opposite: An 1879 aerial view of Newport, looking west. Brenton Point (upper left), the eventual site of the Newport Country Club, was still farmland. Bellevue Avenue, already lengthened and widened, runs from center right to lower left, where it makes a sharp right turn.

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bought the Kay family’s Newport estate and divided it into lots; four years later, the first great summer house, Kingscote, was built on Bellevue Street by George Noble Jones. During this time, the east side of Newport was mostly open fields where farmers’ scarecrows had magnificent views of picturesque Easton Bay. Smith put these three facts together, and using his penny-pinched savings, took the first step of joining with Charles Russell in 1839 to purchase 300 acres of land south and east of Touro Street; after they divided the land and sold the lots, Smith then had enough money to begin buying the farmers’ cliff-top fields.

Although he had an entrepreneur’s vision, that would have been useless if Smith was not also a smooth-talking salesman. When a potential customer took a seat in the land agent’s one-horse chaise, the outcome was inevitable, if sometimes bewildering. Julia Ward Howe wrote: “... my husband became one of his victims. I say this because Dr. Howe made the purchase without much deliberation. In fact, he could scarcely have told anyone why he made it.” The persuasive Smith also coerced the Newport Town Council into broadening and extending Bellevue Street south through the Hazard family’s farm and down to the end of the

Alfred Smith (1809-1886), a tailor who became a Newport real-estate agent and developer, combined admirable taste with good business sense and may be more responsible for the evolution of Newport’s mansions and Gilded Age-personality than any other individual.

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island; he also convinced the council to change the road’s name to

and sold over more than 35 years. And his profits often didn’t end

the grander-sounding “Bellevue Avenue.”

with the sale: Smith held the mortgages on a variety of homes and

Blessed with a strong aesthetic sense (perhaps inevitable in a

he used a consistent interest rate of 73/10 percent because he said he

tailor), Smith designed gardens and re-contoured the landscapes

liked the simplicity of making two cents a day on every $100

on many of the hundreds of Newport properties that he bought

loaned. Despite becoming a multi-millionaire, Smith drove his own

Chateau-sur-Mer, one of the first Newport mansions, was built in the 1850s in the style of an Italian villa, then remodeled in the 1870s

by Richard Morris Hunt in a Second Empire French style; the structure is now regarded as an example of High Victorian (translation: eclectic) architecture. For more than 30 years, Chateau-sur-Mer was considered the finest house in Newport.

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carriage, chose to live on the less-grand north side of the city, and

Olmsted. “It was a satisfaction found in its air and scenery by people

never sought to join Newport’s summer society. A church social

of a rather reserved, unobtruding, contemplative, and healthily sen-

suited Smith and his wife just fine.

timental turn, little troubled by social ambitions. Social attractions

From the 1840s into the 1860s, the prevailing summer influence in Newport came from Boston’s intellectual elite, who included the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; Julia Ward Howe, writer of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”; Charles Sumner, the abolitionist and U.S. senator; the painter William Morris Hunt; and the writer and physician Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes. Philoso-

came with them, and fashion, as is

Striking It Rich IN 1875, two years after writing The Gilded Age, Mark

Twain and his family escaped the summer heat of Hartford, Conn., by spending the summer at Bateman’s Hotel on Brenton Point. The writer William Wright joined them for a week while Twain, owner of a publishing company, read Wright’s manuscript The Big Bonanza. One hundred years later, the book, about Virginia City, Nev., and the 1859 Comstock Lode silver strike, became the inspiration for the television western Bonanza.

usual, followed social attractions.”

Henry James, later to become famous as a novelist, wrote in magazine articles that Newport was “substantial and civilized,” unlike Saratoga, which he described as “absolutely common.”

The Newport/Saratoga debate had, in James’s view, been concluded.

Down in New York City, the “old money” and “new money” were decid-

phy, religion, and history were their

ing upon the “right” and fashionable

preferred subjects for discussion; they

place to spend the summer. Long Is-

organized lectures on music and

land — best-known for its potato

art; and writers who visited New Eng-

fields — did not interest them, and

land, among them Robert Louis

Saratoga — where the hotels attracted

Stevenson, Bret Harte, and Anthony

all classes of visitors, including the raff-

Trollope, arranged stays in Aquid-

ish elements drawn to gambling and

neck’s port city during a time that

racetracks — was losing its appeal.

came to be known as Newport’s

Newport, with its new housing lots

Golden Age.

that possessed extraordinary water

According to the landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted, the

views and the accompanying caché of exclusivity, was becoming a

Bostonians’ presence was the reason that New York’s high society

more attractive option.

coveted the place. “It was not fashion that first brought people of

In the early 1850s, Delancey Kane built “Beach Cliffe,” a French-

luxurious tastes, with means for indulging them, to Newport,” wrote

style chateau and one of Newport’s first European-influenced

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manor houses, and George Wetmore constructed Chateau-sur-

carried the headline: “The City of Cottages: Decline of Newport

Mer, a rare blend of High Victorian style and granite exterior that

Hotel Life.” In confirmation, the Atlantic House went out of busi-

is one of the still-standing early “cottages” — the humorously

ness the following year.

mocking term applied to the city’s mansions. Within two years, the

An era doesn’t usually acquire its name until after its time has

number of non-residents who owned land in Newport went

passed and its character has been fully revealed. The “Victorian Era,”

from 12 to 60; by 1860, when August Belmont

for example, did not come into common usage

built his manor house “By-the-Sea,” Newport’s

until after England’s long-lived, very proper

destiny was clear.

monarch died in 1901. But, The Gilded Age:

Boston’s studious piety and New York’s

A Tale of Today, the satirical novel written in

aggressive commercialism have never meshed

1873 by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley

well, and the Brahmins yielded Newport, most

Warner, recognized the epoch’s essence in its

of them moving on to other summer colonies,

early years: a beautiful golden surface that hid

most notably Nahant and Boston’s North Shore,

what lay beneath. The book lampooned America

both easily accessible by train, along with Bar

for its corruption, materialism, and hypocritical

Harbor, Maine, and later Cape Cod. Also with-

contradictions in the first eight years after the

drawing from Newport were the Southern

Civil War. Twain, 38 years old at the time of pub-

families, due to hardening feelings between the

lication, was still an optimist and didn’t believe

North and South during the late 1850s.

the want of ethics would continue for decades.

Newport’s grand hotels, their reign unex-

The country, solidified by the bloodiest civil

pectedly brief, disappeared, too. The Bellevue

war in world history, returned to its Industrial

Hotel closed in 1870, and the Atlantic House’s slide in status was

Revolution, and the commercial successes were extraordinary:

obvious by the Civil War. The U.S. Naval Academy, situated in

railroads were spreading through every state; coal mines were being

Annapolis, Md., and unsettlingly close to the Confederates, was

dug; buildings, aided by steel and electricity, were rising far above the

re-located north to the safety of Newport, where the cadets lived

usual three or four stories and changing cities’ skylines; and factories

for four years at the Atlantic House. In 1875, The New York Times

were burgeoning. But, inside the mines and factories, children as

Mark Twain, the creator of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, was also a Newport summer visitor. He gave “The Gilded Age” its name in an 1873 satirical novel.

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young as seven and eight years old were working 72 hours a week.

And within walking distance of the millionaires’ new, stylish homes on New York’s Fifth Avenue was the brutal Five Points slum, where gang war and murder were as common as the garishly dressed child prostitutes. It was truly a gilded age.

Before the Civil War, America’s class structure was clear; deference to the rich was expected, and usually given. But a bettereducated populace, cheaper transportation, and booming industry had enriched the country. The class distinctions began to blur, and respect waned for the wealthy, formerly regarded as “one’s betters.”

The newly rich, yielding to the temptation of vanity, looked for ways to distinguish themselves from the lower classes they had just left and chose to imitate royalty, who for centuries had enjoyed grand houses, exclusive parties, and obvious displays of wealth.

In Newport, dances at the Ocean House gave way to invitationonly gatherings at private mansions. The hotel/promenade ethos: “to see and be seen” was nearly gone, its last vestige being the lateafternoon tradition of “coaching,” when families — usually women and their daughters — would dress up and be driven in ornate coaches up and down Bellevue Avenue, passing one another repeatedly and giving the appropriate wave or nod — or eyes-averted dismissal. Caroline Belmont, not given to understatement, had a four-horse, Paris-built carriage driven by two postillions (riders on horseback) dressed as jockeys.

Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, shown here in a painting she commissioned, was feared and reviled because of her power as a society queen.

Her life was largely devoted to deciding who was “in” socially and who was “out.”

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Human nature remains constant, our behavior fluctuating with the pressure or freedom of circumstance. Adults, when given great wealth, rarely respond better than ungoverned children: pettiness and pride generally triumph over kindness and charity. Society in the Gilded Age had its precedent in Paris of the late 1700s when the French aristocracy, given luxury and ease, became obsessed with their pleasures and their court intrigues.

Until the Civil War, the moneyed, established families on the east coast of America held social power. Then opportunity (often in the form of government contracts during the war) created so much new wealth that the old social structure began to break down.

If a social aristocracy were to exist, someone would have to sort through all the newcomers and decide who deserved to be “in,” who was “out,” and why. Ward McAllister and Caroline Astor believed they knew who should do the choosing.

McAllister, a pompous little man who wore a curled, waxed Napoleon III moustache and Van Dyke beard, carried a walking stick and alternated between lofty arrogance and groveling obsequiousness. Raised in Georgia, he was a cousin of Julia Ward Howe and so arrived in the Northeast with an acceptable lineage imprimatur. After a brief legal career, McAllister married into a wealthy family, bought a farm in Newport (for which he occasionally rented sheep and cattle, to give it an “animated” look), and sought a new career as an attendant to the throne of society, craving the ephemeral

Ward McAllister, the obedient sycophant of Caroline Astor, was ridiculed on this magazine cover as a jackass because of his arrogance and snobbish adoption of British airs.

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power of influential advisor. But, with whom to ally himself?

C L U B

say that Caroline Astor looked like “a walking chandelier.”

Caroline Belmont had the right bloodlines: she was the daughter

Modesty was not Mrs. Astor’s forte, despite having little to be

of the decorated naval hero Commodore Matthew Perry, and she

modest about. When receiving guests at her parties, she stood

was married to a wealthy, ambitious man. But, August Belmont, a

beneath a full-length portrait of herself and, during the evening, sat

German-born Jew who had dropped his religion and changed

on a red-velvet divan on a stage, to which selected individuals were

his name (from “Schönberg”), was a friend of the

invited to come and speak with her (though they were not re-

egregiously corrupt Boss Tweed of Tammany Hall;

quired to kiss her rings). The large Astor family had sev-

also, the Belmonts’ parties were embarrassingly

eral Mrs. Astors, of course, but Caroline decided that

heavy-handed efforts at showing off August’s

she was the important one and reduced her calling

wealth, acquired since he came to New York as

cards to simply “Mrs. Astor” — intentionally

a representative of the Rothchilds (who,

slighting Mrs. William Waldorf (Mary) Astor.

despite employing Belmont, neither liked

But, Caroline would learn, as Newport already

nor trusted him).

had, that the bill for hubris always comes due.

What McAllister needed was a woman

The arrival of the Van Rensselaers, Liv-

who sought the absolute power of a society

ingstons, Schermerhorns, Tiffanys, Stuyvestants,

queen and whose husband was wealthy but ab-

Lorillards, and other New York families firmly es-

sent (William Astor, Jr., proved to be admirably

tablished Newport as the premier resort for Amer-

over-qualified on both counts). Although Caroline

ica’s richest people. Caroline Astor, having taken

Schermerhorn Astor had nothing regal about her, pos-

control of New York society by wielding the weapon of

sessing a stout build, a heavy jaw, prominent nose, and hu-

exclusion, in 1881 purchased Beechwood estate in Newport —

morless eyes (“She was really homely, no looks at all,” admitted one

upon McAllister’s advice — with the intent of expanding her do-

of her nieces), she had enough money to make diamonds her trade-

main. Two million dollars were spent on renovations, including con-

mark, and she wore them on every finger, in necklaces (as many as

struction of the requisite ballroom, McAllister then guided his

204 diamonds in one necklace), and in her hair (or, rather, in her

benefactress’s choices of food, wine, flowers, decoration, music, and,

black wig). The overall effect caused one sharp-tongued observer to

of course, guests.

James Gordon Bennett, Jr., publisher of the New York Herald, had the ego and money to live a very public, self-indulgent life notably lacking in self-restraint.

Once, during a polo match, Bennett hit a teammate in the head with his mallet because he was unhappy with the other man’s play.

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Unlike the Boston intellectuals for whom “the life of the mind”

after sainted ancestor and dynasty founder John Jacob Astor (who

was paramount, Caroline Astor’s standard for choosing her guests

was derided by his envious contemporaries as “the rabbit skinner”).

was not wit, knowledge, nor artistic talent, but social position —

The acceptability standard devised by Caroline was meant to

and this, she claimed, depended upon how many generations had

exclude her perceived social rivals, the Vanderbilts, whose riches

passed since a family was “in the trade” (translation: doing physical

emanated from Cornelius, a former ferryman whose millions did

labor). Caroline’s husband was a member of the second generation

not mask his rough manners; his greater sin, according to Caroline,

An early example of Victorian Shingle-Style architecture, the Newport Casino (where gambling did not take place) was open to men and women, was the site of the first U.S. national tennis tournament (1881), and also featured archery, bowling, court tennis, horse shows, concerts, and theatrical performances.

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was that he was part of the previous generation, which meant that

about invitations, clothes, and proprieties. Among the women who

the Vanderbilts were nouveaux riches and thus carried the whiff of

annually trooped north was Elizabeth Lehr, though her obeisance

sweat, disqualifying them from high society.

was accompanied by a somber recognition that life in the social

McAllister, eager to support his imperious sovereign, made

whirl was serious business: “... Newport is the Holy of Holies, the

the audacious claim that New York had only 400 socially re-

playground of the great ones of the earth from which all intruders

spectable people (assumed to be the number who would fit into

were ruthlessly excluded by a set of cast-iron rules.” One writer

the ballroom at Mrs. Astor’s New York mansion). Anyone outside

stated that girls “made their formal debuts in New York coming-

of the select 400, McAllister claimed, “are either not at ease in a

out parties and balls, but Newport was the display case for them.”

ballroom or else make other people not at ease.” This was all

Mothers schemed to marry their daughters to the wealthiest,

fairly silly, of course, but it did provide steady entertainment for

most socially prominent men available in America. Then the stakes

the newspaper-reading public who followed society’s comings,

were raised. Despite the Revolutionary War and the not-too-distant

goings, parties, and scandals. At this time, the rich were America’s

War of 1812, America had plenty of Anglophiles; 300,000 New

celebrities because actors were then regarded as clever

Yorkers turned out to watch the 19-year-old Prince of Wales ride

vagabonds; actresses were seen as little better than prostitutes;

in a carriage down Broadway in 1860.

and professional athletes (mainly boxers and baseball players)

Because fortunes were being made and lost in America, there

were perceived as coarse roughnecks.

was always “new money,” and high society felt burdened by the

As New York’s richest women followed one another to Newport

constant problem of fighting off the nouveaux riches. Britain, on

and Alfred Smith’s property lots, an architectural competition began.

the other hand, had no problem with new money because the

Like theater producers demanding bigger, more awe-inspiring sets,

nation had an entrenched, unassailable aristocracy: 27 dukes, with

these willful ladies hired the best architects — Richard Morris Hunt

primogeniture inheritance and entailed estates to prevent their

(brother of the famous painter William); Philadelphia’s Horace

being broken up. The aristocracy often had great lands and posses-

Trumbauer; Boston’s Peabody and Stearns; Newport’s Dudley

sions, but little money. Enter the American heiress.

Newton; and the new firm of McKim, Mead & White — to build

Among the first notable unions was the 1874 marriage of Jennie

them “cottages” in an unsubtle game of one-upmanship.

Jerome to Lord Randolph Churchill, which quickly produced a son,

Social Newport was a woman’s world: claims were staked upon

whom they named Winston. Socially ambitious mothers immediately

the best nights for parties; dismay, resentment, or anger was felt

recognized that if their daughter married an English duke, marquess,

over perceived or intended slights; and concerns were constant

earl, viscount, or even a baron, that would give them the trump card

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of social standing. In 1876, Consuelo Yznaga married the ill-behaved

avoided their wives’ teas, receptions, musicales and other extrava-

Viscount Mandeville, but he would become the 8th Duke of

ganzas by taking the train or steamboat north for weekend visits;

Manchester. During the next 30 years, more than 100 rich, American

and, after these men arrived, they still sought refuge, which

daughters married titled Englishmen.

explains the 1853 creation of the

The crest of the tide came in 1895,

Newport Reading Room, a gentle-

when nine transatlantic marriages

men’s club that did, indeed, have a

wedded American money to English

library, along with a bar, a dining

aristocracy, including Consuelo Van-

room, and billiard tables — and no

derbilt (named after her mother’s

female members.

friend, now the Duchess of Manches-

After the mansions were built

ter) to the 9th Duke of Marlborough,

and Newport’s grand hotels closed,

who proposed in Newport.

the wealthiest summer residents

And what about the American

withdrew into their estates. In-

fathers who were, generally, the ones

evitably, the society matrons ex-

providing their daughters’ dowries?

cluded Newport, which they came to

They usually stepped in only when

regard as basically a service commu-

the marriage contracts were being

nity, one that could provide the

drawn up, leaving the other arrange-

necessary gardeners, maids, manser-

ments to their wives. This at-arm’s-

vants, plumbers, and carpenters,

length attitude regarding betrothals

and had shops operated by grocers,

was an extension of the men’s avoidance of Newport’s social world.

butchers, bakers, and purveyors of adult beverages. Newport took

Caroline Astor’s husband stayed on his yacht in the company of

on a medieval flavor: lords and ladies keeping their distance from

young women, generally sailing anywhere but Newport; other men

the craftsmen, merchants, and common folk who lived in the town.

Ladies at Bailey’s Beach. In the Victorian era, women were expected to cover their bodies — revealing only their head and hands — whenever they were out in public, even when bathing. Because pale skin and a fragile appearance were highly prized, Victorian women wore large hats when outdoors and often took a small amount of arsenic every day to cause the desired pallor.

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But, every class has its maverick, and James Gordon Bennett, Jr.,

in France, Bennett spent time in Pau, at the foot of the Pyrenees,

was no follower.

where a large British community enjoyed the sports of tennis and

The publisher of the New York Herald who sent the reporter

golf. When Bennett returned to Newport, he commissioned the firm

Henry Stanley to Africa to find the explorer Dr. Livingstone; who

of McKim, Mead & White to design the Newport Casino, which fea-

donated a ship to the Northern cause during the Civil War, enlisted,

tured restaurants, a theater, a ballroom, piazzas for socializing, and

and commanded his ship in naval action; who won the first transat-

lawns for tennis. Here, anyone — male or female — could host a

lantic yacht race; and who organized the first polo match in the U.S.,

party, a dance, or a dinner, or step onto the courts, racquet in hand.

enjoyed a scandalous and much-discussed personal life. While living

At the Casino, exclusivity itself was banished.

An open landau carriage with a driver, footman, and a black-and-white team of horses was high-style “coaching” in Newport in the 1800s.

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And so it was that after a difficult century, Newport had

community that later became known as “the Fifth Ward.” And

revived. Guided by the vision of Alfred Smith and paid for by its

Easton’s Beach, regarded as “the Common Beach,” was renovated

summer socialites, the old commercial port reincarnated itself as a

to have a Coney Island-like atmosphere for the entertainment of

resort. As its economy strengthened, its working class grew until a

local residents and middle-class vacationers.

new neighborhood was necessary: at the south end of Thames

Small, old Newport, having found its new self, was now ready

Street, where narrow streets and small houses were built into a

for the era for which it would always be known.

After 1888, electric streetcars (known as “trolleys” because their overhead electric connection “trolls” along electrical wires) began to replace horse-drawn streetcars. A trolley is shown on Newport’s Bath Road, between Bellevue Avenue and Easton’s Beach, which had been the preferred bathing site of the wealthy. When trolleys made Easton’s Beach accessible to everyone, including mill workers from Fall River, Newport’s mansion owners founded Bailey’s Beach, a private club at the intersection of Bellevue Avenue and Ocean Drive.

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C H A P T E R

F O U R

THE GILDED AGE

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C H A P T E R

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THE GILDED AGE “Such an outpouring of riches! It is like walking on gold.” ~ G R A ND D U K E BORIS VLADIMIROVICH OF RUSSIA, AFTER VISITING NEWPORT

T

HE BREAKERS.

and architecture of Italy. These countries were seen as possessing

Ochre Court. Marble House. The Elms.

the highest levels of sophistication and taste.

Rosecliff. Chateau-sur-Mer. These were the grandiose symbols of Newport’s Gilded Age.

And that was just what Richard Morris Hunt was counting on.

Inspired by the great houses of France, England, and Italy, they

The first American to study architecture at the École des Beaux-

were unlike anything ever seen in still-young America and so

Arts, where a reverence for the classical elements of European ar-

self-consciously opulent that writer James Huneker observed,

chitecture was taught, Hunt was studying in Paris when Napoleon

“All that has been said of Newport you may safely set down as

III and Baron Haussmann began their transformation of that war-

an understatement.”

ren of medieval alleyways and densely packed structures into a city

The United States, barely past its 100th birthday, had pushed

of grand boulevards and classically styled buildings. With travels

back the wilderness and was eager to show Europe and the world

through Italy, Greece, Egypt, and England, Hunt expanded his un-

that it had prospered and was now their equal in every way:

derstanding of architecture’s possibilities. His grasp of the field was

monetarily, militarily, and culturally. Like younger siblings desper-

so evident that he was hired to help design an extension to the Lou-

ate to impress, Americans copied what they admired: English

vre, which led to the offer of an architecturalcareer in Paris. The

manners and literature, French fashion and cooking, and the art

27-year-old architect’s choice was: the refinement of France, where

Overleaf: A detail from the Gold Room in Marble House, designed by Richard Morris Hunt for William K. Vanderbilt, who then gave the house to his wife as a birthday present. Upon its completion in 1892, Marble House was regarded as the most opulent home in the United States.

Opposite: The dining room at Marble House affirmed American society’s admiration in the late 1800’s for French style; the portraits are of the French Kings Louis XIV and XV.

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he was already a success, or an anonymous return to a rough-hewn

later, he introduced himself to Newport with the Griswold

America. But, if it were the latter, Hunt would be, according to the

house: an asymmetrical, gabled, stick-style building with Gothic

architect Henry Van Brunt, “accredited as an ambassador of art

elements, influenced by the half-timber houses of the French

from the abounding wealth of the old world to the infinite possi-

coast. A few years later, Hunt showed Newport his versatility with

bilities of the new.”

a Second Empire re-design of Chateau-

Hunt well-understood the dichotomy.

sur-Mer that included a turret, mansard

“It has been represented to me that America

roofs, and a square tower. A tireless worker

was not ready for the Fine Arts, but I think

known for his eight-minute lunches,

they are mistaken. There is no place in the

Hunt’s repertoire seemed endless: a chapel

world where they are more needed, or where

at Princeton University; a nine-story brick

they should be more encouraged.” What he

building and clock tower for the New York

brought back with him in 1855, along with

Tribune; the much-admired Lenox Library

an extraordinary library of 5,000 architec-

in New York City; a building for Yale’s Di-

ture books, was an architectural flexibility

vinity School; and a variety of dissimilar

— a willingness to mix and match elements

houses and other structures.

of the classical repertoire: Georgian, Gothic,

Hunt, his social skills honed in Paris,

Greek, French Renaissance, Tuscan, Nor-

was able to get along with the most difficult

man, Romanesque, Italianate, et al. Rather

of clients — as proven by his ability to work

than being an innovator, Hunt was a con-

with Alva Vanderbilt, who described herself

duit of Europe’s best to an energetic and still-maturing country

as “a natural dictator.” The daughter of a Southern planter, Alva

that would need to imitate the old while finding its own style.

gained a European taste for grandeur when her family lived in Paris

His first American project was the Tenth Street Studio Build-

during the Civil War. Although she arrived after Hunt had left, she

ing, a red-brick and sandstone structure with intricate moldings

saw years of Haussmann’s redesign of Paris and envied his power

and bands, the first of its kind in New York City. A short time

to construct great buildings. She returned to the United States with

Richard Morris Hunt, a major influence in the 19th century upon nascent American architecture, designed Newport’s The Breakers, Ochre Court, and Marble House, along with the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty, the facade of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, and George Vanderbilt’s 250-room Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.

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her bankrupt family in 1871, and they went to New York City,

This success resulted in Alva hiring Hunt to build what would

where her mother opened a boardinghouse. But, the daughters of

become one of the showplaces of the age: Newport’s Marble House,

the South’s now-impoverished, “best” families had their “Belle Un-

made of 500,000 cubic feet of white marble and modeled after the

derground,” through which they tried to help each other gain in-

Petit Trianon at Versailles and the Temple of the Sun at Heliopolis,

troductions to rich, potential husbands. Although Alva,

Greece (although most American visitors first associate it with

according to an unkind acquain-

the White House). Completed in

tance, looked like “an intelligent

1892, the palace cost $11 million,

Pekinese,” she could be charm-

of which $9 million (the equiva-

ing, and William K. Vanderbilt

lent, 120 years later, of more than

was charmed.

$207 million) was spent on deco-

The grandson of “The Com-

rations that included ceiling paint-

modore” had millions of dollars,

ings, bronze sculptures, carved gilt

and as soon as “Willie” and Alva

panels, yellow marble from Italy,

were married in 1875, she happily

and pink marble from North

began spending it. Hunt was hired

Africa. Finished in 1892, the Van-

to build the couple a Fifth Avenue

derbilts spent only two summers

townhouse that would be like

there before divorcing; the acquis-

no other — and it was: a French

itive Alva kept Marble House.

chateau of pale limestone that possessed both medieval and Gothic

The following year, Hunt completed a strange request from

elements and was an abrupt change from New York’s proliferation of

the Belmont family: a combination stables and carriage house in

bleak, chocolate-colored brownstones. The magnificent home

Newport that eventually featured 60 rooms and a blending of Ital-

boosted Alva’s social standing and made Hunt famous. Architect

ian, French, and English elements. One visitor, overstating the

Charles McKim said he tried to walk past the house every evening

truth somewhat, described Belcourt Castle as “a palatial stable with

because “I can sleep better knowing it’s there.”

an incidental apartment and an incidental ballroom.” Situated on

A sketch by Richard Morris Hunt of his design for interior doors at Newport’s Marble House. The structure, which had 50 rooms, was designed for William Vanderbilt, the brother of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, who built The Breakers.

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the other side of Bellevue Avenue from Marble House, Belcourt

Latin phrases of the bookplates in his architecture library; one,

Castle also became the property of the sharp-eyed Alva when she

translated, says: “Art is long. Life is short.” The other, which was put

married the Belmont family’s scion, who gave her the property as

on Hunt’s tombstone in Newport, is: “Labor is prayer.”

a wedding gift.

He died in the summer of 1895, shortly before The Breakers

When fire destroyed Cornelius Vanderbilt II’s renovated New-

was opened, but Richard Morris Hunt and the Vanderbilts had

port mansion, The Breakers, in November 1892, Hunt had

transformed Newport and Bellevue Avenue, and America’s

the opportunity to put a capstone on his Newport

view of itself.

work and give the city its most regal edifice. The

Few of the other extraordinary houses built in

70-room house, built in the style of an Italian

Newport were conceived on such a large scale.

Renaissance Genoa palazzi, was 250 by 150

McKim, Mead & White, having shown their tal-

feet, plus a kitchen wing, and featured a 45-

ents to Newport with the Casino for James Gor-

foot-high great hall; a 16th-century French

don Bennett, Jr., were hired almost con-

stone chimney piece; a billiards room walled

currently to design a summer home for Robert

with Cippolino marble; ornate gilt paneling;

Goelet, the owner of extensive New York real

the now-expected ceiling paintings; and three

estate who preferred a more private life than the

rooms that were constructed (walls, floors, and

Vanderbilts or Astors. The firm, led by the ener-

ceiling) and decorated in France, then dismantled

getic Stanford White and the cooler Charles

and, accompanied by workmen, shipped to Newport

McKim, produced a four-story, shingled structure

and re-assembled.

built in a modern colonial style. White, who savored the

In the early 1890s, the industrious Hunt was also designing

play of light and shadow upon uneven surfaces, worked on many

George Washington Vanderbilt’s 255-room palace on the

shingle-building designs when he was a draftsman for the architect

Biltmore estate in North Carolina; the U.S. Naval Observatory, in

Henry Hobson Richardson, and White is credited with being the

Washington, D.C.; the first Fogg Art Museum at Harvard; Fifth

major influence on the Goelet house, known today as Ochre Point.

Avenue mansions for Elbridge Gerry and J.J. Astor; and the admin-

The home’s approachable, American character was emphasized by

istration building at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition in

its proximity to the French Renaissance limestone chateau built in

Chicago. The reason for Hunt’s productivity might be found in the

1892 by Hunt for Goelet’s next-door neighbor and brother, Ogden.

Robert Goelet, for whom Stanford White designed Ochre Point (1882), was one of the early leaders of the Newport Country Club.

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The Elms, designed by Philadelphia architect Horace Trum-

Newport of the late 1800s was, of course, not all parties and

bauer for the Berwind family, was also an adaptation of a French

balls, though the hard concerns of money-making were kept at a

chateau. His Clarendon Court, built for the Knight family, was

distance (“nowhere ... within the range of our better civilization,

based upon an early 1700s plan for an English estate that was never

does business seem so remote, so vague, and unreal,” wrote Henry

built, although that design was greatly influenced by the work of

James). Nights were meant for social gatherings, but the daylight

the 16th-century Italian Andrea Palladio, thus lending credence to

hours were open for recreation at a time when America, with its

the accusation that architects simply “rob the past.”

new-found leisure time and, in some cases, its new wealth, was

The east-facing mansions built along Ruggles and Ochre Point Avenues include The Breakers, top right, which has 70 rooms.

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developing an appetite for games and sports.

Horse racing — a primary attraction at Saratoga (though no track was ever built at Newport) — and boxing were wellestablished as the young nation’s favorite spectator sports, while crew and track and field were popular at colleges. “Driving,” a competition between horse carriages that was basically a latter-day version of chariot races, was preferred by Cornelius Vanderbilt, who bought the finest trotters of the day and regularly competed in afternoon races through undeveloped Upper Manhattan.

During the 1860s, a rudimentary form of football was played on Boston Common by a group of schoolboys who called themselves the Oneida Football Club. Baseball, with surprisingly deep historical roots, was evolving from several British, Irish, and European games. “Base-Ball” was the title of a 1744 English poem, and the sport was mentioned by Jane Austen in her book Northhanger Abbey (written 1798-99). In 1865, a baseball game in New Jersey drew a crowd of approximately 20,000.

But, Americans wanted to do more than just watch, they wanted to play.

On the frontier, foot-races, impromptu horse races, wrestling, and shooting competitions were common, along with bare-knuckle boxing. But, work was time-consuming, the west’s settlers were spread out, and travel was hard; as a result, sporting events were generally limited to nearby communities and rarely involved a woman — sharp-shooter Annie Oakley being one of the rare ex-

The Breakers, built during 1892-95, cost approximately $12 million. One hundred and twenty years later, this would be the equivalent of more than $250 million.

Following pages: the Gold Room ballroom and exterior (bottom) – Marble House; entrance gates – The Breakers; staircase – The Elms; statue and exterior (top) – Rosecliff.

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ceptions. At the time, women were regarded as having an extremely

trial Revolution had put some spending money into the pockets of

delicate nature (advertisements promoted the use of a little arsenic

potential paying spectators.

each day to give women a fashionably pale complexion), and they

The Encyclopedia of Sport (1897) renders the breadth of the age’s

were discouraged from extreme physical exertion for fear it might

sporting interests, describing hundreds of competitive and non-

affect their child-bearing futures. One woman who rejected this idea

competitive activities, including bull fighting, fencing, mountaineer-

was Louisa May Alcott, the writer of Little Women; every day, she ran

ing, fox hunting, hurling, lacrosse, cave exploration, horse racing,

several miles through the woods near her Concord,

horse driving, skiing, skating, sledding, wrestling, and

Mass., home.

water polo. Many of the 1,286 pages are devoted to

Due to a combination of easier travel

shooting, fishing, and hunting, including the

and increased leisure time,

pursuit of “maneaters.”

the 1800s became the most

Yacht racing, accorded 79

important century for sports’

pages, is described as “the

origin and evolution. Indeed,

peaceful complement of warlike

the concept of sport was chang-

naval power.” The New York Yacht

ing: The Sports and Pastimes of

Club brought the sea-going compe-

the People of England acknowl-

tition to Newport in the 1870s be-

edged that “Blind Man’s Bluff ” was

cause so many members had homes in

obsolete as a sport by 1801, as was

the summer colony and due to a recog-

“Leap-frog” (the book includes a curi-

nition of the favorable wind and geogra-

ous illustration showing monks and nuns engaged in this “sport”).

phy that had made Newport a home to clipper ships more than a

The 1840 Encyclopaedia of Rural Sports gave football (soccer) only

century before. In the Encyclopedia, yachting is acknowledged as “in-

a brief mention, but by 1870 the game had boomed and captured

accessible to the multitude” and the “elements of excitement derived

England’s sporting interest, due in great measure to the concurrent

from betting are absent,” while “the rules and science of the game are

growth of railroads, which allowed teams to travel farther and faster

so technical as to be appreciable only to those more or less initiated ...

for competitions than horse carriages ever allowed; also, the Indus-

[but, it] is the outcome of intense love of the sea.”

In the second half of the 1800s, a variety of clubs were established in Newport for sport, social, or dining purposes. Shown above are the yearbooks of the Westchester Polo Club, the Spouting Horn (Rock) Beach Association, and the Clambake Club, which usually contained the club’s by-laws, rules, and a list of members.

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For more than 500 years, the world’s smugglers and government

mer captain in the Queen’s 9th Royal Lancers, who in 1879 secured a

revenue officials, each with the other in mind, had sought new

place in Newport’s history when he accepted a challenge from Bennett

designs for sails and ships’ hulls, with speed being of the essence, more

and rode his polo pony into the Newport Reading Room.

important than armaments’ firepower or cargo loads. It was these de-

It is not surprising that the United States, having taken its lan-

signs that evolved into yachts, and so it was appropriate that Newport,

guage, customs, and manners from Great Britain, would also seek to

the former smuggling port, would became a center for yacht racing.

play its sports. The popularity of croquet in England led to the found-

James Gordon Bennett, Jr., who

ing of the Newport Croquet

would likely have been as at ease

Club in 1865, but the game’s

with smugglers as with yachts-

neat, level lawns helped cause

men, won the first transatlantic

croquet’s decline because they

yacht race in December 1866

were perfectly suited to another

and became the New York Yacht

new game: lawn tennis, which

Club’s youngest commodore at

could also be played by both

the age of 30.

sexes, together, and this had sig-

The ubiquitous Bennett also

nificant appeal in the straight-

brought polo across the Atlan-

laced Victorian Era. Wimbledon

tic, organizing the first game in

(originally named “The All Eng-

America in the winter of 1876 at

land Croquet Club”) held its first

a riding club in New York City; that spring, he took the game outdoors

lawn tennis championship in 1877, followed four years later by the

and gave it a home on his property at 110th Street, where the Giants

first U.S. championships, played at Bennett’s Newport Casino.

baseball team later played, calling their park “The Polo Grounds.”

Throughout the 1800s, America was defining itself by its man-

When the city’s claim of eminent domain forced the Giants to move;

ners, architecture, and inventions, along with the society, literature,

they re-settled at 155th Street and gave their new ballpark the old

music, art, and recreations that it embraced. And just before the

name. Bennett, eager to teach Americans how to play polo, brought

century ended, the country would find one more sport that suited

with him from England the free spirit Henry Augustus Candy, a for-

it: the old Scottish game of golf.

The Reading Room, a men’s club at the corner of Bellevue and Church, was founded in 1853 and served as a refuge from ladies’ social activities.

Later, many of its members also belonged to the Newport Golf and Country Clubs.

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C H A P T E R

F I V E

THE ANCIENT GAME ARRIVES

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F I V E

THE ANCIENT GAME ARRIVES “She was a mistress whom I adored.” ~ CHARLES BLAIR MACDONALD, SPEAKING OF GOLF

S

so, appar-

Dutch began playing various stick-and-ball games that evolved into

ently, does golf. Multiple countries: China, The Netherlands, Italy,

“chole” — played cross-country, sometimes from one town to an-

France, Belgium, England, and Laos, have staked their claim to the

other; “jeu de mail” — which translates to “game of the mall” and

game’s origins.

could be played on a long court or across country to a goal (some-

UCCESS HAS A THOUSAND FATHERS — and

The Chinese played “ch’ ui wan” (translation: “beating a ball”)

times a hole in the ground); “pall mall” — from the Italian “palla-

in 300 B.C., and a 15th-century painting shows the Emperor

maglio,” which means “ball and mallet” and was also played over a

Xuande holding an early version of a golf club and standing on

long court with the intent of hitting the ball through an iron arch

what looks like a practice putting green. The Romans of Caesar’s

at the far end; and “kolven” — played in The Netherlands with

time (the first century B.C.) played “paganica,” which used a leather

sticks strikingly similar to early golf clubs in both shape and length.

ball sewn together and stuffed with feathers, hair, or wool, pre-

The identity of the first person to use a curved stick to hit a stone

dating by more than 1,700 years the Scots’ “feathery” ball. The

into a hole will, of course, never be known: a bored shepherd is a

Laotians played “ti khi,” which could be an ancestor of golf or

common guess, and this pastime is supported by a German stipu-

field hockey.

lation of 1338 that the grazing area for a flock of sheep would be

Starting in the 13th century, the Belgians, French, English, and

determined by how far the shepherd could hit a stone with his staff.

Overleaf: Because Sundays were regarded as a day of worship, especially by England’s Puritans of the late 1500s and early 1600s, the playing of golf on the Sabbath was viewed as blasphemy by many ministers. In 1618, King James I of England (who was also King James VI of Scotland) confirmed the right of golfers to play on Sunday. Opposite: “Kolven” was among the variety of games played by the Dutch on ice with curved sticks.

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But, there can be no argument that the modern game of golf grew from the Scottish seed. To the east coast of Scotland, the Dutch wool traders brought their “kolven” sticks (often used on ice, as shown in old Dutch paintings), and there found fields of grass closely cropped by sheep and rabbits, although the sheep, having helped create ideal fairways, also contributed something more confounding: bunkers. During centuries of seeking shelter from wind and driving rain, the sheep had worn through the foot of sod in hollows and hillsides, revealing the sand underneath.

(The existence of bunkers on golf courses throughout the world is an imitation of the east coast of Scotland.)

The first golf courses were laid out on the low-lying, treeless ground that linked the beaches of the North Sea to higher, fertile, farmable soil. This “links land,” wrote Alister MacKenzie, who helped design Augusta, Royal Melbourne, and Cypress Point, “consisting as it does of rolling sand dune country partially covered with gorse, heather, bent and short ‘rabbity’ turf, is specially suitable.”

And these courses didn’t need to be “built”; instead, routings were found through the natural contours, holes were cut, and the sheep and rabbits willingly accepted their maintenance duties.

The Scots loved the game, so much so that King James II in 1457 prohibited the playing of “gowf ” because his countrymen were ignoring their archery, which was necessary for Scotland’s safety and defense.

With time, a name was found (“golf ” seems to have evolved from the Dutch “kolven” or “kolv,” both of which mean “bat”) and

The Golfers, painted by Charles Lees, depicts a famous foursomes match at St. Andrews played in 1847 between two gentlemen and two baronets.

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a set of rules was developed, along with standards for golf-course

the game could not be played on Sundays, as that was a day of piety

design. Also, and inevitably, the game came to reflect the Scottish

and it allowed the women to dry their washed sheets by spreading

character: honesty was paramount; complaints were scorned; and

them over the wide, gorse bushes. Musselburgh, on the south side

difficult playing conditions, such as strong, shifting winds off the

of the firth and more accessible to the nobility living in Edinburgh,

Firth of Forth, were celebrated for making the sport more challeng-

is where Mary, Queen of Scots, unburdened by grief and unfazed

ing. The Scots, often at war

by perception, in 1567 re-

with England, saw them-

portedly played golf shortly

selves as possessing a society

after her husband’s murder.

less divided by class, and

Mary, the earliest-known

they imbued golf with that

female golfer, did make one

same egalitarian spirit. In

lasting contribution to the

the 1600s, The Scot’s Maga-

game: in her time, royal

zine stated: “All distinctions

families occasionally sent

of rank were levelled by the

their young, adolescent

joyous spirit of the game.” In

children to live with royals

1771, Tobias Smollett wrote

in other countries for a few

about golf in his novel

years, and Mary’s retinue

The Expedition of Humphry

included the sons of French

Clinker: “Of this diversion

noblemen. Golf bags didn’t

the Scotch are so fond, that, when the weather will permit, you may

exist in the 1500s, so Mary used these youthful “cadets” to carry

see a multitude of all ranks, from the senator of justice to the lowest

her golf clubs, and the name (the “t” is silent in a French pronun-

tradesmen, mingled together in their shirts, and following the balls

ciation) morphed into “caddies.”

with the utmost eagerness.”

