Americas oldest golf club maintains a balance between turn-of-the-century tradition and modern golf on a course designed by Jack Nicklaus. When Mount Kisco Golf Club closed during World War II, many of the members joined Lawrence Farms Country Club, and the club became todays Mount Kisco Country Club. Could your young self have disabused her of those? 914.478.3500 Great Essay. At the time, I couldnt completely identify that it was in part because of my Jewishness, but I knew I was different. I need to clarify that this incident took place after middle school. The club hosted the first Met Open to be held in Westchester in 1909, an event considered a major tournament at the time. I didnt know how to respond. Maybe so but I have to think that people so casually ignorant like the woman in your example and the one in mine will never be attuned enough to recognize their ignorance tossed out in a familiar comfortable way as if the remarks were not laden with cruelty couched in a casual offhanded barb. Thank you for sharing this very personal moment in your life. And I cant explain it. Ravisloe and Lake Shore in the Chicago burbs were very much Jewish clubs back in the day. A stark, indelible reminder of what we lost, what we had left, and all our hopes for the future. @nuritanderson Dear Nurit, Thank you so much for your comment and understanding my anger. A bargain for the price of membership. Members can enjoy competitive golf tournaments, tennis, swimming, fitness, a full calendar of social events, casual and gourmet dining, and much more. No use in being harsh on oneself in these moments. Metropolis Country Club in White Plains was established in 1922 and became the home of head pros with admirable records as playing professionals. Web1. He won 39 times on tour. (212) 923-2813. Frequent topics included: books (Art Spiegelmans Maus); philosophy (Bertrand Russell, Sun Tzu, Machiavelli); art (Picassos Guernica); and politics lots of politics; music, too. I read Jessica Ursells story about Superman at the Country club. The story taught me a very important lesson. It is obvious now. Project MUSE is a leading provider of digital humanities and social sciences content, providing access to journal and book content from nearly 300 publishers. Im quite honored to read your memory as it helps me to rejoice in feeling whole and knowing Im not alone. Each and every summer season we look forward to a packed swimming pool and kids area. A beautifully written, moving, powerful piece. It still twists your gut! I too like to figure out the why of things. Vanderlip was the creator of the club, which he founded on property he and Rockefeller had purchased from Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt Shepard, a granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt. (I kept wondering who the friend was.) The golf course was designed by a legendarymore, this needs to be saidAbout a month ago, I was at the Brae Burn Country Club for a wedding and gotmore, This country club is awesome. The great irony of all of it is that the only thing I remember from this event is that I stayed silent. I agree with Saras comment above, in middle school it is tough to respond to a situation like that, even as an adult it could be. In 1924, Westchester Hills had a minor clubhouse fire. I was taken aback. Private, Photos courtesy of Sleepy Hollow Country Club. For one, the Jewish clubs put great stress on charity; a prospective member is expected to be philanthropic (one club in the New York area requires that an applicant must have given at least $10,000 to United Jewish Appeal). This was not an Orthodox enclave but a secular community in suburban Philadelphia where many Jews had settled. You pose interesting questions in your writing. Golfers are treated to a beautiful view of much of the 7,000-yard course on the first tee, and can choose four sets of tees to match their unique skill level and playing style. And Im certain I speak for numerous others. I didnt see it coming. This informs me that in addition to being rightly sensitive to attacks however subtle we Jews are a thoughtful people who search for Truth and answers. I know so many people, as well as myself, that felt her pain and related to that pivotal moment of being discriminated against and yet, not finding the words to speak out. Nothing is so permanent as change, as someone once said, and that certainly applies to golf in Westchester. Thanks. 100 Route 202, Lincolndale At seventy-five years young, Im still asking Why when I try to understand Evil in its many forms. We think, we ponder, we discuss, and we try to figure out the why of things. It is funny how for (some) people, those moments are always there. Public. Tillinghast course has some of the most pronounced elevation changes in Westchester golf. 10 Old Jackson Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson Willie and Mike Turnesa, two of seven brothers who made an indelible mark on Westchester golf, were affiliated with Knollwood one as an amateur, the other as a professional. Sharing such a pivotal moment with the world was not easy, but confronting the actions you took or did not take in such a public way reveals your truest character. Until the death in 2012, Bud Treacy attended all but one of the Governor's Day events. The first USGA-sanctioned US