Washtenaw Golf Club: The Early Years Part 2

Washtenaw Golf Club: The Early Years

Washtenaw Golf Club celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. Founded in 1899, it is among the three or four oldest clubs in Michigan.

For my money, it’s among the best. If you are a fan of classic golf courses (as I am), you should play Washtenaw. Long a private club, it has been open to the general public for several years.

For the 100th anniversary, the then-private club published a commemorative book detailing its history.

You can read the earliest history of the club in this post here. This is the second segment of the history:

Pastors Approve Sunday Play

Initially there was trouble with Sunday play. Farmer Rice, who had leased the property to the club, wouldn’t allow play on the sabbath. Two club members, the Reverend William Gardam, an Episcopal minister and the Reverend Father Frank Kennedy, a Catholic priest, pointed out that people could watch ball games on Sunday and that they should have exercise. So Farmer Rice agreed with the stipulation that members could play golf Sunday afternoons if they attended church in the morning.

The ensuing years brought many improvements to the clubhouse including a dining room, heating plant, basement lockers and showers, increased kitchen vacilities, verandas and an outside pro shop. In 1912, membership stood at 122.

Washtenaw Becomes A Full Fledged 18 Holes

In 1919, plans were started to provide for the expiration of the 300year land lease. it was not certain that the old land could be purchased or released and members were beginning to demand an 18-hole course of regulation length. Ultimately, a 100 acre tract next to the existing nine-hole course was purchased. In 1922, the membership approved the expansion of the course to 18 holes. John S. Sweeny, president of the District Association, assisted club members in laying out an 18-hole course which extended over rolling terrain and through a grove at the south end of the property. Several of the fairways crossed a little brook.

The renowned Scottish golf course architect, Donald Ross, was visiting the area at the time. He agreed to inspect the grounds and was reported to have said “when God created this beautiful rolling land he must have intended it for a golf course.”

(The same quote was attributed to Ross in 1917 when he was retained to design Oakland Hills!)

Many members sought a new lease on the old property and wished to maintain 27 holes. Ultimately, all but 25 acres of that tract went into a subdivision. In a unique maneuver by the memebrship, developers of the adjourning residential subdivision were persuaded to donate the necessary land in the belief that the golf course would increase the value of thei rlots.

The deed, however, contained a “reverter clause.” The donated land would revert back to the original owners or their heirs if the land ever ceased to be used as a golf course. Years later, an inquiry was made to check the status of the land. The 25-acre tract was acquired for nothing by the Washtenaw directors and three holes of the original nine were kept and added to 15 of the new. This gave the club an 18-hole course in excess of 6, 500 yards.

Despite the manicured fairways and greens of its new course, Washtenaw’s rural roots still were much in evidence. Ground rules outlined on a 1920s scorecard note that a “ball may be lifed from hoof marks or wagon tracts and dropped not nearer the hole. No penalty.”