Gradually, the Scottish game spread to other countries: when

The St. Andrews course was laid out over common land, but

Scotland’s King James VI (the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the

Medal Day at St. Andrews, Scotland, 1908. Every September, the new captain of the Royal & Ancient “drives himself in” with a ceremonial shot from the first tee at St. Andrews. By tradition, the caddie who recovers and returns the ball is given a gold sovereign, so the competition to grab the ball is often fierce.

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murdered Lord Darnley) became England’s new king in 1603, he

the possibility now existed to gather the game’s best golfers from

and his courtiers would travel south from London to Blackheath to

Scotland’s 17 courses or from beyond its borders.

play golf on the common, and they established the oldest golf club;

In 1860, the members of Prestwick Golf Club announced that

the sport reached America in the 1700s, according to newspapers

they would host the first Open tournament. The nine-year-old course

printed in South Carolina, Georgia, and New

had 12 holes, and the 36-hole event attracted

York; in India, British army officers helped

eight competitors, all Scottish professionals,

found the Royal Calcutta Golf Club in 1829;

who would play three rounds in one day. The

and Scottish soldiers sent to fight in the

winner, Willie Park, Sr., shot 174 for a two-shot

Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) in France,

victory over Tom Morris, Sr., who had de-

brought their national game to the town of

signed the course and was then serving as

Pau, at the base of the Pyrenees.

Prestwick’s greenkeeper. The first 12 Opens

In every sport or game, the competitive

were all held at Prestwick, where “Old Tom”

goal is the same: to determine who is the best.

Morris and his son, “Young Tom” Morris, each

But this was difficult to determine in golf

won four times, the latter accomplishing this

because of the obstacle of travel: until the mid-

by the age of 21.

1800s, weeks spent on horseback or in a car-

Old Tom was a native of St. Andrews and

riage might be necessary to reach a tournament

had worked as an assistant to Allan Robert-

site. Because of this impracticality, two or three

son, St. Andrews’ professional and one of the

professionals would, instead, agree to play each

game’s best players in the 1840s and 1850s.

other in a challenge match for prize money.

But Morris was fired when Robertson caught

But, when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert built Balmoral Castle in

him playing the new, rubbery, gutta-percha ball that threatened to

the Scottish Highlands in the 1850s, the train service to and within

cut into Robertson’s income from making the traditional feathery

Scotland improved dramatically — buoyed financially by English

ball. Robertson died in 1859, and Morris returned to St. Andrews in

tourists who had read Sir Walter Scott’s Scotland-based novels — and

1865 when The Royal and Ancient Golf Club (The R & A) implored

Old Tom Morris, a four-time winner of the British Open, was the long-time professional and greenkeeper at St. Andrews. He was the designer or renovator of more than 50 courses, including Prestwick, Carnoustie, Muirfield, the Old Course and the New Course, Royal County Down, Cruden Bay, Lahinch, and Royal Dornach.

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Open champion J.H. Taylor, were “a kind of social outcast” despite their playing ability. “Even golfers themselves hesitated about employing many of these men, not relishing their company.” Caddies established themselves as a separate breed, a collection of characters who enjoyed the outdoors and the pub life, and were occasionally found sleeping in bunkers. Some of them, Taylor wrote, eventually became “old, bent, and frosted by many winters — decrepit, in fact — [and] who have done nothing but carry clubs and tee the ball during the whole of their lives.”

Golf came to be part of Scottish life, so much so that a head of The R&A Rules Committee, Captain Burn, wrote: “For centuries we have played the game in Scotland called golf which our forebears have handed down to us, and we have been taught it along with our education and manners from childhood.”

him to come back and serve as the course professional, clubmaker, and greenkeeper. Morris had an extraordinary impact upon the

Outside of Scotland, though, the game was viewed with sus-

game: he changed St. Andrews to 18 holes, which became the

picion. Horace Hutchinson, a two-time British Amateur cham-

accepted length; designed Muirfield, Lahinch (Ireland), and West-

pion and one of the first golf writers, said, “It is almost

ward Ho! (England), among other courses; used mechanical mowers

impossible for those who have grown up in the midst of golf-

to define and cut greens; situated hazards in strategically chosen

playing ... to realize what a strange and rare animal a golfer found

locations; built multiple tee boxes for a hole; used yardage markers;

himself at that time [the late 1800s]. If you announced yourself

and put sand on greens to level the surface, foster better drainage,

a golfer, people stared at you. What did it mean? Oh yes, that

and improve the health of the grass.

Scotch game — like hockey, was it not, or like polo? Did you play

A kind and compassionate man, Old Tom was greatly admired,

it on horseback?

but the respect he received was rarely accorded to other early pro-

“[When] Travelling ... with your golf clubs you were eyed most

fessionals, a generally rough-hewn group who, according to five-time

curiously. In general, people had never seen the weapons before,

John Reid, a native of Dumferline, Scotland, in 1888 founded the still-extant St. Andrew’s Golf Club in Yonkers, N.Y., and he is often credited as the “Father of American Golf.”

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and asked you, with an apology for their inquisitiveness, what their

A R R I V E S

regard golf as a harmless form of imbecility.”

use could be. Or if people did know a little of the game, then their

The game’s arrival in America was not smooth: it appeared and

regards were no longer curious, but pitiful, as who would say,

disappeared in Savannah, Ga.; Charleston, S.C.; Albany, N.Y.; and

‘See the poor looney— is he not a sad sight?’ It grew common to

New York City. Holes were laid out in Dorset, Vt., in the early 1880s,

The first photograph of golf in America was taken of the Apple Tree Gang, which originally gathered on February 22, 1888, to play three holes in Yonkers, N.Y., laid out by John Reid (far right). The golfers formally organized in November of that year as the St. Andrew’s Golf Club.

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and in Foxburg, Pa., in 1887, and golf is still played at those sites,

expansion to nine holes totaling 2,304 yards, and where, in 1894, the

but it was play outside of New York City in the winter of 1888 that

first, or second, National Amateur Championship was played — or

truly spurred the growth of golf in America.

wasn’t played — depending upon who you talked to.

John Reid, a Scot by birth who came to the U.S. in his 20s and

In an era when golf needed missionaries in America, Charles

had risen to an executive position at an iron works in The Bronx,

Blair Macdonald was eager to step forward and assume the role.

received a shipment of golf clubs and balls and, in February 1888,

A man of substantial ego and little self-doubt, Macdonald was, sig-

convinced four friends to try the game in Reid’s cow pasture in

nificantly, the father of golf in the American Midwest; he forced

Yonkers-on-Hudson, N.Y. Two months later, the group moved to

the formation of the USGA; and he later designed some of the

an adjacent pasture owned by a local butcher and here they laid out

game’s great courses. Born on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls

six longer holes, though it was not until November 14, 1888, after

in 1855, Macdonald was sent to Scotland at the age of 16 to attend

playing, that they decided to establish a golf club, choosing the ap-

college in the town of St. Andrews, where his grandfather lived.

propriate name “St. Andrew’s” (though adding the apostrophe). The

When the teenager first observed the old Scottish game, “I was

members’ play on Sundays was disparaged from at least one pulpit,

much interested in seeing the red coats of the players and watching

but that was not a deterrent, no more than cold weather, when these

the leisurely way in which they lounged about the Musselburgh

mostly self-taught devotees switched to red golf balls that would

common ... It seemed to me a form of tiddle-de-winks, stupid and

stand out upon frosted ground or a thin covering of snow.

silly, for never in my life had I known a sport that was not strenuous

In 1892, when the city of Yonkers decided to extend a street

or violent.” On the train to St. Andrews, someone tried to explain

through the course, the men re-located to a field that looked over

the game’s appeal, but “I couldn’t see it. My day had yet to come.”

the Hudson River and was adjacent to an apple orchard. Due to the

Of the town, he wrote, “I found I was living in a city of ancient

location of one particular tree near the first tee, where they left their

times ... Here everyone seemed to move along absorbed in the past,

coats, lunch baskets, and beverages, the golfers took to calling them-

while in America everyone was absorbed in the future.” St. Andrews

selves the “Apple Tree Gang.” In the early 1890s, golf began its long-

had a more educated, more civil populace, due to the university’s

awaited growth in America: in Newport in 1890; on Long Island,

“spiritual and intellectual refinement,” although the origins of both

when Shinnecock was established in 1892; at Brookline, Mass., where

the city and the Scottish game were “hidden beyond remembrance.”

The Country Club laid out its first six holes in 1893; and in Wheaton,

Golf clubs for the boy were purchased by his grandfather from

Ill., where the Chicago Golf Club built 18 holes by 1893. Reid and

Old Tom Morris, then Macdonald took advantage of the long, sum-

company, spurred by these developments, moved again, to farmland

mer days in the high, Scottish latitudes, practicing the fundamen-

three miles distant, at the base of Snake Hill, which allowed for an

tals that Old Tom taught him, and Macdonald reversed his first

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impression of the game; he later declared that golf

inspection, but after six weeks were finally released.

became “…my mistress. Her charms were evident

In 1892, Macdonald was asked to design seven

and overpowering.”

golf holes on an estate in Lake Forest, Ill. He liked

During his three years in St. Andrews, Mac-

the work so much that he induced friends to con-

donald became good enough to play regularly

tribute money for a nine-hole course to be built

with Young Tom Morris, the reigning Open

on a stock farm in Belmont, west of Chicago, one

champion. Returning to America in 1874, Mac-

block from an accessible railroad line. The layout

donald described the next 17 years as his personal

was expanded the following year and became the

“Dark Ages,” when his work as a stockbroker took

first 18-hole course in the United States, but a

precedence because the U.S. economy was strug-

longer version was immediately sought, so the

gling to recover from the financial panic of 1873,

club purchased 200 acres in Wheaton in 1894 and

which had resulted in 101 bank failures and the

re-built there, led again by Macdonald, whose de-

bankruptcy of 115 railroad companies and 18,000

sign accommodated his slice; he employed a

other businesses.

clockwise layout for each nine, which kept his

When espousing the game in the Chicago area

slices on the course and penalized a hook. It was

where he lived, but which had no golf courses, Mac-

this course and the surrounding private proper-

donald encountered disinterest or ridicule. During

ties that resulted in the creation of the game’s first

business trips abroad, he would play, but the game

out-of-bounds rule.

failed to gain a foothold in the United States, which

England’s J.H. Taylor, explaining Americans’

regarded golf as unexplainably foreign, and its equipment was

acceptance of golf, wrote: “... the cause of this is that visitors who

thought so strange that when a native Scot living in West Virginia

had played during their vacations and tours in this country refused

brought golf clubs back from Scotland, the customs inspector in

to throw off the attachment when they returned home. Golf they

New York seized them, announcing “no one ever played a game

wanted, golf they would have, and golf they have got.”

with such implements of murder.” These weapons, described as

In the case of Theodore Havemeyer, the location was Pau,

potentially elongated blackjacks, were sent to Washington, D.C., for

France, but the obsession was exactly as described.

Charles Blair Macdonald, a native of Canada who spent most of his life in America, attended college at St. Andrews, Scotland, where he became a devotee of golf. Upon returning to the United States, Macdonald was an evangelist for the game as a player, club organizer, and course architect.

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WHITE GOLD AND THE HAVEMEYERS

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WHITE GOLD AND THE HAVEMEYERS “Cruel is the strife of brothers.” ~

W

HEN THE SUMMONS

ARISTOTLE

chocolate, which needed sugar to leaven its naturally bitter taste; and

to America arrived, Wilhelm

children of all nationalities possessed a taste for “sweets.”

Hoevemeyer was ready.

A descendent of a family long established in Bueckeburg,

The history of sugar reflects much of the world’s trading history,

Germany, Wilhelm, born in 1770, and his younger brother,

including one of its most regrettable elements. Sugar cane, believed

Friedrich, were orphaned as boys. At 15, Wilhelm went to England

to have originated in what is now New Guinea, was being grown as

to learn a trade and within six years was appointed superintendent

a crop by about 8000 B.C.; the Papuan natives chewed the almost-

of a sugar refinery in London. Then in 1799 came the life-changing

indigestible fibers to extract the sweet juice. Eventually, sugar cane

offer: to sail to America and manage Edmund Seaman & Co.’s

was transplanted to what became Southeast Asia, southern China,

“sugar house” in New York.

and India. A few centuries after Anno Domani, India’s merchants learned how to squeeze out the cane’s liquid, boil it down to a thick

The second half of the 18th century was an opportune time to

syrup, and, as it dried, separate the crystals from the molasses.

be making “white gold,” as the sweet crystals were known. Speculators had driven up the price of sugar so that it was a more valuable

By the 1400s, refineries in Venice were producing enough

commodity than grain and constituted 20 percent of all European

sugar for Italy’s wealthy elite, but this didn’t help the rest of

trade. Why the high demand? Because Britons wanted sugar for their

Europe, which was desperate for sugar. The primary obstacle to

tea; Europeans sought it for their coffee; women everywhere craved

greater production was Europe’s prevailing climate: sugar cane

Overleaf: Theodore Havemeyer, who was sent away to boarding school at the age of seven, took great pleasure playing golf with his sons. He is shown here with three of his sons on the third hole of the Newport course, circa 1895-96. Fourth from the left and continuing right are: Henry O. Havemeyer, Henry Winthrop, Theodore A. Havemeyer, Jr., Theodore Havemeyer, Frederick C. Havemeyer, and Newport’s golf professional and course designer, Willie Davis.

Opposite: Theodore Havemeyer, after a successful career in the sugar business, became the first president of the Newport Golf Club, the Newport Country Club, and the United States Golf Association.

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needed tropical or sub-tropical temperatures. Also necessary were

eases, were dying in vast numbers (they would be extinct within 50

an extensive watering system and sufficient labor for the arduous

years). Columbus’s fortune-hunting successors agreed with his assess-

field work and milling.

ment of the Caribbean’s suitability for growing sugar cane, but with-

Then, in 1492, Christopher Columbus

out the Taino, who would the laborers be?

was certain that he had found the answer.

Slavery, in the Bible, is frequently men-

When he “discovered” America by arriv-

tioned but never forbidden, and most refer-

ing in the Caribbean, the Genoan decided

ences concerned the proper treatment and

that the island of Hispaniola (currently

punishment of slaves. The practice has been

divided between Haiti and the Dominican

part of human history since before Babylon

Republic) was perfectly suited to growing

and ancient Greece; the losing side in a war

sugar cane — and he was right. The

often suffered subjugation. Not until the

Caribbean had the requisite high heat and

1400s did the slave trade become a business

frequent, hard rains, and Hispaniola had a

on a grand scale, when the Portuguese began

potential workforce: the indigenous Taino

taking Africans from the continent’s west

tribes, whom the explorer was ready to en-

coast and selling them as laborers to Islam;

slave. He returned to Spain, promised Queen

as domestic servants to Europe; and as field

Isabella and King Ferdinand that his New

hands for sugar-cane plantations on the

World sugar would be better than “those of

Madeira, Canary, and Cape Verde Islands.

Andalusia and Sicily,” and sailed back to the

Sugar was first shipped from the Carib-

West Indies in 1493, taking sugar-cane plants

bean to Europe in 1516, and as the potential

with him.

for sugar-cane production in the New World

But Columbus was a better captain and self-promoter than he

became an entrancing reality, the African slave trade expanded across

was a manager of people, and his attempt at a sugar-cane business

the Atlantic, establishing one corner of what would become the

failed, in part because the Taino, with no immunity to European dis-

notorious Triangular Trade that would eventually include Newport.

Above and opposite: The Havemeyer & Elder sugar refinery, in Brooklyn, N.Y., was one of the country’s largest when it burned in 1882.

The company re-built the refinery, spending $7 million (the equivalent of $150 million in 2013) to construct the world’s largest sugar refinery, designed by Theodore Havemeyer, which could produce two million pounds of sugar a day.

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Over the next two centuries, the kidnapping, transatlantic

1780s, and a slave revolt took place on Hispaniola in 1791. The sig-

transportation, and enslavement of Africans became a thriving

nificance of sugar to England’s tax collector was proven by the

business, supported by many Rhode Island shipowners. And the

shiploads of British troops sent to the Caribbean to restore the old

Caribbean’s sugar-cane plantations thrived: by 1750, Britain had

order. But, between 1793 and 1801, an astounding 44,000 of these

120 refineries purifying the raw crystals and producing 30,000 tons

troops and British seamen died from disease or were killed by the

of sugar per year. The British government, of course, saw the tax

rebelling slaves. And so it was into this era of sugar-making that

opportunity, and a sugar tax was imposed, which by 1781 was

young Wilhelm Hoevemeyer arrived, mastering the trade that

producing £326,000 in revenue.

would establish a dynasty.

Then, four hurricanes devastated the Caribbean during the

For eight years, “William Havemeyer” (as Wilhelm re-named

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The Havemeyer house was situated off Bellevue Avenue in Newport.

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himself) worked as superintendent of the London refinery, then, after

he was sent away to boarding school in Connecticut and, in a letter

crossing the Atlantic, he spent the next eight years fulfilling his con-

home, told his parents how much he had enjoyed spending

tract at Seaman’s refinery in New York. His younger brother, re-named

Christmas at his new school. After attending a second boarding

“Frederick Christian Havemeyer,” joined William in New York, and

school, in North Tarrytown, N.Y., Theodore at the age of 14 con-

they established their own sugar refinery in 1807. And despite work-

vinced his father to let him come home and work at the waterfront

ing in a 30-by-40 foot building, situated between Greenwich and

refinery in Williamsburg, in northern Brooklyn. Permission was

Hudson Streets, south of Greenwich Village, they prospered.

eventually granted, and Theodore, given the job of “common

William and Frederick each had a son who, per-

workman,” apprenticed in every department, earning

haps out of the brothers’ respect for each other, was

respect from the plant’s laborers for having “put on

named not for the father, but for the uncle, and it

overalls and worked in the boneblack filters” that

was these cousins, thoroughly indoctrinated into

bleached the raw sugar.

the sugar-refining business, who established their

At the age of 18, Theodore was sent to England

own firm, W.F. & F. C. Havemeyer, in 1826.

and Germany to study the newest sugar-refining

After 14 years, William (of the second gen-

techniques — a journey that he would repeat at reg-

eration) sold his share of the business, was

ular intervals. The value of his gathered knowledge

elected to three non-consecutive terms as the

was sufficiently valuable that he was made a partner

mayor of New York City, served as president of sev-

at the age of 22, but overwork had already necessitated

eral banks, and fathered eight children. Frederick,

one working vacation to Cuba — a valuable source of

like his cousin, also sold his interest, retiring in 1842 at

sugar-cane production, along with Louisiana.

the age of 35 to spend more time with his 10 children. But

Photographs of Theodore, as an adult, show a serene-

in 1855, he returned to work and formed a new sugar-refining

looking man who, in the hirsute style of the times, wore a pair of

company, into which he eventually took four of his sons: George,

great black sideburns that hung a few inches below his shaved chin

Theodore, Thomas, and Henry.

and were connected by a grand moustache. At the age of 24,

The second-oldest of the sons, Theodore Augustus Havemeyer,

Theodore married Emilie de Loosey, daughter of the Austrian Consul

was born in New York City on May 17, 1839. At the age of seven,

in New York City, and, following the Havemeyer tradition of large

Theodore Havemeyer was in his early 40s and an expert in sugar production when he designed and oversaw construction of the world’s largest sugar refinery in Brooklyn, N.Y., during 1882-83.

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N E W P O R T

C O U N T R Y

families, the couple eventually had nine children.

C L U B

history of sugar refining in America and started the chain of

The sugar-refinery company, which underwent several name

events that brought Theodore Havemeyer to golf and led to the

changes, had 50 employees in 1855, then grew enough during the

creation of the Newport Country Club and the United States

next decade that, in 1868, with Theodore overseeing construction,

Golf Association.

the plant was doubled in size, covering nearly three blocks of

A fire described by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper as “one

Brooklyn’s East River waterfront. Theodore wrote, with pride:

of the most destructive and at the same time grandest conflagrations” in the city’s history destroyed the main building of the Have-

There was no part of the manufactory or no part of the refining

meyer & Elder refinery on South Fourth Street. To re-build would

business with which we were not thoroughly familiar. I knew how

cost the Havemeyers dearly, but they agreed to spend $7 million

to fire up under the boilers, how to run the engine. I built an en-

(Frederick, the father of Theodore and Harry, sold his house to

gine once myself ... We were always on the lookout for some better

raise enough money), and, using Theodore’s architectural design,

way to do a thing and our success is largely owing to invention

they built the world’s largest sugar refinery, capable of producing

brought out by observation and experiment.

two million pounds of sugar a day. But the 18-month project, over-

But the family’s enjoyment of its profits was tempered by the ugly

seen by Theodore, took its toll on him, and he headed to Europe

memory of George Havemeyer’s death at the refinery in 1861, when

with his family to recover his health.

his clothes caught in one of the machines. Later, brother Thomas

It was while visiting Pau, in the southwest corner of France,

withdrew from the business when his alcoholism became severe.

that Theodore Havemeyer received his introduction to the game

As of 1876, Theodore was in charge of the plant and the full sugar-

of golf. The resort, nestled close to the Pyrenees, overlooks a valley

refining process, while 29-year-old Harry was making the firm’s

cut through by the river Gave de Pau. As the French writer and

financial decisions.

statesman Alphonse de Lamartine wrote, “Pau has the world’s most

Throughout the 1870s and until 1914, sugar refining was New

beautiful view of the earth just as Naples has the most beautiful

York’s most profitable manufacturing industry. The Civil War had

view of the sea.”

destroyed the South’s sugar industry, and New York’s combination

Pau was where Wellington’s troops, during the Napoleonic Wars,

of a deep-water harbor, railroad access, and cheap, plentiful labor

rested and waited out the heavy rains of the winter of 1813-14.

resulted in its growing dominance. Fifteen sugar refineries opened

Among the duke’s troops were two Scotsmen who, it is said, always

along New York’s harbor during the 1870s, and Brooklyn was re-

kept their golf clubs with them and played incessantly, whenever they

fining two-thirds of the nation’s sugar by the 1880s.

could find a field. Wellington’s forces eventually decamped in mid-

Then came the night of January 8, 1882, which changed the

February, marched the 24 miles to Orthez, and defeated the French.

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The first golf course on the European continent was built in Pau, France, at the base of the Pyrenees. Theodore Havemeyer learned to play golf here in the mid-1880s.

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C L U B

Twenty years later, the two Scotsmen returned to Pau and promoted

A Coincidence of Origin

their belief that a golf course, if built along the river with the moun-

where a young woman named Florence Boit learned to play the game. The daughter of Mary Louisa Cushing and Edward Darley Boit, who courted in Newport, Florence took her golf clubs on a trip to Boston in 1892 and showed her uncle, Arthur Hunnewell, and his friends how to play. Florence, already immortalized in John Singer Sargent’s painting The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit (she is in profile), returned to France while her uncle convinced his fellow members at The Country Club in Brookline to spend $50 and lay out a six-hole course.

tains as a backdrop, would be spectacular. Word of Pau’s beauty re-

PAU WAS ALSO

sulted in a steady stream of arrivals from Britain until a British colony was established there. Tennis, croquet, horseback riding, hunting, and mountaineering were among the sporting pursuits, then the Pau Golf Club was established in 1856.

During the winter of 1884, a Scotsman named Joseph Lloyd, formerly a caddie at Royal Liverpool Golf Club (Hoylake) and an outstanding player, was hired as Pau’s golf professional. It was during his tenure that Theodore Havemeyer arrived, embraced the game, and wanted to take golf back to America. But, when Theodore returned home in 1885, he did not receive the welcome that he had expected from brother Harry.

Letters written by Harry at this time show that he resented Theodore’s absence, as well as Theodore’s involvement in a Philadelphia sugar refinery. With their father, Frederick, serving as mediator, Theodore eventually sold his Philadelphia interests, and Harry agreed not to break up Havemeyer & Elder, which left the two brothers as equal owners. Frederick, in an 1885 letter to Theodore, who was still in Europe, bluntly stated: Get it down as fact that Harry is a King of the sugar market.

Also that he can of himself conduct the whole business of sugar refining, calling of course to his aid a fully competent staff. You have worked faithfully during your period — overworked, I think. And now, when you return, you should have made up

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W H I T E

G O L D

A N D

T H E

H A V E M E Y E R S

your mind what to do. I think you should relieve yourself of as

Sheep, hogs, Jersey cows, and poultry were being raised on the

much responsibility as possible in order to avoid care and keep

farm, “Mountain Side,” situated 29 miles from New York City and

good health — in short, let Harry have all the responsibility,

visited by Havemeyer every weekend that he was at his Madison

then (he/you?) would be content.

Avenue home. His goal was to use the latest methods for humane care to produce the most profitable breeds, while concurrently

Theodore, in frustration, replied to his father:

operating a dairy and making and selling butter.

Harry believes that the entire success of the business is due to

But it was up at Newport that Havemeyer pursued his Pau-

his management... As a brother I love him, and as a partner I

born interest in golf. While his children and grandchildren enjoyed

respect him. We do not always agree on our views, but I think

the Havemeyer estate, across Bellevue Avenue from the Vanderbilts

at least I have shown the fondest desire to make him contented

and Astor families, on land that stretched down to Almy Pond,

with his position and prosperity ... When our views have

Theodore and several other golfing converts agreed to rent forty

differed, I have given way. His words have been insulting, I have

acres of nearly treeless farmland out on Brenton Point from Mrs.

not answered [with insults].

Elizabeth Gammell, an absentee proprietor. Nine holes were laid out in 1890, but because the property was rented, the stonewalls

And so it was that Harry, at 38, became the senior partner, and

and fences that crossed the land remained in place and were treated

46-year-old Theodore yielded to his ambitious younger brother,

as natural obstacles (as is still true at Scotland’s revered North

who admired John D. Rockefeller and his tactic of buying up other

Berwick course, with its centuries-old stonewalls).

oil producers in order to create a monopoly and control the price

For three years, the long grass was cut by horse-pulled mow-

of oil. In 1887, Harry Havemeyer, in imitation of Standard Oil,

ers, sheep were used to keep the grass short in summer, and hand

founded the Sugar Refineries Company and created the “Sugar

mowers were used on the greens. And 40 acres were sufficient

Trust,” as it was soon called. The firm’s 11 trustees owned or con-

for a nine-hole course because, at the time, a gutta-percha ball

trolled 17 sugar refineries, enough to eventually manage 98 percent

hit with a wood-, iron-, or leather-faced club rarely went close

of the American sugar market, set prices on refined sugar, and in-

to 200 yards.

fluence the tariffs on imported raw sugar.

But, in the winter of 1893, Theodore Havemeyer and his golf-

While Harry enjoyed ruling the U.S. sugar market, Theodore

ing friends, most of whom lived in New York City during the win-

pursued his own interests, which included a 600-acre model stock

ter, met at the Havemeyer house and decided that the time had

farm in Mahwah, N.J., and the elusive secrets of golf.

come for Newport to have a golf club.

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C H A P T E R

S E V E N

THE EARLY YEARS

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C H A P T E R

S E V E N

THE E ARLY YEARS “They were real golfers, for real golf is a thing of the spirit, not of mere mechanical excellence of stroke.” ~ P.G. WODEHOUSE

T

HE DATE WAS JANUARY 12, 1893, and the five wealthy

escape: it was Britain’s busiest port for emigrants seeking a new life

men gathered in the room at 244 Madison Avenue were Theodore

in the New World, and Davis, at the age of 18, was ready to become

Havemeyer, H. Mortimer Brooks, William F. Burden, Lorillard

one of them. His application to the Montreal Golf Club was

Spencer, and George P. Wetmore.

accepted, his ship’s fare was paid, and in April 1881 he began work

For three summers, these friends had played golf together on

as the first golf professional in Montreal — and the Western

the rented Gammell property, bounded by Harrison, Winans,

Hemisphere. He was also destined to become the Americas’ first

Brenton, and Ocean Avenues, using Bateman’s Hotel as their gath-

greenkeeper (a job he did not like) and almost certainly its first

ering place. They believed that the time had come for Newport to

golf-course architect (a job he apparently liked and did well).

Davis’s tenure at Montreal was short and rocky: a letter from

have a golf club and a permanent course — and the first step had

the club still exists that reprimands him for his poor work as a

already been taken.

Willie Davis grew up working and playing at Royal Liverpool,

greenkeeper. A decade later, Davis’s golf career was revived when he

the demanding course better known as Hoylake, on England’s west

was hired in 1891 to design the first 12 holes at Shinnecock Hills

coast. In the 1800s, the city of Liverpool was a hard and deadly

Golf Club, on Long Island. (The land for the Shinnecock course was

place, due to extreme poverty and a series of cholera and smallpox

surveyed by a local engineer, David Raynor, whose teenage son, Seth,

epidemics that killed thousands. But Liverpool provided its own

helped carry the measuring chains and rods.)

Opposite: An illustration in Harper’s magazine of golf at Newport Country Club, where women were welcome and encouraged to play the old Scottish game.

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C L U B

As Davis explained in a letter to the British magazine GOLF,

president of the Newport Golf Club, and Brooks as vice-president

in the fall of 1892 he was summoned to Newport to lay out a course

and secretary. Also, 11 governors were named, including: F. W.

on the southwest tip of Aquidneck:

Vanderbilt; Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte (great-nephew of the Emperor Napoleon I); Edward Wharton, whose wife, Edith, would

Mr. Spencer wrote to me about the game

make his family name famous; and

and requested that I should come to

Buchanan Winthrop, a descendant of John

Newport and look for suitable ground

Winthrop, a founder of Boston and the first

for a links. I came to Newport November

governor of Massachusetts.

10th, 1892, and in the company of sev-

The men, moving quickly, met two

eral gentlemen, looked over all available

weeks later and agreed to hire “William F.

ground, finally selecting a place on

Davis” for one year as the club’s golf profes-

Brentin’s Point [sic], about three-and-

sional and club-maker; they adopted the

a-half miles from Newport [city center],

rules and etiquette of Scotland’s Royal and

on the shores of the Atlantic.

Ancient Golf Club; concurred on the need to build a clubhouse; and consented to limit

Davis’s hiring by the men at Have-

the club to 75 members.

meyer’s mansion showed their awareness of

An executive committee was also estab-

Shinnecock, which, due to its members’

lished, although its original members had no-

wealth and the symbolic hiring of Stanford

tably brief service: Wharton, the treasurer

White of McKim, Mead & White to design its clubhouse, was staking

(who later angered his wife by using her money to keep a mistress),

out a higher social plane in the New York metropolitan area than

soon resigned in favor of Spencer; Brooks’s position as vice-president

John Reid’s Apple Tree Gang.

was turned over to Robert Goelet, an astute investor in Manhattan

The five Newport friends who spent their summers on

real estate; and Brooks’s job as secretary was taken by Winthrop, then

Aquidneck rather than Long Island elected Havemeyer as the first

by Robert Gammell, son of the club’s landlord, Elizabeth Gammell.

Elizabeth Gammell of Providence, R.I., owned several properties on Brenton Point in the 1890s. The parcel that she rented to Theodore Havemeyer and his friends during 1890-92 and leased to the Newport Golf Club in 1893 was eventually purchased by Newport Country Club in 1921.

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WILLIE DAVIS WILLIE DAVIS, after his second-class passage across the Atlantic, began the golf-profes-

sional job at Montreal (later Royal Montreal) Golf Club that would pay him £1 a week and, as he wrote, “I am to get all that I can for making and repairing clubs and balls.”

Davis would earn 2 shillings and 6 pence for a clubhead; 2 shillings for a shaft (made of lancewood, a tough, bendable wood also used in the 1800s for archery bows and fishing rods ); 6 pence for installing new horn on the face of a wood or splicing, glueing, or adding new lead; 4 pence for “making up a ball”; and 1 shilling for a nine-hole lesson, with a third of that to go back to the club.

Because the Montreal club had only 25 members, the teenage golf professional was expected to use his free time improving the course, which was part of the public park Fletcher’s Field. But Davis was not interested in getting his hands dirty with a wheelbarrow and shovel. Alexander Dennistoun, Montreal’s captain and president, wrote with displeasure to Davis, saying, “It was supposed that as soon as the green was put into your care, you would take some interest and pride in having it as perfect as possible ... one principal object we had in getting you here was that our new and rough green might be made as like the long-made green (old greens of Hoylake) as can be done.”

Davis’s granddaughter, Esther Martensen, said in a 2013 interview that her grandfather’s unwillingness to do the spade work expected of him “was a story that was handed down in the family.” Regrettably, Davis seems to have left no letters or writings about his experience as professional golf ’s pioneer in the Western Hemisphere.

After his initial employment agreement, Davis was hired to work one other season as Montreal’s golf professional, but the club finally recognized the mismatch. Davis reportedly worked in a bank for a time, then had the good fortune in 1891 to be hired

by Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Long Island to design its first 12 holes (none of these currently exist), very possibly making him the first professional golf-course designer in North America. Davis was next employed by the Newport Golf Club to design nine holes on the rented Gammell property, and he also served as NGC’s first golf professional. After the club moved over to Rocky Farm, he designed a new nine-hole course and added a second nine in 1897.

Davis was among the first generation of club-makers in America; in the 1890s, golf clubs were commonly imported from Scotland and England. Impressive examples of Davis’s work still exist; painted atop the wooden clubheads is: “W.F. Davis Newport, R.I.” After seven years in Newport, he worked at The Apawamis Club in Rye, N.Y., until his death from pneumonia in January 1902 at the age of 39.

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C L U B

On March 1, 1893, the Newport Golf Club was incorporated

Delmonico’s restaurant in New York City, and 57 members were

in the state of Rhode Island “for the purpose of developing and

elected. Two months later, money not being an obstacle, Bateman’s

enjoying the game of golf and other purposes.” The state

Hotel was leased for $5,000 to serve as the clubhouse during 1893.

gave permission for a constitution and by-laws to be adopted.

In May of 1893, the “Local Notes” section of a Newport news-

On March 16th, the board of the Newport Golf Club met at

paper stated: “Theodore Havemeyer is the head of the Golf Club,

The landscape painting “Rocky Farm and Cherry Neck, Newport, R.I.,” by George Champlin Mason, circa 1850s, provides a west-looking view along the southern coast of Newport. Rocky Farm, part of which became the Newport Country Club, is in the distance.

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44.4 acres, owned by Elizabeth Gammell; golf was played here as early as 1890

by Theodore Havemeyer and friends; the land was rented in 1893 by the newly formed Newport Golf Club, and Willie Davis designed a nine-hole course.

When negotiations to buy the Bateman Hotel failed, and the Rocky Farm property was purchased, Elizabeth Gammell forgave the remaining rental term. The land was purchased by the Newport Country Club in 1921 and became holes Nos. 2-8, designed by A.W. Tillinghast.

Rocky Farm, 140 acres owned by Mary King, was purchased in September 1893

by Theodore A. Havemeyer and H.A.C. Taylor. Within a month, the deed was bought by a syndicate that included both men and incorporated itself in 1894 as the Newport Country Club. The clubhouse was built during 1894-95.

In 1921, 4.38 acres,owned by Ethel Rhinelander King, was purchased by Newport Country Club and used for Tillinghast’s expansion of the course.

Later owned by T.S. Tailer and became part of Ocean Links.

Property owned by the estate of Harriet N. Pond was rented to the Newport Golf Club to serve as its clubhouse and stables during the summer of 1894.

The Bateman Hotel was rented by the Newport Golf Club to serve as the clubhouse in 1893, but negotiations to purchase the property failed.

Approximately 26 acres, leased at the turn-of-the-century by the Westchester Polo Club, purchased in 1911 by T.S. Tailer for polo; later used as part of Tailer’s Ocean Links golf course, which opened in 1921.

An 1893 map, showing where golf was played on Brenton Point, beginning in 1890.

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Later owned by T.S. Tailer and became part of Ocean Links.

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Mary C. Gardner, sole owner of Castle Hill Farm, died in 1822 without a will. Her mother’s brother and sister immediately claimed the property, but Mary’s two half-brothers and two half-sisters also claimed to be her rightful heirs. The dispute went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which rendered its decision in January of 1829, giving each of the claimants a one-sixth interest in the property as her “heirs at law.”

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E A R L Y

at Newport. Mr. Havemeyer is a patron of every reasonable sport ... The arrangements for the game of golf, at Newport, are rapidly being matured, and it is understood there will be contests between the New York and Boston experts during the season.”

Instead, to promote golf in Newport, a challenge match for the substantial sum of $80 was arranged that summer between Newport’s Willie Davis and Shinnecock golf professional Willie Dunn.

The winner of the match is not disputed, nor the day’s poor weather, but the details, as recorded, vary. The Newport Mercury wrote that “a large number of cottagers” went out to watch the match, which finished with Dunn “making the round of the holes in forty-five strokes and Davis in forty-six, Dunn thus winning by one hole.” (The reporter was unclear on the difference between stroke play and match play.)

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Y E A R S

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N EWPORT C OUNTRY C LUB ,

EST. AUGUST 11, 1894

John Jacob Astor IV Inventor, writer, soldier, and one of the world’s richest men, he died at 47 in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912; his 18-year-old pregnant wife survived.

Perry Belmont Son of August Belmont (one of the wealthiest bankers in the United States), he was a four-term congressman from New York.

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Cornelius Vanderbilt II Grandson of “Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt, he built The Breakers mansion in Newport — a symbol of the Gilded Age.

James Stillman A Texan whose investments in banks, railroads, and real estate resulted in a net worth of $77 million in 1918 when he died.

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But, Davis, in his November 26, 1893 letter to GOLF magazine,

C L U B

they arrived at Bateman’s Hotel in a total of 150 vehicles.

described the match differently:

The Newport Golf Club’s first annual meeting was held August 12, 1893, and it was recorded that the club had 70 members, the

He [Dunn] came on a visit to Newport July 26th, and the club

initiation fee was $100, and the annual dues $30. Discussion took

subscribed a purse of $80 to be divided, to play an exhibition

place regarding whether the golf club should join forces with the

game. Dunn declined to play the first day, which was fine; the

Westchester Polo Club, but no action was taken.

second day was a rough, stormy day, and Dunn found that he

The club’s officers had a simple plan regarding a club-

must go home that night, so we played the game, with

house: buy Bateman’s Hotel. Unfortunately, hotel

four gentlemen and one lady as spectators. Dunn

owner E.W. Davis (no relation to Willie) was too

won the first three holes then held them to the end

eager to make a financial killing. When he set his

of the first round and finally won [on the 15th

selling price at $225,000, the club’s Board of

hole] by 5 and 3. We then ran home, out of the

Governors looked elsewhere — and they did not

rain. The caddies refused to go more than one

have to look far: on the east side of Harrison

round, and two of the members kindly carried

Avenue were 140 acres known as Rocky Farm,

our clubs for the remainder of the match.

owned by Mary A. King. On September 9, 1893,

[Note: At the time, golf clubs were still carried

the Newport Mercury newspaper announced that

loosely as often as they were put into golf bags.]

the land had been purchased by: During the summer of 1893, the new golf club hosted

... Mr. H.A.C. Taylor and Mr. T. A. Havemeyer ... and it is

steeplechase races and a variety of social events, including a parade

understood that polo grounds and a steeple-chase course are to

from the Newport Casino out to Bateman’s Hotel in honor of the

be laid out. A handsome clubhouse will also be erected.

New York Coaching Club. After lunch and dancing, a polo match was played, but card games were banned by the officers of the new club,

One of the essentials for a good golf course is interesting land,

who feared the potent mix of drinking and losses at cards.

and Rocky Farm had it, but the property was well-named because

On July 4th, the Board of Governors of the Newport Golf Club

under the topsoil is rock ledge that still reveals itself in various places.

hosted a luncheon that attracted the upper crust of the summer

The soil, despite its proximity to the sea, is not sand-based, but clay.

colony, and although the exact number of attendees is not known,

A stone ridge runs due east from Harrison Avenue, bisecting the

In 1893, Mary King sold the 140-acre parcel of land that became the Newport Country Club.