Amateur Championship was held the next year at Newport CC, and he won handily. Enjoyed the reading & can relate. WebWestchester Country Club Home Owners Association Private Clubs Website 22 YEARS IN BUSINESS (561) 733-5806 12241 Fairway Pines Dr Boynton Beach, FL 33437 8. You learned . Public. Westchester Hills Golf Club. It moved to Westchester in 1904 on the site currently occupied by Metropolis, then to Purchase in 1922. Soon, I realized we werent doing that anymore. The men might 914.734.1500 In the Westwood thread that I started about 2 months ago, there was this comment: "Westwood was built as the Jewish equivalent of St. Louis CC" This has prompted me to ask about the courses of these clubs. The simulator also features a multi-sport function offering a variety of sports such as soccer, baseball, hockey and more to indulge interest for all. 914.245.5588 With a completely renovated clubhouse; new locker rooms and dining rooms, and an 18-hole course overlooking the rolling hills of North Salem, this club grows in popularity every year. American Jewish History Minutes from White Plains, this critically acclaimed golf course is considered one of the most difficult nine-hole courses in the county. The Roaring Twenties saw a burst of golf-course creation in Westchester that further cemented the countys place in the annals of the game. I was, therefore, dependent on her grace for a once in a lifetime experience. I passed your essay on to my kids maybe it will give them a little heads-up or courage or conviction to take positive action and stay true to themselves always. But I can see this shaping who you are today. Bravo. Mount Vernon Barbell Health Clubs 3. And, yet, you didnt say anything likely because you wanted to be a proper host as she was in your home. Private. I was too young and ignorant to be mad, or sad, or hurt. 2023 jewish telegraphic agency all rights reserved. Not sure if they have opened up over the years. Age, hopefully, does bring wisdom and I will never be a bystander in the erasure of my essence as a proud Jewish woman. Beach Point is historically mostly Jewish, most of the other clubs historically gentile. I cannot, for the life of me, remember if I got to recite it in Hebrew or if I even decided not to recite it at all. Nice work Jessica, what a thought-provoking piece! @Billy Cohen I am very touched by the tender and thoughtful nature of your comment. And, in truth, I know that it was obvious even then. The members at Westchester Hills Golf Club have a full calendar of events and newly renovated amenities to keep them busy all year round. Search results are sorted by a combination of factors to give you a set of choices in response to your search criteria. My mothers cousin was part owner, so we had a big discount. An original Tiffany window lights its grand staircase, and the view of the Hudson River may well be the finest in the county. Public. I like to go back and unravel events and have them make sense. And then it happened. I was between the ages of 16 and not more than 18. I assume you were around middle-school age; its hard enough to come up with an immediate, clever and pointed response to similar comments as an adult. I will continue to fight for this. You may not have been ready to confront that situation as a young person but you are a fighter today for all that is just. My research has revealed only these courses are nationally rated: "Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses " Adlai Stevenson. Private. Thank you for sharing your story. 290 East Grassy Sprain Road, Yonkers Private Golf Club sites by MembersFirst | Terms of Use | Privacy | Request My Information. Why do we have to put up with any? Filed under American Jewry, Family history, history, Jewish, Jewish identity, Jewish writing, Judaism, Tagged as assimilation, Country Club, family history, family rituals, Family roots, immigrant experience, Jewishness, silence, too Jewish, Westchester, Workmen's Circle. But your dad would have been funnier. From Business: Hunters Run Golf & Racquet Club is a country club community that offers entertainment, arts, and cultural and social activities. In 1921 the Club purchased its property from Gedney Farm Hotel and changed its name to Westchester Hills Golf Club. Its funny (ironic?) Donald Ross designed the 18-hole course that saw Long Jim Barnes win the first PGA Championship in a final match over Jock Hutchinson in 1916. Peter Alliss was the pro there for quite a few years. "It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing your whole life." Rye, NY 10580. This is such a relatable and honest piece of writing. You write that you were in your 60s when this happened to you and that you had a whole lifetime of experience responding to such remarks. Westchester Country Club Home Owners Association, Westchester Golf & County Club Maintenance. It is blocked out with emotions. Search results are sorted by a combination of factors to give you a set of choices in response to your search criteria. 914.862.5283 Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practicesof the time they were published. Your writing is so captivating. Some of the most devilish greens I have ever played. The course features fairways lined with mature trees, rolling hills, and contoured greens. Jack Burke Jr. was head pro for two years before he left to play on tour full-time where he won both the Masters and the PGA Championship. What a powerful and meaningful story. 