Newport Country Club
Encyclopedia
Newport Country Club, founded in 1893, is a historic private golf
club in Newport, Rhode Island
in the United States
that hosted both the first U.S. Amateur Championship and the first U.S. Open
in 1895.
, a wealthy sportsman whose family owned the American Sugar Company
, played the game of golf on a trip to the South of France in 1889 and returned to his summer home in Newport, RI excited about its future. He convinced a few pals from the summer colony's social elite, men such as Hermann Oelrichs
, John Jacob Astor IV
, Perry Belmont
and three Vanderbilts
- Cornelius
, Frederick
, and William - to purchase the 140-acre Rocky Farm property for $80,000 and establish the golf club in 1893. At the time of the club's founding, Newport was at the peak of its prestige as the favorite summer colony of America's wealthy elite. The city had thus established one of America's earliest golf clubs since the sport was played almost exclusively by the rich when it was first introduced to the United States.
Calumet Club with representatives from four other clubs: St. Andrew's Golf Club in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY; Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
; The Country Club
in Brookline, MA; and the Chicago Golf Club
. These clubs agreed to form the Amateur Golf Association, the forefather of the United States Golf Association
. In October 1895, Newport Country Club hosted both the first U.S. Amateur Championship and the first U.S. Open
. In 1995, in celebration of the U.S. Amateur Championship centennial, the club hosted the 1995 U.S. Amateur Championship, which was won by Tiger Woods
. To this day, the U.S. Amateur champion is awarded the Havemeyer Trophy. It was also the venue of the 2006 U.S. Women's Open
, which was won by Annika Sörenstam
.
, Baltusrol Golf Club
, and the San Francisco Golf Club, was hired to remodel the course layout. Since 1995, restoration on some of the course has been completed by Ron Forse.
designed the classic, Beaux Arts style clubhouse on a largely barren farm overlooking Brenton Point in 1895. Warren's only other major Newport project at the time was a home for his sister, Edith. This mansion, which overlooks Bailey's Beach
and completed in 1900, was called High Tide. Michelle Wie
stayed here for the week of the 2006 U.S. Women's Open
. The clubhouse went under extensive renovation in 2005.
U.S.G.A. rules govern all play.
The first hole is a par five from every tee box except for the blacks, from which it is a par four. It is a hole with bunkers left and right closest to the tees, fescue lining the fairway left and right, then arriving at an elevated green surrounded by bunkers.
A short par four, it has one fairway bunker on each side about 150 yards from the green, then a cross bunker that cuts the fairway 80 yards in front of the green.
An even shorter par four, teeing off slightly downhill to a cross bunker 150 yards from the green. Easily clearable, with short rough on your left and a bunker and fescue on your right. The hole goes to a slightly elevated green, which is almost on the Atlantic Ocean. One could easily hit a pitching wedge from one of the 5 greenside bunkers over Ocean Drive and into the water.
A long par three, playing 242 from the championship tees. This hole lines the water, and hooks to the left will find the road or even the water, while pulls to the right find one of the 7 bunkers on the hole, or unforgiving fescue.
One of the harder par fours, it plays uphill to a fairway riddled with bunkers. A long bunker on the beginning of the fairway runs up the left side and catches short tee shots. It is usually safer to aim right middle, but not so far right that you catch the small pot bunker on the right. A decent drive leaves about 180 in, easily enough to clear the two bunkers on your left in the middle of the fairway, 110 yards out from the green. The hole plays to a green guarded by four bunkers, and with a spine in the middle (tough to put over). A challenging hole.
The sixth hole is a bit easier but does play into the prevailing wind. Drives usually find the fairway, but the punishment for left or right is stubborn rough or bunker with a low lip. The only real challenge on this hole is a cross bunker that crosses the whole fairway, 35 yards out from the green. Going right gives a short path into the green beside the cross bunker, but be careful as your ball may find the deep double bunker on the right.
A long par five, playing over 500 yards from the championship tees. A massive bunker nicknamed the Sahara prevents short tee shots from heading towards the green. A small patch of fairway lies to the right of this bunker, but fescue resides to the right of that. Long hitters can go for the green in two, but accuracy is a must as there are four bunkers surrounding the green. To the left of the left greenside bunkers is OB, and to the right of the right bunkers is fescue.
A short par four, playing 194 from the championship tees. A small fairway but large green are both concealed by six bunkers. Three to the left of the green, two to the right, and a cross bunker that catches very short shots.
A daunting uphill par four, the key is to aim right over the "tongue" (or the grassy section in the middle of the cross bunker 230 yards out from the championship tees). Over this bunker puts a player in good position for a shot at the green, while leaving it safe either left or short gets you a 220+ yard uphill approach shot to a fast green. Lining the right and left of this hole is fescue, so fairway is a must. Other bunkers are ones in the left fairway 100 yards out, then 3 greenside bunkers.
