Club History

The following piece was written by Waldo L. Miner, Historian of the New London Country Club and one of the founding members of the club, as the centerpiece of NLCC’s 75th Anniversary booklet, published in 2000. A member of the committee that selected the site and paved the way for the organization of the club, he served as an officer or director ever since. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in tennis, hockey and rowing, and a former golf champion of the Old Lyme Country Club, he was the first NLCC champion. In all, he won the NLCC title five times.

THE NEW LONDON COUNTRY CLUB

One early day in July, 1925, a half-page advertisement appeared in the New London Day offering a farm for sale on the outskirts of New London.  The advertisement suggested a number of uses for the land, among them a golf course.  The following day, four men who had been playing golf and paying green fees at the Old Lyme Country Club went to the real estate agent to see about the possibilities of obtaining this property for a golf course.  Just prior to this, the Old Lyme Country Club had announced that green fee players would no longer be allowed.  Such were the circumstances that started the movement to establish the New London Country Club.

On July 14, 1925, a meeting of golf and tennis enthusiasts was held at the John Winthrop Club on Brainard Street, New London.  Here the New London Country Club was formally organized.  Present at the meeting were George E. Fisher, Harold H. Starr, Sidney H. Miner, Joseph C. Keefe, Lewis B. Doane, Waldo L. Miner, James E. Barlow, Maurice E. Sherman, Grant E. Edgar, and Harold N. Christianson, all of New London.  A committee was appointed to survey desirable properties. 

At the next meeting, on recommendation of the site committee, the club voted to obtain a sixty day option on the Williams Farm located on Lamphere Road, Waterford, at the price of $12,000.  Incidentally, this was not the property mentioned in the advertisement.  Each of the ten men put up $100 to pay for the option and expenses incidental to incorporating the club.  Prospective stock subscribers would want to know, of course, what the membership rates would be.  These were established as follows:

First Member of Family ……………………………………………………………$35.00
Wife of Member ………………………………………………………………….......10.00
Each additional member of family between ages of 15 and 21 year………......5.00
Male members of family over 21 years ………………………………………......35.00
Female members of family over 21 years …………………………………….....10.00
Porch membership without playing privileges …………………………..……...10.00

By way of comparing changing times, the basic $35 membership rate of 1925 had risen to $180, including tax, in 1964.

Now began the big job of selling stock to new members to buy the property, build a nine-hole golf course, two tennis courts, and a locker room, and make changes in the old farmhouse which was on the property so that it could be used for a clubhouse and quarters for the greenskeeper.  It was decided that in order to become a member a person must subscribe for at least one share of preferred stock at $100 and one share of common stock which had the voting rights at $10.  To prevent the control of the club from getting into a small group a rule was made that no person could own more than ten shares of common stock.  Later events proved this was a wise precaution.

A list of prospective members was drawn up and the names were divided among the ten original members for interviewing.  Meetings were held every three or four nights to report on shares sold and to add new names to the list of prospects.

To encourage the early purchase of stock, it was decided that all who subscribed before September 21, 1925, would be admitted as charter members without paying initiation fees.  There were many public spirited citizens who did not play golf, and never expected to play, but thought a New London Country Club would be an asset to the community.  They gladly subscribed and, moreover, paid full dues thereafter to help support the club.  This was really a life- saver during the depression years of the 1930s. 

On July 27, 1925, scarcely three weeks after the idea originated, the club was incorporated.  It was found advisable to buy three additional parcels of land adjoining the Williams property.  Twenty acres were purchased from E. P. Chapman for $1,000, one and a half acres from C. Mariano for $350, and thirty-five acres from the Goshen Realty Co. for $10,000.