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western half of the property, which slopes significantly, north and

According to the 1983 booklet The Newport Country Club: Its

south from the ridge. The siting of the clubhouse was obvious be-

Curious History, less than a month after the purchase of Rocky

cause the land falls away dramatically at the east end of the ridge,

Farm, the deed was bought from Taylor and Havemeyer for

leaving a promontory with open views to the east, north, and most

$80,000 ($50,000 in cash, with a $30,000 mortgage) by a syndicate

notably south — to the ocean.

that included Taylor, Havemeyer, Lorillard Spencer, W.K. Vander-

Although the club had taken a five-year lease on the Gammell

bilt, Cornelius Vanderbilt II, F.W. Vanderbilt, John Jacob Astor IV,

property, which featured Davis’s new nine-hole design, Elizabeth

Perry Belmont, Oliver H.P. Belmont, Hermann Oelrichs, Ogden

Gammell generously forgave this contractual obligation, a gesture

Goelet, and Robert Goelet.

Then the syndicate rented the property to the Newport Golf

no doubt influenced by the fact that her son, Robert, was treasurer

Club for $3,500 for the following season. Davis was told to

of the fledgling golf organization.

work out two courses on the newly acquired land: a long, nine-hole routing for men and superior women players, and a shorter, six-hole course for children and less-skilled women. During the 1890s, discussion took place regarding how much physical activity was appropriate and attractive for women. In the 1890 publication, Book of Sport, the author wrote:

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We venture to suggest seventy or eighty yards as the average limit

During the summer of 1894, for $2,500, the golf club rented a

of a (woman’s) drive ... not because we doubt a lady’s power to

house and stables on Ridge Road, west of Harrison Avenue, from

make a longer drive, but because that cannot be done without rais-

the estate of Harriet Pond. To accommodate a well-stocked bar, an

ing the club above the shoulder. Now, we do not presume to dictate,

addition was built onto the house.

but we must observe that the posture

But a permanent clubhouse

and gestures required for a full swing

was essential, and a design compe-

are not particularly graceful when a

tition attracted submissions from

player is clad in female dress.

more than 40 of the country’s leading architects. They recognized

Women golfers were welcome at

that a clubhouse in Newport was

Newport, which was not true at all of

an opportunity to display their tal-

America’s courses, the number of which

ent before many of the country’s

was booming, increasing from a few in

richest men, who also needed ar-

1890 (most notably John Reid’s St.

chitects to design their homes and

Andrew’s in Yonkers, N.Y.) to 75 by 1895.

commercial buildings.

The year 1894 was a busy one for

The entrant least likely to win

Newport’s new club: 35 Italian laborers were

must have been the 30-year-old who had

brought up from New York to build a polo field

just returned from nine years of study in

on the north side of the property, and a track

Europe and did not belong to an architec-

for trotting and steeplechase racing was

ture firm. But, what Whitney Warren

planned to encircle the playing field, but this

lacked in experience, he made up for in

section of the just-purchased land was not

self-confidence and imagination. And, he

draining well. In September 1894, the golf club’s constitution was

had one significant advantage: he knew the tastes of Newport.

changed to allow the membership to rise to 250.

Since the early 1800s, Warren’s family had been spending

Above: Whitney Warren, who went on to establish one of the country’s most-respected architectural firms, designed homes, hotels, and academic and business buildings, including Grand Central Station in New York City.

Opposite: Builders of the Newport Country Club clubhouse pause during construction (1894-95) to pose in front of the structure.

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summers in Newport, and his sister, Henriette Louise, had married Robert Goelet, the New York real-estate baron and a member of the syndicate that owned the Rocky Farm property.

Nepotism will get an introduction, but “brother-in-law” doesn’t carry much weight when architectural renderings are being compared. Warren, one of the American students of architecture who followed the example of Richard Morris Hunt and went to Paris to study at the École des Beaux-Arts, proposed an extraordinary Y-shaped building of classical grandeur that would echo France’s great chateaus, employing an elegance and scale in keeping with Newport’s mansions.

Despite its size and design, the structure avoids austerity because the west-facing arms that extend from the ornate, square center are swept forward, as if to offer a sheltering embrace to every new arrival.

The clubhouse, balanced and symmetrical, seems to possess most of

Opposite: Interior of the oval room in 1895, also showing the entrance-hall stairway of the recently completed Newport Country Club clubhouse.

Above: Bills sent to member Robert Goelet from the Newport Golf Club in the 1890s.

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Newport’s first golf professional, Willie Davis (standing, far left), also supervised the grounds crew’s care for the course that he designed.

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the defining elements of classical architecture: pediments, porticos, fluted pilasters, finials, domes, columns, oval windows, dental moldings, entablatures, and architraves. And yet, this is not the heavy, stone, Beaux-Arts colossus that it appears, instead being nothing more than wood and plaster.

The deception had to be convincing because this needed to be more than just a building: it had to be a symbol of the members’ taste and style, one that would admirably represent them, just as their houses did. This had to be a showplace they would be proud of.

The striking design was in keeping with Warren himself. A flamboyant and unabashed Francophile, he stood out by his cultured demeanor and his Parisian

implied by the ‘grand manner.’ ... It

style of dress, which regularly fea-

was, so to speak, a fundamental

tured a white waistcoat; blue

quality of the man, and the essence

shirt; white tie; cutaway coat; a

of his whole personality.”

black, broad-brimmed felt hat;

Warren, who had married at the

and, in winter, a flowing, dark

age of 20, was a friend of Stanford

cape. Years later, a fellow architect

White, a sybarite who endorsed Oscar

observed, “There was a certain

Wilde’s belief that “The only way to

definite splendor about the man himself, in his appearance and

get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.” White, whose tastes ran

carriage, that one instinctively recognized ... To the unprejudiced

to teenage girls (and who was eventually shot to death by a jealous

mind he can be considered as the personification of what is

husband), enjoyed the kind of parties available to wealthy

Center: A 1903 bill to the Newport Country Club shows the cost of a horse team was $3.25 a day.

Right: Also in 1903, the club bought $3 worth of “worm exterminator.”

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voluptuaries. An 1895 party attended by White and Warren became

ladies’ locker room did not exist; only later was one created, re-

known in The New York Times as the “Pie Girl Dinner” and featured

placing the dining room.

blondes pouring white wine for the all-male attendees, brunettes

Because much of Newport’s summer appeal is its cool ocean

pouring red wine, and a 16-year-old girl who popped out of a giant

breezes, on the east side of the oval salon was a roofed piazza with

pie of feathers.

high, arched openings, trellises, and a semi-circular terrace where

But, despite such distractions, Warren was a hard-working

six caryatids served as pillars, the muscular women arrayed like sen-

architect. The three fine arts of his

tries in a tight, north-south curve.

Beaux-Arts instruction were: archi-

Below them was the opening hole of

tecture, sculpture, and painting;

Willie Davis’s nine-hole course.

inside the Newport clubhouse,

The final cost of the Newport

Warren’s grandest room is the two-

clubhouse was $47,139, a sum that

story, oval salon that is a blend of

provoked a British writer to say, “In

architecture and sculpture and

the spirit of a sumptuous and opu-

originally had a mural on the ceil-

lent people, Americans are spend-

ing. Here is a space of white and

ing money on magnificent golf

grace, with a high, arcaded balcony,

houses!” Separate buildings for a

patterned mirrors, a pair of marble

caddie house and stables cost

fireplaces, and extraordinary plaster

$7,872. The price for all of the fur-

relief work that includes 16 lions’

nishings was $6,608.

heads along with a variety of garlands, bugles, masks, and scrolled

Because Stanford White had designed the much-praised Shin-

supporting brackets. It is a room that changes throughout the day

necock clubhouse, it is easy to imagine the conversation between

as light and shadow, shifting with the sun’s daily journey, play upon

him and his good friend Warren when the Newport clubhouse

the plaster sculptures.

opened in 1895 and The New York Times reported that “It stood

The north wing of the clubhouse was originally a dining

supreme for magnificence among golf clubs, not only in America,

room; the south wing was the men’s locker room and bar. A

but in the world.”

An early illustration of the ornate oval ballroom at the Newport Country Club, from Harper’s magazine, 1895.

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THE GIRL on the RED -VELVET SWING STANFORD WHITE,

Whitney Warren’s architectural

mentor, was shot to death in 1906 at the roof restaurant of New York’s Madison Square Garden, which he had designed. His killer was Harry Thaw, husband of the beautiful Evelyn Nesbit, a former showgirl and a model for Charles Dana Gibson’s “Gibson Girl” (right).

White had seduced Evelyn six years before, when she was 16. At the townhouse where “Stanny” would meet Evelyn, he had a red-velvet swing built, and she enjoyed swinging on it while nude.

whether it was a “legitimate architectural design.”

Three years after the Newport clubhouse was completed, Warren and lawyer Charles Wetmore established an architectural

In 1910, Warren made the front page of The New York Times

firm that was a fortuitous mix of Warren’s designs and Wetmore’s

for a very different feat, when at the age of 44 he swam the 12 miles

business sense, though the latter did have some architectural

from Newport’s Bailey’s Beach to the Narragansett Pier.

ability. Together they won commissions for more than 300

At the end of his career, in an appreciation of his business

major projects, including hotels, skyscrapers, townhouses,

partner, Warren described himself with exceptional candor. “I owe

university buildings, and country estates. Among their most

(Wetmore) everything ... he has been the force which I did not have

notable structures were New York’s Grand Central Terminal;

in myself to keep me at my task — and I [am] — a very trying

the New York Central Building; the University Library in Louvain,

personage, impossible, not altogether selfish, but impossible.”

Belgium; and the New York Yacht Club, which was so resplen-

But he was the right architect at the right time, for he gave

dently, exuberantly artistic that Architectural Review doubted

Newport a building that matched the grandeur of the era.

Overleaf, following pages: Newport Country Club, from Harper’s magazine in 1895; the high “earth bunkers” soon went out of style on golf courses.

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Newport and the Arts of Golf and Dressing F ROM T H E

New York Telegraph , M AY 1 8 9 3

the popu-

game consists in driving a small, hard

player has his own ball, and the sticks

lar game of Scotland and England, is to be

rubber ball round the course, which ex-

used are various, being known as

introduced to Newport this season. That

tends over the hills three or four miles,

“drivers,” “brasseys,” “cleels” [presumably

golf will supersede tennis, which has al-

with as few strokes as possible. At dis-

a misspelling of “cleeks”], etc.

ways been in high favor among the

tances of about two hundred and fifty

It is possible to drive the ball the two

younger set at Newport, is hardly proba-

yards there are small round holes into

hundred and fifty yards from the “teeing

ble. It is a fascinating game, however. The

which the ball has also to be put. Each

ground” to near the next hole with one

GOLF, WHICH HAS SO LONG BEEN

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shot and put it into the hole with another

and more freedom from restraint than ten-

adopted in America, especially in Newport,

shot. Although not at all like croquet in the

nis. The dress has to be adapted to allow an

where the art of dressing has attained

main, golf suggests this old-time game in

easy action of the muscles of the body, and

perfection. An exceedingly graceful woman

certain details. As golf does not require

consequently “golfing” costumes are com-

of slender mould might not appear unat-

strength so much as art, it is especially at-

ing into vogue. As the costume is scarcely as

tractive in the loose blouse, Turkish

tractive to ladies who enjoy outdoor sports...

pretty and feminine as the tennis dress,

trousers, and leather belt which are the

Golf requires a greater play of muscle

it is a question whether it will ever be

chief parts of the “golfing” costume...

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C H A P T E R

E I G H T

LOSERS AND WINNERS

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C H A P T E R

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LOSERS AND WINNERS “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” ~

T

MACHIAVELLI

no more polarizing figure than

to a ballplayer; Devens had to quit the game to marry her). In 1894

Charles Blair Macdonald, but his failings aided the evolution of the

newspapers, the first mention of an amateur competitor would in-

sport in America in a way that his strengths never did.

troduce him as “Mr.”; this was not done for professionals.

HE HISTORY OF GOLF has

Macdonald, 38, had played golf far longer than most Ameri-

Described by one writer as “demagogic, dogmatic, and conceited,”

cans, having learned as a teenager from Old Tom Morris. He used

Macdonald’s true nature was exposed twice in 1894.

the 10-finger, baseball-style grip employed by most players in the

Games are about winning, so it was inevitable that, in the early

1800s and hit a big slice, which he could usually control.

1890s, as interest in golf spread through the United States, the ques-

The Newport Country Club, with its two Davis-designed

tion would be asked: Who is the country’s best player? Macdonald

courses (the short, six-hole layout was for children and women

was sure he knew the answer.

At the time, discussions about “the best player in America” ex-

new to golf), was proud of its nine-hole main course that meas-

cluded professionals, who were admired for their skill, as were brick-

ured 2,707 yards and featured the obstacles of bunkers, Scottish-

layers or any other good tradesmen, but golf professionals had no

style pot bunkers, raised earth walls, a quarry, a stonewall that

social standing in the class-conscious Gilded Age; in fact, they were

crossed the No. 8 fairway, and an apple orchard (echoes of the

held in as low esteem as professional baseball players (even 40 years

Apple Tree Gang). Led by Theodore Havemeyer, Newport an-

later, Yankees pitcher and Harvard graduate Charlie Devens was told

nounced that it would host the United States’ first national Ama-

by the father of his beloved that the daughter would not be betrothed

teur championship, on September 10th and 11th, 1894, and the

Overleaf: A romanticized version of Charles Blair Macdonald being awarded the Havemeyer Trophy at Newport after winning the USGA’s first Amateur championship in 1895. Opposite: Horace Rawlins, the assistant professional at the Newport Golf Club, was the surprise winner of the USGA’s first Open championship, at Newport in 1895.

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format would be 36 holes of stroke play, with two rounds a day

Lawrence of Newport who, it was noted, “won the gold cup for golf

over the nine-hole course.

at Pau, France, last year,” was alone in second, four shots back. No

Why did Newport deserve to hold the prestigious first cham-

one else broke 100. Among the pre-tournament favorites, “Mr. L.P.

pionship? The country’s other major clubs, particularly The

Stoddart, after making one hundred and two, tore up his card and

Country Club, in Brookline, Mass.;

gave up the contest,” while Herbert C.

Shinnecock; and St. Andrew’s, likely

Leeds of The Country Club shot 106,

acceded because of their liking for the

taking one 8 and five 7s. A morning fog

genial Havemeyer — and, the course

“made the grass very sticky,” but in the

was a good one, though it was laid out

afternoon, approximately a hundred

for the Amateur in a difficult fashion

“cottage residents” came out to watch.

with testing pin placements. The re-

On the second day, Macdonald’s

sult was that 11 of the 20 entrants

nerves apparently got in the way of his

dropped out because their scores were

swing.

embarrassingly high or “thinking their

According to the newspaper report,

chances of winning very slight, gave

“As the contest evidently lay between

up the fight after the first day’s play,”

Mr. McDonald [sic] and Mr. Lawrence

a newspaper reported.

of the Newport club, they had a large

“The strangers considered the links

following of interested spectators, and

too stiff and the ground too hard, com-

as the latter gradually pulled down the

pared to the fields on which they were

lead of his opponent, the excitement

accustomed to play. The entries from

ran high, for the local sentiment was

Massachusetts, from which much was

naturally in favor of Mr. Lawrence, who

expected, did not make a good showing

was addressed as ‘Our Willie,’ and who

and several of these players returned

played hard to please his friends.

home this afternoon...

“When, at the sixth hole from home, he had pulled down Mr.

“The best work was done by Mr. Charles B. McDonald [sic]

McDonald’s lead and stood one stroke to the good, the excitement

who went round the links once with forty-six strokes and the sec-

increased, and as he maintained that slight lead to the finish, he

ond with forty-three, making a total of eighty-nine.” William G.

won the championship of America and won the handsome silver

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cup offered by the green committee, by the narrow margin of one stroke. There is no doubt that the event will now become a permanent annual fixture.”

Lawrence shot 95 that day, while Macdonald required 100 shots, a score that included a two-shot penalty for illegally dropping his ball away from the stonewall on No. 8. After the round, Macdonald proved that his high-blown devotion to the gentleman’s game of golf was only words, for he was, in fact, thoroughly lacking in sportsmanship and possibly the worst loser in the history of American sports. Having lost the tournament, Macdonald raged that the stonewall should not have been part of the course — conveniently forgetting that stonewalls are featured on multiple holes at North Berwick, one of Scotland’s great courses and a short trip across the Firth of Forth from St. Andrews, where Macdonald spent three years. And, despite having agreed to play the Newport course in the announced format, Macdonald claimed that the event could not be considered a true championship because it was stroke play rather than match play.

The championship’s organizers, having no tournament experience to fall back upon, doubted their judgment on the stonewall ruling, and they were faced with the unappealing choice of appeasing Macdonald or having the championship turned into a public debacle. They chose the former, and a second national-championship competition was agreed upon, to be played the following month at a different course: John Reid’s St. Andrew’s, which featured no stonewalls, and where a match-play format would be used.

But the means for permanently dealing with Macdonald had been set in motion; as one newspaper reported: “During the coming

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winter, arrangements will be made by the leading clubs of America for the formation of an association to govern the events.”

The other competitors who finished the Newport Amateur were all at least 13 shots behind Lawrence; these seven were: George M. Sargent of Essex — 201; Victor Sorchan of Newport — 212; W.W. Watson of Montreal — 214; the aforementioned Leeds of The Country Club — 217; Laurence Curtis of The Country Club — 221; Dr. James Dwight of The Country Club and Woods Hole — 246; and F.J. Hanks of the Essex County Club, whose 264 included a 13, three 11s, and two 10s, but, admirably, he did not abandon either round.

On October 11-13, the second national championship of 1894 was played on the Yonkers, N.Y., course that was 403 yards shorter than Davis’s Newport layout and had one hole of 500-plus yards, but no other that was longer than 338. Twenty-eight competitors from eight clubs took part in the match-play championship at St. Andrew’s, which started so well for Macdonald — an 8 and 6 victory in the first round and a 4 and 3 triumph in the second — that he confidently went to an all-night party organized in his honor by bon vivant Stanford White. Having managed only one hour of sleep, Macdonald arrived for his semi-final match against the Newport champion William Lawrence. But, with the help of — or despite the consumption of — an energizing strychnine pill recommended by White, the Chicagoan won, 2 and 1.

At mid-day, Macdonald, still plagued by his hangover, again

Charter of the Amateur Golf Association of the United States, later renamed the United States Golf Association.

Theodore Havemeyer signed as president of the Newport Golf Club.

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An Appropriate Choice PERHAPS IT WAS BY CHANCE,

perhaps by intent, but creation

of an organization to oversee golf in the United States and avoid disputes concerning national championships took place in New York City at The Calumet Club, a social club at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 29th Street. A “calumet” is a North American Indian peace pipe.

took White’s advice and consumed at lunch a bottle of champagne and a large steak. Bad advice. The final was played in the rain, and Macdonald’s opponent was Laurence Stoddart of St. Andrew’s, an Englishman and a member of Royal Liverpool Golf Club (Hoylake), who was 3-up after winning holes 6-8. Macdonald pulled within one hole by No. 16, and the match became all-square as the result of Stoddart’s tee-shot on the 17th coming to rest among the remains of a stonewall (this time, Macdonald did not insist that free relief should be granted).

On the 18th hole, Macdonald’s slice betrayed him: his tee shot soared far right into a farmer’s field, and he required three shots to get back onto the fairway. Stoddart reached the green in three shots and sank his putt for a 4 to win the second version of the national championship and a gold-and-diamond medal. Macdonald, once more a runner-up, failed again as a sportsman: now he claimed that the competition could not be a national championship because it was organized by a club rather than a national organization, and what right did St. Andrew’s have to bestow the national title?

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Havemeyer, Henry Tallmadge of St. Andrew’s, and Curtis of The Country Club now fully appreciated the necessity of forming a national body composed of representatives from the country’s foremost golf clubs, in order to oversee American golf and deal with bullies like Macdonald, whose pre-eminent position in Midwestern golf raised the threat of his forming a rival organization that might also seek to run America’s golf championships. Instead of fighting him, they chose to control him by bringing him into their circle.

As a result, on December 22, representatives from five clubs: Havemeyer and Winthrop Rutherfurd from Newport; Samuel Sears and Curtis from The Country Club; Tallmadge and Reid from St. Andrew’s; Samuel Parrish of Shinnecock Hills; and Macdonald and Arthur Ryerson from the Chicago Golf Club, met at The Calumet Club in New York City to create a national organization

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— a meeting that echoed what had taken place 23 months before and 10 blocks away at Theodore Havemeyer’s house, when the Newport Golf Club was organized. This time, five clubs were in attendance rather than five men, but once again the conciliatory Havemeyer was chosen to be the organization’s first president.

Originally, the organization was named the Amateur Golf Association of the United States, but, because it would also oversee the U.S. Open, this title did not seem appropriate, so it was changed to the American Golf Association. But, to be clear that it did not control golf in Canada, the “United States Golf Association” was soon decided upon.

The three announced purposes of the new, organizing body were: to arrange the national championships; establish a set of rules for golf in America (rumblings existed that the Scottish rules of golf were too hard and more “free drops” were needed); and administer enforcement of the rules. In order to force Macdonald to adhere to the rules, he was named a vice-president and appointed to oversee the rules of golf that were to be used in the U.S.; he later became the USGA’s representative to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, which, during the 1890s, became recognized as the governing body of golf outside the U.S. One of Havemeyer’s first jobs as president was to placate Essex County Club, located north of Boston, which felt slighted because it was not among the founding clubs, although its Massachusetts neighbor, The Country Club, had been included. Also displeased were Meadow Brook Hunt Club (like Shinnecock, also on Long Island) and the Tuxedo Club (in New York and founded by Pierre Lorillard, who had close ties to Newport). The USGA’s effectiveness

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could be undermined if these clubs banded together with others to

The 1895 U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open were scheduled for

form their own association, so Havemeyer, having dealt with a diffi-

September, but a more entrenched sporting interest forced a delay:

cult brother for most of his life, looked to pacify them: the USGA

the America’s Cup races would be taking place that month in

created the categories of Associate and Allied member clubs. Essex,

New York Harbor, so the national golf championships were delayed

the most displeased club, was recognized in March 1895 as the sixth

until the first week of October. The more prestigious Amateur event

club to be part of the USGA and the first Associate member club.

would be played first, on Oct. 1-3, and the ornate, silver

On a larger scale, Havemeyer was sensitive to the impression

trophy donated by Havemeyer and made at a cost of $1,000 would

left upon America by the disputed 1894 championships; would golf

be held by the winner’s club for the next year. One newspaper said,

be seen as just a group of rich men constantly squabbling? Fortu-

“It is the finest golf trophy that has ever been offered for competi-

nately, that did not happen, and the game’s growth was rapid:

tion in the world. The cup is beautifully chased [etched] and orna-

in 1900, just 12 years after John Reid’s Apple Tree Gang first gath-

mented, bearing a number of golf scenes...” The winner would also

ered, 982 golf courses existed in the United States.

receive a gold medal; the second-place finisher would be awarded

The USGA, ready to fulfill its obligations, decided to stage the first two “official” tournaments where the 1894 disputes began,

a silver medal; and third and fourth would receive bronze medals.

Although most of the amateur golfers were

at Newport, the home course of its president, which still had a

wealthy men, the hospitable Havemeyer paid the

stonewall across its No. 8 fairway. But there would be no rules prob-

expenses of the amateur and professional

lems this time because the USGA’s first yearbook, published in the

players who came to Newport. He was going

spring of 1895, stated: “A ball must be played wherever it lies or

to give the USGA’s first champi-

may, under the penalty of two strokes, be lifted out of a difficulty

onships, at his course, an

of any description, and teed behind the same.”

aura of success.

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A N D

W I N N E R S

from 10 USGA clubs: St. Andrew’s, Chicago, The Country Club,

A Victim of Circumstance THE FIRST U.S. OPEN was also played at St. Andrew’s in Yonkers,

N.Y., in October 1894, and Shinnecock Hills golf professional Willie Dunn defeated Willie Campbell, The Country Club’s professional, 2-up. But, when C.B. Macdonald’s fit of pique resulted in the amateur event not being recognized, it also swept away Dunn’s status as the first winner of the U.S. Open. In 1895, Dunn was runner-up to Horace Rawlins in the first “official” U.S. Open and never won a USGA-organized Open. In the late 1890s, Dunn owned a golf retail store in New York and experimented with the manufacture of steel-shafted clubs. He died in London in 1952; his headstone in Putney Vale Cemetery reads: “Willie Dunn Champion of America 1894.”

Philadelphia, Meadow Brook, Lakewood (N.J.), Essex, Tuxedo, Shinnecock, and Newport, and would be placed in the tournament by a blind draw. Two 18-hole matches would be played each of the first two days, then the final match would be 36 holes. Once again, Charles Blair Macdonald was ready to prove that he was America’s true champion.

On the first day, a northwest wind described as “bracing” chilled the players, affected their drives, and kept attendance down for the morning round, which started at a gentlemanly 10 o’clock. Macdonald opened with a 7 and 6 trouncing of his first opponent, fellow USGA official Laurence Curtis, and followed that with an afternoon beating of Gerard Bement of Essex, 8 and 6. The upset of the second round was the 19-hole defeat of Stoddart, the 1894 champion at St. Andrew’s, by Newport’s Winthrop Rutherfurd, who then lost in the third round to Macdonald, 5 and 4. In the semifinals, Macdonald

The format for the Amateur was match play, after a qualifying round that would pare the field from the 35 entrants down to the

demolished Charles Claxton of Philadelphia, 8 and 7.

Charles Sands of St. Andrew’s, a tennis player who had been play-

necessary 32; but, the withdrawal of three players left the perfect

ing golf for just three months, was the man who

number for a tournament draw of five rounds. The players were

would face Macdonald in a final that “began under

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an almost August sun this morning.” reported the Newport newspa-

Shinnecock’s Willie Dunn “must be considered the most formida-

per. “The weather was so balmy, the air so quiet and the sun so hot

ble candidate,” as he had recently set the course record of 73 at

that it was something of an effort after the bracing weather of the past

Shinnecock. “Unless some new-comer appears, the finish at

two days to follow the players.”

Newport should find Dunn in front ... (although) Davis has the

By the end of the first nine, Macdonald held a three-hole lead,

advantage of being on his own links ...”

requiring only 45 shots to Sands’s 53. Of Macdonald, the newspaper

Amateurs Macdonald, Rutherfurd, and Stoddart signed up to

said, “He was at times nervous but Sands’ inexperience more than

play against the professionals, but withdrew before the start of

offset this. Often, the latter received a favorable position from which he should have made several holes, but lack of experience prevented him from playing a winning stroke.”

During the second nine, Sands fell back another two holes. On No. 14, a par 4 on the north side of the club’s entrance driveway, “Sands foggled on the drive and then was caught in the orchard,” according to one report. On their third go-round of the nine-hole course, Macdonald won seven of the

the competition, leaving a field of 11

No Ruling Needed IN THE 1895

Amateur Championship, competitor

Richard Peters showed up with a billiard cue for use on the greens, but no official action was necessary. As USGA secretary Henry O. Tallmadge told the New York Sun newspaper, “The officials in charge of the Newport tournament did not make a ruling in the match between Mr. Peters and the Rev. Dr. Rainsford regarding the use of the cue ... (because) after using it once, Peters, at the request of his opponent, did not use it again.”

first eight holes, ending the match on

that included one amateur: A.W. Smith of Toronto. Among the professionals was James Foulis of Chicago, who had served as Macdonald’s caddie and coach for the previous three days.

The day after the first U.S. Open, the placement of the story in the Newport newspaper was revealing: the report was below an advertisement featuring “window shades, lace and muslin curtains.” The headline was “The Professional Golf Championship,” and the story claimed that “all

the 26th hole with a 12 and 10 victory, which allowed the two-time

the professionals in this country were entered.”

runner-up to now boast that he was the first winner of the U.S.

“The tournament was for strokes, called medal play. Eighteen

Amateur championship.

holes were played in the morning and eighteen in the afternoon.

On the following day, Oct. 4, the first official U.S. Open was

The players went around in pairs ... The three men who were sup-

played, as a 36-hole stroke-play event. According to the New York

posed to be the best in the country, Campbell, Dunn, and Davis,

Sun, an amateur win in the Open was highly unlikely: “It is almost

were not in their best form, and yielded the first championship

too soon yet for our amateurs to expect to cope with the profes-

honors to Horace Rawlins, an almost unknown player who was

sionals.” The newspaper said that among the professionals,

brought over last spring” from England, to work at Newport.

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RULES AND RESTRICTIONS TO SPUR CLUBS’ SUPPORT of the USGA, competitors in the

1895 U.S. Amateur had to belong to a club that was a member: “Competitors shall enter for the championship through the secretaries of their respective clubs, and an entrance fee of $5 must accompany each entry, and must be received by the secretary of the association not later than 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24.”

For the Open, the announcement, which hinted at the poor reputation of golf professionals, stated: “... the following prizes will be competed for under the rules of the United States Golf Association: First, to the winner of the championship, of which $50 shall be expended on a golf medal and $150 given in money to a professional or in plate [a trophy] to an amateur golfer. The winner to have custody of the championship cup, but he must, if required, give security for its safe keeping. Second, $100; third, $50; fourth, $25; fifth, $10. The last four prizes shall go to professionals only.” The entrance fee was, again, $5, to be delivered to USGA secretary Henry O. Tallmadge “not later than 6 p.m., on Friday,

Any person paying his entrance money shall be consid-

September 27.”

ered thereby to have submitted himself to the rules of

And, to prevent any repetition of the 1894 fiascos, the

the association, both as to restrictions enjoined and

announcement concluded with these firm words:

penalties imposed. On these conditions alone he is

“All disputes shall be settled by the executive com-

entitled to enjoy all the advantages and privileges of the

mittee of the association, whose decision shall be final.

association competition.”

The original rule book of the United States Golf Association, printed in 1895.

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The club’s assistant professional proved the advantage of local

the former beating his old competitor, who slipped up badly on his

knowledge, his rounds of 91 and 82 giving him a two-shot margin

morning play, taking nine [shots] to hole out of the fifth hole of

of victory over Dunn of Shinnecock. Smith, the Canadian amateur,

his second round [the 14th hole of the day]. This one hole, where

finished third, another shot back.

Davis found all the bunkers and pits on the green, pulled him

Rawlins was born on the Isle of Wight, where he learned to play

down, but otherwise his play was up to the mark. Both Dunn and

golf while working as a caddie. He later played on “the

Campbell were badly out of form, and both seemed

famous links at Stanmore, in Middlesex, near London,”

too eager to win. Campbell’s play was singularly un-

then worked as the greenkeeper and golf professional

even, for it was the most brilliant of the day, as well

at Mid-Herts Golf Club, outside of London before

as the most careless.” Campbell’s four rounds were

emigrating to America in January 1895.

41-48-42-48, and included one 9 and two 7s. The

The Newport News said of the first Open win-

newspaper noted that Chicago’s Foulis “gave the

ner, “Rawlins’s play, on the whole, was a remarkable

finest exhibition of driving ever seen in this country.

exhibition. His was a well-balanced game, strong in

On the green, however, he was deficient...”

all its elements, yet brilliant in none. He is a good,

Rawlins, who was runner-up the following year

heady player, with a happy faculty of not getting

in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock, later worked in New

discouraged when in difficulties. Then he goes at

Hampshire, Los Angeles, and Connecticut before

his work with an ease and fearlessness which is

returning to England, where he died in 1940. The

most interesting. His putting is stronger than his

whereabouts of his championship gold medal was

driving, but the latter is good. These were the characteristics of

unknown until 1974 when Rawlins’s grandson — a non-golfer —

his play that put him ahead of his older and more experienced

found the medal in his father’s safe-deposit box and, not knowing

competitors.

its significance, contacted the USGA.

“Laurence Curtis, vice president of the national association,

With the powderkeg of Charles Blair Macdonald having been

who refereed for Rawlins, told the young man, as he congratulated

carefully defused, and the USGA’s first two competitions conducted

him, that his golf was the best he had ever seen.

without controversy, golf in America had been delivered into safe

“Dunn and Davis, who are old rivals, went around together,

and responsible hands.

Previous page: the original Havemeyer Trophy, donated by Theodore A. Havemeyer and given to the winner of the U.S. Amateur Championship, was destroyed in a fire at the East Lake Golf Club, in Atlanta, Ga., in 1925, Bobby Jones having won the event that summer. Above: Joe Horgan, who caddied for Horace Rawlins, winner of the 1895 U.S. Open at Newport, was paid $10 for his work at a time when the usual nine-hole rate was 15 cents. Horgan became known as “the champions’ caddie”; he was on the bag for nine winners of USGA events, but missed one in 1913 when he was Harry Vardon’s caddie in the U.S. Open playoff won by Francis Ouimet.

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C H A P T E R

N I N E

EARLY MOURNING

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C H A P T E R

N I N E

EARLY MOURNING “We should expect the best and the worst from mankind...” ~ MARQUIS DE VAUVENARGUES

T

a genial nature is mistaken for weakness, and

Ayrshire who came to the United States to demonstrate golf at the

that was the erroneous assumption made by the majority of the

1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Defending Amateur champion Charles

professionals at the 1896 U.S. Open.

Blair Macdonald survived the qualifying round despite being 15

OO OFTEN,

The U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open, once again, would share the

shots behind Whigham. In the first round of match play, Macdon-

same course in the same week, the second annual championships

ald lost, but he had an excuse: he wasn’t feeling well. Whigham

taking place in mid-July at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Despite

needed no excuses as he easily swept through his matches, winning

attracting 85 entries for the Amateur — reportedly the largest com-

the national title with an 8 & 7 triumph over Harvard University

petitive field in the brief history of American golf — the 36-hole,

professor J.G. Thorp. Macdonald could legitimately claim some

stroke-play, qualifying tournament could be played in one day.

responsibility for Whigham’s victory: he met Whigham’s father

Shinnecock had one of the few 18-hole courses in the United States

when both were students at St. Andrews, and Macdonald was

— although, at 4,423 yards, it would be the shortest course ever

instrumental in arranging for Whigham to come to Chicago for

used for either national championship and nearly a thousand yards

the “World’s Fair: Columbian Exposition” (its proper title).

less than two rounds over Newport’s nine-hole layout.

During the USGA’s first three years, the U.S. Amateur and

In the qualifying, played on July 14, the medalist with scores

U.S. Open were played at three of the organization’s founding

of 86-77 was Henry J. Whigham, a 26-year-old Scotsman from

clubs, the Chicago Golf Club hosting both championships in 1897.

Overleaf: Theodore Havemeyer and family members in a carriage in front of the Newport Country Club, circa 1894-1896.

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(The Country Club would hold its first Amateur in 1910, then host

Whigham, an Oxford graduate and a member of a prominent

the memorable Open of 1913, won by amateur Francis Ouimet in a

British family, decided to stay in America after the Fair and was

playoff against professional stars Harry Vardon and Ted Ray; no

working for the Chicago Tribune newspaper when the 1897 com-

USGA national championship was ever held at St. Andrew’s, the fifth

petitions came to the Midwest; he retained his Amateur title with

founding club.)

a convincing 8 & 6 final victory over 21-year-old W.R. Betts, a student at Yale. The next day’s New York Herald headline emphasized the disparity in status between the “gentlemen” amateurs and the “tradesmen” professionals: “Champion Whigham — For the Second Time He Wins the Highest Golf Honors in America.”

Whigham was, almost certainly, the last newspaper drama critic ever to win a national golf title. After his Chicago triumph, he wrote a golf-instruction book that he wisely dedicated to his

Not a Typical Champion AFTER WINNING the 1896 and 1897 U.S. Amateurs, Henry James

Whigham moved on to other interests: lecturing on economics and English at several U.S. universities; working as a war correspondent for Chicago and London newspapers, covering the Spanish-American and Boer wars; writing several books about world politics; and spending more than two decades as co-owner and editor of Town & Country, a newspaper and magazine about “the fashionable life.” He brought his Scottish upbringing to bear when he helped Macdonald design the National Golf Links in Southampton, N.Y. Whigham died in 1954, within two miles of Shinnecock, where he first became a national champion.

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benefactor, Macdonald. Twelve years later, Whigham and Macdon-

tournament; his 36-hole score of 152 earned him the title and a

ald became relatives when the Scotsman married Macdonald’s

three-shot victory over runner-up and former champion Horace

daughter Frances (“noted for her beauty,” according to The New

Rawlins, who during the previous winter had been hired away from

York Times) on Thanksgiving Eve 1909.

Newport by the Sadakqueda Golf Club in Utica, N.Y.. In third place

But, it was the 1896 U.S. Open at Shinnecock, not the Amateur,

was Joseph Lloyd, the professional at the Essex County Club — the

that proved to be historically important.

same Joseph Lloyd who, 12 years before, taught the game of golf to

Two of the best students of Shinnecock’s first professional,

Theodore Havemeyer in Pau, France.

Willie Dunn, were 16-year-old John Shippen, of mixed African/

Organizations take on the personality of their leader, and the

American Indian ancestry, and Oscar Bunn, 19 years old and a

principled, self-assured calm of the Newport Country Club was a

member of the local Shinnecock Indian tribe who did most of the

reflection of Havemeyer. Thus, it is easy to believe that his fellow

work building the golf course. Shippen, whose black father worked

founders of the USGA sought that same poise and temperament

as a minister on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation, was a caddie

for their organization and the game’s national image. The New York

and assistant teaching professional at the club, where the members,

Times, in a December 6, 1896 article, described the USGA as

proud of his game, put up the money for his entrance fee into the

“largely responsible” for “the high tone by which golf in America

1896 Open. Bunn also entered.

has been characterized.”

When the other professionals heard that these two non-whites

Although not yet two years old, the association’s “utility and

were going to play, they threatened to boycott the tournament.

permanency have been firmly established. The union of the leading

USGA President Theodore Havemeyer, in perhaps his finest hour,

golf clubs into one grand central body which formulates standard

said that the U.S. Open would take place the next day — even if

rules, settles questions of dispute — if any, and, in fact, keeps a

Shippen and Bunn were the only two players. The professionals’

vigilant eye upon the whole status of the game, has been most

prejudice was not as strong as their greed, and all of them backed

beneficial to the growth of golf.

down in order to chase the prize money.

“In this respect, America already has, thus early in her golf his-

On July 18, in the morning round, Shippen shot 78, tying him

tory, a central authoritative body, which does not exist in England

with four others for the lead, but in the afternoon he took an 11 on

or Scotland, and which fact has been deeply deplored by many of

the par-4 13th hole. He eventually finished seven shots behind the

their leading golfers. The old St. Andrews Club of Scotland has for

long-hitting James Foulis, Macdonald’s home-town professional

years occupied the position as practical supervisor of the game in

and part-time caddie, whose afternoon 74 was the best round of the

Great Britain ... but so rapidly has the game grown over there within

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the past few years that the necessity of a golf union is being seriously felt ... thus far, all efforts toward forming one have been futile.”

(The following year, 1897, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews codified the rules in golf in the UK.) Havemeyer, without mentioning Macdonald or the Chicago Golf Club, observed that the creation of the USGA “came at just the right time, when the game was young in America and before many of the older and larger clubs had attained such a degree of club prominence as to feel, perhaps, that it was belittling their club’s dignity to join a general organization with a host of other clubs. This fact surely is one of the chief difficulties which have prevented a representative organization being formed in England and Scotland.”

By the end of 1896, the USGA had 57 member clubs, and 20 more applications were awaiting approval. Havemeyer said of golf in America, “I firmly believe that it has passed the experimental condition and that it has come to stay ... the game surely fills a place in this country’s sports which was totally unoccupied before, and its eager acceptance by businessmen and those somewhat advanced in life shows most clearly that just such a method of healthy, invigorating exercise was needed for a large proportion of our inhabitants.”

Havemeyer, elected to a one-year term as the USGA’s first president, was voted to successive one-year terms the next two winters.

Entering the spring of 1897, both the infant USGA and four-yearold Newport Golf Club were looking forward to years of Havemeyer’s steady guidance. Instead, on April 27, The New York Times

The second U.S. Amateur trophy was made after Havemeyer’s original was destroyed in a fire at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta in 1925.

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headline read: “Death of T.A. Havemeyer.”

ing of a ball in match play] that ... was a direct blow at the

He died at his home in New York City at the age of 57. According

ruling principle of match play — which is the real game of golf

to The New York Times, the cause of death was

— that the ball must be played wherever it

“stomach troubles.” The last illness of the de-

lies, unless it be in water. The new rule has

ceased capitalist was of only about two weeks’ du-

since been rescinded, and no farther

ration, and on last Sunday [the day before his

attempt has been made to alter the

death] his attending physicians informed him, in

St. Andrews rules as they stand.

reply to a question, that his end was very near.”