Hole 10
Hole number 10 , although 572 from the tips, it plays down hill and predominately downwind. JFK’s in-laws former home “Hammersmith Farm” is a good target for the drive. Avoid the left and right fairway bunkers and you’ll have a long iron down to the 150 - 100 yard markers which are bunkered on both sides. In the heat of summer when the un-watered fairways harden, it is not unusual for better players to hit drives of 350 yards or more ! The well bunkered 10th green is double tired and is very accepting of short irons, just be careful not spin it off the green.
Hole 11
Hole 11 - Harbor. This short enticing par 4 can come up and sting you, if you look past it too casually. A well struck 4 iron or utility wood over the cross bunker will put you inside of 100 yards for a gentle flip onto the small heavily bunkered green. For those who have greed in their hearts however, the 11th is willing to rip it out. A long bunker stretching out from the right side of the green and meandering up the fairway a bit provides the venom with the “hardest shot in golf ”. The wayward tee ball hit with a driver in search of "driving the green" can easily end up being a 30 yard sand shot. What should have been an easy 4 , can now ballon to an ugly gut wrenching 5 or 6.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
club in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that hosted both the first U.S. Amateur Championship and the first U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
in 1895.
History
Theodore HavemeyerTheodore Havemeyer
Theodore Havemeyer was an American businessman who was the first president of the U.S. Golf Association and co-founder of the Newport Country Club, host to both the first U.S. Amateur and the first U.S. Open in 1895....
, a wealthy sportsman whose family owned the American Sugar Company
American Sugar Refining Company
The American Sugar Refining Company was the largest American business unit in the sugar refining industry in the early 1900s.-Establishment:...
, played the game of golf on a trip to the South of France in 1889 and returned to his summer home in Newport, RI excited about its future. He convinced a few pals from the summer colony's social elite, men such as Hermann Oelrichs
Hermann Oelrichs
Hermann Oelrichs , was an American businessman, multimillionaire, and owner of Norddeutsche Lloyd shipping. The grandson of a German immigrant, Oelrichs was married in 1890 to Teresa Alice Fair, daughter of United States Senator and Comstock Lode millionaire James Graham Fair...
, John Jacob Astor IV
John Jacob Astor IV
John Jacob Astor IV was an American businessman, real estate builder, investor, inventor, writer, lieutenant colonel in the Spanish-American War and a member of the prominent Astor family...
, Perry Belmont
Perry Belmont
Perry Belmont was an American politician and diplomat.-Biography:He was born on December 28, 1851 in New York City to August Belmont. His brothers were Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont and August Belmont, Jr....
and three Vanderbilts
Vanderbilt family
The Vanderbilt family is an American family of Dutch origin prominent during the Gilded Age. It started off with the shipping and railroad empires of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthropy...
- Cornelius
Cornelius Vanderbilt II
Cornelius Vanderbilt II was an American socialite, heir, businessman, and a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family....
, Frederick
Frederick William Vanderbilt
Frederick William Vanderbilt was a member of the Vanderbilt family. He was a director of the New York Central Railroad for 61 years, and also a director of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad and of the Chicago and North Western Railroad.-Biography:A son of William Henry Vanderbilt, Frederick...
, and William - to purchase the 140-acre Rocky Farm property for $80,000 and establish the golf club in 1893. At the time of the club's founding, Newport was at the peak of its prestige as the favorite summer colony of America's wealthy elite. The city had thus established one of America's earliest golf clubs since the sport was played almost exclusively by the rich when it was first introduced to the United States.
Tournaments
Anxious to host national competitions, Havemeyer invited the country's best amateurs to his new course for a championship in 1894. That December, Havemeyer held a meeting at New York City'sNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Calumet Club with representatives from four other clubs: St. Andrew's Golf Club in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY; Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is a links-style golf club located in the hamlet of Shinnecock Hills in the town of Southampton on Long Island in the U.S. state of New York. It has hosted the U.S. Open four times in three different centuries and will host the 2018 U.S. Open...
; The Country Club
The Country Club
The Country Club, located in Brookline, Massachusetts, is one of the oldest country club in the United States. It holds an important place in golf history, as it is one of the five charter clubs that founded the United States Golf Association, and has hosted numerous USGA tournaments including the...
in Brookline, MA; and the Chicago Golf Club
Chicago Golf Club
Chicago Golf Club is a private golf club in Wheaton, Illinois in the United States. It is the oldest 18-hole course in North America and was one of the five clubs which founded the United States Golf Association in 1894. Its founder, Charles B. Macdonald, won the first official U.S...