914.834.0992 There are probably scores of predominantly Jewish clubs in South Florida-with almost all of them being on flat, uninteresting terrain. They have a nice pool with a divingmore, First of all, Siwanoy is not a restaurant, it's a country club. Copyright 2022 Westchester Jewish Council. I met other families who had Jewish background. It wasnt as though she had given me her edict weeks before so I would have the chance to respond and, hopefully, decide that even Superman wasnt worth compromising my integrity and my sense of self. I too remember hanging out and riding bikes in the summer between 7th and 8th grade with a good friend in those same neighborhoods (back when 12 year-olds could ride around all day miles from home with no means of contact). 1 Wasylenko Lane, Yonkers As we get older, we have the tools and have learned to speak out strongly against anti-semitism. I throughly enjoyed this essay. In 1895, John Reids wife, Elizabeth, and several other Saint Andrews women leased land on North Broadway and established Saegkill Country Club. Where the very best golf architects displayed their artistry. Fenimore Road, Mamaroneck The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. My children and family experienced antisemitism in school and in our town only 10 years ago. I do think that (especially girls, shy girls) react by not reacting. I did not come from a religious family, but the rabbi of an Orthodox shul was our neighbor in Astoria. Very beautiful story that encapsulates the age old conundrum regarding how much anti semitism and discrimination Jews in the diaspora are willing to put up with. I felt frozen in time with you as you experienced the ignorance and prejudice not fit for an adult, at such a tender age. Our club was incorporated on November 1, 1913, under the name Gedney Farm Country Club. Dad: A country club? You learned a life lesson and were given a perfect memory full of literary device. Willie won the US Amateur twice, the British Amateur once, was captain of the US Walker Cup team, and president of the Metropolitan Golf Association. They also offer a lighted driving range and practice greens. It is extremely well written and utilizes beautifully descriptive allusions and connections that were inspired by the trauma. The fifth county course, Dunwoodie Golf Course, is actually the oldest, having been established in 1906 as a private club that claimed Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as members. I wanted never to have to face unconscious prejudices against Jews or to have my children face them. Of course for our own self-survival we must develop protective armor. I am sorry that this may have been one of the things that contributed to it. They must have members from other denominations/ethnic groups, right? That was strange. During luncheon, the woman began railing against the dirty Orthodox Jews who summered in her New Hampshire town of Bethlehem. Facilities include a recentlyrenovated driving range, practice bunker, and professional putting green. The only course in Westchester designed by legendary Pete Dye, Pound Ridge features a distinctive layout lined with rock walls, nature preserves, and glorious vistas. When it was my turn, I said I wanted to recite it in Hebrew as I knew it very well, and I didnt think it was fair not to give a girl a chance. Willie MacFarlane, winner of the 1925 US Open, was Old Oaks first head pro. Im relatively new to this site, having been referred by a friend in Philadelphia. You did, indeed, wonder why this friend invited you to go with her to the country club since you and she werent close. Site by Clubessential Options Close Site Options It must be eradicated either in the moment or, if necessary, years later. This was beautifully written. WebDiscrimination aside, Jewish country clubs generally differ from their Christian counterparts in a couple of ways. Over the years, the club not only changed its name but moved several times until settling in its present location, the former home of Frank Jay Gould, in 1966. Jessica, A blizzard stopped the fun soon after, but when the ground thawed in April, the men moved to a 30-acre meadow owned by the neighborhood butcher, John Schotts, at North Broadway and Shonnard Place (across the street from St. Michaels Ukrainian Church today) where they could lay out a six-hole course. Jessica writes with confidence and depth tackling issues that were right in our faces as Jewish kids in the 70s in mostly no. They might have just recently gotten around to getting a handful of gentiles in theremany of the members also belong to Palm Beach CC and there was some tension for years with the Eveglades Club. It resonated with me so much as did the idea of your writing a letter after the fact and then not sending it because you felt the lesson was yours to learn. Their sons, born in the 1920s, went to a post private school, but for school dance or whatever, they could only date Jewish girls. For our community? You were eager for an experience that you would treasure. Or you lack the words, or the experience to answer back. It was here that the games national organizations, the USGA and the PGA of America, established their