The only reason why this danger has

The newspaper reported: “The death of

been averted is that a national association

Theodore A. Havemeyer was a shock to the golf-

was formed before any havoc could be cre-

ing world. As president of the United States Golf

ated, and a committee elected, composed of

Association since its organization in December

men who had the best interests of the game

1894, Mr. Havemeyer was well known through-

at heart. The first president was the late

out the country. The present successful condition

Theodore A. Havemeyer, of whose services

of the game in America, and its high, sportsman-

to golf and to amateur sport in general it is

like standard are largely due to Havemeyer’s care-

hard to speak dispassionately. It is seldom

ful foresight and energy.”

that a man of affairs, whose administrative

Whigham, in his book, How to Play Golf,

powers have been developed in the control

wrote that before the USGA was founded, golfers

of a great corporation, is willing to devote

in the United States were on the verge of creating

a large share of his time and care to the in-

their own version of the old Scottish game.

terests of a game. When this administrative ability is combined with the most lovable

... there was a very serious danger that

characteristics of a gentleman and a

American players, with their half digested no-

sportsman, it will be understood that the

tions of golf and their knowledge of most inferior courses,

National Golf Association [sic] was extraordinarily fortunate

should go about to make some very radical changes in the rules

in the selection of its first president.

and practice of the game. In fact, a tendency in that direction

By his recent death, every golf player in this country sus-

was noticeable when a rule was made [involving the free lift-

tained a great and irreparable loss. But in the two years of his

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J.P. and Ship when hired as a teenager to give lessons at

control he was able to place the governing body upon so firm and

Shinnecock, John Shippen may have become the first Amer-

immovable a basis, and his influence was so strong in preserving

ican-born golf professional and was certainly the country’s

the true spirit of the game, that even his untimely departure could

first golf pro of African descent. His most famous pupil was

not spoil the complete value of his work. There is but little doubt

J.P. Morgan, who took lessons from “Ship” during the sum-

that had a weaker hand been at the helm during the young days

mer of 1897, and learned enough of the fundamentals to hit

of the association, many radical changes might have been made

long drives, then quit. Shippen (1879-1968), played in a total

in the rules which would have made a gulf between the American

of six Opens and also taught at the Maidstone and Aron-

and British golfers...

IN THE 1890s,

imink clubs. For 36 years, he was the golf pro at Shady Rest

As it is, nothing has been done which could offend the most

Country Club (N.J.), believed to be the United States’ first

conservative spirit, nor is any action likely to be taken in the

black-owned country club, which also featured tennis, skeet-

future which will bring about a development of the game along

shooting, horseback riding, and Saturday-night dances with

divergent lines in the two countries.

entertainment by Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington.

At the USGA, the office of the president was assumed by Laurence Curtis of The Country Club, and the ship sailed on.

At Newport, without Havemeyer’s conciliatory personality and financial generosity, things did not go so smoothly.

As Alan T. Schumacher related in his Curious History, the two entities: the Newport Golf Club and the Newport Country Club were in an “odd-couple relationship” and the interests of the two organizations “were quite divergent. The stockholders of the Country Club wanted a return on their investment. The members of the Golf Club wanted the longest possible lease at the lowest rent. When Theodore Havemeyer died ... genteel feuding began in earnest.”

Before 1897, a merger of the two entities was considered, but that seemed to violate the country club’s charter. After Havemeyer’s death, new terms for the golf club’s rental of the property

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were discussed but a common ground could not be found. “As

$1,000. When the five-year lease expired on Jan. 1, 1903, the invest-

the temporary lease had expired, it was reported that the Country

ing entity, Newport Country Club, took over the clubhouse and

Club was likely to take over legal possession of its clubhouse,”

required the golf club to turn over all income.

wrote Schumacher.

The following year, a new lease was put in place, one that

Committees from the two clubs

required the golf club to pay the very

met, and a six-month lease for

forgiving if seemingly odd yearly

$2,600, to end on January 1, 1898,

Changing the Rules

rent of $2,227.40; but, this was the

was agreed upon. This was eventu-

The USGA Executive Committee’s first set of rules,

annual interest on the $40,000 mort-

ally followed by a five-year lease for

adopted July 13, 1895, included the following, which

gage owned by the Newport Coun-

$6,000 per year. But, Schumacher

were, fortunately, reconsidered:

try Club. Control of the clubhouse

wrote, “Soon the Golf Club fell upon hard times. Although membership held steady at just over 100, interest in golf began to wane and meal service at the club deterio-

No. 27 — “A player’s side loses a stroke if he plays the opponent’s ball, unless ... the opponent then plays the player’s ball, whereby the penalty is canceled, and the hole must be played out with the balls thus exchanged...”

was returned to the Newport Golf Club, but financial difficulties continued; one of the cost-cutting measures was Newport’s embarrassing drop from the USGA’s ranks of As-

rated.” Also, summer residents were

No. 28 — “If a ball be lost, the player’s side loses

sociate Members down to Allied, in

spending time at the new Bailey’s

the hole.”

order to save $90. During the next

Beach (founded in 1897); tennis at

No. 30 — “The term ‘putting green’ shall mean the

decade, the club’s survival, according

James Gordon Bennett, Jr.’s Casino

ground within 20 yards of the hole, except hazards.”

to Schumacher, was often due to “the

was gaining popularity; and pleasure yachting remained a Newport

No. 34 — [On the line of a putt and around the hole] “Dung may be removed to a side with an iron club...”

generosity of a handful of people.”

These financial difficulties were

constant. Another factor might

exacerbated by the Panic of 1907

have been that newcomers to golf

when the stock market dropped 50

became discouraged when they discovered that the game was not

percent in one year, and runs on banks and trust companies accel-

so easy to master.

erated until J.P. Morgan stepped in and publicly supported the na-

In 1902, the treasurer of the Newport Golf Club acknowledged

tion’s banking system. According to a September 1910 article in

that the funds on-hand were insufficient to pay the next six-month

Town & Country, Lispenard Stewart had resigned as president of the

rent installment; donations from members raised the shortfall of

Newport Golf Club, but he was praised for “having rescued the club

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At the End LESS THAN FOUR HOURS before

he died, Theodore Havemeyer

asked that a priest be called, and he converted to the Catholic faith; his funeral service was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Curiously, Havemeyer did not leave a will; the reason for this is not known; his estate was worth in excess of $4 million. Within three years of Havemeyer’s death, two of his nine children died: Charles in 1898 and Lillie Mayer in 1900, both due to selfinflicted gun shots that were officially ruled as accidents. ... when all signs indicated its speedy death” by involving “prominent” Newport women and by his own willingness to “sponsor and finance any proposal made by members.”

After the national crisis eased, and people were willing to spend money again, the golf club’s financial situation improved. Discussions eventually resumed concerning consolidation of the country club and golf club and, in May 1917, the country club’s stockholders announced that they would sell to the golf club’s members a 50percent interest for $100,000. This sale of stock to 23 individuals was completed and, on June 16, 1917, with golf club president Royal Phelps Carroll chairing the meeting, the Newport Golf Club transferred all its assets and liabilities to the Newport Country Club, then voted itself out of existence. Three weeks later, the club’s $40,000 mortgage was paid off.

The reorganized Newport Country Club now had 146 members and was a registered corporation. Some members owned stock, some did not. The annual meeting was open only to stockholders, not to all members.

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And through it all, the golf continued.

as a famous man, due to his 1897 duel of

In Theodore Havemeyer’s last summer

honor, with swords, against the Frenchman

in Newport, a silver cup was offered as the

Prince Henri of Orleans whose newspaper

prize for a foursomes competition, and a

account of the battle in Adowa, Ethiopia,

team from Baltusrol Golf Club (N.J.) was

attributed the Italians’ loss to cowardice and

heavily favored to win. They reached the

stupidity. The count won the duel without

final, where their opponents were the sur-

inflicting a mortal wound upon his oppo-

prising team of 18-year-old Harry Have-

nent. Nine months later, the count came to

meyer and his 16-year-old brother Fred.

America, accompanied by an aide-de-camp,

With their father in the crowd that followed

as part of an around-the-world trip, that

the match, “The finals were played this after-

included a visit to New York and two weeks

noon in the presence of a large and fashion-

in Newport before boarding a train to cross

able assembly,” reported the New York

the United States.

Herald. “Betting ran high, but all the pretty

The count, who was a golfer, enjoyed

girls wanted the home entries to win ... The

himself so much at Newport that he gave

boys took the last three holes and the match

an 18-inch silver trophy from “H.R.H.

after a spectacular finish amid great applause

Conte di Torino” worth $1,500 to be

from the spectators...”

awarded to the winner of a golf tourna-

Two years later, in July 1898, a 27-year-

ment. Among the winners were Theodore

old Italian count encountered in Newport

Havemeyer’s son, Harry, awarded the tro-

the same warmth and welcome that had

phy five times, and his son, also Harry, who

charmed a French count a century before.

won it thrice more.

And the Conte di Torino, like de Rocham-

And so, while golf at Newport had to

beau, was deeply touched by the city’s kind-

begin the new century without its first

ness toward him.

leader, the club showed that it had not lost its spirit, its style, nor

Vittorio Emanuele Torino Giovanni Maria arrived in Newport

its grace.

At its first full meeting since the death of Theodore Havemeyer, the Newport Golf Club described him as “Truly… ‘The Father of Golf ’ in this country.”

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THE COUNT DUELS WERE OUTLAWED in Rhode Island in 1838, but, 60 years later,

peanuts, and rubber trees, among other crops. The African colonies,

gentlemen willing to die for honor remained romantic figures.

also useful as trading outposts, were viewed as status symbols —

The Count of Turin arrived in New York City on May 3, 1898,

proof of a European country’s strength.

on the transatlantic steamer Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse. The New

The Italians sought to control Ethiopia, but on March 1, 1896,

York Times story opened with the following words: “Prince Victor

the Italian army was routed at the Battle of Adowa, a loss that the

Emmanuel, Count of Turin, the victor in the duel that he

historian R.H. Rainero described as: “A stupefying event of conti-

had with Prince Henri of Orleans last year ... was met

nental importance” that occurred “at the very moment when

at the pier by the Italian Minister in Washington

victories by Europeans regularly punctuated this expansion,

and the Italian Consul General in New York.”

without any victory whatsoever for the conquered and

Described by the newspaper as “tall and trim

colonised peoples.” The historian Henri-Louis Castonnet

with a rather pale face and mustache,” the count,

des Fossés wrote that, with the Ethiopian victory over

nephew of Italy’s King Umberto I, had been

the Italian army, “Africa ceased to be a prey ... The

granted leave from the Italian army in order to make

news of the Battle of Adowa has spread across

a world tour. Nine months previous, the count was front-

the black continent with incredible speed. The

page news due to his early-morning duel outside of Paris with

White Man is no longer looked upon as a su-

Prince Henri d’Orleans, 29, a member of France’s royal family,

perior being; he has lost his prestige. It is

the great-grandson of King Louis-Philippe, and the son of

known that he is no longer invincible and the

Robert d’Orleans, who fought for the Union Army in the Ameri-

natives have ceased to fear him ... the importance

can Civil War.

of the Battle of Adowa cannot be over-estimated.”

The root cause of the 1897 duel was the Age of Imperialism. In

Prince Henri d’Orleans was a writer and “geographer” who had

the second half of the 1800s, aided by the century’s new combina-

won gold medals from Britain’s Royal Geographical Society and

tion of railroads, telegraphs, and machine guns, the European coun-

the Geographical Society of Paris and had discovered the source of

tries were dividing Africa among themselves. England, Portugal,

the Irrawaddy River in Burma. While traveling in northern Africa,

Spain, Belgium, Germany, France, and Italy were staking claims to

he stopped in Adowa, and what he learned about the battle “

new colonies, the benefits of which included gold, diamonds, cop-

disgusted” him. As the prince wrote in the French newspaper

per, and land well-suited for plantations that could grow cocoa,

Le Figaro, the Italians had shown “the most reprehensible conduct,”

Henry O. Havemeyer, father and son, won the Count de Turin tournament a total of eight times.

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including cowardice by their officers, incompetence on the part of

was decided in the fifth assault, when the prince was hit in the

the army’s generals, and the embarrassing capture of Italian soldiers

right side of his abdomen, suffering a wound that cut within half

by Ethiopian women.

a centimeter of his intestines.

The response to d’Orleans’ allegations was swift. According to a

The doctors from both sides, after examining the wound,

printed report, “It was decided at once that the author

declared that it had rendered the prince “clearly inferior

should be called to account.” Four army officers chal-

to his antagonist.” The prince’s seconds “proposed

lenged the prince, and it was decided that the

that the combat be stopped, and this was done

Count of Turin “owing to his exalted rank ...

by common accord. While his wound was

should take precedence of all the others.” An-

being dressed, Prince Henri, raising himself

other reason was “The Count is a splendid

upon the ground, extended his hand to

swordsman, having met and defeated

the Count of Turin, saying, ‘Allow me,

some of the finest masters of fence in Italy,

Monseigneur, to shake hands with you.’

and it is doubtful if a better champion

The Count extended his hand.”

could have been found in all the Italian

That afternoon, the count quietly

Army.”

undertook his return trip to Italy.

In a civilized manner, seconds for

The prince’s wound was judged “se-

both the prince and the count negotiated

rious but not alarming,” and his doctors

the duel’s details and agreed that because

advised that “absolute rest” was necessary.

duels had been illegal in France for more than

He recovered, however, four years later during

250 years, the fight would be abandoned if any

a trip to Saigon, he died from dysentery.

strangers appeared. A site west of Paris was chosen, in

The count was sometimes confused with his

the Bois de Maréchaux, at Vaucresson; the time was set for 5

much-shorter first cousin, also named Vittorio Emanuele,

a.m.; and each side would bring its own doctor.

who ascended to the Italian throne in 1900. A career soldier, the

Five “encounters” were fought over 26 minutes, with the

count became the commander-in-chief of the Italian cavalry, a po-

prince suffering a superficial chest wound in the first, and the

sition he held throughout World War I; after the armistice, France

count receiving a minor wound to his hand in the third. The duel

awarded him the Croix de guerre.

The count (above) was first cousin to the King of Italy who capitulated to the threats of Benito Mussolini and appointed him prime minister in 1922.

This led to Italy allying itself with Germany in World War II and ultimately led to the end of the Italian monarchy.

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C H A P T E R

T E N

PLAYING THE LAND

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N E W P O R T

C O U N T R Y

C L U B

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C H A P T E R

T E N

PLAYING THE LAND “Golf, like the game of life, was never meant to be fair.” ~ GRAEME GRANT, GOLF-COURSE ARCHITECT

I

where he worked while growing up.

T IS IRONIC THAT MANKIND seeks out problems — and if we can’t

After Havemeyer and his friends formed the Newport Golf Club

find them, we create them. That is the purest explanation for the

and rented the Bateman Hotel for the summer of 1893, they hoped

design of a golf course.

Imagine a layout without bunkers, trees, water, or rough, one

to purchase the Bateman property with its already-built “club-

where every hole is straight and every green is flat. What you are

house.” When the selling price proved to be exorbitant, they adapted

picturing is a golfer’s hell. We want the challenge, the risk of failure,

quickly, crossing Harrison Avenue and purchasing 140 acres from

the chance to succeed. And while a scoreboard suggests that golfers

Mary King. This would provide sufficient land for a new clubhouse

are playing each other, they are actually competing against the

on a promontory near the middle of the property, a challenging

course — or, to be more precise, against the golf-course architect.

nine-hole course, and a six-hole course for children and novice female golfers.

By 1890, Brenton Point’s first primitive golf holes had been laid out on Elizabeth Gammell’s property; the designer is unknown, but

And, whether or not Davis ever admitted it, he must have been

it likely was Theodore Havemeyer, Newport’s evangelist of golf, who

pleased that the attempted purchase of the Bateman Hotel failed

knew well the enjoyable course at Pau, France, where he learned to

because the Rocky Farm property gave him more interesting land

play. Three years later, the original holes on the Gammell property

to work with; the rock formations under the surface provided sharp

were replaced by a nine-hole layout devised by Englishman Willie

elevations and drop-offs, hills and valleys, and the interesting con-

Davis, whose primary architectural influence was Royal Liverpool,

tours that golf-course designers crave.

Opposite: Albert Warren Tillinghast, one of the finest golf-course designers in the United States in the first third of the 1900s and described by one writer as “golf architecture’s ultimate eccentric,” was known for building courses that fit the surrounding landscape.

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N E W P O R T

C O U N T R Y

Davis, who previously laid out Shinnecock’s first 12 holes, had

C L U B

eventually there will be a chance of obtaining a course with indi-

a good eye for design work, as evidenced by his dramatic opening

vidual character of an impressive nature.”

hole — the current No. 14 — which is slightly more than 200 yards

Because of this approach to the land, Colt is regarded as “the

and was built on the side of a hill. When this was the first hole, it

most important designer in the history of the game” by Adam

was, in naval terms, a shot across the bow, announcing to golfers

Lawrence of Golf Course Architecture. Davis was doing the same

that a round on Davis’s course would be a challenge.

thing, as evinced by the naturalness of Newport’s present-day Nos.

The difference between a problem

10 and 11, and the No. 13 green. About

and an opportunity is often in the eye

each, there is a permanence and in-

of the beholder. How many golf-course

evitability, as if no other option was

designers, in any age, would have

possible. That three of Davis’s holes

looked at the long, side-hill lie con-

from 1894 acquitted themselves well

fronting Davis and recognized the po-

more than a century later in the 1995

tential for a great golf hole? Very few.

U.S. Amateur and the 2006 U.S.

In the late 1800s, the men designing

Women’s Open, is the finest compli-

golf courses were self-styled architects;

ment to his architectural vision.

none of them had formal training, the

After Newport hosted the National

job was too new and too rare. But, like

Amateur tournament in 1894, then the

self-taught artists, the good ones devel-

first USGA Amateur and Open cham-

oped a style that suited them, and

pionships in 1895, the club considered

Davis’s holes had a naturalness for

adding a second nine, but as The New

which Harry Colt would later became

York Times reported in a February 16,

famous.

1896 article: “The Newport golf course will not be enlarged to eight-

“I firmly believe,” wrote Colt, who worked on Muirfield, Pine

een holes this coming year. That idea has been abandoned. The

Valley, Royal Portrush, and Royal County Down, “that the only

nine-hole course is a long one, and one of the best in the country.”

means whereby an attractive piece of ground can be turned into a

But the urge to have a full, 18-hole course — like its USGA

satisfying golf course is to work the natural features of the site in

founding brethren at Shinnecock and Chicago — was too much for

question. Develop them if necessary, but not too much ... and

Newport to resist. In 1897, at a cost of $4,000, Davis added nine

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more holes, which made extensive use of low-lying land east of the

Davis left NCC in 1899 and, by 1902, “play had fallen off due to the

clubhouse. Regrettably, this section of the property was in a topo-

growing interest in tennis and yachting.” That spring, the club de-

graphical basin where rainwater from the surrounding hills gath-

cided that nine holes would be “sufficient to accommodate play.” As

ered, often rendering the new holes too wet for play, as had

a result, only the original nine were cared for.

happened to the little-used polo field built nearby.

A 1913 scorecard of the course shows a length of 5,541 yards,

Interest in golf at Newport declined during the next few years.

with Davis’s opening hole, named “Plateau,” as the 10th hole. The

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wetness of the newer “Lower Course” holes persisted, and Yorkshire-

and Robert W. Goelet hired Seth Raynor, an engineer and Macdon-

man H.H. Barker, the golf professional at Garden City Golf Club and

ald’s design protegé, to “go over the course.” According to the minutes

a golf-course designer, came to Newport for a consultation, as did

of the club’s annual meeting, Raynor “had submitted a tentative plan

Peter Lees, who was regarded as the finest greenkeeper in England

for the rearrangement and improvement of the course, as shown by

and had been brought to America by Charles Blair Macdonald to

the plans and profile that were shown at the meeting.” The Green

deal with the bogs at the proposed Lido course on Long Island (when

Committee was then “empowered to employ Mr. Raynor and to

shown that swampy site in N.Y., Lees replied, “I’m goin’ home”).

request him to submit an estimate of the cost of the improving and

In 1916, the two-man Green Committee of J. Gordon Douglas

rearrangement of the course.”

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P L A Y I N G

T H E

L A N D

But the on-course work was never done and, in 1919, NCC board member T. Suffern Tailer hired Raynor and Macdonald to build nine holes on four nearby parcels of land. By the summer of 1921, Tailer’s course, Ocean Links, was completed.

The minutes of NCC’s annual meetings, taken by Harry O. Havemeyer, the club secretary and son of founder Theodore Havemeyer, are frustratingly cursory, but NCC, perhaps spurred by Tailer’s quick work on Ocean Links, finally began to make decisions.

The club received a proposal from Raynor for an 18-hole course, but judged his layout to be “too congested.” A proposal was received from A.W. Tillinghast, then completing his well-received twocourse construction at Baltusrol, and this plan for Newport called for the purchase of additional land. Tillinghast’s concept was accepted — with the proviso that he include some of Raynor’s hole designs. (Regrettably, the plans submitted by neither man are known to exist.)

It is curious that although NCC was looking to expand from its dry, first nine holes (the 1897 second nine having proved to be a soggy disappointment), and Tailer had just finished a highly praised nine holes across the street, no evidence exists that NCC inquired about purchasing Ocean Links, nor that Tailer ever offered to sell his new course to the club whose board he still belonged.

If that had happened, Newport Country Club would have had a very memorable but unsettlingly schizo-

Seth Raynor, the design protégé of Charles Blair Macdonald, was an engineer and, unlike most golf-course architects, not an accomplished player.

In 1926, at the age of 51, he died from pneumonia.

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Looking For Donald Ross THE PROLIFIC GOLF-COURSE ARCHITECT is credited with designing, expanding, or re-building more than

400 courses in the United States, although he was not on-site for at least a third of those. At Newport, despite the elusiveness of any proof, it was long believed that Ross had worked on the NCC layout. But neither the Donald Ross Society, the Ross collection in the Tufts Archives, the USGA, nor the Newport Country Club could find any maps, bills, correspondence, or other documentation of Ross contributing to NCC, despite his working on 10 other courses in the state and being a summer resident of Little Compton, R.I., less than eight miles from Newport.

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Evolution of NCC Golf Course The first nine-hole course built on Rocky Farm (left) was designed by Englishman Willie Davis, Newport’s golf professional, and proved to be a challenge for players in the USGA’s first Amateur and Open, in 1895. A short, six-hole course for children and for women new to golf was also built. In 1897, Davis expanded the main course, adding nine more holes (below), but the new “Lower Course” suffered constant drainage problems. After NCC purchased additional acreage on the west side of Harrison Avenue, A.W. Tillinghast designed seven new holes on this tract (right, below) and devised a new routing (right) that was completed in 1923, combining his creations with Davis’s best work.

The specific contributions of designer Seth Raynor and other architects are unknown.

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To Holes 2-8

Holes 2-8

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YOU ARE WELCOME IN JULY 1912, the board of governors voted that

mats in Newport. Those welcomed in 1913 in-

“ladies should be eligible for membership in

cluded “The Russian Ambassador and

the Newport Golf Club, and that the Ladies

Madame Bakhmeteff” of the Imperial Russian

Committee be requested to suggest names.”

Embassy (the last Czarist ambassador to the

At the July 1913 meeting, the board elected

U.S.); First Secretary Alexander Lyssokovsky

nine women as full members: Miss Anna

and Second Secretary Boris Yonine; Count

Sands, Mrs. George D. Widener, Mrs. Ogden

Bernstorff, the German ambassador, and

Goelet, Mrs. Harold Brown, Mrs. H. McK.

Baron Kurt von Lersner, secretary; Comte

Twombly, Mrs. French Vanderbilt, Mrs.

Claes Bonde, the charge d’affairs at the

William Grosvenor, Mrs. H.D. Auchincloss, and Mrs. John

Swedish Embassy; and Señor Don Juan Riaño y Gayangos,

Nicholas Brown.

Madame de Riaño, and Count and Countess de San Esteban of

At the same 1913 meeting, the club continued its policy,established in 1893, of extending club privileges to foreign diplo-

the Spanish Embassy. Privileges were extended annually to officers of the U.S. Naval Fleet who were stationed in Newport.

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P L A Y I N G

T H E

L A N D

phrenic course because the very stylized “greatest holes” approach

by Theodore Havemeyer and his friends, and the same location where

of Macdonald and Raynor at Ocean Links would have been sharply

Willie Davis built Newport Golf Club’s first nine holes in 1893.

at odds with the natural features of Davis’s holes. Tillinghast, whose

With the additional land, Tillinghast designed seven holes

architectural style was akin to Davis’s, could have been talking about

— those currently played as Nos. 2-8. Holes 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 are

Ocean Links when he expressed this aspect of his design philosophy:

along the edges of the rectangular property; No. 6 doubles back,

“A round of golf should provide 18 inspirations, not necessarily

alongside 5; then No. 7 is a par 5 that sets a long diagonal

thrills, because spectacular holes may be sadly overdone.”

through the property.

And so, NCC, by hiring the flamboyant, erratic, inspired, and

The land is relatively flat, which permits grand, south-view

sometimes drunk Tillinghast, was choosing to have a course of con-

panoramas of the ocean. It is Tillinghast’s clever placement of bunkers

sistent style and feel. In 1921, Newport Country Club purchased 48.78

that adds the greatest challenge to these holes. Golf-course architect

acres on the west side of Harrison Avenue, the same land — bordered

Ron Forse, who NCC consulted before the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open,

by Harrison, Winans, Commonwealth (previously Brenton), and

has extensive experience renovating Tillinghast courses. He said with

Ocean Avenues — where golf was first played on Brenton Point in 1890

admiration that, on holes 2-8, Tillinghast “took rather mundane to-

The view from NCC’s clubhouse, looking south-southeast in an August 1922 photo taken by Henry O. Havemeyer shortly before A.W. Tillinghast’s course renovations.

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N E W P O R T

C O U N T R Y

C L U B

pography and produced extremely dramatic bunkering. The

plan prepared by … Raynor.” Although judged too “congested” to be

bunkers even compete with the views to the Atlantic Ocean.”

workable, Raynor’s plan (not known to still exist) must have had

Although one end of this parcel looks out over the ocean, it

some merit, as did his continued input because as late as March 1923,

would be difficult to categorize these as links holes because the land

NCC was paying for his advice: $500 for “Services rendered in con-

does not connect beach to arable land, but is, instead, arable land it-

nection with golf course.”

self. One golf writer described the holes as

Whether Nos. 1 and 9 are a blend of Till-

“links-like,” and this would probably be the

inghast and Raynor or the creation of only

most accurate appraisal. But these holes do

one of them may never be known. And, al-

have the wind coming off the water, always

though Davis was the first golf-course de-

toying with aerial shots and affirming the

signer to use the land where the four closing

Scottish claim “Nae wind, nae golf.”

holes now exist, how much of their re-design

Those seven holes are indisputably Till-

should be attributed to Tillinghast or Raynor

inghast creations, to which he gave a final

is unknown.

inspection in October 1923. Davis gets full

Bobby Jones once wrote that a golfer

credit for holes 10, 11, and 14. On the land

must understand the intent of the architect

where Nos. 12 and 13 currently exist, Davis

who walked the land, laid out the hazards,

had two par 4s (the first one featuring the

and decided the risks and rewards.

stonewall that stymied Macdonald in 1894);

“Every golfer worthy of the name should

later, these two holes were changed to a long

have some acquaintance with the principles

par 4/short par 5 and a difficult, uphill par

of golf course design, not only for the bet-

3 that retain elements of Davis’s earlier de-

terment of the game, but for his own selfish

sign.

enjoyment. Let him know a good hole from a bad one and the reason

The remaining holes — Nos. 1, 9, and 15-18 — cannot be as-

for a bunker here and a bunker there, and he will be a long way to-

cribed to any one architect. According to the minutes of the club’s

wards pulling his score down to respectable limits. When he has

board of governors meeting, when Tillinghast was given the contract,

taught himself to study a hole from the point of view of the man

his design “contemplates using several of the holes shown on [the]

who laid it out, he will be much more likely to play it correctly.”

Above: Enthusiastic golfers at Newport Country Club, from left: R.W. “Bertie” Goelet, Gustave J.S. White, and Arthur Islin.

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OCEAN LINKS IT IS A STORY that might begin: “Once upon a time...,” for it possesses

Brenton Point, where the Westchester Polo Club had played at the turn

the wistful elusiveness of a fairy tale: a visionary fulfills his dream

of the century.

then dies too soon, leaving a son of extraordinary promise to an uncertain future.

But The Great War began in 1914 and, afterwards, Tailer yielded to the inevitable and embraced a new love: golf. The owner of four

T. Suffern Tailer, a sportsman from New York, was once the coun-

separate parcels of land in the southwest corner of Brenton Point, Tailer

try’s finest four-in-hand, horse-racing driver and an accomplished

in 1919 asked Charles Blair Macdonald, architect of the National Golf

polo player. By the early 1900s, the automobile was replacing “King

Links, whether a nine-hole course could be made to fit the parcels’

Horse,” and tennis and golf were pushing polo aside. In 1911, to keep

combined 65 acres. Macdonald, whose design “style” favored copies of

polo alive in Newport, Tailer purchased a flat, seaside property on

famous holes, said that Tailer’s dream was achievable.

NEWPORT DESIGN_150_END_FINAL2_TEXT 12/27/13 4:05 AM Page 177

Historically, the first question to be asked is: Why did Tailer want

To understand his motivation for building Ocean Links, it is

to build a golf course when Newport Country Club, to which he

worth considering whether Tailer built his nine holes in the hope that

belonged, was within sight of his house and had 18 holes?

NCC would see the error of its ways and ask to purchase his course.

Vanity? Perhaps.

The first hole is directly across the street from the Newport Country

But one factor must have been NCC’s concern about the looming

Club, and the ninth hole returns the golfer to the same place.

obsolescence of its course. As the design of golf balls and clubs im-

Ocean Links’ 3,034-yard, par-36 layout was a clever amalgam that

proved, shots were going farther, and the Newport Country Club’s

included elements of the Redan at North Berwick, the 11th and 17th

layout of 5,000-plus yards was less of a challenge for accomplished

at St. Andrews, and the fifth at Garden City. Perhaps inevitably, Mac-

players. When NCC’s leadership chose not to buy the additional land

donald and Raynor also drew upon their own work, using designs

needed for expansion, Tailer was among the frustrated minority.

from the 8th and 17th at Piping Rock; the 1st and 6th at the National

T. Suffern Tailer (far left) and Richard A. Jones (third from left) watch Tommy Tailer hit a tee shot at Ocean Links.

NEWPORT DESIGN_150_END_FINAL2_TEXT 12/27/13 4:05 AM Page 178

Golf Links; and a par 5 from Shoreacres. The closing hole, named

years old; and anyone from the Newport Country Club because all the

“Raynor’s Prize Dogleg,” was a punishing, 460-yard par 4 that changed

members were invited to come over and play for free.

The new course received high praise: Golf Illustrated stated that

direction twice and imitated Raynor’s design of the 6th hole at the Lido

“Ocean Links stands for the last word in golf architecture.” And, the

course (no longer in existence) on Long Island.

course became famous in

Due to the space constraints of T. SUFFERN TAILER’S “OCEAN LINKS ”

the four parcels of land, four of the par 4s measured 315 yards or less,

HOLE/NAME

YARDS BOGIE

1923 when Tailer started the

PAR

DESIGN INFLUENCE

Gold Mashie golf tourna-

including one of 258 yards, but that

1 Fifth at Garden City

310

4

4

No. 5 – Garden City Golf Club

ment, to which he invited the

hole, No. 7, featured a 30-foot

2 Long Hole

545

6

5

No. 1 – Shoreacres Golf Club

country’s

mound about 180 yards from the

3 To the Harbor

191

4

3

No. 15 (Redan Hole) – North Berwick

players. Those who competed

tee with a curious slot at its peak,

4 Brenton Reef

305

5

4

No. 1 – National Golf Links

included U.S. Amateur cham-

like a gun sight, and a bunker on

5 Ocean Drive

315

5

4

No. 5 (Cape Hole) – The Lido Club

pions Jess Sweetser, Jesse

the far side.

6 Ocean

140

3

3

No. 6 – National Golf Links and No. 17 – Piping Rock

Guilford, George Von Elm,

7 Hill to Carry

258

5

4

previously No. 11 – St. Andrews

8 Road Hole

510

6

5

No. 17 (Road Hole) – St. Andrews and No. 8 – Piping Rock

When Ocean Links opened in the summer of 1921, it was not a club but a private golf course where Tailer played with his guests; his athletic son, Tommy, then nine

9 Raynor’s Prize Dogleg 460 Totals

3,034

6

4

44

36

No. 6 – The Lido Club

amateur

and Francis Ouimet, who also had won the 1913 U.S. Open. The tournament was 72 holes of stroke play, described by Golf Illustrated as

The Gold Mashie tournament was usually played the week before the U.S. Amateur; T. Suffern Tailer would arrange for his private railroad car to take the players to the national championship.

178

finest

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OCEAN LINKS

“the greatest test of medal play of the year for the amateurs.” The

The tournament took place over three days, with 18 holes played

prize was a 14-inch, miniature mashie (a high-lofted iron) made

on the first, 36 on the second, and 18 on the third. The field was eight

of gold and reportedly worth $3,000. The winner’s name was put

players and, starting in 1926, one of those players was Tommy Tailer, a

onto a bronze plaque at the Well of Fame, which Tailer had built

golfing prodigy who first played at the age of 14. Pictures of him show

on the course using, reportedly, 1,100-year-old carved Italian stone,

a bright-eyed, alert teenager with a muscular build. Then, in 1928,

and based upon a design by John Russell Pope, who later created

T. Suffern Tailer died at the age of 61 while having Christmas dinner.

the Jefferson Memorial.

Although Tailer left a will providing money for the maintenance

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Jess Sweetser, former U.S. and British Amateur champion, won the 1927 Gold Mashie with a record score of 287 and earned a diamond-studded rabbit’s foot.

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of Ocean Links, his family chose not to incur the expense; a sale to

In the summer of 1928, Tommy Tailer became the youngest player

Newport Country Club was pursued, but never consummated.

ever to qualify for match play in the U.S. Amateur. Three months later,

Perhaps spurred by the quality of Tailer’s Ocean Links, in the

he witnessed his father’s death. By the age of 20, Tommy had won three

same year that it opened, the Newport Country Club purchased 44

Rhode Island Amateurs; he then added two Rhode Island Open titles

acres situated between NCC and Ocean Links. A.W. Tillinghast was

within the next three years. But, with no father to guide him, he began

hired to build seven new holes on the

to lose his way and started playing high-

same land where Theodore Havemeyer

stakes “money games” — matches

and his friends first played golf in New-

arranged by gamblers. In 1935, the year

port in 1890.

after graduating from Princeton, Tommy

During the 1930s, Ocean Links fell

played two matches against an unknown

into disrepair; in 1940, Charles Young, the

Virginian named Sam Snead; $50,000 was

superintendent of Bailey’s Beach, at-

reportedly wagered on the first match,

tempted to restore and re-open the golf

then $100,000 on the second. Snead won

course, but the venture failed. The U.S.

both times.

Coast Artillery, an Army unit, took over

Tommy Tailer was invited to play in

the land during the Second World War.

three Masters (1938-40) and in 1938 was

Later, the four parcels were sold for resi-

both the low amateur and the first ama-

dential lots or taken as part of Brenton

teur to break 70 at the tournament. But

Point State Park.

Tommy had surrendered his golfing

More than half a century later, NCC

promise to a growing love for the late-

member Dave Donatelli bought a house

night life and a fast-living crowd. In 1941,

on Brenton Point that provided views of

when the celebrated New York debutante

both the Atlantic Ocean and the Newport

Brenda Frazier wed football star John

Country Club, so he called his property

“Shipwreck” Kelly, the best man was

“Ocean Links,” without knowing the name’s local history. Later, under

Tommy Tailer, who was described in newspaper accounts as “the

brush and vines, he found a grassed-over bunker, a remnant from the

socialite golfer.” Later, asked whether he liked the famed 21 Club, a

eighth hole of Tailer’s course. Donatelli cleared and restored the bunker

New York bar known for its sophisticated, hard-drinking clientele,

in honor of the famed course that once existed there.

Tailer replied: “I was born there.”

T. Suffern Tailer, the creator of Ocean Links, with son Tommy and wife Harriet.

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C H A P T E R

E L E V E N

THE QUIET YEARS

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C H A P T E R

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THE QUIET YEARS “There was music from my neighbor’s house through the summer nights. In his blue gardens, men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.” ~ F . SCOTT FITZGERALD, THE GREAT GAT SBY

T

with an accompanying photograph featuring a “mixed foursome at

HEY ARE THE RECORD OF AN ERA — in the world, in America,

the Newport club”; another page shows John D. Rockefeller in

in Newport.

Within the two old scrapbooks, the women look forever from

Florida, a club in his hand, having an intense discussion with

beneath their peekaboo hats, while their skirts reveal more calf than

another golfer; and then there are the names: Sarazen, Vardon,

their mothers would have ever dared, and the men, whose clothes

Snead, Nelson, Ouimet, Ray, Vare, Zaharias, Hagen, and the

are tailored to a style that Jay Gatsby would have admired, gaze at

Wethereds — sister and brother.

The years between the world’s two wars were a quiet time at the

the camera with absolute confidence.

The yellowed clippings, gathered from newspapers and maga-

Newport Country Club. No national golf championships were con-

zines of the 1920s, ’30s, and early ’40s, were carefully trimmed and

ducted then, despite the acquisition of land west of Harrison Avenue

pasted by John Hayes, the long-time golf professional at Newport

and the construction of seven new holes by renowned course archi-

Country Club. Many of the articles are about his sport: an August

tect A.W. Tillinghast.

1927 headline proclaims: “Ancient Game Again Society’s Favorite,”

Without a leader as persuasive as Theodore Havemeyer, the club

Overleaf: Helen Huntington Astor — the first Mrs. Vincent Astor — is shown playing at the Newport Country Club.

Opposite: Carroll Dana Winslow, who flew with the Lafayette Escadrille in World War I and wrote a history of his squadron in the French Flying Corps, used the Newport Country Club to land his bi-plane when commuting from New York, where he ran a ferry-boat service between New Jersey and Manhattan. He is shown standing near the propeller in a 1929 photograph; later that year, trees and bushes were planted between holes 1 and 9 to prevent the course from further use as an airfield.

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eventually languished, just as the city of Newport itself was doing.

NCC was entering a new era, populated by the children and grandchildren of the Gilded Age’s dynamic businessmen who generated the great fortunes that built the mansions of Bellevue Avenue.

For nearly half a century, from 1896 until the early 1940s, John Hayes worked at Newport Country Club, first as a caddie, then as the assistant golf professional, then as the much-respected head professional. And, during those decades, Newport society passed through the doors of NCC’s clubhouse and came to know

The Newport Golf Club’s yearbook in the club’s final full year of existence.

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Y E A R S

“Mr. Hayes.” This explains his keeping the wedding announcement

“That summer, the caddies were getting 40 cents for nine holes,

of a Vanderbilt granddaughter; the photographs of stylishly dressed

and 75 cents for 18. So, we went on a two-day strike. I was 12 years

Newport ladies beneath the headlines “At Newport Country Club

old, so I just followed the leaders and did what they said. After the

and Bailey’s Beach” and “At Links and Shore”; and an amusingly

strike, we got 65 cents for nine holes, and a dollar for 18.”

posed picture of a young Cassandra Van Alen, supposedly learning to play golf, though her grip on the club suggests the game was fairly foreign to both her and the photographer. And beneath these images are phrases typical of the summer-resort colony: “...who has been wintering at Palm Beach...”; “Daughter of Lady...” ; “...has been playing a fine game during the summer at Newport...”

The White Elephant costume ball at NCC was a highlight of each summer, with many ornate costumes purchased in New York and Boston. Former caddie Philip Connell remembers seeing one member carried in a coffin. “We were outside on the grass, and when the pallbearers brought him in, it was unbelievable. I hope he won — who could beat that?”

In the 1940s, caddies hoping to “catch a loop” at NCC waited at the caddie shed, situated at the bottom of the steep hill east of the clubhouse. Nearby, a baseball field was laid out for their use, and Michael M. van Beuren, president of the club during 1932-39, bought gloves, bats, and balls for the caddies’ use. “You name it, and he bought it,” Connell recalled.

East of the 17th hole was an overgrown area known as “the Klondike” (the name’s origin is unknown) “that was full of grapes and blackberries,” according to former caddie Dave Jenkins, who first caddied at NCC in 1928.

John Hayes, shown teaching his son Pat, was the second golf professional at Newport Golf Club and held the job for 47 years before retiring in 1945.

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NCC’s caddies, with few exceptions, were all from the Fifth

The distance from the Fifth Ward out to the club is slightly more

Ward, a predominantly Irish Catholic section of the city, south of

than two miles. “In the morning, we used to wait for a ride down

Lee Street. “It was ‘Irish only’ out here,” said Jenkins. “Caddies from

near St. Augustin’s Church,” Jenkins said, “and it was nothing to get

uptown weren’t welcome.”

yourself a lift in a Rolls-Royce. The members would pick you up

Crossing Harrison Avenue in the 1920s to play the seven new holes designed by A.W. Tillinghast.

