East Hampton GC. Photo by Larry Lambrecht

St. George's Golf and Country Club (New York)

USA, New York, Long Island
5.4 (5)
Designer: Devereaux Emmet
Course Opened: 1917

This 18 hole golf facility was built in 1917 by the famed architect Devereux Emmet.  Recently restored, St. George’s is known for its firm fairways, small greens and numerous bunkers.  In a remarkable achievement, Golfweek magazine has placed St. George’s on its list of top 100 Classic courses; coming in at No. 90.  St. George’s is a private facility.

On April 16, 1915, St. George’s “founding father”, Devereux Emmet, convened a meeting of ten wealthy gentlemen in NYC to consider the acquisition of property for a golf course.  It was agreed that a course should be built in the links style.  Thereafter, Emmet conducted a study of various parcels of property and determined the present site, approximately three miles from his sprawling estate, would allow for the design of a superior golf course.  140 acres of land were purchased at $300 per acre.  Emmet then designed and oversaw the building of St. George's.  He charged no fee for his services.  Emmet was the Green Chairman for the first ten years and Club Champion three times.  As profiled in Golf Club Atlas, Ran Morrissett wrote "This was going to be his (Emmet's) course for his friends & relatives and he spent his time getting it right.  St. George's defining characteristic is startlingly unique holes on American soil".

On June 23, 1917, with America having just entered World War I two months earlier, St. George's formally opened with an exhibition amateur-professional match for the benefit of the Red Cross.  Among the participants was the President of the USGA. 

And here we are today, some 100 years later, with St. George's having the same basic design.  Emmet's home course has truly withstood the test of time.  In his profile, acclaimed golf course architecture writer Bradley Klein of Golfweek states, "It's like a round of golf at the end of a time machine.  Why can't more courses be as elegant and uncluttered?  The place is simply charming and unlike anything I have seen on Long Island.  It's a museum piece with timeless appeal".

From the club website.

 

 

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