roots. I hope our childrens generation have not had similar ones. Sleepy Hollow Country Club was founded in 1911 by some of the nations most prominent business leaders at the pinnacle of Americas Gilded Age. I dont think there are many of us out there who cant relate to that moment when we suffer a form of injustice and stay silent or we suffer seeing someone else in that position and we look on, helpless to help but having the tools of our mouthpiece to use yet which comes with consequences if you do. Public. The damage anti semitism has is proven by her memory so many years later. @Regina Your comment juxtaposing childhood innocence when it is met by ignorant comments really hits home. I think the way we treat others is very telling of our role models and parental figures in our formative years. The simulators feature state-of-the-art technology from Foresight golf, a brand-new putting lab, and lounge area. Extensive course revisions in recent years have made this perennial Westchester favorite even more attractive and a greater challenge to golfers of all skill levels. This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. Unfortunately, the story feels close to the heart and not uncommon. She never came to my home after school, and I never went to hers. Private. 100 Shadow Tree Lane, Briarcliff Manor I love that your piece shows what a few words can do to someone, the harm that it can instill and the long-lasting effect it can have. Sometimes in relation to not speaking up for myself and sometimes for not speaking up for others. I really enjoyed reading this, and learning from Jessicas story. And, of course, we never heard from our guest again. The Great Depression and World War II took a toll on the growth of golf everywhere, but the game in Westchester fully recovered. 234 Bedford Center Road, Bedford Hills The 75-room mansion includes a ballroom, library, formal dining room, and 18 guest rooms, as well as the golf pro shop and locker rooms. In 2021, the area surrounding the pool was renovated to capture a resort style feel. YP - The Real Yellow PagesSM - helps you find the right local businesses to meet your specific needs. The sheer fact that this experience lives so vivid today in the authors memory, gives me an unwavering assurance of the change shes making to improve our world today! It has some lineage, traceable to Colt and Allison, but was also butchered by William Harries. This discussion group is best enjoyed using Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari. Are there any "historically Jewish" public clubs in the country? I have also had a few similar experiences that I still berate myself over. I felt how good itmore, Last week I was on the grounds of this country club on a beautiful fall day.more. At the same time we cannot kid ourselves that the heroes in our families we admire so much, like you, had their own moments of indecision and missteps. Thank you for sharing. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. 914.669.5485 Member Lawrence Van Etten, a prominent civil engineer who designed many residential communities in New Rochelle and later the original course at Wykagyl, laid out the first 18 holes at Knollwood, a par-69 test at 5,305 yards. I wonder if there is a protestant/catholic divide in Scotland or Ireland? I also have experienced burning moments of silence that have stayed with me. Macdonalds loss prompted him to denounce the championship because it wasnt run by a national organization, so later that year, Saint Andrews secretary and founding member Henry Tallmadge invited representatives of four other leading clubs, the Chicago Golf Club, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Newport (Rhode Island) Golf Club, and the Country Club of Brookline, Massachusetts, to dinner at the Calumet Club in New York City. There was a thread some years ago about Jewish clubs and we discovered quite a few in the UK. She and I werent really that close. Thank you sharing and reminding everyone to not be silent. Private. Arthur Fenn from Aiken, Georgia, who later became the first American-born golf professional, won two invitational tournaments there in 1897. What a wonderful essay, looking back at childhood memories and decisions with an experienced perspective. Private. This candid essay resonates with me, evoking (provoking?) This is an essay to read and reread and to share with young people of any faith. It was a great place to hang their coats, not to mention a wicker basket with snacks and libations. Rehashing this incident decades later with my husband, he pointed out that as a non-member of the club the only way I could see Christopher Reeve was if I went with her. You have lived your life in a way that has fixed this moment many times over. And I agree, we do learn a lot from pain and adversity and this is one of those lessons that stuck. Damage anti semitism has is proven by her memory so many years later learning from Jessicas story really hits.. In Scotland or Ireland suburban Philadelphia where many Jews had settled with snacks and libations experienced. Terms of use | Privacy | Request my Information combination of factors to give you a set choices. And every summer season we look forward to a packed swimming pool and kids area and depth issues! 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