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After John Jacob Astor IV, a co-founder of the Newport Country Club, died on the Titanic in April 1912, his executors asked that his shares in the corporation be transferred to his son, William Vincent Astor.

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because they wanted to make sure they had caddies.”

C L U B

off to a difficult start. During one of their first rounds together,

During the summer, about 30-35 caddies were at the course each

“Mr. Topping was playing with the two McLaney brothers [later in-

day. “While we were waiting, we’d play ball or go over to Price’s Neck

volved in a pre-Castro casino in Havana] and, on the 16th green,

and go skinny-dipping off the rocks; we had a lot of paths through

which has water near it, the brothers bet Mr. Topping $200 that he

the Klondike to get out to Ocean Drive,” Jenkins said. “At other times,

couldn’t sink a putt. Well, this was 1943, and $200 was a lot of money.

we might play ‘Pitch,’ a game

Mr. Topping missed the putt,

with cards, or there could be

and I kind of gave a little

a craps game. Mostly we were

laugh. Well, there was a tractor

just down there, sitting

bridge over the water, and I’m

around, batting the breeze —

walking along this two-by-

except the guys who were

four, and Mr. Topping takes

going to college, who were

one finger, pushes me, and I

studying all the time.”

fall into the water.

Jenkins caddied at New-

“I’m wearing white pants

port Country Club for six

and a blue jersey — and I’ve

years. “My first job,” he said,

got his clubs. The McLaneys

“and it was the best job I

are laughing and saying to Mr.

ever had. It was like a vaca-

Topping, ‘He’s going to sue

tion for me. Every spring, I

you, and we’ll be witnesses!’ I

couldn’t wait to get back over here.”

was in there for quite a while because I’d pick up one foot but there

If a caddie carried regularly for someone, it was said that they were

was nowhere to step, and the other foot was stuck in the mud.

“engaged.” Don Roderick, nicknamed “Jitters” (“everyone in the Fifth

“Well, I finally got out, and I’m squishing and squashing up the

Ward had a nickname,” he said), became the favorite caddie of New

17th fairway, and after we finish the 18th hole, Mr. Topping says,

York Yankees part-owner Dan Topping, though their relationship got

‘For goodness sake, come back tomorrow with clean clothes’ — and

At the north end of Harrison Avenue, near St. Augustin’s Church, is a granite bench commemorating the Fifth Ward boys who caddied at the Newport Country Club, situated at the other end of Harrison Avenue.

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SEPTEMBER 7, 1902

“NOVEL GOLF WAGER OF $1,OOO” PLAYER BETS HE CAN COVER MORE THAN THREE MILES IN NINETY-NINE STROKES — AND WINS

NEWPORT, R.I., SUNDAY — Marion Wright, the well-known

The course was down Bellevue and Narraganett Avenues,

Philadelphia golfer, made early this morning the much-discussed

Thames Street, and Harrison Avenue, to the Golf Club. The matter

effort to reach the Newport Golf Club from the Reading Room in

of distance could not much effect the odd performance, the success

99 stokes. He succeeded in accomplishing the feat — a distance of

of which was mainly dependent upon how much or how little trou-

three and four-fifths miles — with three strokes to spare, and thus

ble the ball got into, as, to register 99 strokes, the average per stroke

won a wager that is said to have been 1,000 dollars.

would be 75 yards. Having determined that this was really the gov-

This sum, however, was nothing to the total amount that

erning principle, Mr. Wright played low, keeping the sphere near

changed hands on the result, and, while Mr. Wright won the orig-

the ground most of the time. When, however, he had a straight,

inal bet, he lost others, for during the week he became over-confi-

hard roadbed before him, he drove for a long distance.

dent, and went so far as to wager first that he would cover the course in 90 strokes. These bets he lost.

Luck was also a factor, and only once did Mr. Wright’s ball get into serious difficulty.

Mr. Wright expected to make the attempt last Sunday, but was

It was five minutes after seven when he made his last drive, which

not feeling quite fit, and was excused. This morning, however, with

landed on the seventh green within the precincts of the Golf Club.

— New York Herald

the weather fair, there was no further reason for delay, and at twenty minutes after five o’clock, Mr. Wright teed off from the front of the Reading Room.

•

L. E. Larocque acted as referee and scorer, and among those to follow the attempt were: Mrs. J. M. Waterbury, Jr., in an automobile; Jesse Howard and Arthur Stanley, of London; Colonel Reginald Norman, Robert Parker, and Joseph Widener. Later others joined the gallery, which would have been immense had not the hour been necessarily early, in order that vehicles and pedestrians might be avoided. As it was, one woman nearly had her wits frightened out of her by the singing of the ball as it darted past her head.

•

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he gives me a $100 bill. I ran home with that $100 bill in my hand.

C L U B

Originally, Connell did not come out to NCC to caddie. “I was

I’d never seen one, and my mother had never seen one.

picking up golf balls that had gone off the club’s property, near the

“My father was a chauffeur for a doctor and only made $39 a

second and third and 16th holes, to sell them. Well, Mr. Hayes drives

week. There were a lot of times I made more in a week than my father,

up in his beachwagon and says, ‘What are you doing? You can’t be

and my parents relied on what I

selling golf balls to the players.’ Then

brought home. Mr. Topping was

he said, ‘Hop in, maybe you and I can

very generous to me; when he

do business.’

learned that my mother needed a

“He says that he will buy the balls

washing machine, he gave me $500.

from me, then he hires me to shag

He was the most generous man I

balls during the lessons he gave out

ever knew.”

on the ninth hole, because none of

Roderick, who caddied at NCC

the regular caddies wanted to do that.

from 1941 to 1945, said, “I was

Eventually, I did all the dirty work for

educated there. I learned a lot from

Mr. Hayes. I would shellack the woods

the older caddies and the people I

because there weren’t so many socks

caddied for. You learn to behave

on the clubs back then; I’d use a buff-

when you’re with people who behave

ing wheel to polish the irons, which

— the way they talk to you and how

weren’t chrome then — I’d use some

they treat you — and that’s why I

Bonami soap to get the dirt out, then

became a soft-spoken person.

put some ‘rouge,’ as we called it, to

I was a policeman for 27 years, until I was 50, and people would stop

shine the clubs on the buffing wheel. I replaced a lot of grips, but

yelling because they wanted to hear what I was saying.”

didn’t have to do too many shafts.

For new caddies, there was an initiation at the creek near the

“Mr. Hayes would thank me by giving me a lunch or a supper,

16th green. “You had to jump it,” recalled Connell, “and if you did,

and that was okay because he was one of the best cooks around.

they pushed you back in the water. But, after that, you were ‘in.’ ”

He’d pick me up in the morning, and we’d stop at Green Bridge,

Cyril Judge (left) with Michael van Beuren, who each served as president of the Newport Country Club.

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where the fishermen came in with their fresh fish; the caddies called

Y E A R S

fortable Clubhouse which can be used as a general meeting-place.”

him ‘Fish’ Hayes, though not to his face, of course. Or, he’d let me

His letter included detailed drawings, showing where lockers

off at the 16th hole to collect mushrooms, when they were in season

would be placed on the second floor for male and female members

— he was also called ‘Mushroom’ Hayes. Other times, he might have

and for golfers from the U.S. Navy who had been granted privileges

me collect water lilies from Lily

at NCC. The first floor would include

Pond down near the ocean, which is

a dining room, kitchen, pantry, and

hidden from view now by bull-

lounges. Significant changes to the

rushes, and put them in a bucket be-

front facade of Whitney Warren’s

cause when people had parties, they

clubhouse were also proposed.

wanted to have water lilies.”

“Newport’s two important assets

Within the clubhouse, one voice

are the Beach [Bailey’s] and the

stood out from the lassitude that

Country Club,” van Beuren wrote.

seemed to grip the members. When

“The former is being rebuilt better

the 1938 hurricane caused substan-

than ever after the hurricane. We

tial damage to the piazza wing, club

certainly cannot afford to neglect

president van Beuren saw an oppor-

our part of a rehabilitation so vital

tunity. In a December 12, 1938, letter

to the community.”

to Henry O. Havemeyer, the son of

He added, “I have every confi-

NCC founder Theodore A. Have-

dence that these changes and im-

meyer and the club’s secretary and

provements, if adopted, would

treasurer for more than 20 years, van Beuren tried to sell his vision.

materially increase not only our revenue, but permanently enhance

“I strongly feel that the time is now fitting for the Newport Coun-

the value of the property and prove of great and lasting benefit to

try Club to take a definite position as a real Country Club — an as-

the entire community.”

sociation to offer, besides golf, other sports, such as tennis, bowls,

The members did not agree with van Beuren’s plans, nor any

trap-shooting — and last but by no means least, a reasonably com-

other proposal. He resigned as president the following year.

Philip Connell (left) and Don “Jitters” Roderick caddied at Newport Country Club in the 1940s.

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r

CADDYING FOR THE DUKE TO THE WORLD, he was King Edward VIII, the English monarch who

surrendered the throne to marry the woman he loved.

To the caddies at Newport Country Club, he was the little man with the big golf bag who gave a measly dime tip and often brought his dog “Pookie” onto the course, then handed the leash to his caddie.

“No one wanted to caddie for him,” recalled former NCC caddie Philip Connell, “so, I’d always get stuck with the Duke of Windsor. Outside people would probably say: ‘What a lucky guy — you got the King of England!’ But I would practically cry. I got him because the bigger kids didn’t want him, and there was nothing I could do about it.”

The Duke, who became king in January 1936, was in love with American socialite Wallis Simpson. But, she was already divorced from her first husband and preparing to divorce her second. King Edward, as the head of the Church of England, was barred from marrying a woman with a living, former husband. After Edward abdicated and Simpson’s second divorce was granted, the couple married in 1937. To avoid any potential embarrassments involving the former king during World War II, the British government sent him to The Bahamas, where he served as governor from 1940 to 1945.

“The Duke only came to Newport for a few years,” said Connell, who remembers being about “13 or 14 years old” (1943-1944) when caddying for the former king. “He was the guest of Robert R. Young, who ran the New York Central Railroad. Once or twice, the Duchess would come out here with Mrs. Young before the round, and she

The Duke of Windsor with the Duchess, formerly Wallis Simpson, the twice-divorced woman for whom he gave up the English crown.

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would ask the Duke, ‘How long will it take you?’ She was good-look-

saying, but, after a while, you knew he wanted a Marlboro or he

ing, and you could tell what was going on. And it was like he didn’t

wanted his pipe.

want to leave her to go play 18 holes — he almost had tears in his

“Oh, and he had an umbrella — Christ, it must have been a

eyes. And I’m thinking, ‘Come on, let’s get going!’ ”

beach umbrella, and it was digging into me as I’m walking along,

Connell said that he didn’t complain when, once again, he was

carrying the bag, holding the leash for this little terrier, and I’m

summoned to caddie for the Duke. “Somebody

thinking: ‘Please, God, I hope that Mr. Young

had to take him. We all wanted one of the little

will be paying.’

old ladies who had only a few clubs in her bag

“After the first couple of times with the

and would stop after 13 holes, because if some-

Duke and getting stuck with the dime tip, you

one played nine holes, the fee was 65 cents, but

learned what to do. As we’d come off the 18th

if they went more than nine, it was the full buck.

green, I’d stick around Mr. Young, because if you

Anyway, I took the Duke. I didn’t have a choice,

did, he’d say, ‘I’ll take care of the boys,’ and you

the rules were strict. Otherwise, I’d be suspended

knew you were all set. He’d always give you the

for two weeks or fired for life.”

dollar for 18 holes, plus a 50-cent tip.

The Duke, who was 5-foot-7, wore a kilt

“If the Duke paid you, first, he would pull

when playing golf at Newport. “He was the only

out this little thing, like the purse that old,

guy on the course who wore a dress,” said Con-

jitney-bus drivers used. He’d take out the crispest

nell. “Other men wore knickers. His kilt was

dollar bill and sort of snap it a few times with his

pleated, the best-looking, Scotch plaid, of course.

fingers, then he’d go back into the thing and slide out a dime. Ten

“Now, you’re supposed to have 14 clubs, but the Duke had 18.

cents! And here was a guy who had been the King of England!”

They didn’t do him any good, though. I don’t know what he needed

Although the Duke and Duchess of Windsor spent the next 30

so many clubs for, he was a lousy player — he was terrible, but he

years traveling the world as royal house guests, one member of their

had the most beautiful clubs. His bag was this European thing with

entourage remained on Aquidneck.

pockets all over it for his pipe and maple-leaf tobacco and his

“Pookie is planted in a bow-wow cemetery in Portsmouth,”

Marlboro cigarettes. I don’t think he ever talked to me, he would

Connell said with a smile and a shrug. “He’s under a bigger stone

only say: ‘Uhhh, uhhh...’ and you didn’t know what the hell he was

than I’ll probably ever have.”

The Portsmouth, R.I., grave of Pookie, a Cairn terrier owned by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

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C H A P T E R

T W E L V E

RENEWAL

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RENEWAL “You’re yelling for that damn ball to go in the hole, and I’m watching a promising political career coming to an end.” ~ JOHN F. KENNEDY

T

“Ike” was well-aware of Newport due to its military history, which

HE FATES would not let Newport be forgotten.

Hailed in the 1600s as a religious haven, recognized in the 1700s

included housing the Naval Academy during the Civil War; the cre-

as one of America’s major ports, and renowned in the 1800s as a

ation of an experimental torpedo station on Goat Island in 1869;

millionaires’ summer colony, in the 1900s Newport re-emerged

and the establishment of a Naval training station and the Naval War

once again, this time as a retreat for U.S. presidents.

College in the vacated Newport Asylum for the Poor on Coasters Harbor Island in 1883-84.

Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, in consecutive

administrations, found the city by the sea and the Newport Country

During the United States’ 19-month involvement in The Great

Club to be panaceas for the pressures of the presidency. Their choice

War, a Naval hospital was built. Government Landing in downtown

of Newport, in retrospect, seems inevitable.

Newport was acquired in time for the more than 75,000 recruits

In 1955, Eisenhower went to Denver, Colo., to meet a group of

who passed through the city. The crush of military personnel re-

friends and play golf at Cherry Hills Country Club, but while in the

sulted in an “Adopt-a-Sailor” program that encouraged residents to

Mile High City, he suffered a heart attack and, afterwards, his

provide housing for trainees. During World War II, Narragansett

doctors forbade him from playing golf at high altitude. Desperate

Bay became a major U.S. Naval installation, with more than 100

to escape Washington’s oppressive summer heat, Eisenhower sought

ships stationed there.

Eisenhower, while president, spent parts of three summers in

another place with a good golf course. As a retired five-star general,

Overleaf: President John F. Kennedy playing golf at the Newport Country Club. Seated in the cart are his wife Jackie and Tony Bradlee, the wife of Washington Post senior editor Ben Bradlee.

Opposite: Dwight Eisenhower hits practice shots at Newport Country Club, where he played 47 rounds during his second term as president.

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Newport, taking advantage of the less-than-a-mile proximity of Fort

Eisenhower, while in office, once observed of the presidency,

Adams to the Newport Country Club, where he is believed to have

“... I have become reconciled to the fact that in this job there is al-

played 47 of his approximately 800 rounds of golf during his eight

ways a crisis of some kind or other...” His time in Newport in 1957

years as chief executive. After his first extended stay in Newport, in

coincided with the start of the violence in Little Rock, Ark., over

September 1957, Eisenhower wrote to club president Howard Cush-

school integration. In a September 24 national address, Eisen-

ing, with whom he often played, “Although I have told you person-

hower said, “... To make this talk, I have come to the president’s of-

ally how much I have enjoyed the

fice in the White House. I could have

facilities of the Newport Country

spoken from Rhode Island, where I

Club that were so graciously ex-

have been staying recently, but I felt

tended to me on this ‘vacation,’ I

that in speaking from the house of

nonetheless want to express to you,

Lincoln, of Jackson, of Wilson, my

and through you, to the officers and

words would better convey both the

members of the Club, my apprecia-

sadness I feel in the action I was

tion. I have enjoyed tremendously

compelled today to take and the

every day I have managed to be on

firmness with which I intend to pur-

your fine course. I am especially in-

sue this course...”

debted to the Club members on two

More than a decade before, while

counts. I realize that perhaps the peo-

serving as supreme commander of the

ple who necessarily accompany me

Allied forces in Europe during World

might disturb the pleasure of the regular members, and for that, if

War II, it was Eisenhower’s decision when the decisive D-Day

such a thing did indeed occur, I am regretful. But I am grateful to

invasion would take place. To deal with the pressures of duty,

the members also for treating me as the ordinary duffer that I am.

he took Winston Churchill’s suggestion and began painting.

If I may be bold enough to make the suggestion, I hope that I will

After his election as chief executive at age 62, Eisenhower knew

be allowed to return at some future time (when I shall, surely, break

that he needed breaks from the stress of “that damn job,” which

that elusive eighty).” He was later made an honorary member.

he said “killed” Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president, who suffered

In 1958 and 1960, the former commandant’s house at Fort Adams, near Newport Country Club, served as the “Summer White House” for President Eisenhower.

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a debilitating stroke during his second term and died four years later.

felt like it, and took liberties when he added his score. ‘Here was old

Eisenhower, while president, used golf as his primary emotional,

Mr. Courtly Manners and good sportsmanship — and he was about

mental, and physical outlet. Although a good athlete (he played

the lousiest sport who ever lived — in golf. Incredible.’ ”

varsity football at West Point), a left-knee injury ended his football

During a September 1958 round at Newport, when Eisenhower

career and, on the golf course, caused a near-constant slice that re-

took exception to a comment made by a playing partner — his

sulted in a 14-18 handicap, although occasional rounds were in the

physician Howard Snyder — the president threw his sand wedge at

70s, often aided by gener-

Snyder, hitting the doc-

ous “gimme” putts con-

tor’s legs.

ceded by friends who

The many pictures of

knew that the president’s

Eisenhower playing golf

putting was a weakness.

at Newport or Augusta

The game fit nicely with

helped popularize the

the grandfatherly image

game in the United

Eisenhower chose to put

States. Before his elec-

forth, but, he was highly

tion, an estimated 3.2

competitive and, in one

million Americans played

four-ball match, his part-

golf; eight years later,

ner was a general who on

when he left office, that

the 18th green left the de-

number had doubled.

ciding putt short. “Nice putt, Sargeant,” Eisenhower remarked.

Herbert Warren Wind wrote, “Whatever remained to be done to re-

In Evan Thomas’s book Ike’s Bluff, he quotes an interview that

move the last traces of the average man’s carefully nurtured preju-

a United Press reporter had with PGA pro Don January, who was

dice against a game originally linked with the wealthy and aloof was

blunt about Eisenhower’s golf. January “swore” that he “would never

done by President Eisenhower.”

set foot on a golf course with Eisenhower again because the presi-

Jack Kennedy’s introduction to Newport was also due to the

dent took outrageous ‘gimmes,’ improved the lie of his ball when he

military: in the fall of 1942, he spent two months in naval training

Eisenhower, who did not care that the American electorate knew about his passion for golf, let photographers take pictures of him relaxing on the Newport Country Club course.

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at Melville, on the northwest coast of Aquidneck, preparing for the

Country Club, would usually play only nine holes, due to the prob-

command of his boat, PT-109.

lems exacerbated by the destruction and sinking of PT-109, but

But Kennedy’s enduring association with Newport was due to

Auchincloss noted, “he was a good athlete.”

his wife, Jacqueline, who began spending summers in Newport at

Kennedy earned varsity letters at Harvard in swimming and

the age of 13 after her mother married Hugh D. Auchincloss, Jr.

tried out unsuccessfully for the football and golf teams. Films of his

A Standard Oil heir, Auchincloss owned a home in Washington,

golf swing show an easy naturalness despite the upright, restricted

D.C., and Hammersmith Farm, a

stiffness caused by his back brace.

28-room, shingled Victorian man-

While campaigning for the

sion situated on Narragansett Bay,

presidency in 1960, Democrat Ken-

along the sightline of anyone teeing

nedy belittled Republican Eisen-

off on NCC’s 10th hole. Members’

hower for his frequent golf trips. To

advice to guests was: “Aim at the far

avoid comparison, Kennedy was

left window on the second floor —

not seen playing golf while he was

that’s Jackie’s bedroom.”

a candidate nor early in his admin-

The Bouvier/Kennedy wedding

istration, but the secret would have

took place in September 1953 at

come out four months before the

St. Mary’s Church in Newport, then

election when Kennedy was playing

the wedding reception for 1,200

at Cypress Point, in Pebble Beach,

guests was held at Hammersmith

Calif., and hit a tee-shot directly at

(the original property was named in

the pin on the par-3 15th. While his

the 1640s after the English home-

playing partner, Red Fay, whom he

town of William Brenton, a surveyor and the namesake of Brenton

met during naval training in Rhode Island was shouting, “Go in! Go

Point). The location of the house favored sailing, which Kennedy had

in!” Kennedy was horrified. When the shot stopped 6 inches from

learned at his family’s summer home in Hyannis Port, on Cape Cod.

the cup, Kennedy said to Fay, “You’re yelling for that damn ball to

Hugh D. “Yusha” Auchincloss III, Jackie’s stepbrother and close

go in the hole, and I’m watching a promising political career coming

friend, recalled that Jack Kennedy, when playing golf at Newport

to an end. If that ball had gone into that hole, in less than an hour,

Jacqueline Bouvier and Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy were married in Newport in 1953; the reception for 1,200 guests took place at Hammersmith Farm, Jackie’s summer home on the shore of Narragansett Bay and within sight of the Newport Country Club.

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R E N E W A L

the word would be out that another golfer was trying to get into the White House.”

Presidential golf contains electoral dangers. The obese William Howard Taft, whose 350-pound girth would later get stuck in a White House bathtub, was ridiculed for his love of the game; the big man’s awkward stance over the small ball was often the subject of caricature.

Taft’s predecessor, Theodore Roosevelt, was a wiser politician and recognized the damage that a president could do to his reputation

In 1996, John F. Kennedy’s golf clubs were sold at auction for $1.29 million. Film star and future California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, married at the time to Kennedy’s niece Maria Shriver, purchased the woods and a leather bag inscribed “JFK Washington, D.C.” for $772,500. The irons were sold separately.

Right: Democratic President John F. Kennedy was granted honorary membership at Newport Country Club in 1961, just as Republican President Dwight Eisenhower had been granted honorary membership three years previous.

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during sporting activities. In a letter to Taft, Roosevelt counseled:

NEWPORT IN THE 1960s still

had a substantial military presence, one

“... you never saw a photograph of me playing tennis. I’m careful about

that evinced itself on Friday and Saturday nights when the bars on

that; photographs on horseback, yes; tennis, no. And golf is fatal.”

Thames Street were full, and West Pelham Street was known as “Blood

Kennedy returned to Newport for his 10th wedding anniversary

Alley.” Barclay Douglas, Jr., remembers going to the waterfront with

in September 1963, and films show him playing golf with Ben

his father on a Saturday morning in the early 1960s “when the a.m.

Bradlee, then a senior editor at the Washington Post, while Jackie

bartenders were sweeping out the bars, and you could smell the old

and Bradlee’s wife Tony watched from a golf cart. Kennedy was at

cigarettes and the stale beer heating up in the sunlight.”

Newport during September 12-15 and 20-22. Two months later, he

Pieter Roos, executive director of the Newport Restoration Foun-

went to Dallas.

dation, said, “In the 60s and 70s, this was a Navy town, with all kinds

John F. Kennedy with his son, John, at Bailey’s Beach, Newport, in September 1963.

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of bars and pubs. Downtown was a dock-front community, a rough

Newport’s evolution in the middle of the 20th century was de-

neighborhood with rough people prone to fight a lot. On Thames

termined by a combination of more automobiles, fewer ferries,

Street, near Washington Square, was the Blue Moon Cafe, and a lot

diminished railroad service, hurricanes, and financial disinterest.

of Navy guys went there to drink. And, as often as not, instead of the

“There is an old preservation saying: ‘Poverty preserves’ — and

plate-glass window, there would be a piece of plywood.

it’s true,” Roos explained. “If you have money, you tear down the old

“A lot of illicit trade took place in Newport,” Roos said. “On

buildings and put up new ones. If you don’t have money, you make

Spring Street, where a six-story block of apartments now stands, was

do with what you have. The downtown got older and cruddier and

a house of prostitution for a long time.

grittier; it was a rabbits’ warren of little

And gambling was everywhere, but, in

streets from as far back as the 18th cen-

some sense, in downtown Newport there

tury. The idea that you could get from

has been a tradition of playing fast and

one end of town to the other on one

loose. I was told by one older resident that

street was alien. Houses were just being

his grandmother used to send him down

reused and reused, ramshackle build-

to the corner store to get ‘a bottle of milk,

ings being rebuilt and reconstituted. On

a loaf of bread, and a boxed four [bet].’”

Pelham Street was a house with Lewis

During Prohibition, speakeasies thriv-

Carroll-like hallways and 22 different

ed on Newport’s waterfront. One resident

rooms being let out.

remembers his father showing him where they were and explaining

“These were service neighborhoods where servants for the man-

that they were guarded by city policemen. “He remembered a neigh-

sions lived along with workers for New England and Fall River

bor coming home and the back of his Model T was stuffed with liquor

Steamship companies, the Old Colony Railroad workers, tradesmen,

boxes. A rum-runner had been caught off the coast, and he dumped

painters and plasterers, and in the Fifth Ward were the Irish servants.

his load while he was being chased. The boxes were all built to float

“The recovery was a long time coming,” said Roos, “but the Amer-

so the rum-runners could come back and get them. The police were

ican historic-preservation movement was getting going.” Among the

trying to cordon off the beach, to ‘get the trade’ themselves, but people

leaders in saving Newport’s architectural heritage was Katherine U.

were wading out to get the boxes.”

Warren. A niece of the architect Whitney Warren and grandmother

Long-time NCC member Hugh D. “Yusha” Auchincloss III, stepbrother of Jacqueline Bouvier, was part of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations in1961.

When leaders of foreign governments wanted to communicate something to the president through unofficial channels, Auchincloss regularly served as the conduit.

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of NCC board member George H. Warren, in 1945 she founded The Preservation Society of Newport County, which eventually took over The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, and other Gilded Age properties. “Then Antoinette Downing and Vin Scully wrote The Architectural Heritage of Newport,” said Roos, “and that became the bible for preservation here.” In 1963-64, Operation Clapboard began, when options were purchased on old houses, then sold to individuals willing to improve them. Real estate values in the oldest downtown areas rose quickly. Heiress Doris Duke started the Newport Restoration Foundation, which was responsible for the preservation of more than 75 primarily Colonial-style

because of the historic preservation — that’s what gives the place

buildings.

its atmosphere and charm.”

“Then the town fathers

Through the 1960s, the Navy was still a presence in Newport,

started to think that tourism

then President Richard Nixon “stripped the Atlantic Cruiser force

would be a good industry for

out of Newport in the early 1970s,” Roos said, “and in one year we

Newport,” said Roos. “They built America’s Cup Avenue in the

went from having 60 ships home-ported here to zero.” This coin-

1960s, and the tourism and preservation, together, were Newport’s

cided with the late-1960s construction of the 400-foot-high

salvation. Each was dependent upon the other. People come here

Jamestown-Newport bridge; concerns had existed that Navy ships

From the 1950s until the early 1970s, pheasant-shooting took place at the Newport Country Club.

The birds were released from a tower between the 15th, 16th, and 17th holes. Enough pheasants escaped that they became a common sight on the course.

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THE FRENCH PICNIC IT WAS A SCENE

that Theodore Havemeyer would have

Newport was retained.

loved.

“My grandmother,” recalled Robert Manice, “never

They would wander down the fairways, seven, eight

really took to The Gilded Age way of life, and we were

or 10 of them, young, middle-aged, and old, with Jack

told to stay away from the indulgences. With her

Russell terriers and labrador retrievers sniffing the air

around, there was no lying around on the beach after

and the ground while their owners’ conversations flowed

lunch, it was ‘Let’s go do something — sailing, tennis,

between English and French, dipping from one language

golf, something.’ ”

to the other when in need of a better word or phrase.

Years later, one of Manice’s sisters married a French-

This was “The French Picnic,” an ever-changing

man, a brother married a Frenchwoman, and Manice’s

mélange of the Goelet and Manice families that during

own wife, though American, was raised in France.

the late 1970s and the 1980s included uncles,

The nickname “The French Picnic” was

aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, siblings,

probably inevitable, for it perfectly fit the

grandparents, and grandchildren. And

group’s carefree, elegant spirit. True golf-

never was a scorecard seen.

ing attire was eschewed — the

“They were just out there for a

ladies often wore wide-brimmed,

walk in the park — literally,” said club

European-style hats — and golf clubs

president Barclay Douglas, Jr. “They didn’t know the

were passed around to whomever wanted to take the next

rules, and they didn’t keep score, but they would always

shot.

stand aside in the rough and wait if any serious golfers

Douglas said, “It was all about family — as if they

caught up and wanted to play through.”

were sitting around the family table, talking and being

In the 1880s, the Goelet brothers, Ogden and Robert,

with each other, but they were taking a walk together

built houses near each other in Newport. Robert’s son

instead, looking at the views, hitting some golf balls,

purchased a property outside of Paris and a house in the

and watching the bunny rabbits. If anyone disap-

city’s 16th arrondissment, and in 1921 married the

proved, saying, ‘They aren’t taking golf seriously,’ well,

daughter of the wine merchant Daniel Guestier; all four

the right reply probably was: ‘Maybe you’re taking it

Goelet children were born in France, but the property in

too seriously.’ ”

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NEWPORT DESIGN_150_END_FINAL2_TEXT 12/27/13 4:08 AM Page 208

Mr. and Mrs. W. Gurnee Dyer

Captain Frederick Holmes

Guy F. Cary

ANOTHER TIME, Robert Grace

Dr. Owen Toland Mrs. Eleanor Hill Elizabeth Guest and Fred Cushing

208

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NEWPORT DESIGN_150_END_FINAL2_TEXT 12/27/13 4:08 AM Page 209

Lady Weir John Dorrance

ANOTHER ERA

Guest, George Kirkpatrick, David Mahoney, Edward Ricci and Jim Kelley

Howard G. Cushing and Columbus O’Donnell James Van Alen

Lewis Rutherfurd

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NEWPORT SENIORS HE WAS the perfect first champion.

In 1981, Snead lost the tournament in a playoff, but

In 1980, six veteran golfers, too old to compete any

the crowds liked seeing him and attending the tourna-

longer on the PGA Tour, decided to form a circuit of their

ment. The seniors were gaining momentum; by 1984,

own, hoping there would still be fan interest in watching

their schedule featured 24 events, with purses worth

them play. Don January was a leader of the group, but

more than $7 million. That year, Arnold Palmer played

their one compelling draw was

at Newport and 4,800 specta-

Slammin’ Sammy Snead.

tors were present for Sunday’s

The winner of 82 PGA

final round.

events, including seven majors,

Golf Digest and Merrill

Snead (inset) was 68 years old

Lynch sponsored the tourna-

when he came to Newport that

ment until 1985, then the

first year, but he was an age-

Newport Cup was played from

defying legend. The previous

1987 to 1992; notable players

year, he had made the cut at

included Lee Trevino, Chi-Chi

the PGA Championship and,

Rodriguez, and Gary Player.

in another tournament, shot

One memorable winner was

his age (67), then beat it the

Walt Zembriski, who in 1988

next day with a 66.

became the first man to win

A long-hitter with a per-

a senior tour title without

fect, smooth swing, Snead bested the Newport field and

having won on the PGA Tour. Zembriski, who played

his age at the inaugural $100,000 Golf Digest Commem-

unsuccessfully on the regular tour when he was young,

orative Pro-Am tournament, sinking a 15-foot birdie

left it and worked as an ironworker doing high-rise

putt on the last hole for a 67. That week, the game’s elder

construction. He later said, “Once you’ve walked a 6-

statesman denied having played in the first U.S. Open at

inch beam 50 floors off the ground, a 3-foot putt doesn’t

Newport in 1895: “I caddied,” he drawled.

scare you.”

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R E N E W A L

would be trapped if a bridge across the harbor was bombed, thus

ing previously belonged to well-known golf clubs on Long Island,

blocking egress to the ocean.

Keith brought a different standard to NCC and, when named presi-

And, during the 1940s to 1970s, out on Brenton Point, the New-

dent in 1983, set about to implement it.

port Country Club was mirroring the struggles of the city. Careful

“The club was sleepy and quiet, but Norman saw its potential,”

of its history but not sure what to do with it, NCC sought to find its

said Barclay Douglas, Jr. “The greens and fairways needed aeration,

character again. After World War II, membership dropped below 50,

the greens had a lot of thatch, and our course superintendent was

and it was clear that the club envisioned by Theodore Havemeyer

spending as much time repairing his machines as he was using

could not endure. The club-

them. Because of Norman,

house was rotting; roof repairs

we went out and got the tri-

were made with multi-hued

NEWPORT AND THE IRS

asphalt shingles; and, during the winter, golf carts were

IN 1970,

parked in the ballroom.

Newport Country Club for $89,000, an amount estimated

the Internal Revenue Service delivered a bill to the

plex mowers and other machines that we really needed.

The club was re-invigorated by him.”

From 1969-83, the presi-

to be 10 percent of the total wagered during the Calcutta

But while profit is the goal

dent of NCC was Guy Cary,

betting that took place at the club during the member-guest

of a business, the members’

whose family had a long asso-

tournaments before that year. The bill was paid but also ap-

happiness is the objective of a

ciation with Newport and the

pealed, and $36,000 was refunded to the club in 1973.

club. Keith’s demeanor and

club, and who was described

aggressive leadership style

by one member as “a gentle-

began to rankle the member-

man and a gentle soul.” From

ship, and he did not have

1981-83, the club’s vice-president was Norman Keith, a newcomer

a bottom line to point to as a defense. He resigned as club president

who did not fit the description of “a gentle soul.”

in 1987, was replaced by Douglas, and soon moved back to

The son of a Presbyterian minister, Keith worked for Standard

Long Island.

Oil during the Depression, formed three oil companies between

In 1980, as part of its reawakening, the club began hosting an

1938-47, then sold out in 1976 and retired. During this time, he also

annual event on the new Senior PGA Tour. Also a letter was written

served briefly as president of his alma mater, Springfield College.

in 1986 to the USGA, inquiring about the organization’s plans for

A dynamic individual, Keith arrived in Newport in his late 60s

its centennial U.S. Amateur and whether a return to Aquidneck in

and was soon viewed by Cary and others as a potential successor. Hav-

1995 might be considered.

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NEWPORT DESIGN_150_END_FINAL2_TEXT 12/27/13 4:08 AM Page 213

C H A P T E R

T H I R T E E N

EVERY HUNDRED YEARS

NEWPORT DESIGN_150_END_FINAL2_TEXT 12/27/13 4:09 AM Page 214

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C O U N T R Y

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NEWPORT DESIGN_150_END_FINAL2_TEXT 12/27/13 4:09 AM Page 215

C H A P T E R

T H I R T E E N

EVERY HUNDRED YEARS “That’s a darn different experience than what everyone’s used to, but, ah, what a treat.” ~ BUDDY MARUCCI

I

But, it was Woods’s ability to hit the ball astonishing distances

N 1995, THE AMATEUR ARRIVED IN NEWPORT.

History is filled with prodigies: Mozart, Picasso, Piaget, Fermi,

that gave him a special aura. Four months previous, the 6-foot-1,

et al. And sport regularly hails a new wunderkind: Gretzky, Alcin-

145-pound Stanford freshman led everyone at Augusta with an av-

dor, Capriati ... but Eldrick “Tiger” Woods was different and always

erage driving distance of 311 yards. And he did not disappoint

had been.

when he came to Rhode Island.

At the age of two, he was on national television hitting golf balls

The arrival of the talented Woods and the return of the U.S.

for film star Bob Hope; at the age of five, he was giving autographs

Amateur championship 100 years after its first official competition

— writing his name in block letters; by six, he’d had two holes-in-

linked the future of American golf to its past. Once again, the

one; by eight, he had shot in the 70s; then, at the age of 11, he en-

Havemeyer Trophy would be awarded at Theodore Havemeyer’s

tered 30 golf tournaments — and won them all.

home course.

The 19-year-old Californian with the photogenic smile had al-

The first two days of a U.S. Amateur are stroke play; the 36-

ready won an unprecedented three consecutive U.S. Junior Ama-

hole scores are then used to pare the field of 312 qualifiers down

teurs; triumphed in the 1994 U.S. Amateur by rallying from a

to 64 players for match play. On Monday, August 21, Woods’s first

six-hole deficit in the final; compiled a 30-3 record in USGA

round of stroke play took place at the championship’s companion

match-play events; and already played in the U.S. Open, British

course, Wanumetonomy Golf and Country Club in neighboring

Open, and the Masters.

Middletown, where the teenager hit a memorable 330-yard

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drive on No. 11, then on No. 14 slammed a 3-wood onto the green,

had a different view of things, as NCC president Barclay Douglas, Jr.,

340 yards away.

learned in 1987.

An excited 11-year-old in the crowd was delighted, explaining

The previous year, he had written to P.J. Boatwright, Jr., exec-

that he had come out to the course because “I wanted to see Tiger

utive director of the USGA, asking that Newport be considered

crush the ball.”

as the site for the centennial Amateur. In

Woods’s score of 68 at Wanumeton-

late August of 1987, the U.S. Women’s

omy was followed the next day by an un-

Amateur was being played at the Rhode

characteristic 75 at Newport, due in part

Island Country Club. Boatwright and

to his triple-bogey at the par-3 8th hole,

competitions official David Fay drove

when he yanked his tee shot out of

down to Newport to inspect the course.

bounds. His 143 total was safely within

But that summer had also been a dry

the cut line of 145, but well behind the

one, and Douglas fretted as the two

medalist score of 137 recorded by Jerry

USGA representatives walked the sun-

Courville, Jr., of Connecticut.

baked course.

Newport, a club that embraces tradi-

“I didn’t know how to react to P.J.

tional golf, is one of the rare American

Boatwright’s poker face,” said Douglas,

courses that does not water its fairways,

“then David Fay quietly said to me, off to

though the grass is significantly aided by

the side, ‘He loves it.’”

the damp air coming off the Atlantic

Boatwright favored more natural lay-

Ocean. During the summer of 1995, a

outs, and in 1990 he convinced the USGA’s

three-week drought made the fairways fast and hard with patches of

Executive Committee that the course would be a worthy challenge

burned-out grass. This would have been regarded as a disaster by the

for the world’s best amateur golfers and that a return to Newport

golfers and golf organizations that embrace the Augusta version of

would be fitting for the centennial championship.

golf courses: always lushly green, like an idealized lawn. But the USGA

The course, which still included some of the original 1895 holes,

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THURSTON HOWELL III AND NEWPORT COUNTRY CLUB was a CBS television comedy (1964-67) about seven castaways. The episode broadcast on Dec. 26, 1966 featured the enthusiastic but dim Gilligan (played by Bob Denver) becoming the island’s deputy marshal. His first arrest is of the very wealthy Thurston Howell III (an entertaining caricature of a good-hearted snob, as played by Jim Backus). After being jailed for allegedly stealing binoculars, the millionaire’s wife comes to visit him, and he vows to fight this injustice.

GILLIGAN’S ISLAND

was eloquently described by a Boston Globe writer as “... the closest thing to the Old Course at St. Andrews that graces these shores ... it is one of the game’s jewels, yet few know its subtleties and its perils.”

And the 1995 return to Newport was part of a symmetrical celebration of the USGA’s centenary by three of its five founding clubs: the U.S. Women’s Amateur would be played at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., and the U.S. Open would be at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, on Long Island.

The amateurs who came to Newport were the usual mix of college stars with perfect swings; veteran amateurs with reliable, well-

From the script:

tested games; and crafty everymen with homemade swings and

CLOSE UP OF MR HOWELL IN CAVE. We

see Mr. Howell holding onto the bamboo bars of a make-shift jail.

He’s looking grim. Mrs. Howell is crying into a handkerchief as she sees Mr. Howell behind bars.

MRS. HOWELL: Thurston you’re a convict! Oh! MR. HOWELL: Lovey! I…I’ve been framed! I’ll appeal!

I’ll take it to the Supreme Court! I’ll go even higher!

Rules Committee of the Newport Country Club!

Ahhhhhh!

more determination than technique. Among the 312 qualifiers were a 40-year-old salesman of Yellow Pages advertising; a 58-year-old former brigadier general who had two artificial hips and had flown 221 combat missions in Vietnam; and a 43-year-old liquor salesman.