On August 29, 1925, the first meeting of subscribers to stock of the New London Country Club, Inc., was held at the John Winthrop Club.  The twelve directors elected were the original ten men who started the club, together with Henry L. Wilkinson and John C. Geary.  Bylaws were adopted.  The first officers were:

President – George E. Fisher
First Vice-President – James E. Barlow
Second Vice-President – Harold N. Christianson
Treasurer – Maurice E. Sherman
Secretary – Grant E. Edgar

Board of Directors

James E. Barlow, 236 Hempstead Street, New London
Harold N. Christianson, Putnam & Co., Plant Bldg., New London
Grant E. Edgar, 20 Channing Street, New London
George E. Fisher, 104 State Street, New London
John C. Geary, Mercer Building, State Street, New London
Joseph C. Keefe, 190 Broad Street, New London
Sidney H. Miner, Manwaring Building, State Street, New London
Waldo L. Miner, Manwaring Building, State Street, New London
Maurice E. Sherman, Babcock Printing Press Mfg. Co., New London
Harold Starr, 110 State Street, New London
Henry L. Wilkinson, Shore Road, Waterford

Some of the directors were members of the Old Lyme Golf Club and were well acquainted with Charlie Brooks, who was greenskeeper and golf professional there.  Charlie Brooks started his golf career at the age of 13 when he became an apprentice of the shop of the golf professional at Royal Lytham, St. Anne’s, Lancashire, England.  He acquired the all-around skills of a club maker, course-builder and player-instructor, a combination rarely attained by later professionals.  After leaving St. Anne’s, he devoted much of his time to rebuilding and remodeling golf courses.

It was agreed that Charlie Brooks would be an excellent person to lay out and build the New London Country Club course.  He had assisted in the selection of the site.  He was engaged to build the course and become the club’s first professional and greenskeeper.  Club members soon realized how fortunate they were to have him at the helm.  He endeared himself to all who had the pleasure of knowing him.  His cheerful disposition, sound judgment and the personal interest he always showed in every member and aspiring golfer were among the outstanding qualities of his fine character.  He was with the club until his death in March, 1944.

Many will remember that in the 1920’s the workmen did not have bulldozers, back-hoes and similar heavy equipment which would have been very helpful in building a golf course.  The New London Country Club course was built by men using picks, shovels and axes, aided by horses hitched to towing chains and stone drags.  This was slow, tedious work.  The property had not been operated as a farm for a number of years.  Hay fields had been neglected.  The cows had not been wandering around to keep the brush down and their meandering paths open.  The property was criss-crossed with stone walls.  Field were strewn with boulders of various sizes.  The stones had to be eliminated.  Holes were dug next to boulders, which were pushed or dragged into them.  Some boulders had to be reduced by blasting before they could be buried.  Trenches were dug beside stone walls to make burying places for them.  Some of these stone-filled trenches still serve as drains for the course.  Some stones were piled beside the greens and covered with earth.  These remain as part of the system of hazards around the original nine holes. 

Construction of the course was started in August.  The greens were seeded that fall.  Charlie Brooks had his men working through the winter as weather permitted, clearing the dense growth.

There was a late spring in 1926, with the result that the club opening which had been around May 1, actually did not take place until July 5.  By that time the course was usable, though still incomplete with respect to the clearing of the third, fourth, fifth and eighth fairways.  The condition of the fifth made necessary the use of a temporary green.

The following is a copy of the notice sent to all members for opening day:

OPENING NOTICE
OF THE
NEW LONDON COUNTRY CLUB, INC.

The Directors are pleased to advise you that the Club will be opened to members and their guests on July 5, 1926.

At 9:00 A.M. (daylight saving time) your President will officially open the Golf Course by driving a ball from No. 1 Tee and we hope that a goodly number will be present to witness this event.  The course will then be open for the season. 

From 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. a committee of ladies will serve tea in the Club House and all are most cordially invited.

Due to unseasonable weather and other conditions entirely beyond control, the Club property is not in the state of completion that was anticipated.  However, a great amount of work had been done for which credit is due the several committees and many of our lady members for their untiring efforts and particularly to our superintendent, Mr. Charles Brooks, for his faithful services and for the efficient and economical manner in which he has developed the Golf Course to its present condition.

In anticipation of a considerable attendance of members and guests our members will please comply with the By-laws, Art. XI, Sec. 5 reading as follows:

“Children of members between the ages of ten and fifteen may be refused the privileges of the Club House and the playing grounds on Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays and Tournament Days.  Younger children shall not be allowed in the Club House or upon the grounds unless accompanied by parents, or members of the Club.”