Regrettably, only 311 of the qualifiers took part the first day because the owner of the Seattle lawn-service company “Mr. Mow Better,” went to the wrong course on the first day of stroke play, missed his tee time, and was disqualified.

Billy Harmon, NCC’s golf professional in 1995, suggested that the younger golfers might be at a disadvantage at Newport because “we have a generation of golfers who have been brought up on these target golf courses, so a course like this is very foreign to them.

You can’t play this course through the air. You’re going to have to

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put the ball on the ground sometimes; you’re going to have to have

“The changing of the winds on a good links course will make

a variety of golf shots; you’re going to have to be creative and use

a hole play totally different,” said NCC’s Billy Harmon. “I have

your imagination.”

played the first hole here in the morning and hit a driver and a

The anomaly among the competitors was, of course, Woods.

wedge, and in the afternoon I couldn’t reach it with two drivers.”

“He may be 19 years in age, but he’s 35 in golf maturity,” said Butch

The old, settled greens; the contours of the fairways that echo

Harmon, Woods’s coach and Billy Harmon’s older brother.

the flow of the land; and the ever-changing wind combine to create

Along with Woods’s distance off the tees, he possessed patience,

a course that, as one observer wrote, could not be over-powered —

sound course management, and

but it might be out-smarted.

an ever-growing variety of shots

Woods understood that strategy

that set him apart from all other

was paramount: “If you start forc-

college players. That summer,

ing things coming into these

Woods’s development as a golfer

greens, that ball is not going to

had been accelerated by playing in

hold, and then you’re going to have

the Scottish Open at Carnoustie

some chips, and you’re just going

and the British Open at St. An-

to be making bogeys. You’ve got to

drews, where knockdown shots

play smart.”

and bump-and-run approaches

To keep the defending cham-

were essential to success.

pion in the right frame of mind, his

“That ... helped me a lot,” Woods acknowledged. “It was so hard

caddie was sport psychologist Jay Brunza, who had been working

in the fairways there, you learn to hit shots in Scotland [that] you

with the teenager on focus, visualization, anger management, and

can’t hit here in America.”

relaxation. In the crowd, but more responsible for Woods’s mind-

And then there was Newport’s wind, an element so character-

set and demeanor, was his father Earl, a former Green Beret in the

istic of the old Scottish courses that it was regarded as an essential

U.S. Army who, since his son was a toddler, had been training him

part of the game.

to be the first non-white superstar in the traditionally Anglo-Saxon

The smooth organization of the 1995 U.S. Amateur was largely due to championship chairman Peter DiBari.

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sport of golf. Tiger Woods’s heritage was a remarkable mix of

Newport demanded experience. Four of the eight quarterfinalists

African-American and American Indian from his father, and Thai

were more than 30 years old, and a fifth was the even more experi-

and Chinese from his mother, Kultida.

enced Woods. His next opponent was Scott Kammann of Tennessee,

By the time Woods came to Newport, he was used to being in

who married his high-school sweetheart the previous week, then used

the public eye, having played in his first PGA Tour event, the 1992

her as his caddie at Newport. “I always said: ‘We are not playing golf

Los Angeles Open, at the age of 16 years and 2 months. And he ac-

on the honeymoon,’ ” related Kammann’s wife, Kristin, who then ges-

cepted the attention now, saying, “If I continue

tured toward the caddie’s bib she was wearing,

on the path of where I want to go, it’s only

“Now look at me.”

going to get worse ... you have to be receptive

On Saturday morning, Woods sent the

to it — accept that that’s the way it has to be.”

couple back to their honeymoon, winning 5

The public’s interest in him was heightened

and 3. That afternoon, he faced one of the

by the growing legend of his competitiveness.

tournament’s most popular players, eight-

The winner of more than 100 junior tourna-

time Maine Amateur champion Mark Plum-

ments, Woods rallied from at least 2-down in the

mer, a 43-year-old former county sheriff

finals of his three U.S. Junior Amateur victories.

whose wire-rim glasses, full moustache, and

In the 1994 U.S. Amateur at the Sawgrass course

unruly hair combined to give him the appear-

in Ponte Vedra, Fla., Woods was five holes down

ance of “a rock music critic held over from

with 11 to play, but finished 2-up to become the

the 1960s,” according to one sportswriter.

youngest-ever national amateur champion, in the greatest comeback

The two semifinalists were a study in contrasts: Woods’s perfect

in Amateur finals history.

blend of technique, tempo, and power contrasted sharply with Plum-

At Newport, Woods opened his defense with a 3 and 2 win over

mer’s violent, corkscrew slash at the ball, described by one writer as

Patrick Lee of Mississippi, then defeated Chad Campbell of Texas 4

“a swing [that] only a chiropractor could love.” Television announcer

and 2, and edged Sean Knapp of Pennsylvania 2 and 1 to reach the

Johnny Miller, after watching Plummer’s unorthodox grip and

quarterfinals, where Billy Harmon’s prediction had proved correct:

stance, described him as looking like a man out “watering a lawn.”

Semifinalist Mark Plummer of Maine, a former county sheriff, became a crowd favorite, in part because of a highly unorthodox swing.

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But Plummer could scramble, one-putting seven of the first 13

Amateur titles nor any Walker Cup invitations. Then, at Newport,

holes and taking Woods to the 18th hole for the first time that week

playing in his 16th U.S. Amateur, things finally began to go Marucci’s

before finally yielding, 2-down.

way. Before the final, 62 matches had been played, with only five going

“I’m probably the happiest loser you’ll

to extra holes, but three of those involved

ever look at,” Plummer said afterwards in

Marucci, who had advanced with two wins

his clipped, Downeast accent, noting

on the 19th hole and one on the 20th.

Woods had gained more tournament ex-

Now he was facing Woods, whom

perience that summer than Plummer had

Marucci regarded as “the best athlete [that]

in his whole golfing life. “He has experi-

golf has seen,” possessing “more shots than

ence that I only have from sitting in my

most players at this level,” including an ex-

lounge chair watching on television.”

traordinary short game. But, at the start of

Woods’s opponent in the final, George

the final, it was Woods who faltered, bogey-

“Buddy” Marucci, Jr., had taken a far dif-

ing three of the first seven holes. Marucci

ferent path to the final than the famous

led 3-up after 12 holes and was 2-up after

young man — both at Newport and before.

19 in a match that attracted approximately

At the same time that Woods, as a dark-

10,000 spectators.

skinned youth, was being denied the

Then Woods began to find his form.

chance to play a course near his home in

During the afternoon round, he birdied No.

Cypress, Calif., the wealthy Marucci was

3 with a 14-foot putt, parred No. 4 to win

playing the finest golf courses in the

the hole, and put his second shot on No. 6

Philadelphia area and Florida. A friend of

to 4 feet, sinking the putt for a 1-up lead.

Jay Sigel and Vinny Giles, both former U.S. Amateur champions and

Marucci then chipped in from 12 feet off the 8th green to halve the

Walker Cup players, Marucci felt the disappointment of always being

match, and they both birdied Nos. 10 and 11. When Marucci pulled

a step behind them; a career amateur, at the age of 43 he had no

his drive left on No. 12, and Woods dropped an 18-foot birdie putt at

Buddy Marucci, 43, was 24 years older than Tiger Woods, his opponent in the final of the 1995 U.S. Amateur.

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the 15th, the defending champion held a 2-up lead. On No. 17, Woods

“The whole week has been the best week of my competitive life;

twice hit into the rough, but remained dormie as the two players stood

it’s done more for me than all the other 30 years that I’ve been playing

on the tee of the 18th, a 384-yard hole with a sharply elevated green.

this game. My love for this game has always run deep, but now I feel

Marucci’s drive was slightly right, but

so much more involved in its tradition than

he put his approach shot 20 feet from the

I did before.”

cup. Woods, who hit a 2-iron off the tee,

For Woods, this was his fifth USGA

was 140 yards from the green and selected

championship, and he would add his sixth

an 8-iron for his second shot. Miller, in the

the following year, winning an unprece-

broadcast booth, said, “I wouldn’t be sur-

dented third consecutive U.S. Amateur

prised if he knocks it a foot from the hole,”

with his 18th consecutive match victory, a

and Woods nearly did, controlling the tra-

playoff win on the 38th hole at Pumpkin

jectory of a shot that landed 15 feet beyond

Ridge. He then turned professional, which

the flagstick and rolled back to approxi-

was always the long-range plan. At New-

mately 18 inches. It was, as Marucci said,

port, during the Woods team’s celebration,

“the shot of a champion.”

Earl Woods said, “I’m going to make a pre-

When Marucci missed his putt, he

diction: before he’s through, my son will

conceded the match.

win 14 major championships.”

After the Havemeyer Trophy was again

Earlier that week, one prescient specta-

handed to Woods, an announcement was

tor had seen the same possibility. “Years

made that Marucci had been named to the

down the road, people will be talking about

1995 Walker Cup team. The 43-year-old

Tiger like they talk about Nicklaus and

said of his loss to Woods, “I don’t think it’ll be ‘The one that got

Palmer. I’ll be able to say I saw Tiger Woods back in 1995.”

away.’ I can live with losing to Tiger ... [but, instead,] making the

Of the 1995 U.S. Amateur at Newport, USGA Vice-President Judy

Walker Cup.

Bell said, “It’s an incredible way to start the next 100 years of golf.”

The Woods team: (l. to r.) coach Butch Harmon, caddie/psychologist Jay Brunza, and father Earl Woods, with the past, present, and future Amateur champion.

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C H A P T E R

F O U R T E E N

PAST RENOVATION

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PAST RENOVATION “The Newport Country Club clubhouse was a stick-frame building, and those sticks were there to support the appearance of opulence.

That was part of the Gilded Age mentality — a gilded surface over an insubstantial interior.” ~ ARCHITECT M. JEFFREY BAKER

T

paper jammed into a gap in the casement to prevent the wind and

HE DICE ON THE BAR were what saved Whitney Warren’s

rain from coming in. That’s when we started to look a little closer

grand Newport clubhouse.

— and we didn’t like what we saw. So, we asked Tom Perkins for

During the 1990s, various NCC members would “roll the

his opinion.”

bones” while having post-round drinks. Eventually, Robert Manice,

Perkins, a member of NCC and a building contractor familiar

the club’s vice-president, became uneasy with the practice.

“It wasn’t a good atmosphere for children to be around. Young

with the long-term effects of damp, ocean air on old buildings,

kids would come up to get a soft drink, and the men would be there

studied the upper floors of the clubhouse. His assessment was a

rolling dice,” recalled Manice. “We needed to find a place in the

New Englander’s typical understatement: “I think there are some

clubhouse where guys could go to play their dice games.”

issues.” He then advised that a complete analysis of the structure be immediately undertaken.

So, on an early autumn day in 2003, Manice and NCC president Barclay Douglas, Jr., embarked on a walk-through of the 108-year-

Fortunately, already working in Newport at the Isaac Bell

old building, seeking a hideaway for the gamblers. On the second

House was the Albany-based firm of Mesick, Cohen, Wilson, Baker

floor was the unused apartment where the club’s previous golf pro-

Architects (MCWB), whose historical restorations had included

fessional had lived. Douglas said, “We found a window with toilet

the design and oversight of renovations to Thomas Jefferson’s

Overleaf: Elements of classic Greek and Roman architecture are evident in the upper stories’ front facade of the NCC clubhouse, designed by Whitney Warren.

Opposite: One of the 16 plaster-cast lions’ heads in the ballroom that decorate the end of the console brackets supporting the second-floor balcony.

The room’s plaster ornaments were originally painted yellow.

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Monticello, James Madison’s Montpelier, and the capitol buildings

C L U B

The members’ aesthetic insults included offices being built

in New York, Tennessee, and Vermont.

above the ballroom’s vaulted ceiling, which could not handle the

MCWB examined the Newport clubhouse and determined that

extra weight and began cracking; lockers being placed in front of

it was, as Douglas recalled, “on the verge of collapse.” The clues had

windows and doors, blocking the views and light; the entrance hall’s

been there for years (i.e., the constant sticking of closed doors), but

grand staircase being dismantled to make room for more lockers;

no one had recognized the magnitude of the problems (the doors

the grade around the clubhouse being raised, which sealed off vents

were sticking because the whole

and windows, resulting in leaks

building was sagging).

and rot; and even the parking of

With the regret of an archi-

electric carts in the ballroom.

tect who loves great concepts and

Baker, who regarded Warren’s

structures, M. Jeffrey Baker of

clubhouse as “ingenious on many

MCWB wrote in his March 2004

levels,” admired the three-wing

conditions report: “The present

design because it “maximized

plan of the Newport Country

natural light and kept patrons

Club bears little resemblance to

cooled by the ocean breezes,

the brilliant 19th-century plan

while

designed by Whitney Warren.”

every possible advantage of the

And, although an August 1954

views over the golf course and the

storm ripped away one of the

polo field that once existed to the

simultaneously

taking

building’s three wings, Baker said that Mother Nature’s destruc-

northeast.” The building, he explained, “was conceived as a French

tiveness had been matched by the members’. The loss of the east-

pavilion centerpiece set in an ocean of green fairways,” with axial

wing piazza — “one of the most remarkable spaces in Newport,”

views that began the moment a visitor entered the front door and

Baker wrote — was enormous, but he said the conversion of the

could see straight ahead through the ballroom and the east-wing

first-floor dining room into the women’s locker room was “as

piazza to the hills on the far side of the eastern valley.

devastating as the 1954 hurricane.”

“At every turn,” Baker wrote, “Warren provided both drama and

During the 2004-05 renovation work, the ballroom was turned into the carpenters’ workshop.

Whenever possible, wood from the original structure was cut and re-used.

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repose ... this functional, yet playful structure is one of the most

that it was too extraordinary not to be saved. “Whitney Warren’s

delightful architectural creations of late 19th-century America.”

design had no precedent. As far as I am aware, it is a one-of-a-kind

The building’s stairs, plumbing, and service areas were situated

thing. The building is light, porous, and a delightful place to be.

at its nexus, reserving the ends of the three wings for the patrons’

What he did was capture the feeling of Newport: its wonderful,

enjoyment. Baker lamented that half a century after construction

care-free, idyllic lifestyle because this building epitomizes the

of the clubhouse, NCC built bathrooms and stairs at the ends

place; it could never have been built anywhere else.”

of the north and south wings,

Baker believed that “any true

destroying Warren’s vision.

master plan” for the renovation of

Why? Was it expediency?

the clubhouse “should work in the

The absence of aesthetic taste?

spirit of Whitney Warren’s inten-

Or the decline in membership

tion for the building,” which meant

and a commensurate decline in

“reversing the trends of the past

available funds? One reason

fifty years.” He hoped that New-

surely was the mid-20th cen-

port’s members of 2004, most of

tury’s lack of respect for late-

whom had not seen the original

19th century architecture —

structure and knew only “the

until the “My god, what have we

shadow of Whitney Warren’s ge-

done?” demolition of New York

nius,” could be convinced to restore

City’s Pennsylvania Station. In

a building they could only imagine.

1963, New York, seduced by the blind demand for progress at all

But, even if NCC’s leadership accepted MCWB’s plan, and the

costs, tore down McKim, Mead & White’s Beaux Arts masterpiece,

membership was willing to undertake a full-scale renovation, there

then woke up to the self-inflicted loss. “That caused an awareness

was another problem: one of timing, because in the first week of July

of the value of these buildings,” said Baker, “and a realization that

2006, the Newport Country Club would be hosting the U.S. Women’s

they could serve our modern times.”

Open, and the golfing world could not be welcomed into a danger-

While studying the Newport clubhouse, Baker came to believe

ously unstable clubhouse nor one that was under construction.

In the early 1900s, the grade around the clubhouse was raised substantially from Whitney Warren’s original design; this resulted in numerous water and moisture problems, along with a lowering of the building’s profile; the orginal grade was restored during the 2004-05 renovation.

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Above: The front doors of the Newport Country Club; the driveway to Harrison Avenue runs along an east-west ridge.

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The cost of making the necessary repairs was estimated at $2 million, and a full restoration was priced at $3.6 million. In 2004, NCC had fewer than 250 members, and the monetary burden of restoration, even if shared, would be significant. “When you consider the building in its entirety,” Baker said, “in its functions and its architecture, and the heat, water, and electrical systems that run through the building like arteries and veins, doing the work piecemeal would only drive up the cost and put the building out of commission for a longer time. When the profound nature of the needed work was understood, it became clear there was no alternative: either you did it or you didn’t.”

Douglas and Manice, aware of the architectural treasure that Warren’s talent had wrought, believed they had no choice but to advocate for a full restoration. “A lot of members were worried about the budget,” said Manice. “They said: ‘Everything is fine — we don’t need to change anything.’ ” Explanatory meetings were held, and discussions became emotional, but the pressure of hosting the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open did not allow for a gradual building of a consensus. “The train had to leave the station,” said Manice.

But, how would the work be paid for?

“We believed that we would be able to raise the money with an assessment, initiation fees, and income from the Women’s Open,” said Douglas. “But, we couldn’t wait for the tournament: we needed to repair the building. And then we got lucky.”

Steve Glascock, a member of NCC’s board of directors and a real-estate investor, received an invitation to a symposium in Providence concerning the state’s historical-building tax-credit

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program; he thought these might ease the mounting pressure on

But, the tax-credit opportunity also came with a deadline: the

NCC — and Manice and Douglas, in particular — concerning the

building-renovation program would vanish from Rhode Island’s

financing of the clubhouse renovation.

tax code as of the end of 2005, and the approvals needed from the

“I went to the symposium,” Douglas said, “and I took it as a good

state and federal governments might not arrive in time. The club’s

sign that it was being held at the Biltmore Hotel — another Beaux

first step was to apply for the tax credits through the state’s Histor-

Arts building designed by Whitney Warren.”

ical Preservation & Heritage Commission,

What Douglas learned was that because

then the request went to the National Park

NCC possessed a building of “historical sig-

Service, which is part of the Department

nificance” and was a for-profit entity (due to

of the Interior, and the application re-

the long-ago compromise between Newport

ceived a stamp of approval. This meant

Country Club and the Newport Golf Club,

that NCC could apply for the 501(c)(3) if

which resulted in a corporate structure with

it received a certificate of occupancy in

shareholders), it might be eligible for build-

2005. December 31, the last day of the year,

ing-restoration tax credits. Thirty percent of

was a Saturday; NCC received its certifi-

the renovation’s qualifying costs would be

cate of occupancy on Friday, December

returned by the State of Rhode Island as a

30th. “We were this close...” Douglas said,

tax credit to NCC. These credits could then

holding up a thumb and forefinger, barely

be sold by the club for 80 cents on the dollar

apart, “...to missing it.”

to anyone who owed taxes to Rhode Island.

Rhode Island gave the Newport Coun-

Thus, someone who owed the state $10,000

try Club $1.8 million in tax credits, which

in taxes could buy a $10,000 tax credit from

the club could sell for $1.44 million. Three

NCC and pay the club only $8,000.

months later, Douglas was “in a lawyer’s office in East Providence,

The club could use the credits only to balance the work being

signing over $50,000 in tax credits to one guy, and $50,000 in tax

done on the building. “Two by fours, electrical, plumbing ... those

credits to another guy, and I’m getting checks for $40,000.”

were all fine,” said Douglas, “but not things like the driveway or

Then another obstacle arose: the club learned that it had to

curtains, rugs, or tables.”

pay federal taxes on the money it received from selling the Rhode

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Island tax credits. New problem; same solution: 501(c)(3). This

an endowment. Jim Haas, a member who had been successful in

time, though, it would be the federal version.

his business life, was asked to watch over the club’s foundation. He

“We did the paperwork, set up the Newport Country Club

was the right person because he would be seen as an individual who

Preservation Foundation, and got the federal-tax credits,” Douglas

brought an independent point of view. Jim’s presence would estab-

said, but, these tax credits could not be sold.

lish a strong sense of legitimacy and give the donors confidence in

While the finances were being sorted

the foundation.”

out, with the significant help of board

The final cost of the renovation was

member Dick Plotkin, an accountant, the

$7.4 million, and the work was completed

work on the clubhouse continued. “The

with six months to spare before the 2006

good news was that the place looked great,

U.S. Women’s Open. The project, which

and we were on schedule,” said Manice.

combined modern-day needs (fire-sup-

“But we had a meeting with the contractor,

pression systems, updated electrical and

Kirby-Perkins Construction, and, uh oh,

plumbing, etc.) with a restoration of Whit-

the price was going up to $5 million.

ney Warren’s visionary work, drew admi-

Things were getting out of control, and

ration and acclaim — and one regret.

our heads were on the block.

“I wish that I could have met Whit-

“Then we started talking to members

ney Warren,” said Jerry Kirby, a partner

of the club who had ties to foundations

in the construction company that re-

that supported architecture conservation

stored the clubhouse. Having studied

in Newport, and we felt that they might be

and worked on the grand Beaux Arts

generous. We started a campaign to raise

building that came out of Warren’s imag-

money for the club’s newly formed preservation foundation and,

ination, Kirby said, “I’d like to have been at that meeting in 1894

to our surprise, we raised $3.5 million like that,” Manice snapped

when he sold the club’s executive committee on his design. He

his fingers. “Then we were at $4 million, and it became evident that

was a confident guy with a vision for light and for life. He would

we were going to raise another million on top of that.

have been a fun guy to have a glass of wine with and listen to,

“We had more than we needed for the building, so we created

I’m sure of that.”

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THE LOST WING (1894-1954)

IN THE OLDEST PHOTOGRAPHS of the Newport Country Club, the

century French orangerie,” and the earliest photo of the piazza

east wing already looks like the ghost that it would become.

showed small, boxed trees in the arched openings. The wing was

Outlined against the sky that would eventually destroy it, the

painted green, and Baker believed this was meant to add to the im-

back wing of Whitney Warren’s clubhouse appears to be a dark

pression of the wing as “a garden folly” (a decorative structure, usu-

skeleton of its two healthy brethren. All three wings were the same

ally built at an extravagant cost, though not in this case).

length and echoed each other’s design, with six high arches on each

The roof of the east wing was designed as an open-air, walking

side. But the east wing, known as “the piazza,” had trellises instead

area, or “promenade,” as it was called in the late 1800s. A low

of walls, and there was nothing to block the cool breezes that were

balustrade is shown in the earliest pictures, but is not evident in

the true reason the wealthy abandoned their cities in summer and

later images.

found their way to Newport.

According to M. Jeffrey Baker, of Mesick, Cohen, Wilson, Baker Architects, which formulated and oversaw the 2004-05 renovation of the clubhouse, the east wing’s “lattice structure recalled an 18th-

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The floor of the interior was wood, for dancing on summer nights; wide shades could be rolled down to keep out any rain. Not until years later were windows and glass doors added, but they would have prevented wind from blowing through the structure and might have added the resistance that resulted in Hurricane Carol tearing the east wing off of the clubhouse on August 31, 1954.

Jerry Kirby, co-owner of the construction company that executed the renovation work, said, “Whitney Warren went to the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and their study of design history meant taking a long look at everything that had ever been built, which explains why Whitney Warren’s design for the Newport clubhouse had some components of pre-Christian temples. Just like a pagan temple, one wing points east, toward the rising sun. Take a look at the floor plan of the clubhouse, and you’ll see the eastern male component and the western female component.”

And those ancient influences are the explanation for the six caryatids, in a semi-circle, at the curved, outside end of the east

wing. These figures were male rather than the usual female forms, but the number six repeated the number of caryatids that support a porch at the Acropolis in Athens.

The piazza completed what Baker called the “playful splendor” of the entire building, which was “the perfect answer for Newport society, an idyllic dreamy place of escape for the captains of commerce.”

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C H A P T E R

F I F T E E N

THE FIRST LADY

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C H A P T E R

F I F T E E N

THE FIRST LADY “It was a championship that couldn’t get started, and then it wouldn’t end.” ~ BARCLAY DOUGLAS, JR.

W

player of exceptional promise, having won the 1986 U.S. Girls’

OULD YOU SIGN A GOLF BALL FOR ME?”

Junior, the 1989 NCAA title, and the 1990 U.S. Women’s Amateur.

The request was a common one for Annika Sorenstam, one of

She did not have a classic swing, but, at the age of 23, her innate

the finest players in the history of golf.

But she did not expect to be asked while walking up the last fairway

coordination and strength had carried her to the cusp of a profes-

of the playoff for the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open, nor that the question

sional career; her only significant disappointment was failing at the

would come from her opponent.

LPGA Qualifying Tournament in 1991.

The outcome of the championship had been determined:

Sorenstam’s background was different but also impressive: a

Sorenstam, five shots ahead, was assured of her third Open crown,

dedicated tennis player in the era when Bjorn Borg was Sweden’s hero

but Pat Hurst’s quiet words were a second reward: an expression of

(and hers), Sorenstam rose to a national ranking of No. 12 in her age

the highest respect.

group, but quit tennis at the age of 16, disgusted with her mediocre

What added to the moment was that the two women had

backhand. Being from a sports-minded family, she wanted to find an-

reached this day — playing each other for the most-treasured title

other game to play well and so switched to golf, which suited her an-

in women’s golf — after sharing the low point of their professional

alytical nature. Her improvement came so swiftly that within four years

careers on October 23, 1992.

she earned a golf scholarship to the University of Arizona (none of

Hurst, a Californian whose mother was born in Japan, was a

Sweden’s six universities had a golf team); she then won the NCAA

Overleaf: Annika Sorenstam, teeing off on the 10th hole on Sunday, July 2, 2006. For the championship, the nines were reversed.

Opposite: The 2006 U.S. Women’s Open champion, after winning her third U. S. Open and 10th major.

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title in 1991 and was runner-up in the 1992 U.S. Women’s Amateur.

C L U B

next year; another 23 qualified with non-exempt status by shooting

In October 1992, the final stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tour-

300 or better. Sorenstam and Hurst each finished at 301.

nament was four rounds at Indigo Lakes Resort, Daytona Beach,

Their responses were strikingly different: Sorenstam headed to

Fla. Eighteen players out of the 123 gained full exemptions for the

Europe to play more tournaments; Hurst quit the game for a year,

The day before the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open at Newport, approximately 3 million gallons of rainwater was pumped into the Atlantic Ocean.

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later explaining that she felt as if she was playing golf to please “other people.” She took a job in a sporting-goods store, later

LADIES WHO DID MORE THAN JUST TAKE AFTERNOON TEA

worked at a golf club, and finally found her way back into the sport when she was ready to play for herself.

1567 — Mary, Queen of Scots, plays golf a few days after her husband’s murder.

Apparently, they each made the right move: Sorenstam’s game sharpened in Europe, she was among the second tier of qualifiers

1811 — First women’s golf tournament is played at Musselburgh, Scotland.

in the 1993 LPGA Qualifying Tournament, then she won LPGA Rookie of the Year honors in 1994 and her first Open title in 1995.

Hurst qualified for the women’s tour in 1994, was Rookie of the

1850s — Writer Louisa May Alcott runs miles every day in the woods near her Concord, Mass., home.

Year in 1995, and 11 years later arrived at Newport with four career wins including one major, and the good fortune to encounter weather at the Women’s Open that would favor her game.

Because the 1995 U.S. Amateur championship played at Newport ran so smoothly, and because the course gained so much

1875 — Annie Oakley beats her husband-to-be, a champion marksman, in a shooting competition.

respect, within a year, predictions had been published concerning the 2003 Women’s Open coming to NCC — then no more was heard. “It was too soon,” explained club president Barclay Douglas, Jr., who gauged the members’ interest after the Amateur and concluded, “Once every 10 years is about right.” Not until June 2000 did

1884 — Wimbledon women’s singles play begins.

Douglas send a letter to the USGA saying that the club would be interested in hosting a future Women’s Open, and the year 2006 was

Mary, Queen of Scots

1887 — U.S. women’s tennis national championship begins.

soon agreed upon.

1895 — Annie Smith Peck is the first woman to climb the

In Newport, the month of June is, climatologically, much dif-

Matterhorn.

ferent than the month of August. David Fay, executive director of 1897 — Lena Jordan is the first person to perform a triple somersault on the trapeze.

the USGA, recalled that during the 1995 U.S. Amateur, every shot was accompanied by a “puff of dust”; in 2006, a total of 13 inches of rain fell in the six weeks before the Women’s Open, including

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31/2 inches the previous weekend. Grounds crews from seven area

to work with her swing coach, Henri Reis, who had flown in from

golf courses volunteered to help NCC, which on Wednesday, June

Sweden to find out why Sorenstam’s usually steady game had

28, used nine pumps and the assistance of the Newport Fire De-

faltered, producing no wins in her last eight tournaments. The an-

partment to pump three million gallons of rainwater out of

swer turned out to be a simple one: her grip was too weak. As soon

bunkers and low-lying areas and into the Atlantic Ocean. Because

as she turned her left hand slightly to the right, Sorenstam’s usual

the rough would be penal, and drives would have almost no roll,

machine-like steadiness returned, and she was ready to play.

conditions would favor the stronger players.

Soft-spoken, attractive, and humble, Sorenstam had become the

On the first day of

figurehead for the women’s

competition, the forecast

tour, and her appeal was en-

called for more rain. In-

hanced by her command of

stead, it was a fog that

English; as an adolescent,

covered the course, so

she spent three years in Lon-

dense that golf shots dis-

don while her father worked

appeared after traveling

there. Shy by nature, Soren-

100-130 yards. Players

stam had overcome the reti-

with morning tee times,

cence that caused her, when

some of whom had ar-

a teenager, to purposely miss

rived at the course at 5:30

putts in order to lose tour-

a.m., heard 16 announcements regarding delays, one every half

naments and thus avoid being interviewed. When event organizers

hour, until 2:45 p.m., when the USGA finally gave up and officially

realized what she was doing, they required both first- and second-

suspended the first round.

place finishers to be interviewed. After that, she played to win.

The biggest beneficiary of the opening day’s fog was Sorenstam,

When the popular Swede came to Newport, she was 35 years

who had an afternoon tee time, but never did go to the Newport

old with 67 LPGA victories, including nine majors; had been

Country Club that day. Instead, she went to the practice range at

named LPGA Player of the Year eight times; earned the Vare Trophy

Carnegie Abbey Club, where she was staying in nearby Portsmouth,

(for low-scoring average) six times; and once shot a round of 59,

On Thursday, spectators came to see the world’s best women’s golfers, but they could barely see the course. No golf was played.

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which had never been done on the women’s tour. But it was her at-

men’s tour event, and later made the cut in two other men’s pro-

tempt to play against the male professionals that gained her the

fessional tournaments.

most attention.

It was Zaharias who, to a significant degree, was responsible for

Golf is one of the few sports where physical strength does not

the successful start of the women’s professional golf tour. The

preclude competition between men and women, so the question

growth of the sport during the 1900s and the increasing proficiency

is often asked of top women golfers, “How would you do against

of the best female players resulted in the formation of the Women’s

the men?” In 2003, Sorenstam decided to find out, accepting an

Professional Golf Association in 1944. Two years later, the associa-

invitation to play in the

tion created the U.S.

PGA Tour event at the

Women’s Open, but the

Colonial Country Club

BIG HITTER

in Fort Worth, Texas. Although she bettered by eight shots the 36-hole score predicted by Las Vegas’ oddsmakers, she

tour struggled financially and, in 1950, was super-

Tina Barrett, one of the shorter hitters on the LPGA Tour, was hitting practice shots at NCC during the fog delay on the first day of the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open. As one of her shots disappeared into the mist, her caddie observed, “That’s the first time you’ve ever hit a ball out of sight.”

missed the cut by five

seded by the better-organized Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), which flourished, staging 21 tournaments in 1952.

shots, largely due to seven

The first women’s na-

three-putts.

tional championship in

“I’m glad I did it,” she said after her final round, “but this is way

the United States took place in 1895, within weeks of the inaugu-

over my head. It was a great week, but I’ve got to go back to my

ral men’s Open and Amateur tournaments. In the class-conscious

tour where I belong.”

Victorian Age, when it was important to separate working-man

Sorenstam was not the first female golfer to challenge the

professionals from the more-genteel gentleman amateurs, two

men. Babe Didrikson Zaharias, an Olympic gold medalist in

championships were necessary for the men. For the women, only

track and field and, most likely, America’s finest female athlete

one tournament was needed because in 1895 there were no

of the 20th century, qualified for the 1938 Los Angeles Open, a

known female golf professionals.

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But, within five years, that had changed: Georgina Campbell,

Franklin Park public course in Boston. Willie, who died in 1900

a native Scot and the widow of Willie Campbell, runner-up in

at the age of 38, was an outstanding player, but he twice lost the

the 1894 Open at St. Andrew’s and who played in the 1895 U.S.

British Open by failing to extricate his ball cleanly from bunkers

Open at Newport, replaced her husband as golf instructor at the

on the closing holes. After coming to America, he was the first

Pat Hurst, a 37-year-old mother of two, had the power to deal with Newport’s rain-soaked course.

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and that year’s U.S. Women’s Open would be the richest event in the history of women’s golf: $560,000 for the winner out of the $3.1 million total purse.

Although Sorenstam was favored to win, there was a second big name: Michelle Wie, the long-driving 16-year-old who had made the cut at the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open when she was 13.

Also notable about Wie were her own attempts to play in men’s tournaments: at age 14, she was given a sponsor’s exemption into the Sony Open in Hawaii, and she played in other men’s professional tour events in the U.S. and Asia. At 15, she was the first female to qualify for a USGA national championship not restricted to women: the 2005 U.S. Amateur Public Links, in which she reached the quarterfinals.

But the teenager’s repeated attempts to play against male golfers, when she wasn’t winning against other women, had produced a mixed response from golf fans; also, a rules violation and disqualification from her first tournament as a professional had not helped her reputation. Like Tiger Woods, Michelle Wie came to Newport with the label of “great potential,” but unlike the former U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Amateur champion, she had no significant victories. golf professional at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.

At the Women’s Open, after Thursday’s lost day of play, the

Georgina, two years younger than Willie, was apparently

USGA, firm in its belief that a major championship needs to be

teaching women golfers before her husband’s death, but pro-

72 holes, decided to play single rounds on Friday and Saturday,

vided formal instruction for both sexes from 1900 to 1909. It is

then 36 holes on Sunday after the field had been cut. Despite soft

not known whether she ever sought to play in the women’s na-

playing conditions on Friday that caused standing water and slow

tional championship.

play due to many rulings on “casual water,” Sorenstam, Hurst, for-

By 2006, the LPGA Tour had purses totaling $49.6 million

mer Open champion Se Ri Pak, and amateur Jane Park shared the

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lead at two-under-par 69, with Wie one shot back. On Saturday, Sorenstam and Hurst both had even-par rounds and were the co-leaders, with Wie and Park among those two shots behind.

To minimize between-round delays, all of Sunday’s pairings were for both rounds. The pairing of Sorenstam and Hurst was a study in contrasts. Lean and angular Sorenstam was a model of physical training while Hurst, 37 years old and the mother of two, was, well, neither lean nor angular.

Sorenstam, when asked about Sunday’s scheduled doubleround, had earlier commented, “This is a tough course to play 18 holes, and then you put another 18 holes on top of that, and at the end of the championship, you’ve got to be in good shape. There are several players out here who are in good shape, and I’d like to think that I’m one of them.” Hurst, when asked what advantage she might have in Sunday’s 36 holes, answered honestly, saying “Mental would definitely be up there for me. Obviously, fitness isn’t.”

The morning round proved to be disappointing for both Sorenstam and Hurst, the former finishing 2-over-par due to three bogeys in an eight-hole stretch, while the latter was 4-over-par in an erratic round that included six bogeys and two birdies. Sorenstam now shared the lead with Brittany Lincicome, another big hitter, who shot 69, and Wie, who had an even-par round. One shot back was 46-year-old Juli Inkster, a two-time Open winner trying to become its oldest champion.

On Sunday afternoon, with more than 12,000 spectators on the grounds, Sorenstam and Hurst appeared to inspire each other as they both opened with a pair of birdies and no bogeys in the first six holes. Elsewhere on the course, Lincicome was skying to a 78,

C L U B

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while Wie and Inkster were both on their way to 2-over-par 73.

Sorenstam lost the chance to build a solid lead when she dropped four shots in three holes (a double-bogey on No. 7, then bogeys on Nos. 8 and 9) as Hurst finished the front nine with an impressive 33. Sorenstam gathered herself during the second nine and, on the 18th green, had a 22-foot birdie putt to win the championship. She rolled the ball exactly where she wanted and watched it flirt with the right lip of the cup, then dodge away. Sorenstam, in despair, clutched her head in her hands before tapping the ball in for an even-par 71. Hurst, who led the field in putting percentage during regulation play, then rolled in a 5-footer for a 69, forcing an 18hole playoff the next morning.

According to one sportswriter whose article was titled “Sunday Hurrahs, Monday Blahs,” Sunday’s play created an “electric” atmosphere, then Monday’s playoff felt anti-climatic. The round started at nine o’clock in the morning, and its outcome seemed evident after three holes as Sorenstam assumed a three-shot lead due to birdies at Nos. 1 and 3 while Hurst bogeyed No. 1; from hole No. 6 through No. 17, Sorenstam’s margin was at least four shots. This would be the third time that Hurst had lost to Sorenstam in a playoff.

Afterwards, both players said they wished the event had concluded on the previous day.

On the 72nd hole of regulation play, Annika Sorenstam had a 22-foot putt to win. She missed.

Following pages: More than 12,000 spectators came out on Sunday and saw 36 holes of golf, but not a champion crowned. Seven months later, the USGA abandoned its 18-hole playoff format for the U.S Women’s Open.

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“You would think you could determine a winner in 75 holes,”

C L U B

During the tournament, Sorenstam received daily telephone

said Sorenstam, referring to the three-hole, aggregate-score

calls of encouragement from Tiger Woods, and her victory

playoff format used in the U.S. Senior Open.

tied him at 10 majors each. For Sorenstam, the 10-year

After the playoff, Hurst said, “I’m tired, I’m spent, I’m

drought between Open championships was sobering.

ready to go put my feet up. To play 36 holes and then 18 right

“When I came on tour, I won this event my first and sec-

behind it is difficult ... we should have decided this yesterday.”

ond years, and I said, ‘Wow, I can do this. This is going to be great.’ But then I never could get it done.”

And the USGA agreed. Seven months later, they an-

The 1995 U.S. Amateur winner at Newport was Tiger

nounced that Newport had hosted the final 18-hole playoff in the history of the U.S. Women’s Open. Beginning in 2007, a

Woods. The 2006 U.S. Women’s Open winner at Newport was

three-hole playoff format would be used, followed by sudden-death

Annika Sorenstam. Each time, NCC sifted through the field and

holes, if needed.

found the true champion. That is what the best golf courses do.

U.S. Women’s Open Co-Chairs Diana DiBari and Brenda Carlin with Annika Sorenstam during the closing ceremony.

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2006 U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS 1. Annika Sorenstam

69-71-73-71

284

(70)

2. Pat Hurst

69-71-75-69

284

(74)

3. Stacy Prammanasudh

72-71-71-72

286

Se Ri Pak

69-74-74-69

286

Michelle Wie

70-72-71-73

286

73-70-71-73

287

6. Juli Inkster

At Monday’s championship ceremony, USGA Committee Chairwoman Marcia Luigs gives thanks to Newport Country Club President Barclay Douglas, Jr.

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E P I L O G U E

PRESENT AND FUTURE

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C L U B

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E P I L O G U E

PRESENT AND FUTURE “The picture that looks as if it were done without an effort may have been a perfect battlefield in its making.” ~ ROBERT HENRI, PAINTER

F

mem-

In the past 40 years, and most especially during the last 27 years while

bers must have the same philosophy: that they are nothing more

Barclay has served as president, the club has improved in profound

than its temporary guardians.

and fundamental ways, on the course and from the top floor of the

OR A CLUB TO ENDURE, every generation of

renovated clubhouse down to its basement, so recently hewed out of

The Newport Country Club will welcome its seventh generation

the stone that gave Rocky Farm its name.

of members during the next decade, but these are not separate waves of members; they are, instead, tied

We have a club that we can be

together by the links of family. Of

proud of, for its facilities, of course,

the 20 board members currently

but, more importantly, for what it

serving, four are direct descendants

values. This book was meant to

of NCC founders; two others are re-

gather our history before parts of it

lated to the Gammell and King

would disappear into the past. But,

families, from whom the club’s

during the process of its research

most significant lands were pur-

and writing, and every time a mem-

chased, and 14 members of the

ber reads it, this volume will serve to

board are related to past officers or

re-connect the club with its past, its

members of the board. With such continuity through the eras, it is

present generation to its predecessors, the members to their ancestors.

impossible to talk of the Newport Country Club without using the

With time’s steady march, we will become part of the history

word “family.”

that our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will read

Ninety-seven years ago, NCC’s two-man Green Committee con-

about. We are more than just a club, we are a family, drawn from

sisted of my grandfather Robert W. Goelet, and J. Gordon Douglas,

Newport’s history, drawn back each summer to the place where our

the grandfather of NCC’s current president, Barclay Douglas, Jr.

ancestors came. — Robert G. Manice, Vice-President, November 2013

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Bill Murphy, Locker Room Manager

Barry Westall, Director of Golf

Greens Maintenence Staff

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Coral Stukus, Assistant Clubhouse Manager

Karen Cunningham, Office Manager

Liam McDermott, Caddie Master

Michael Sullivan, Clubhouse Manager

Chris Coen, Greens Superintendent

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APPENDICES

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NEWPORT COUNTRY CLUB DIRECTORS 1923 to 1972 ................................................................Cyril B. Judge 1925 to 1941 ..............................................................Grenville Kane 1927 to 1928 ................................................................Moses Taylor 1928 to 1941 ........................................................Gustave J.S. White 1929 to 1952..........................................Richard Van Nest Gambrill 1929 to 1938 ..............................................Henry O. Havemeyer, Jr. 1929 to 1941 ........................................................J. Denison Sawyer 1929 to 1946 ................................................Michael M. van Beuren 1931 to 1936............................................................Harold A. Sands 1932 to 1940..............................................Mrs. William Woodward 1936 to 1979......................................................Howard G. Cushing 1936 to 1941 ......................................................Kenneth Shaw Safe 1936 to 1937 ........................................................John Russell Pope 1937 to 1948 ..............................................................Robert Goelet 1938 to 1955 ......................................................R. Beverley Corbin 1938 to 1965 ....................................................Sheldon Whitehouse 1938 to 1971 ............................................Mrs. C. Oliver O’Donnell 1940 to 1959 ..........................................................Henry P. Fletcher 1941 to 1948 ........................................Admiral Edward C. Kalbfus 1941 to 1977................................................Mrs. Stuart H. Ingersoll 1941 to 1954............................................................Robert R. Young 1942 to 1948 ......................................................Francis G.B. Roche 1943 to 1950....................................................William DeF. Manice 1943 to 1951 ............................................Andrew Chalmers Wilson 1945 to 1953 ..........................................................Frank O’Connell 1946 to 1949 ........................................................James M. King, Jr. 1946 to 1948 ..........................................................John Barry Ryan 1947 to 1969 ........................................................Verner Z. Reed, Jr. 1948 to 1965 ................................................Mrs. Vanderbilt Adams 1948 to 1969 ..............................................................Persifor Frazer

1894 to 1895 ....................................................Cornelius Vanderbilt 1894 to 1903 ..........................................................John Jacob Astor 1894 to 1899 ..............................................................Robert Goelet 1894 to 1907 ............................................................O.H.P. Belmont 1894 to 1909 ..............................................................Theo. K. Gibbs 1894 to 1921................................................................H.A.C. Taylor 1894 to 1918 ..............................................................James Stillman 1896 to 1905 ..............................................Frederick W. Vanderbilt 1899 to 1935 ..................................................................E.J. Berwind 1905 to 1946....................................................Henry O. Havemeyer 1905 to 1941 ..................................................Robert Walton Goelet 1908 to 1917 ..............................................................Robert Goelet 1909 to 1915 ....................................................Alfred G. Vanderbilt 1915 to 1920 ..............................................................Perry Belmont 1917 to 1932 ......................................................Lewis Cass Ledyard 1917 to 1923 ..................................................................Ogden Mills 1917 to 1921..........................................................James A. Stillman 1917 to 1936 ........................................................Oliver G. Jennings 1917 to 1922 ....................................................Royal Phelps Carroll 1917 to 1925 ............................................................Henry R. Taylor 1917 to 1925....................................................Arthur Curtiss James 1917 to 1931........................................................Clarence W. Dolan 1917 to 1928 ............................................................T. Suffern Tailer 1917 to 1922 ........................................................Lispenard Stewart 1920 to 1923 ................................................Mrs. Pauline R. Thayer 1921 to 1936 ....................................................Mrs. Helen H. Astor 1921 to 1941............................................................Wm. Woodward 1922 to 1942 ..............................................................Stuart Duncan 1922 to 1946 ............................................................Robert Terry, Jr. 1923 to 1935 ..............................................R. Livingston Beeckman

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1977 to 1978 ....................................Admiral Huntington Hardesty 1979 to ..............................................................Barclay Douglas, Jr. 1981 to 1988 ..........................................................Norman C. Keith 1982 to 1995 ........................................................Robert H. Charles 1982 to 1985............................................................James C. Colton 1982 to 1983 ............................................................Andrew Burden 1982 to 1993 ........................................................Jonathan T. Isham 1983 to 1999 ..................................................Mrs. S.M.V. Hamilton 1984 to 1985 ......................................................John A. van Beuren 1985 to 1987 ....................................................Alan T. Schumacher 1985 to 1992 ..........................................................Gordon B. Pattee 1985 to 2000 ..............................................................James J. Casey 1985 to ..................................................................Robert G. Manice 1985 to 2000 ......................................................Ralph E. Carpenter 1987 to 2005 ......................................................Jerome R. Kirby, Jr. 1988 to ....................................................................Edith S. McBean 1988 to ..........................................................George H. Warren, Jr. 1992 to ............................................................Archbold van Beuren 1993 to ..............................................................R. Marcus Holloway 1994 to ............................................................Richard C. Loebs, Jr. 1995 to......................................................................Peter M. DiBari 1998 to 2006 ......................................................William E. Turcotte 1998 to........................................................................Edith B. Casey 1998 to ............................................................S.M.V. Hamilton, Jr. 1999 to......................................................Alexander von Auersperg 2000 to 2011 ..............................................Mortimer Berkowitz, III 2000 to ........................................................................Norey Cullen 2001 to ....................................................................Charles J. Hayes 2001 to ............................................................Stephen L. Glascock 2005 to ................................................................Richard A. Plotkin 2006 to ......................................................Matthew T. Marcello, III 2011 to ............................................................ Amelia G. Berkowitz 2011 to ....................................................................Peter W. Harris 2012 to ............................................................Edwin G. Fischer, Jr. 2013 to..........................................................................Max M. Ricci

1948 to 1958 ....................................................W. Harold Hoffman 1949 to 1951 ............................................Admiral Donald B. Beary 1950 to 1956 ..........................................................Beverly A. Bogert 1950 to 1955 ............................................................John R. McLean 1951 to 1960 ......................................................T. Suffern Tailer, Jr. 1951 to 1969....................................................Hugh D. Auchincloss 1951 to 1953 ..............................Vice Admiral Richard L. Connolly 1953 to 1965............................................................J. Edgar Monroe 1954 to 1956 ............................Vice Admiral Lynde D. McCormick 1954 to 1959 ..................................................C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. 1955 to 1970 ............................................................John N. Stearns 1955 to 1998 ..................................................................Guy F. Cary 1957 to 1960 ................................Vice Admiral Stuart H. Ingersoll 1958 to 2001 ..........................................................Francis G. Dwyer 1959 to 1980 ........................................................Stanley F. Reed, Jr. 1966 to 1971 ..............................................................John S. Palmer 1966 to 1982 ..........................................................Edward H. Foley 1966 to 1980 ......................................................John A. van Beuren 1966 to 1967....................................................Frederick A. Cushing 1966 to 1982 ..........................................................John L. Newbold 1966 to 1983................................................Judge Arthur J. Sullivan 1966 to 1968 ....................................Vice Admiral John T. Hayward 1968 to 1971 ..............................................Vice Admiral R. Colbert 1969 to 1985 ..................................................Patrick O’Neill Hayes 1969 to 2009..............................................................Lynda Y. Lindh 1969 to 1972 ................................................................G. Peter Reed 1969 to 1993................................................................Peter McBean 1970 to 1991 ..................................................William Wood-Prince 1971 to 1972............................................Vice Admiral B.J. Semmes 1971 to 1975 ..........................................Mrs. Alexander C. Cushing 1971 to 1998 ................................................Mrs. Stanley F. Reed, Jr. 1973 to 1977 ................................Vice Admiral Julien LeBourgeois 1973 to 2001 ....................................................C. Mathews Dick, Jr. 1975 to 1998 ..................................................Alexander C. Cushing 1977 to 1985 ......................................................Mrs. James J. Casey

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NEWPORT COUNTRY CLUB OFFICERS 1983 to 1985 ......................................................John A. van Beuren 1985 to 1987 ......................................................Barclay Douglas, Jr. 1987 to ................................................................Robert G. Manice

PRESIDENTS

1894 to 1897 ..............................................Theodore A. Havemeyer 1897 to 1899 ..............................................................Perry Belmont 1899 to 1906 ..............................................................James Stillman 1906 to 1932 ..................................................................E.J. Berwind 1932 to 1939 ................................................Michael M. van Beuren 1939 to 1946..........................................Richard Van Nest Gambrill 1946 to 1949 ..........................................................Henry P. Fletcher 1949 to 1953 ................................................................Cyril B. Judge 1953 to 1969......................................................Howard G. Cushing 1969 to 1983 ..................................................................Guy F. Cary 1983 to 1987 ..........................................................Norman C. Keith 1987 to ..............................................................Barclay Douglas, Jr.

TREASURERS

1894 to 1897 ..................................................................J.T. Burdick 1897 to 1903 ....................................................Thomas P. Peckham 1903 to 1905 ......................................................Theodore K. Gibbs 1905 to 1917 ....................................................Geo. W. Bacheller, Jr. 1917 to 1946....................................................Henry O. Havemeyer 1946 to 1947 ........................................................James M. King, Jr. 1947 to 1966 ........................................................Verner Z. Reed, Jr. 1966 to 1978 ......................................................John A. van Beuren 1978 to 1985............................................................James C. Colton 1985 to 1993 ........................................................Jonathan T. Isham 1993 to 1994 ..........................................................Francis G. Dwyer 1994 to ..............................................................R. Marcus Holloway

VICE-PRESIDENTS

1917 to 1917....................................................................R.P. Carroll 1917 to 1919................................................................O.G. Jennings 1919 to 1922....................................................................R.P. Carroll 1922 to 1936................................................................O.G. Jennings 1937 to 1940 ..................................................................R.W. Goelet 1940 to 1946 ....................................................Sheldon Whitehouse 1946 to 1949 ................................................................Cyril B. Judge 1949 to 1953 ................................................Mrs. Vanderbilt Adams 1953 to 1959 ..............................................................Persifor Frazer 1959 to 1967 ............................................................John N. Stearns 1967 to 1969 ..................................................................Guy F. Cary 1969 to 1981 ..........................................................John L. Newbold 1981 to 1983 ..........................................................Norman C. Keith

A S S I S TA N T T R E A S U R E R S

1994 to 2001 ..........................................................Francis G. Dwyer 2001 to 2006 ............................................................Peter M. DiBari 2006 to 2011 ........................................................Richard A. Plotkin S E C R E TA R I E S

1894 to 1897 ..................................................................J.T. Burdick 1897 to 1903 ....................................................Thomas P. Peckham 1903 to 1905 ......................................................Theodore K. Gibbs 1905 to 1917 ....................................................Geo. W. Bacheller, Jr.

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1917 to 1946....................................................Henry O. Havemeyer 1946 to 1947 ........................................................James M. King, Jr. 1947 to 1948 ............................................Andrew Chalmers Wilson 1948 to 1951 ....................................................W. Harold Hoffman 1952 to 1953 ........................................................Verner Z. Reed, Jr. 1953 to 1958 ....................................................W. Harold Hoffman 1958 to 1967 ................................................................Cyril B. Judge 1967 to 1977................................................Mrs. Stuart H. Ingersoll 1977 to 1993 ................................................Mrs. Stanley F. Reed, Jr. 1993 to ....................................................................Edith S. McBean

ASSISTANT SECRETARIES

1904 to 1905 ....................................................Geo. W. Bacheller, Jr. 1917 to 1937 ....................................................Geo. W. Bacheller, Jr. 1937 to 1947 ..........................................................Fred S. Bacheller 1948 to 1961 ....................................................Edward J. McGivney 1961 to 1978..............................................................Wilbur E. Reed 1978 to 1994 ..........................................................Francis G. Dwyer 1994 to 1998 ................................................Mrs. Stanley F. Reed, Jr. 1998 to........................................................................Edith B. Casey

NEWPORT GOLF CLUB OFFICERS PRESIDENTS

TREASURERS

1893 to 1897 ..............................................Theodore A. Havemeyer 1897 to 1900 ....................................................Buchanan Winthrop 1900 to 1907 ..............................................................E.L. Winthrop 1907 to 1910 ........................................................Lispenard Stewart 1910 to 1915 ............................................................Henry R. Taylor 1915 to 1917....................................................................R.P. Carroll Consolidation

1893 to 1893 ................................................................E.R. Wharton 1893 to 1894 ..........................................................Lorillard Spencer 1894 to 1894 ..............................................................Harold Brown 1894 to 1896 ............................................................O.H.P. Belmont 1896 to 1908 ......................................................Robt. Ives Gammell 1908 to 1917....................................................Henry O. Havemeyer Consolidation

VICE-PRESIDENTS

S E C R E TA R I E S

1893 to 1893 ....................................................H. Mortimer Brooks 1893 to 1897 ..............................................................Robert Goelet 1897 to 1900 ............................................................Wm. R. Travers 1900 to 1907 ................................................................Geo. L. Rives 1907 to 1911..........................................................Nathanial Thayer 1911 to 1912................................................................O.G. Jennings 1912 to 1913 ..........................................................H.D. Auchincloss 1913 to 1917................................................................O.G. Jennings Consolidation

1893 to 1893 ....................................................H. Mortimer Brooks 1893 to 1893 ....................................................Buchanan Winthrop 1893 to 1908 ......................................................Robt. Ives Gammell 1908 to 1917....................................................Henry O. Havemeyer Consolidation

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NEWPORT GOLF CLUB GOVERNORS

1900 to 1915....................................................................R.P. Carroll 1900 to 1904 ........................................................John Clinton Gray 1900 to 1903 ......................................................................F.P. Sands 1902 to 1903..........................................................Nathanial Thayer 1907 to 1909 ..................................................................E.J. Berwind 1907 to 1917....................................................Henry O. Havemeyer 1907 to 1914 ..............................................................Wm. Gammell 1907 to 1917 ..................................................................R.W. Goelet 1907 to 1917 ..................................................................Ogden Mills 1907 to 1912 ................................................................Geo. L. Rives 1908 to 1917 ..................................................................Dr. R. Terry 1909 to 1917........................................................Clarence W. Dolan 1909 to 1910 ............................................................Harry R. Taylor 1909 to 1917 ..............................................R. Livingston Beeckman 1910 to 1917 ........................................................Lispenard Stewart 1915 to 1917 ............................................................Harry R. Taylor 1912 to 1917 ......................................................................T.S. Tailer 1914 to 1915 ..................................................................Geo. I. Scott 1916 to 1917........................................................J. Gordon Douglas Consolidated

1893 to 1907................................................................R. I. Gammell 1893 to 1897 ....................................................Buchanan Winthrop 1893 to 1897................................................................H.A.C. Taylor 1893 to 1900..........................................................Herman Oelrichs 1893 to 1897 ............................................................F.W. Vanderbilt 1893 to 1895 ..........................................................Lorillard Spencer 1893 to 1909 ......................................................George P. Wetmore 1893 to 1894 ................................................................E.D. Morgan 1893 to 1893 ........................................................Geo. Gordon King 1893 to 1894 ................................................................E.R. Wharton 1893 to 1893 ............................................Col. Jerome N. Bonaparte 1893 to 1909 ....................................................H. Mortimer Brooks 1894 to 1896, 1897....................................................Wm. R. Travers 1894 to 1904 ............................................................O.H.P. Belmont 1895 to 1897 ......................................................James P. Kernochan 1896 to 1904 ....................................................................A.M. Coats 1897 to 1900 ........................................................Lispenard Stewart 1897 to 1908..............................................................Victor Sorchan 1897 to 1900 ......................................................................John Boit 1897 to 1899 ..........................................................Woodbury Kane 1899 to 1902 ............................................................Arthur T. Kemp

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WINNERS of the COUNT DE TURIN CUP 1934 ...................................................................T. Suffern Tailer, Jr. 1935 ........................................................................Harold A. Sands 1936.................................................................Sheldon Whitehouse 1937......................................................................Allen G. Wellman 1938.............................................................................Auguste Noel 1939..............................................................Richard V.N. Gambrill 1940 ...................................................................Byrnes MacDonald 1941..............................................................Richard V.N. Gambrill 1942 - 45 ........................................Not played during World War II 1946 ........................................................................Arthur Winslow 1947 ........................................................................Arthur Winslow 1948..................................................................Court H. Reventlow 1949.............................................................................G. Peter Reed 1950..................................................................Frederick S. Holmes 1951....................................................................William H. Hunter 1952 .........................................................Thomas F. Monaghan, Jr. 1953..................................................................Frederick S. Holmes 1954 ......................................................Not played due to hurricane 1955 .................................................................Martin E.W. Oelrich 1956 ................................................................................Paul Toschi 1957 .........................................................Thomas F. Monaghan, Jr. 1958 ..................................................................Howard G. Cushing 1959..................................................................Frederick S. Holmes 1960 .......................................................................John L. Newbold 1961 .......................................................................John L. Newbold 1962 ......................................................................Francis G. Dwyer 1963......................................................................John R. Crawford 1964..................................................................Frederick S. Holmes 1965..................................................................Frederick S. Holmes 1966......................................................................John R. Crawford

1898............................................................................Foxhall Keene 1899 ...................................................................................F.P. Sands 1900........................................................................Reginald Brooks 1905 ................................................................Henry O. Havemeyer 1907 .....................................................................Lispenard Stewart 1908..........................................................................R. Sedgwick, Jr. 1909 .......................................................................Stuyvesant Leroy 1910 ....................................................................J. Gordon Douglas 1911 ..........................................................................Grenville Kane 1912.........................................................................T. Suffern Tailer 1913 ................................................................Henry O. Havemeyer 1914 ......................................................................Robert W. Goelet 1915 ................................................................Henry O. Havemeyer 1916 ............................................................................Vincent Astor 1917 - 18 .........................................Not played during World War I 1919 ......................................................................Leonard Thomas 1920 .............................................................................John R. Pope 1921 ............................................................................Cyril B. Judge 1922................................................................Bertram deN. Cruger 1923...........................................................Henry O. Havemeyer, Jr. 1924......................................................................Allen G. Wellman 1925 ................................................................Henry O. Havemeyer 1926................................................................................Conde Nast 1927 ................................................................Henry O. Havemeyer 1928 ...............................................................................Austin Gray 1929 ...............................................................................Austin Gray 1930 .....................................................................Harry P. Bingham 1931 .....................................................................Harry P. Bingham 1932...........................................................Henry O. Havemeyer, Jr. 1933...........................................................Henry O. Havemeyer, Jr.

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WINNERS of the COUNT DE TURIN CUP, ( CON’T.) 1996 .........................................................................Peter M. DiBari 1997....................................................................Arthur W. Murphy 1998 ...........................................................................Peter R. Dunn 1999...................................................................Barclay Douglas, Jr. 2000 ...........................................................................James D. Haas 2001......................................................................Robert G. Manice 2002...................................................................Stephen F. Marcello 2003......................................................................Robert G. Manice 2004......................................................................Robert G. Manice 2005 ...........................................................William F. Campbell, Jr. 2006 ...........................................................William F. Campbell, Jr. 2007 ..................................................................Edward D’Agostino 2008...................................................................Barclay Douglas, Jr. 2009 ...................................................................Edward W. Ricci, II 2010..............................................................Kenneth M. Ohrstrom 2012 ...................................................................James F. Carlin, III. 2013 ..................................................................Edward D’Agostino

1967..................................................................Frederick S. Holmes 1968..................................................................Frederick S. Holmes 1969 .........................................................Thomas F. Monaghan, Jr. 1970..................................................................Frederick S. Holmes 1971 ..........................................................................Nicholas J. Viti 1972 ......................................................................Francis G. Dwyer 1973.....................................................................Walter S. Brosseau 1974........................................................................Edward W. Ricci 1975 ............................................................................J. Alan O’Neil 1976........................................................................Edward W. Ricci 1977........................................................................Edward W. Ricci 1978 ....................................................................George McFadden 1979 ..................................................................Edward D’Agostino 1980 ..................................................................Alexander G. Walsh 1981................................................................Alexander H. Cornell 1982 ........................................................................Gerry Gallagher 1983..........................................................................Edward F. Ricci 1984 .......................................................................Robert M. Grace 1985 ............................................................................J. Alan O’Neil 1986..........................................................................William V. Lalli 1987...........................................................Matthew T. Marcello, III 1988.....................................................................Walter S. Brosseau 1989.....................................................................Walter S. Brosseau 1990.........................................................................Charles J. Hayes 1991 .......................................................................Robert M. Grace 1992.....................................................................Thomas D. Cullen 1993 ............................................................................James B. King 1994......................................................................Robert G. Manice 1995 ...................................................................Edward W. Ricci, II

WINNERS of the COUNTESS 2007 .............................................................................Diana DiBari 2008............................................................................. Jolene Sarkis 2009 .............................................................................Jolene Sarkis 2010 .........................................................................Sally Ohrstrom 2011......................................................................... Sally Ohrstrom 2012....................................................................Helene van Beuren 2013........................................................................Martha Crowley

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WINNERS of the HAVEMEYER

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS of the J. ALAN O’NEIL CUP

1983 ......................................David Houghton and Richard Sgarzi 1984 ....................................Terry McCormack and Barry Higham 1985 ....................................Terry McCormack and Barry Higham 1986 ....................................Adm. David Bill and David Houghton 1987 ........................................J. Alan O’Neill and Donald Edwards 1988 ........................................J. Alan O’Neill and Donald Edwards 1989....................................................Paul Quigley and Steve Prout 1990 ....................................................Paul Quigley and Tom Goryl 1991 ....................................................Norman Lutz and Fred Kask 1992 ............................Barclay Douglas, Jr. and Norman Chapman 1993 ............................Barclay Douglas, Jr. and Norman Chapman 1994 ........................................Edward F. Duffy and Frank Vana, Jr. 1995 ..............................................Thomas Goryl and Paul Quigley 1996 ........................................William Cosgrove and Kevin Quinn 1997 ............................Barclay Douglas, Jr. and Norman Chapman 1998 ....................................Paul Quigley and Joseph Iaciofano, Jr. 1999........................................Greg Richard and Charlie Blanchard 2000 ..................................Joseph A. Gilmore and Brad Cartwright 2001 ................................Cancelled due to September 11th tragedies 2002 ..............................................Joseph Keller and Robert Currey 2003 ........................................Thomas Goryl and Eugene DiSarro 2004 ......................................Charles J. Hayes and Joseph Gilmore 2005......................................................Ken Malloy and John Yerger 2006 ............................Barclay Douglas, Jr. and Norman Chapman 2007 ..............................................David Chase, Jr. and Ben Tuthill 2008 ....................................Oliver Bennett and Charlie Blanchard 2009 ............................Barclay Douglas, Jr. and Norman Chapman 2010 ............................Barclay Douglas, Jr. and Norman Chapman 2011 ............................Barclay Douglas, Jr. and Norman Chapman 2012 ............................................Darren Corrente and Mike Kubik 2013....................................................Skip Haugen and Brad Valois

1984...................................................................Barclay Douglas, Jr. 1985.........................................................................Charles J. Hayes 1986 ............................................................................J. Alan O’Neil 1987.........................................................................Charles J. Hayes 1988.........................................................................Charles J. Hayes 1989 ................................................................Michael W. Corrigan 1990.........................................................................Charles J. Hayes 1991.........................................................................Charles J. Hayes 1992.........................................................................Charles J. Hayes 1993.........................................................................Charles J. Hayes 1994 ........................................................................Edward F. Duffy 1995...................................................................Barclay Douglas, Jr. 1996...................................................................Barclay Douglas, Jr. 1997.........................................................................Charles J. Hayes 1998.........................................................................Charles J. Hayes 1999.........................................................................Charles J. Hayes 2000.......................................................................John F. Hayes, III 2001.........................................................................Charles J. Hayes 2002.........................................................................Charles J. Hayes 2003...................................................................Barclay Douglas, Jr. 2004.........................................................................Charles J. Hayes 2005 ........................................................................Edward F. Duffy 2006 ........................................................................Edward F. Duffy 2007 .................................................................William F. Campbell 2008.........................................................................Charles J. Hayes 2009.....................................................................James A. Tollefson 2010 .....................................................................Brian Ross Owens 2011........................................................................Jeffrey M. Farrar 2012 .....................................................................Brian Ross Owens 2013 .....................................................................Brian Ross Owens

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WINNERS of the LADIES FOUR BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

WINNERS of the LADIES CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

1966 .............. Mrs. Owen J. Toland and Mrs. Robert Strawbridge 1967 .................. Mrs. James J. Casey and Mrs. Stanley F. Reed, Jr. 1968 .......... Mrs. Stanley F. Reed, Jr. and Mrs. John W. Richmond 1969............. Mrs. Robert M. Grace and Mrs. John W. Richmond 1970 ....... Mrs. John W. Auchincloss and Mrs. Lesley B. Crawford 1971............................ Mrs. A. van Beuren and Mrs. John T. Pratt 1972 ..........................................................Discontinued until 2008 2008.............................................Brenda Carlin and Diana DiBari 2009 ..................................... Nancy Cushing and Marianna Baker 2010.............................................Diana DiBari and Brenda Carlin 2011....................................... Sally Ohrstrom and Nancy Brickley 2012 .............................................Martha Crowley & Gloria Dunn 2013........................................Nancy Brickley and Sally Ohrstrom

1995 - 2000...............................................................Nancy Chaffee 2001 .............................................................................Alyssa Hayes 2002..............................................................Florence McDonough 2003 .................................................................Florence Lee Everett 2004 .........................................................................Nancy Chaffee 2005 ..........................................................................Nancy Chaffee 2006 ...........................................................................Robin Krieger 2007 ..........................................................................Nancy Chaffee 2008 ..........................................................................Nancy Chaffee 2009 ...........................................................................Robin Krieger 2010 ...........................................................................Robin Krieger 2011-13.....................................................................Nancy Chaffee

WINNERS of the LADIES’ INVITATIONAL (Betty T. Dyer Cup since 2005) 1992 ..............................................Leslie Belliveau and Judy Quinn 1993..........................................Robin Worcester and Cinnie Evans 1994 ...........................................Louise Warren and Joanne Tucker 1995..................................Madelaine Dewey and Maureen Cronin 1996.....................................................Jane Grace and Trisha Judge 1997 ...................................................Jane Wykoff and Linda Baker 1998 .......................................Jonna Chewning and Barbara Pierce 1999.............................................Martha Bennett and Kibbe Reilly 2000..........................................Marjorie Boss and Martha Bennett 2001..........................................Marjorie Boss and Martha Bennett 2002 ..................................................Trisha Judge and Kate Koman

2003 .....................................Libby Hamilton and Christy McGraw 2004 .............................................Nancy Missett and Anne Geddes 2005 ........................................Mary Ann Lamont and Jane Wykoff 2006.............................................Libby Hamilton and Jane Wykoff 2007.........................................Judy Callaghan and Sandra Denelle 2008............................................Geren Fauth and Beth McParland 2009.............................................Mary Hayes and Karen Finnegan 2010 .............................................Suzanne Murray and Jane Welch 2011.....................................Nancy Cushing and Susan Van Roijan 2012 ......................................................Janet Ricci & Beverly Olsen 2013 ..............................................Florence Everett & Jennifer Vogt

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WINNERS of the VICE-PRESIDENT’S CUP 1947 .........................Mrs. Owen J. Toland 1948................Countess C.H. Reventlow 1949........................Mrs. W. Gurnee Dyer 1950 ................Mrs. Charles B.P. Van Pelt 1951........................Mrs. W. Gurnee Dyer 1952.......................Miss Emmeline Sands 1953 ..................Mrs. Byrnes MacDonald 1954 ..................Mrs. Byrnes MacDonald 1955 .............................Mrs. R.N. Phillips 1956.........................Mrs. R.M. Tompkins 1957 .........................Mrs. Owen J. Toland 1958........................Mrs. John T. Pratt, Jr. 1959......................................... Not played 1960 ....................Mrs. Stanley F. Reed, Jr. 1961 ..............Mrs. J. Gordon Douglas, Jr. 1962 ....................Mrs. Stanley F. Reed, Jr. 1963........................Mrs. Ferris Hamilton 1964.........................Mrs. Donald Curran 1965 .......................Mrs. Edward W. Ricci 1966........................Mrs. James C. Colton 1967.......................Mrs. Robert M. Grace 1968.......................Mrs. Robert M. Grace 1969 ....................Mrs. Stanley F. Reed, Jr.

1970 ....................Mrs. Stanley F. Reed, Jr. 1971...............Mrs. Michael McDonough 1972 ...........................Mrs. James J. Casey 1973...............Mrs. Michael McDonough 1974.......................Mrs. Cynthia Van Pelt 1975 ....................Mrs. Stanley F. Reed, Jr. 1976..........................................Not played 1977..........................................Not played 1978..........................................Not played 1979..........................................Not played 1980..........................................Not played 1981 ...........................Mrs. James J. Casey 1982 ..................................Mrs. T. Murray 1983...............Mrs. Michael McDonough 1984.......................Mrs. Robert M. Grace 1985.......................Mrs. Robert M. Grace 1986.............Mrs. Fernand J. St. Germain 1987 ............................Mrs. Terry Murray 1988..............................Mrs. Walter Perry 1989...............Mrs. Michael McDonough 1990 .......................Robin Toland Krieger 1991................................Suzanne Murray 1992..........................Florence Lee Everett

287

1993 ...........................Mrs. Peter McBean 1994 ................................Florence Everett 1995................................Suzanne Murray 1996..........................Florence Lee Everett 1997................................Martha Crowley 1998 ...................................JoAnn Stengel 1999...................................Louise Warren 2000.....................................Margot Ceres 2001..........................Florence Lee Everett 2002 .......................Judith (Jessie) Toland 2002 .........................................Janet Ricci 2003..................................Nancy Cushing 2004..........................Florence Lee Everett 2005.............Judith (Jessie) Toland Mock 2006............................Mary Ann Lamont 2007......................................Jolene Sarkis 2008..........................Florence Lee Everett 2009 .......................................Mary Hayes 2010..................................Nancy Cushing 2011..................................Nancy Cushing 2012 ................................Marianna Baker 2013..................................Nancy Cushing

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WINNERS of the T.S. TAILER CUP INVITATION TOURNAMENT 1957 ........................................Joseph King and Jerome McGeehee 1957 ..............................Charles Mulcahy and Herbert Tuckerman 1958 ....................................William G. Curran and John G. Miles 1959 ..............................Frederick A. Cushing and Andrew Burden 1959 ........................................John S. Palmer and Harold Chelsey 1960 ..................................Igor Cassini and William L. Harmonay 1961 ..................................Rueben Richards and Carl W. Timpson 1962 ..............................Howard G. Cushing and Robert Grant, III 1963 ......................................George Aldrich and Leverett S. Shaw 1964 ......................................Carlton Bacon and Edward Donovan 1965 ......................................Robert Knowles and Thomas Shevlin 1966 ..............................Andrew Burden and Frederick A. Cushing 1967 ......................................Robert Knowles and Thomas Shevlin 1968 ........................Walter C. Converse and Edward K. Crawford 1969 ......................................Tim Holland and Gino Scalamandre 1970................................................T.B. Davie and J.T. Dorrance, Jr 1970 ......................................George Aldrich and Leverett S. Shaw 1971..........................Richard D. Sears and Robert Strawbridge, III 1972 ......................................George Aldrich and Leverett S. Shaw 1973 ..............................................Edwin Burke and Frank Markoe 1974 ..........................................Richard Nielson and William Vogt 1975 ..........................................Paul C. Dewey and William Lynch 1976 ..............................Michael R. Corcoran and Jerome R. Kirby 1977......................Anthony L. Adams and Robert Strawbridge, III 1978 ..........................................J. Alan O’Neil and Arthur Thomas 1979 ....................................Barclay Douglas, Jr. and David Bill, III 1980 ..........................................John T. Hayward and Larry Lagoti 1981 ............................................................G. Buell and C. Corkery 1981..................................R.S. Humphrey and Anthony L. Adams 1982 ............................Barclay Douglas, Jr. and G. Randolph Jones 1983 ..............................Robert W. Graham and Warner B. Herlyn

1927....................................................................T. Suffern Tailer, Jr. 1928....................................................................T. Suffern Tailer, Jr. 1929 ................................................................................John Sterns 1930....................................................................T. Suffern Tailer, Jr. 1931..................................................................Kenneth D. MacColl 1932 ................................................................................Cyril Tolley 1933 ..........................................................................James Robbins 1934* ..................................................................T. Suffern Tailer, Jr. 1935....................................................................T. Suffern Tailer, Jr. 1936....................................................................T. Suffern Tailer, Jr. 1937....................................................................T. Suffern Tailer, Jr. 1938 ............................................................................John P. Burke 1939** ..................James M. King, Jr. and William E. Stockhausen 1940....................................................L.W. Colton and Donald Gill 1941 ........................................Harold Von Gerbig and P. Hal Sims 1942 ..........................................Not competed during World War II 1943 ..........................................Not competed during World War II 1944 ..........................................Not competed during World War II 1945 ..........................................Not competed during World War II 1946 ............................J. Gordon Douglas and Byrnes MacDonald 1947 ......................................Charles G. Cushing and J.A. Murphy 1948 ..........................Richard Benson and I. Townsend Burden, Jr. 1949 ......................................Norman Boucher and Harris Metcalf 1950 ....................................Robert Allen and William LaChapelle 1951 ........................................Earl E.T. Smith and T. Suffern Tailer 1952 ..........................Charles G. Cushing and Edward K. Wheeler 1953................................Charles S. Dotterer and Frank McCardell 1954 ................................Frederick S. Holmes and Winston Guest 1955 ............................................John Miles and Francis X. Shields 1956 ....................................F.W. Lawrence and Daniel R. Topping 1957 ................................................John French and Bruce Harvie

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1984 ..................................William Turcotte and Edward Turcotte 1985 ....................................Michael Hayes and William Campbell 1986 ........................................James B. King and John Harrington 1987 ..........................................J. Alan O’Neil and Arthur Thomas 1988..................................Robert G. Manice and E. Burke Ross, Jr. 1989 ......................Peter W. Warren and Howard B. Covington, III 1990 ................................................Paul W. Davis and B. F. Perdue 1991........................................Peter W. Warren and Philip E. Ohler 1992....................................Charles J. Hayes and Carver E. Crowell 1993 ............................................Kevin P. Manning and Jay Mercer 1994 .................................. Charles J. Hayes and Carver E. Crowell 1995 ......................................William Vogt, Sr. and Anthony Bryan 1996............................................Robert Penney and Brad Dorman 1997 ................................Edward F. Ricci and Thomas Gilbane, Jr. 1998........................................R. Marcus Holloway and Jason Crist 1999 ..............Columbus O’Donnell and Michael Naylor-Leyland 2000 ..................................Michael J. Rich and Thomas R. Wall, IV

2001 ..........................Edward F. Ricci, Jr. and Thomas Gilbane, Jr. 2002 ..........William L. Van Alen, Jr. and Nicholas S. Ludington, Jr. 2003 ..............................................Donald N. Kaull and Max Good 2004 ..........................Edward F. Ricci, Jr. and Thomas Gilbane, Jr. 2005 ........................................James B. King and Thomas Clayton 2006 ..........................................David Knowlton and James Pierce 2007 ..............................Barclay Douglas, Jr. and Brady Rackley, Jr. 2008 ....................................Tom Gilbane, III and Jonathan Langer 2009 ..............................Barclay Douglas, Jr. and Brady Rackley, Jr. 2010 ..........................Edward F. Ricci, Jr. and Thomas Gilbane, Jr. 2011 ....................Edward J. Corcoran and Wm. Shaw McDermott 2012 ............................Edward F. Ricci Jr. and Thomas Gilbane, Jr. 2013 ..................................Michael J. Rich and Thomas R. Wall, IV * Consolidated with “The Invitational Tournament” in 1934 ** The Tournament became a team event and has remained so ever since

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WINNERS of the PRESIDENT’S CUP 1925..............................Allen G. Wellman 1926...................R. Livingston Beeckman 1927...............................Paulding Fosdick 1928......................Richard V.N. Gambrill 1929...................Henry O. Havemeyer, Jr. 1930 ...........................T. Suffern Tailer, Jr. 1931 .............................Harry P. Bingham 1932......................Richard V.N. Gambrill 1933...................Henry O. Havemeyer, Jr. 1934........................Archbold van Beuren 1935......................Richard V.N. Gambrill 1936......................Richard V.N. Gambrill 1937 .............................J. Denison Sawyer 1938......................Richard V.N. Gambrill 1939..........................Frederick S. Holmes 1940..........................Frederick S. Holmes 1941 ..................................A.L. Lindall, Jr. 1942 .....Not competed during World War II 1943 .....Not competed during World War II 1944 .....Not competed during World War II 1945 .....Not competed during World War II 1946..........................Frederick S. Holmes 1947..........................Frederick S. Holmes 1948 ................................Arthur Winslow 1949..........................Court H. Reventlow 1950..........................Frederick S. Holmes 1951.............................Stanley F. Reed, Jr. 1952..........................................L.D. Fargo 1953 ...........................Charles S. Dotterer 1954...........................................O.P. Lattu

1955 ........................................Paul Toschi 1956 ...........................Charles S. Dotterer 1957.............................Stanley F. Reed, Jr. 1958 ..............................Francis G. Dwyer 1959..............................Eugene J. O’Reilly 1960...................................W.D. Maynard 1961................................Edward W. Ricci 1962.......................Alfred P. Gatzenmeier 1963.......................Alfred P. Gatzenmeier 1964..........................William Harrington 1965 ...............................Richard Palcovic 1966.............................Richard Fairbanks 1967 .................................William V. Lalli 1968.........................Richard C. Harwood 1969...................................John S. Palmer 1970................................Edward W. Ricci 1971 .................................R.F. Mohrhardt 1972.............................Stanley F. Reed, Jr. 1973....................................James J. Casey 1974...........................Alexander R. Walsh 1975.............................Walter S. Brosseau 1976 ..............................Francis G. Dwyer 1977.............................Walter S. Brosseau 1978 ..........................Edward D’Agostino 1979 ...........................Charles J. Hayes, Jr. 1980.............................Walter S. Brosseau 1981 ...........................Raymond P. Garcia 1982 .......................................Charles Ake 1983 ................................Edward F. Duffy 1984 ...........................Charles J. Hayes, Jr.