And refrain from allowing their children under fifteen years the use of the Club House and Golf Course.  The orchard beside the Club has been cleared and we would request that all the children use this portion of the Club property for their recreation and enjoyment.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Glorious clear weather prevailed on opening day.  At 9:00 A.M. the flag was raised on the new flagpole.  President George E. Fisher officially opened the course by driving a ball from the first tee.  He was followed by other directors.  In the afternoon, the first annual tee was served by the entertainment committee.  The opening day program was attended by about 500 persons.

The following committees served during the first year:

Finance – Sidney H. Miner, Chairman; Charles E. White, Frank V. Chappell
Greens – Waldo L. Miner, Chairman; Henry L. Wilkinson, Fred A. Baker
Golf – Joseph C. Keefe, Chairman; Mrs. George N. Bates, Dr. William J. Murray, Edward S. Huntley, Percival C. Woodruff
House – Lewis B. Doane, Chairman; Harold Starr, Ernest M. Catton
Tennis – James E. Barlow, Chairman; Maurice E. Sherman, Dr. George N. Bates, Arthur B. Dawson, Ernest Nibbs, William Z. White  
Purchasing – James E. Barlow, Chairman; Maurice E. Sherman, Harold Starr
Entertainment – Harold N. Christianson, Chairman; C. C. Costello, Frank V. Chappell, James Fowler, William P. Miner, Charles J. O’Connor, Mrs. James E. Barlow, Mrs. Sidney H. Miner, Mrs. Henry Tolt Smith, Mrs. William Savard, Mrs. Percy C. Eggleston, Mrs. Lewis B. Doane

At the end of the first year, there were 325 members classified as follows:

In the fall of 1926, Graham Creighton was asked to prepare sketches for a new clubhouse and obtain an estimate of cost.  The club decided it was not in a position to build at that time, but it is interesting to note that when a new clubhouse was built, nearly four decades later the architect was Graham Creighton.

The club prospered during its first few years, but the Depression of the 1930s brought on a period of hard struggle.  Membership dropped sharply and green fees fell off.  It was necessary to watch expenditures carefully and economize wherever possible.

During this period many golf clubs throughout the country were being foreclosed by mortgagees.  However, New London Country Club never missed an interest payment on mortgage and always paid taxes when due.  By careful management, the club was able to continue operation without borrowing funds.

Towards the end of the 1930s conditions improved and the future looked bright; but then came World War II, resulting in curtailment of golf activity.

Despite setbacks during the Depression and World War II, the club has maintained a program of progress.  One of the earliest improvements was the installation of a water system to water the greens and tees.  In 1952, three new holes were built, making twelve in all.  An eighteen hole round consisted of twelve holes played throughout and the first six repeated.  In 1956 the construction of six more holes completed the present eighteen hole layout.  During 1956, also, the practice fairway was built.  This was one of the many projects paid for by the Women’s Association.

In 1957 an electric cable was installed under the seventh, eighth and 18th fairways so the gasoline engine could be replaced by an electric motor for the water pumping station.  An additional pressure tank of 10,000 gallons capacity was installed to meet the larger demand in watering the greens for an eighteen hole course.  A cinder block building was constructed in 1954 for use as a ladies locker room.  This was affectionately called the “Chicken Coop.”  Previously two rooms on the second floor of the clubhouse were reserved for women members as locker rooms.

In 1963 a cottage was built on the opposite side of the road from the first fairway as a residence for the golf course superintendent.  In 1963, also, a maintenance building was constructed near the parking area for storage of supplies and equipment.

The farmhouse, used as a clubhouse, underwent a number of changes.  The original small verandah was removed and a large porch was built on two sides of the house.  Food was served in the kitchen ell and small dining room until 1955 when the ell was removed and a large addition was built containing a kitchen, bar and grill with a fireplace.

After the war, the club experienced a year-by-year increase in membership.  The inadequacy of the clubhouse accommodations became more pronounced.

Committees were appointed to study the situation with reference to a new clubhouse as well as changes to the golf course.  An untold amount of effort was given to this project.  After four years of planning and hard work, the new clubhouse is at last a reality – a dream come true.

It is the hope of all who have worked towards this end that the members will not only enjoy their beautiful modern clubhouse and fine eighteen-hole golf course, but will remember with pride the achievements since the days of the rugged nine-hole golf course and the small farm house which were the beginning of the New London Country Club.