290

1985 ...........................Raymond P. Garcia 1986 ....................................Kevin J. Kirby 1987...............................Gordon B. Pattee 1988...........................William E. Turcotte 1989 ................................Edward F. Duffy 1990.............................Walter S. Brosseau 1991 ....................................James B. King 1992.............................Thomas D. Cullen 1993 ..........................Alexander G. Walsh 1994..................................Patrick Rooney 1995.............................James A. Tollefson 1996.............................James A. Tollefson 1997............................William A. Bradley 1998 ...................................Peter R. Dunn 1999 ...............................Robert F. Fischer 2000 .........................Michael J. Marchetti 2001.......................Christopher Hayes, Jr. 2002 ..........................Alexander G. Walsh 2003 .............................Patrick E. Rooney 2004 ..........................Alexander G. Walsh 2005 .............................Patrick E. Rooney 2006 ..............................Geoffrey G. Jones 2007.....................................Jay H. Weibel 2008 ................................Dennis A. Mock 2009 ................................Dennis A. Mock 2010 ....................................John R. Grace 2011...............................James B. King, Jr. 2012...............................James B. King, Jr. 2013 ................................Edward F. Duffy

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WINNERS of the CAPTAIN FREDERICK S. HOLMES MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT 1992..................................................Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Ricci 1993.......................................................Mr. and Mrs. Robert Grace 1994..........................................................Mr. and Mrs. Peter Dunn 1995 ...................................Mrs. and Mrs. Archbold D. van Beuren 1996......................................................Mr. and Mrs. Peter Crowley 1997...............................................Maisie Grace and John R. Grace 1998 ...................................................Mr. and Mrs. Edward F. Ricci 1999 ..................................................Mr. and Mrs. David A. Galvin 2000 .......................................................Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ceres 2001.................................................Mr. and Mrs. John F. Hayes, III 2002 ...........................................Dr. and Mrs. Richard Drummond 2003.......................................................Mr. and Mrs. Paul Buttrose 2004...................................................Mr. and Mrs. Peter M. DiBari 2005 .....................................................Mr. and Mrs. Peter R. Dunn 2006...................................................Mr. and Mrs. Peter M. DiBari 2007 ...........................................Dr. and Mrs. Richard Drummond 2008 .......................................................Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ceres 2009 .......................................................Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ceres 2010 ...........................................Dr. and Mrs. Richard Drummond 2011.................................................Mr. and Mrs. John F. Hayes, III 2012 ...............................................Mr. and Mrs. Matthew O. Kirby 2013........................................................Mr. and Mrs. Neal Galvine

1971 ...............Mrs. Walter Gurnee Dyer and Mr. Edward W. Ricci 1972.............................................Mr. and Mrs. John A. van Beuren 1973 ............Mrs. Michael McDonough and Mr. David E.P. Lindh 1974 ..............................................Mr. and Mrs. Ernest D’Agostino 1975.............Mrs. Edward W. Ricci and Mr. Alfred P. Gatzenmeier 1976 ..........................................Mr. and Mrs. Matthew T. Marcello 1977 .............Mrs. W. Gurnee Dyer and Mr. Alfred P. Gatzenmeier 1978 .............................................Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Cushing 1979..................Miss Amelia F. Manice and Mr. Robert G. Manice 1980....................................................Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Harvey 1981..................................................Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Ricci 1982 .............................................Mrs. A. Cushing and Guy F. Cary Mr. and Mrs. Stanley F. Reed, Jr. 1983 .............................................Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Cushing 1984 ............................Mr. and Mrs. Edmond de la Haye Jousselin 1985 ........................................................Mr. and Mrs. Walter Perry 1986.......................Miss Edith McBean and Mr. Robert G. Manice 1987 ........................Miss Florence Everett and Mr. William Briggs Mrs. Barclay Douglas, Jr. and Mr. Charles M. Dick, III 1988..................................................Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Ricci 1989.......................................................Mr. and Mrs. Robert Grace 1990.............................................Mr. and Mrs. John A. van Beuren 1991.............Mrs. Edith McBean Newberry and Mr. Jan S. Mirsky

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WINNERS of the T.O.M. SOPWITH CUP 1967 ......................Mrs. W. Gurnee Dyer and Frederick S. Holmes 1968 .................................................Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Grace 1969..........................Miss Fredrica French and George McFadden 1970...........................................Mr. and Mrs. John W. Auchincloss 1971 .................................................Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Grace 1972.............................................Mr. and Mrs. John A. van Beuren 1973 .....................................................Mr. and Mrs. James J. Casey 1974 ......................Miss Elizabeth W. Hamilton and Frank Powers 1975 .....................Mrs. John S. Palmer and Kenneth H. Bitting, Jr. 1976 ..........Mrs. Michael McDonough and Kenneth H. Bitting, Jr. 1977..................................................Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Ricci 1978 ..............................................Mr. and Mrs. Ernest D’Agostino 1979 .............................................Alex Cornell and Mrs. P. Gamble 1980.........................................................Mr. and Mrs. M. Marcello 1981 .....................................................Mr. and Mrs. James J. Casey 1982 ............................................................Mr. and Mrs. T. Murray 1983....Mr. and Mrs. James J. Casey/Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Marcello 1984 .................................................Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Grace 1985 ...............................Alan Schumacher and Mrs. Robert Grace 1986........................................Capt. Alexander and Muriel Cornell 1987.......................................................Mr. and Mrs. Robert Grace 1988 ........................................Mrs. Ferris Hamilton and Guy Cary 1989........................................William Briggs and Florence Everett 1990 .............................................Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Cushing 1991...........................................Florence Everett and Jan S. Mirsky 1992 .................................................Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Grace 1993.......................................................Mr. and Mrs. David Galvin 1994...........................................Florence Everett and Jan S. Mirsky 1995.......................................................John Grace and Jane Grace 1996 ...................................................John Hayes and Alyssa Hayes

1937..............................................Miss Meroe Flint and D.W. Flint 1938 ...........................Mrs. Crawford Hill and Byrnes MacDonald 1939 ...................Mrs. Lewis F. Frissell and Cdr. Frederick Holmes 1940........................Miss Meroe Flint and William E. Stockhausen 1941....................Mrs. Kenneth S. Safe and Richard V.N. Gambrill 1942 ......................Miss Ann Gambrill and Richard V.N. Gambrill 1943....................................Not Competed for During World War II 1944....................................Not Competed for During World War II 1945 ....................................Count and Countess Court Reventlow 1946.....................................................Cdr. and Mrs. J.H. Pennoyer 1947...........................................Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth D. MacColl 1948...................................Mrs. John R. MacLean and Guy F. Cary 1949 ...........Mrs. Robert L. Strawbridge, Jr. and James M. King, Jr. 1950 ...........................Mrs. Ellen T. Astor and Frederick S. Holmes 1951...........................Mrs. Harold Sands and W. Harold Hoffman 1952 .........................Mrs. Persifor Frazer and Frederick S. Holmes 1953 .........................Mrs. Persifor Frazer and Frederick S. Holmes 1954.............................Mrs. Ruth Eddy and Thomas F. Monaghan 1955 ...............................Mrs. Nathaniel P. Hill and Persifor Frazer 1956 ............................................................Major and Mrs. J. Elliot 1957 ...............................Mrs. Nathaniel P. Hill and John S. Palmer 1958 .......................Mrs. John T. Pratt, Jr. and Howard G. Cushing 1959...........................................Mr. and Mrs. Charles B.P. Van Pelt 1960 .........................Mrs. Charles Van Pelt and Stanley F. Reed, Jr. 1961 ...................................................Captain and Mrs. A. Johnson 1962........................Mrs. Arthur Kilroy and Alfred P. Gatzenmeier 1963 ...........................Mrs. Robert Grace and Frederick S. Holmes 1964................................................Mr. and Mrs. John R. Crawford 1965 ......................................Mr. and Mrs. William L. Van Alen, Jr. 1966...............................................Mr. and Mrs. Stanley F. Reed, Jr.

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1997 .................................................Connie Hayes and Chip Hayes 1998 ...................................................John Hayes and Alyssa Hayes 1999..............................................Mr. and Mrs. Edward F. Ricci, Jr. 2000 ............................................Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Corcoran 2001.........................Dr. David Cunningham and Martha Crowley 2002.....................................Mr. and Mrs. Archbold D. van Beuren 2003 ............................................Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Corcoran 2004..................................................Mr. and Mrs. Paul D. Buttrose 2005...................................................Mr. and Mrs. Peter M. DiBari

2006 .....................................................Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Arkin 2007........................................Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Brickley, Jr. 2008..............................................Mr. and Mrs. Terrence J. Murray 2009 .....................................................Mr. and Mrs. Peter R. Dunn 2010 .......................................Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth M. Ohrstrom 2011..................................Kim Herrlinger and Jeffery Dieffenbach 2012 .................................................... Mr. and Mrs. Peter R. Dunn 2013 .........................................................Robert and Linda Fischer

Photography and Illustrations Credits Artes: Front and Back Endpapers (Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution)

Patrick O’Neill Hayes, Jr: 187

AP Images: 196-197

Kenneth Lindh: 246 (top), 248, 249

William Berkowitz: 3

Manice Family Archive: 52, 60, 108, 174, 243 (inset)

George Bahto: 178 (bottom), 179

Harriet Manice: 2

BridgemanArt.com: 14-15 (Private Collection), 24 (Alfred R. Waud, Private Collection), 25, 26 (Charles-Philippe Larivière), 33 (Boston Athenaeum), 70 (Barent Avercamp, Hamburger Kunsthalle), 90 (John Singer Sargent, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston)

Marion Mariner: 96

Michael Carroll: 273

Newport Country Club Archive: 12, 79, 100, 101 (2), 102 (left), 103 (right), 105 (2), 106 (bottom), 109 (2), 110-111 (17), 112, 113 (2), 114115 (2), 125, 127, 128, 129, 130-131, 134 (3), 136, 137 (3), 138-139, 140, 145, 149, 163, 166-167 (3), 180, 181, 182-183, 186 (2), 189, 192, 195, 198, 203 (2), 206 (2), 208-209 (13), 215, 218, 228, 229, 266-267, 268 (2), 289

Library of Congress: 17, 21, 45, 59, 202 (Tony Frissell)

Esther Martensen: 80-81, 97, 158 National Galleries of Scotland: 72-73 (Charles Lees)

John W. Corbett: 4-5, 54-55, 57, 61, 62-63, 64 (left), 65 (bottom), 168-169, 172-173, 302 Corbis: 188, 194, 201, 204, 210, 260 (Andrew Gombert, top) The Country Club (Brookline): 126

Newport Preservation Society: 43 (Gavin Ashworth), 64 (2, right), 65 (2, top), 103 (top)

Barclay Douglas, Jr.: 190 Anthony Edgeworth: 1, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 66, 67, 150, 152-153, 156-157, 159, 160-161, 162, 164-165, 175, 193, 200, 205, 224-225, 226, 230, 231, 232-233, 234, 235 (4), 236, 237, 238-239 (3), 240-241, 244-245 (3), 246 (bottom), 247, 250-251, 270-271, 272, 274-275 (8), 276-277

Newport Historical Society: 36, 37, 38-39, 49, 51, 53, 86, 104, 107, 170171, 176-177, 184, 191, 242-243 Pau Golf Club Archive: 89 Redwood Library & Athenaeum: 19, 98, 99

Getty Images: 212-213 (John D. Cuban/Allsport), 219 (John D. Cuban/Allsport), 222 (John D. Cuban/Allsport), 223 (John D. Cuban/Allsport), 255 (A. Messerschmidt), 260 (A. Messerschmidt, right), 261 (Andrew Lyons, top left, bottom right), 261 (A. Messerschmidt, top right, bottom left), 262-263 (Nick Laham), 264-265 (Mike Ehrmann/WireImage)

United States Golf Association: 76, 83, 87, 123, 133, 135, 137 (1, middle), 142, 144, 146, 148, 154, 163 (inset), 214 (Robert Walker), 220-221 (Robert Walker), 250-253 (John Mummert), 256 (John Mummert), 258 (John Mummert), 260 (John Mummert, bottom), 269 (John Mummert)

Harper’s Bazaar: 92-93, 94, 116, 118-119

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INDEX A Adowa, Battle of, 149,150, 151 Alcott, Louisa May, 66, 257 Amateur Golf Association of the United States. See United States Golf Association (USGA) American Golf Association. See United States Golf Association (USGA) America’s Cup races, 130 Apawamis Club, 97 Apple Tree Gang, 77, 77, 78, 96, 130 Architectural Heritage of Newport, The (Downing and Scully), 206 Aristotle, 82 Armstrong, Louis, 146 Astor, Caroline Schermerhorn, 46, 46, 47–50 Astor, Helen Huntington, 182, 185 Astor, John Jacob, 49 Astor, John Jacob IV, 102, 105, 189 Astor, William Vincent, 189 Atlantic House, 33, 36, 36, 45 Auchincloss, Hugh D., III (“Yusha”), 202, 205, 205 Auchincloss, Hugh D., Jr., 202 Auchincloss, Mrs. H.D., 170 Austen, Jane, 63

Bement, Gerard, 131 Bennett, James Gordon, Jr., 41, 48, 48, 52, 60, 67, 147 Betts, W.R., 142 Biltmore Hotel, 236 Bitter, Karl, 56 Blue Moon Cafe, 205 Boatwright, P.J., Jr., 216 Boit, Edward Darley, 90 Boit, Florence, 90 Bonanza, 44 Bonaparte, Jerome Napoleon, 96 Bonaparte, Napoleon, 16 Bostonians, presence in Newport, 44 Bouvier, Jacqueline. See Kennedy, Jacqueline Bouvier Bradlee, Ben, 199, 204 Bradlee, Tony, 196, 199, 204 Breakers, The, 54–55, 56, 59, 60, 61, 62–63, 63, 64, 68 Brenton Point State Park, 181 British occupation of Newport, 23 Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 88 Brooks, H. Mortimer, 95, 96 Brown, Mrs. Harold, 170 Brown, Mrs. John Nicholas, 170 Brunza, Jay, 218, 223 Bunn, Oscar, 143 Burden, William F., 95 Burn, Captain, 76 By–the–Sea, 45

B Backus, Jim, 217 Bailey’s Beach, 51, 53, 147, 193 Baker, M. Jeffrey, 227, 228, 229, 242 Baltusrol Golf Club, 149 Bar Harbor, Maine, 45 Barker, H.H., 162 Barrett, Tina, 259 baseball, 63, 122, 187 Bateman’s Hotel, 44, 95, 98, 99, 104, 155 Beach Cliffe, 44–45 Beechwood estate, 48 Belcourt Castle, 59 Bell, Judy, 223 Bellevue Avenue, 23, 33, 36, 38–39, 40, 41, 42–43, 46, 53, 60, 67, 86, 91 Bellevue House hotel, 33, 45 Belmont, August, 45, 48 Belmont, Caroline, 46, 48 Belmont, Oliver H.P., 105 Belmont, Perry, 102, 105

C caddies at Newport, 187–190, 192–195 Calhoun, John C., 33 Calumet Club, 127, 128 Campbell, Chad, 219 Campbell, Georgina, 262 Campbell, Willie, 131, 132, 136, 262 Candy, Henry Augustus, 67 Canonicus, 16 Cape Cod, Mass., 45 Captain Kidd, 20 Carlin, Brenda, 268 Carnegie Abbey Club, 258 Carnoustie, 218

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Devens, Charlie, 122 DiBari, Diana, 268 DiBari, Peter, 218 Didrikson Zaharias, Babe, 185, 259 disease, and advent of summer travel, 31–33 Donatelli, Dave, 181 d’Orleans, Robert, 150 Dorrance, John, 209 Douglas, Barclay, Jr., 13, 13, 204, 207, 211, 216, 227, 228, 231, 236–237, 254, 257, 269, 269, 273 Douglas, J. Gordon, 162, 273 Downing, Antoinette, 206 Duke, Doris, 206 Dunn, Willie, 101–104, 132, 136, 143 Dwight, James, 126 Dyer, Mr. and Mrs. Gurnee, 208

Carroll, Royal Phelps, 148 Cary, Guy F., 208, 211 Castle Hill Farm, 100 Castonnet des Fossés, Henri–Louis, 150 Charles II, King of England, 19 Chateau-sur-Mer, 43, 45, 56 Cherry Hills Country Club, 199 Chicago Golf Club, 128, 131, 141, 144 cholera, 31–32, 32 Churchill, Jennie Jerome, 50 Churchill, Randolph (Lord), 50 Churchill, Winston, 50, 200 City and Harbor of Newport, from Fort Adams (Collins), 34–35 Civil War, effect on Newport, 45 Clambake Club, 66, 66 Clarendon Court, 60–61 Clarke, John, 16, 19, 19 Claxton, Charles, 131 clubhouse renovations (2004–2005), 227–241, 228, 229, 230, 232–241, 244–250 Coasters Harbor Island, 199 Cockroach, Cuffy, 20 Coddington, William, 16, 18 Coen, Chris, 275 Collins, John, 34 Colonial Country Club, 259 Colt, Harry, 158 Columbus, Christopher, 84 Connell, Philip, 187, 192–193, 193, 194–195 Cooper, James Fenimore, 25 Country Club, The, 124, 128, 131, 142, 262 Courville, Jerry, Jr., 216 Cromwell, Oliver, 18, 19 croquet, 67 Cunningham, Karen, 275 Curtis, Laurence, 126, 128, 131, 136, 146 Cushing, Fred, 208 Cushing, Howard, 200, 209 Cushing, Mary Louisa, 90

E East Lake Golf Club, 144 Easton’s Beach, 18, 22, 23, 33, 53 École des Beaux-Arts, 56, 109, 116, 243 Eisenhower, Dwight D., 198, 199–201, 201, 202 Ellington, Duke, 146 Elms, The, 60–61, 63, 65 Emanuele, Vittorio (III), King of Italy, 151 Embargo Act, 25 Encyclopaedia of Rural Sports, 66 Encyclopedia of Sport, The, 66 Engs, George, 41–42 Essex County Club, 129, 130 Expedition of Humphrey Clinker, The (Smollett), 74 F Fay, David, 216, 257 Fay, Red, 202 Fifth Ward, 53, 188–190, 205 Fitzgerald, Ella, 146 Fitzgerald, F. Scott, 185 Forse, Ron, 170 Fort Adams, 34, 200 Foulis, James, 132, 136, 143 Franklin Park golf course, 262 Frazier, Brenda, 181 French army map of Newport (1780), 20, 21 French occupation of Newport, 23, 25, 27 “French Picnic, The” 207

D Darnley, Lord, 74, 75, 257 Daughters of Edward Darley Boit, The (Sargent), 90 Davis, E. W., 104 Davis, Willie, 81, 82, 95–97, 97, 99, 101–104, 105, 112, 116, 126, 132, 155, 158, 159, 166, 170, 174 Dennistoun, Alexander, 97 Denver, Bob, 217

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N E W P O R T

C O U N T R Y

G Gammell, Elizabeth, 91, 96, 99, 105, 155 Gammell, Robert, 96, 105 Garden City Golf Club, 162, 177 Gardner, Mary C., 100 Gaspée, 23 Gibson, Charles Dana, 117 Gilded Age, 13, 45–51, 122, 186, 207 Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, The (Twain and Warner), 44, 45 Gilligan’s Island, 217 Glascock, Steve, 231 Goat Island, 21, 23, 199 Goelet family, “The French Picnic,” 207 Goelet, Henriette Louise Warren, 109 Goelet, Mrs. Ogden, 170 Goelet, Ogden, 60, 105, 207 Goelet, Robert, 60, 60, 96, 105, 109, 207, 273 Goelet, R.W. “Bertie,” 162, 174 Gold Mashie golf tournament, 178–179 golf, early history arrival in America, 77, 77–79 description from 1893, 118–119 evolution of, 71–79 need for regulatory body, 125–130 Scottish roots, 72 similar early games, 70, 71 Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am tournament, 210 golf professionals boycott threatened at 1896 U.S. Open, 143 early perception of, 76–77 social status of, 122 Golfers, The (Lees), 72–73 governing bodies of golf, 143–144. See also United States Golf Association (USGA) Grace, Robert, 208 Grant, Graeme, 155 Gravelly Point, 20 Great Gale of 1815, 25 Grosvenor, Mrs. William, 170 Guest, Elizabeth, 208 Guestier, Daniel, 207 Guilford, Jesse, 178

C L U B

Harmon, Billy, 217, 218, 219 Harmon, Butch, 218, 223 Harper’s magazine, 92–93, 94, 95, 116, 117, 118–119 Harte, Bret, 44 Hasak, Larry, 13 Havemeyer, Charles, 148 Havemeyer, Emilie de Loosie, 87 Havemeyer, Frederick C. (father of T.A.H.), 87, 88, 90 Havemeyer, Frederick C. (son of T.A.H.), 81, 82, 149 Havemeyer, Frederick Christian (great–uncle of T.A.H.), 82, 87 Havemeyer, George, 87, 88 Havemeyer, Henry O. (brother of T.A.H.) 87, 88, 90, 91 Havemeyer, Henry O. (son of T.A.H), 80, 82, 149, 163, 171, 193 Havemeyer, Henry O., Jr. (grandson of T.A.H.),149 Havemeyer, Theodore A., 79, 81, 83, 87, 122, 124, 124, 138, 140, 148, 155, 170, 181, 185, 193, 207, 211, 215 death of, 145, 146, 148, 149 family history, 82, 84, 87–91 and formation of USGA, 127, 128–130 founding of NCC, 96–101, 104, 105 Henry J. Whigham on, 145–146 on the USGA and golf in America, 144 as USGA president, 143 Havemeyer, Theodore, Jr., 81 Havemeyer, Thomas, 87, 88 Havemeyer, William, 82, 85–87 Havemeyer, William F. (uncle of T.A.H), 87 Havemeyer house, Newport, 86 Havemeyer sugar refining business, 84, 84–88, 85, 90–91 Havemeyer Tournament winners, 285 Havemeyer Trophy, 120–121, 130, 135, 143, 144, 215, 223 Hayes, John, 185, 186–187, 187, 192–193 Hayes, Pat, 187 Henri, Robert, 273 Hill, Eleanor, 208 Hispaniola, 84–85 historic preservation, Newport, 205–206, 211 HMS Greyhound, 20 HMS Rose, 23 Hodgson, Adam, 25 Hoevemeyer, Friedrich. See Havemeyer, Frederick Christian Hoevemeyer, Wilhelm. See Havemeyer, William Holmes, Frederick (Captain), 208 Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 44 Horgan, Joe, 136 horseracing, 61–63 hotel culture, 33–35

H Haas, James, 13, 237 Hammersmith Farm, 202 Hanks, F.J., 126

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I N D E X

L Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), 259 Lamartine, Alphonse de, 88 Larocque, L.E., 191 lawn tennis, 67, 257 Lawrence, Adam, 158 Lawrence, William G., 124–125, 126 Lee, Patrick, 219 Leeds, Herbert C., 124, 126 Lees, Peter, 162 Lehr, Elizabeth, 50 leisure time, advent of, 61, 63, 66–67 Lido Golf Club, 162, 178 Lincicome, Brittany, 264 Lloyd, Joseph, 90, 143 Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, 44 Lorillard, Pierre, 129 Los Angeles Open, 219, 259 Louis-Philippe, King of France, 150 Luigs, Marcia, 269

How to Play Golf (Whigham), 145–146 Howe, Julia Ward, 42, 44, 47 Hunnewell, Arthur, 90 Hunt, Richard Morris, 41, 43, 50, 56, 58, 58–60 Hunt, William Morris, 44, 50 Hurricane Carol, 243 Hurst, Pat, 254, 256–257, 262, 263–269 Hutchinson, Horace, 76 I Ike’s Bluff (Thomas), 201 Indigo Lakes Resort, 256 Industrial Revolution, 13, 32, 35, 45 Inkster, Juli, 264, 269 Internal Revenue Service, 211 Islin, Arthur, 174 J James, Henry, 44 James VI, King of Scotland, 74–75 Jamestown–Newport bridge, 206 January, Don, 201, 210 Jenkins, Dave, 187–189, 190 Jerome, Jennie. See Churchill, Jennie Jerome Jones, Bobby, 174 Jones, George Noble, 42 Jones, Richard A., 177 Jordan, Lena, 257 Judge, Cyril, 192

M Macdonald, Charles Blair, 71, 78–79, 79, 120–121, 136, 143, 144, 162, 170 1894 national amateur, Newport, 122–128, 174 1894 national amateur, St. Andrew’s, 126–127 1895 U.S. Amateur championship, 131–132, 134, 134 1896 U.S. Amateur championship, 141 golf–course design, 79, 142, 163 and Ocean Links, 176–177 USGA appointment, 129 Macdonald, Frances, 143 Machiavelli, Niccolò, 122 MacKenzie, Alister, 72 Mahoney, David, 209 Malbone, Godfrey, 16, 19 Mandeville, Viscount, 51 Manice family, “French picnic,” 207 Manice, Robert G., 13, 207, 227, 231, 236, 237, 273, 273 maps aerial view of Newport (1879), 40, 41 Brenton Point properties (1893), 99 French army map of Newport (1780), 20, 21 NCC course evolution, 166–167 Newport, for 1902 wager, 191 Newport, (1777), 16, 17 Marble House, 56, 57, 58, 59, 59, 60, 63, 64, 65 Martensen, Esther, 97 Marucci, George “Buddy,” 215, 222–223

K Kammann, Scott, 219 Kane, Delancey, 44 Keith, Norman, 211 Kelley, Jim, 209 Kelly, John “Shipwreck,” 181 Kennedy, Jacqueline Bouvier, 196, 199, 202, 202–204 Kennedy, John F., 197, 199, 201–204, 202, 203 Kennedy, John F., Jr. 204, 204 King, Ethel Rhinelander, 99 King, Mary A., 99, 104, 104, 155 Kingscote, 42 Kirby, Jerry, 237, 243 Kirby-Perkins Construction, 237 Kirkpatrick, George, 209 “Klondike, the,” 187 Knapp, Sean, 219 kolven, game of, 70, 71, 72

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N E W P O R T

C O U N T R Y

C L U B

2006 U.S. Women’s Open, 256–269, 261–262, 266–267 Captain Frederick S. Holmes Memorial Tournament winners, 291 Club Championship winners – Ladies, 286 Club Championship winners – Men’s, 285 club directors, 278–279 club officers, 280–281 clubhouse design and construction, 106–116, 107, 116, 224–225, 226, 227 clubhouse renovations 2004–2005, 227–241, 228, 229, 232–241, 244–250 Count de Turin Cup winners, 283–284 Countess, The, tournament winners, 283–284 course expansion, 158, 162–163, 166, 170, 180 early grounds crew, 112 economic struggles, 211 foreign diplomats, playing privileges, 170 gambling, Calcutta, 211 golf–course design, 105, 122, 158, 166 greens maintenance staff, 274 Harper’s magazine illustrations, 92–93, 94, 95, 116, 117, 118–119 Havemeyer Tournament winners, 285 Historical Building tax credits, 235–236 J. Alan O’Neil Cup winners, 285 Ladies Club Championship winners, 286 Ladies Four Ball Championship winners, 286 Lower Course problems, 158, 162, 166 map of Brenton Point properties (1893), 99 merger with Newport Golf Club, 146–148 piazza (east wing), 116, 193, 228, 242–243, 242–243 polo field, 106, 159, 228 President’s Cup winners, 290 receipts from (1903), 113 tax issues, 211 third hole (1896), 80–81 T.O.M. Sopwith Cup winners, 292–293 T.S. Tailer Cup Invitation Tournament winners, 288–289 Vice President’s Cup winners, 287 Newport Country Club Preservation Foundation, 13, 237, 294 Newport Croquet Club, 67 Newport Cup, 210 Newport Daily News, 110–111 Newport Golf Club, 96–98, 99, 104, 105, 146, 191 annual statement (1896), 114–115 bills from (1890s), 109 Club Governors, 282 Club Officers, 281 final yearbook, 186 merger with Newport Country Club, 146–148 Newport Harbor, 30, 31, 34–35, 37

Mary, Queen of Scots, 74, 257 Mayer, Lillie Havemeyer, 148 McAllister, Ward, 47, 47–50 McDermott, Liam, 275 McKim, Charles, 59, 60 McKim, Mead & White, 41, 50, 52, 60, 229 McLaney brothers, 190 Meadow Brook Hunt Club, 129, 131 Melville, R.I., 202 Merrill Lynch, 210 Mesick, Cohen, Wilson, Baker Architects (MCWB), 227–228, 242 Miller, Johnny, 219, 223 Montreal Golf Club (Royal), 95, 97 Morgan, J.P., 146, 147 Morris, “Young Tom,” 75, 79 Morris, “Old Tom,” 75, 75–76, 78 Muirfield, 75, 76, 158 Murphy, Bill, 274 Mussolini, Benito, 151 N Nahant, Mass., 45 National Golf Links, 142, 176, 177 Naval War College, 199 Nesbit, Evelyn, 117, 117 new wealth, and social structure/competition, 45–51 New York Coaching Club, 104 New York Evening Express, 41 New York Herald, 48, 52, 142, 149 New York Telegraph, 118–119 New York Times, 45, 116, 117, 134, 143, 144, 145, 150, 158 New York Tribune, 137 New York Yacht Club, 66 New Yorkers, presence in Newport, 44 Newport development of, 41–53 early history, 16–27 historic preservation and redevelopment, 205–206, 211 maps (see maps) naval history, 199, 204–205, 206 “Newport and the Arts of Golf and Dressing” (New York Telegraph), 118–119 Newport Casino, 38–39, 41, 49, 52, 67, 147 Newport Country Club: Its Curious History, The (Schumacher), 13, 105, 146 Newport Country Club (NCC) 1894 disputed championship, 122–128 1895 U.S. championships, 129, 130–132 1995 U.S. Amateur Championship, 216–217, 219–223, 257

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I N D E X

Newport Mercury, 35, 101, 104 Newport News, The, 111, 125, 126, 128, 129 Newport Reading Room, 51, 67, 67 Newport Restoration Foundation, 206 Newton, Dudley, 50 Nixon, Richard, 206 North Berwick Golf Club, 125, 177 Northhanger Abbey (Austen), 63

Prammanasudh, Stacy, 269 prejudice, 143, 222 Preservation Society of Newport County, The, 206 Prestwick Golf Club, 75 Price’s Neck, 189 professional golf boycott threatened at 1896 U.S. Open, 143 early perception of professionals, 76–77 social status of professionals, 122 Prohibition, 205 Providence Plantation, 16, 18 Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, 223

O Oakley, Annie, 63, 257 Ocean House, 28–29, 31, 33, 34, 46 “Ocean House Polka,” 33, 33 Ocean Links, 99, 163, 176–181 Ochre Court, 56, 58 Ochre Point, 60 O’Donnell, Columbus, 209 Oelrichs, Hermann, 105 Olmsted, Frederick Law, 44 Operation Clapboard, 206 Orleans, Prince Henri of, 149, 150–151 Ouimet, Francis, 142, 178

R Rainero, R.H., 150 Rainsford, Rev. Dr., 132 Rawlins, Horace, 122, 132–136, 137, 143 Ray, Ted, 142 Raynor, David, 95 Raynor, Seth, 95, 162, 163, 163, 166, 170, 174, 177, 178 Reid, John, 76, 77, 78, 96, 125, 128, 130 Reis, Henri, 258 religious freedom, 16, 18–19, 23, 24 Rhode Island, Battle of, 23 Rhode Island, colonization of, 18 Rhode Island Country Club, 216 Richardson, Henry Hobson, 60 Ricci, Edward, 209 Robertson, Allan, 75 Rochambeau, comte de, 23–25, 24, 26, 26, 27, 149 Rockefeller, John D., 91, 185 Rocky Farm, 98, 99, 104–105, 155, 273 Rocky Farm and Cherry Neck, Newport, R.I. (Mason), 98 Roderick, Don, 190, 192, 193, 193 Rodriguez, Chi–Chi, 210 Romance of a Rose, The (Perry), 27 Roos, Pieter, 204–206 Roosevelt, Theodore, 203, 204 Rosecliff, 56, 63, 64, 65 Ross, Donald, 162 Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R & A), 75–76, 96, 129, 144 Royal County Down Golf Club, 158 Royal Liverpool Golf Club (Hoylake), 90, 95, 97, 126, 155 Royal Portrush Golf Club, 158 Russell, Charles, 42 Rutherfurd, Lewis, 209 Rutherfurd, Winthrop, 128, 131, 132 Ryerson, Arthur, 128

P Pak, Se Ri, 263, 269 Palmer, Arnold, 210 Panic of 1907, 147 Park, Jane, 263 Park, Willie, Sr., 75 Parrish, Samuel, 128 Pau, France, 52, 75, 79, 88–90, 89, 91, 143, 155 Pau Golf Club, 89, 90, 124,155 Peabody and Stearns, 50 Peck, Annie Smith, 257 Perkins, Tom, 227 Perry, Matthew (Commodore), 48 Peters, Richard, 132 “Pie Girl Dinner,” 116 Pine Valley Golf Club, 158 Piping Rock Club, 177 pirates, presence in Newport, 19–20 Player, Gary, 210 Plotkin, Dick, 237 Plummer, Mark, 219, 219–222 polo, 48, 52, 67, 76, 99, 104, 106, 111, 159, 176, 228 Pond, Harriet, 99, 106 Pookie the dog, 194, 195 Pope, John Russell, 179

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N E W P O R T

C O U N T R Y

S Sadakqueda Golf Club, 143 Sands, Anna, 170 Sands, Charles, 131–132 Saratoga Springs, NY, 33, 35, 41, 44, 60 Sargent, George M., 126 Sargent, John Singer, 90 Sawgrass Country Club, 219 Schumacher, Alan T., 13, 105, 146, 147 Schwarzenegger, Arnold, 203 Scottish Open, 218 Scully, Vin, 206 Sears, Samuel, 128 Season in Newport, The, 33 Seixas, Moses, 24 Senior PGA Tour, 210, 211 Shady Rest Country Club, 146 Shinnecock Indians, 143 Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, 95, 97, 116, 124, 128, 141 shipbuilding industry, Newport, 20 Shippen, John, 143, 146, 146 Simpson, Wallis. See Windsor, Duchess of slavery, 20–23, 25, 25, 32, 84 Smith, Alfred, 41–44, 42, 50, 53 Smith, A.W., 132, 136 Smollett, Tobias, 74 Snead, Sam, 180, 210, 210 Snow, John, Dr., 32 Snyder, Howard, 201 soccer, 66 social competition, 50–51 social structure, and new wealth, 45–53 social/sports clubs, 66 Sorchan, Victor, 126 Sorenstam, Annika, 252–253, 254–259, 255, 263–269, 264–265, 268 Spencer, Lorillard, 95, 105 sports, 1800s evolution of, 61––67 Sports and Pastimes of the People of England, The, 66 Spouting Horn (Rock) Beach Association, 66 Standard Oil, 91 St. Andrew’s Golf Club (Yonkers, NY), 77, 78, 124, 126–128, 142 St. Andrews (Scotland), 72–73, 74, 74, 75–76, 78, 177, 217, 218 St. Augustin’s Church, 188, 189 St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 148 Stevenson, Robert Louis, 44 Stewart, Lispenard, 147–148 Stillman, James, 103 Stoddart, Laurence, 124, 126, 131, 132

C L U B

Story of Golf at The Country Club, The, 13 streetcars in Newport, 53 Stukus, Coral, 275 Sugar Refineries Company, 91 sugar trade, 82, 84–85, 87–88, 90–91 Sugar Trust, 90 Sullivan, Michael, 275 Sumner, Charles, 44 Sweetser, Jess, 178, 180, 180 T Taft, William Howard, 203 Tailer, Harriet, 181 Tailer, T. Suffern, 99, 163, 176–181, 177, 181 Tailer, Tommy, 177, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181 Tallmadge, Henry, 128, 132 tax issues, 211 Taylor, H.A.C., 99, 104, 105 Taylor, J.H., 76, 79 Tenth Street Studio Building (New York), 58 Thaw, Harry, 117 Thomas, Evan, 201 Thorp, J.G., 141 Tillinghast, Albert Warren, 99, 154, 155, 163, 166, 170–174, 180, 185 Titanic, 102, 189 Toland, Owen, Dr., 208 Topping, Dan, 190–192 Torino, Conte di. See Turin, Count of Torino, Vittorio Emanuele Giovanni Maria. See Turin, Count of tourism, 206 Touro Park, 36, 37 Touro Synagogue, 24 Towle, George Makepeace, 34 Travers Block, 38–39, 41 Trevino, Lee, 210 Triangular Trade, 20, 84–85 Trollope, Anthony, 44 Trumbauer, Horace, 50, 60 Turin, Count of, 149–151, 151 Tuxedo Club, 129 Twain, Mark (Samuel L. Clemens), 44, 45, 45 Twombly, Mrs. H. McK., 170 U Umberto I, King of Italy, 150 United States Golf Association (USGA) 1895 rule book, 133 1895 U.S. Amateur, 130–132

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1895 U.S. Open, 132–136 1896 U.S. championships, 141–143 1897 U.S. championships, 141 1995 U.S. Amateur, 216–217, 219–223, 257 2005 U.S. Amateur Public Links, 263 2006 U.S. Women’s Open, 229, 231, 237, 256–269, 261–262, 266–267 charter of, 127 Henry J. Whigham on, 145–146 organization of, 78, 128–129 original purposes of, 129 rules and restrictions, 133 U.S. Naval Academy, 45, 199 USGA. See United States Golf Association (USGA)

Watson, W.W., 126 wealth, and social structure/competition, 45–53 Webster, Daniel, 33 Weir, Lady, 209 Westall, Barry, 274 Westchester Polo Club, 66, 99 Wetmore, Charles, 117 Wetmore, George, 45, 95 Wharton, Edith, 96 Wharton, Edward, 96 Whigham, Henry J., 141–143, 142, 145–146 White, Gustave J.S., 174 White, Stanford, 60, 96, 113–116, 117, 126 Widener, Mrs. George D., 170 Wie, Michelle, 263–264, 269 Williams, Roger, 16, 18, 18 Wilson, Woodrow, 200–201 Wind, Herbert Warren, 201 Windsor, Duchess of, 194, 194–195 Windsor, Duke of, 194, 194–195 Winslow, Carroll Dana, 184, 185 Winthrop, Buchanan, 96 Winthrop, Henry, 81 Wodehouse, P.G., 95 women’s golf and sports 2006 U.S. Women’s Open, 229, 231, 256–269, 261–262, 266–267 athletic women in history, 257 first female NCC members, 170 opinions of appropriate physical activity for women, 105–106 Women’s Professional Golf Association (WPGA), 259 Woods, Earl, 218, 223, 223 Woods, Eldrick “Tiger,” 212, 214, 215, 216, 218–223, 223, 268 Wright, Marion, 191 Wright, William, 44

V Van Alen, Cassandra, 187 Van Alen, James, 209 van Beuren, Michael M., 187, 192, 193 Van Brunt, Henry, 58 Van Buren, Martin, 33 Vanderbilt, Alva, 58–59 Vanderbilt, Consuelo (Duchess of Marlborough), 51 Vanderbilt, Cornelius, 59, 60, 63 Vanderbilt, Cornelius II, 103, 105 Vanderbilt, F. W., 96, 105 Vanderbilt, Mrs. French, 170 Vanderbilt, William K., 59, 105 Vanderbilt family, 49, 51 Vardon, Harry, 142 Vauvenargues, Marquis de, 141 Vladimirovich, Boris, 56 Von Elm, George, 178 W Wanumetonomy Golf and Country Club, 215–216 War of Independence, 25 Ward, Samuel, 31 Warren, George H., 206 Warren, Katherine U., 205 Warren, Whitney, 106, 106–117, 205, 227 Charles Wetmore partnership, 117 friendship with Stanford White, 113–116 NCC clubhouse design, 109, 116, 227, 228–229, 230, 236, 237 piazza (east wing) design, 242–243 Warren family, 106, 109 Washington, George, 24, 25 Washington’s Letter to the Jews of Newport, 24 Waterman, Frederick, 13

Y yacht racing, 66–67, 130 Young, Charles, 181 Young, Robert R., 194, 195 Yznaga, Consuelo (Duchess of Manchester), 51 Z Zaharias, Babe Didrikson, 185, 259 Zembriski, Walt, 210

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A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S

NO BOOK is the unassisted creation of

the writer. For The History of the Newport Country Club, much assistance, thought, and effort were provided by individuals who were willing to be interviewed; who offered images of old, family paintings and photographs; who went out on the course at dawn to capture a specific photographic image; who spent hours reading one proof after another, seeking the missing word, the wrong punctuation, or the factual uncertainty; and who helped in every way, large and small, in this two-year co-operative effort.

The book was the idea of its president, Barclay Douglas, Jr., and vice-president, Robert G. Manice;

was endorsed by the club’s board of governors; and was supported by the Newport Country Club Preservation Foundation. Their combined willingness to have an atypical club history made this an interesting project for the writer and for the book’s designer, Larry Hasak, who, with each book that he produces, proves that he is one of the country’s finest book designers and surely its easiest to work with.

I offer my appreciation to all who are mentioned below. If you contributed to the book, but I failed to include your name, please be assured that you have my thanks.

— Frederick Waterman

James E. Haas • Mortimer Berkowitz III • the John F. Hayes family • Jeffery Baker • John Corbett • Francis G. Dwyer (deceased) Lindsey Hasak • David Jenkins (deceased) • Philip Connell • Charline Lawless • Donald “Jitters” Roderick • William Murphy • Pieter Roos David Read • Michael Kathrens • George Herrick • Edwin G. Fischer, Jr. • Harriet W. Manice • William Berkowitz • Esther Martensen Michael Carroll • Anthony Edgeworth • Kenneth M. P. Lindh • Hugh D. “Yusha” Auchincloss III • Clay Rives • Nancy W. Grinnell Jerome R. Kirby III • Thomas Perkins • Debbie Falcone • Bertram Lippincott III • Jennifer Robinson • Rand Jerris • Nicole Ciaramella Susan Wasser • Anthony Pioppi • Michael Fay • Suzy Stein • Marion Mariner • Michael P. Sullivan • Barry Westall • Chris Coen the Kilborne family • Karen Cunningham • The Preservation Society of Newport County • the staff of the Redwood Library and with special appreciation to the Hamilton and van Beuren families for generations of loyal support.

PUBLISHED BY

PRODUCED BY

Newport Country Club Presevation Foundation

Hasak, Inc.

P.O. Box 429, Newport, Rhode Island 02840

3141 Fortune Way, Suite 15

401-846-0461

Wellington, Florida 33414 561-670-2813

Copyright © 2013

www.hasak.com

Text copyright © Newport Country Club Preservation Foundation

Design by Larry Hasak and Frederick Waterman

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced

Copy editing by Debbie Falcone and Charline Lawless

in any form without permission of Newport Country Club and the Newport

Index by Wendy Bower Catalano

Country Club Preservation Foundation.

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