. These clubs agreed to form the Amateur Golf Association, the forefather of the United States Golf Association
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
. In October 1895, Newport Country Club hosted both the first U.S. Amateur Championship and the first U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
. In 1995, in celebration of the U.S. Amateur Championship centennial, the club hosted the 1995 U.S. Amateur Championship, which was won by Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
. To this day, the U.S. Amateur champion is awarded the Havemeyer Trophy. It was also the venue of the 2006 U.S. Women's Open
United States Women's Open Championship (golf)
The United States Women's Open Golf Championship, one of thirteen national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association , is one of the LPGA's major championships along with the LPGA Championship, the Women's British Open, and the Kraft Nabisco Championship...
, which was won by Annika Sörenstam
Annika Sörenstam
Annika Sörenstam is a Swedish-American professional golfer whose achievements rank her as one of the most successful golfers in history. Before stepping away from competitive golf at the end of the 2008 season, she won 90 international tournaments as a professional, making her the female golfer...
.
Course
A nine-hole course was designed in 1894 by William Davis, the club's first professional, and later expanded to 18 holes in 1915 by renowned architect Donald Ross. In 1923, A.W. Tillinghast, famous for such designs as Winged Foot Golf ClubWinged Foot Golf Club
Winged Foot Golf Club is a 36-hole golf course located in Mamaroneck, New York. The course architect is A. W. Tillinghast, who also designed Baltusrol , Bethpage Black, Shackamaxon Country Club, San Francisco Golf Club, Cedar Crest Park, and nearby Quaker Ridge Golf Club and Wykagyl Country Club...
, Baltusrol Golf Club
Baltusrol Golf Club
The Baltusrol Golf Club is a private 36-hole golf club located in Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey. Among the many prestigious tournaments it has hosted, Baltusrol was most recently the site of the 2005 PGA Championship. The course architect is A. W...
, and the San Francisco Golf Club, was hired to remodel the course layout. Since 1995, restoration on some of the course has been completed by Ron Forse.
Clubhouse
Whitney WarrenWhitney Warren
Whitney Warren was an architect with Charles Delevan Wetmore at Warren and Wetmore in New York City.-Biography:He was born in 1864 and his brother was Lloyd Warren, also an architect. He was a cousin of the Vanderbilts and spent ten years at the École des Beaux Arts...
designed the classic, Beaux Arts style clubhouse on a largely barren farm overlooking Brenton Point in 1895. Warren's only other major Newport project at the time was a home for his sister, Edith. This mansion, which overlooks Bailey's Beach
Bailey's Beach
Bailey's Beach is an elite private beach and club in Newport, Rhode Island.-History:Bailey's Beach in Newport Rhode Island was:...
and completed in 1900, was called High Tide. Michelle Wie
Michelle Wie
Michelle Sung Wie is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. At age 10, she became the youngest player to qualify for a USGA amateur championship. Wie would also become the youngest winner of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and the youngest to qualify for a LPGA Tour event...
stayed here for the week of the 2006 U.S. Women's Open
United States Women's Open Championship (golf)
The United States Women's Open Golf Championship, one of thirteen national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association , is one of the LPGA's major championships along with the LPGA Championship, the Women's British Open, and the Kraft Nabisco Championship...
. The clubhouse went under extensive renovation in 2005.
Scorecard
| HOLE | BLACK | BLACK HCP | RED | WHITE | RED/WHITE HCP | PAR | BLUE HCP | BLUE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The First | 459 | 1 | 480 | 442 | 15 | 4/5 | 11 | 427 |
| 2 | The Cop | 390 | 15 | 366 | 352 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 341 |
| 3 | Ocean | 345 | 17 | 328 | 312 | 17 | 4 | 15 | 228 |
| 4 | Graves Point | 242 | 7 | 220 | 209 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 181 |
| 5 | Polo Shed | 451 | 5 | 422 | 411 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 347 |
| 6 | Lookout | 418 | 11 | 383 | 359 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 287 |
| 7 | Long Meadow | 596 | 9 | 553 | 512 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 454 |
| 8 | Willows | 194 | 13 | 177 | 164 | 13 | 3 | 17 | 155 |
| 9 | Orchard | 464 | 3 | 422 | 406 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 381 |
| OUT | 3559 | 3351 | 3167 | 35/36 | 2801 | ||||
| 10 | Quarry | 572 | 16 | 528 | 517 | 14 | 5 | 14 | 477 |
| 11 | Harbour | 298 | 18 | 298 | 289 | 18 | 4 | 18 | 245 |
| 12 | Valley | 463 | 2 | 477 | 436 | 16 | 4/5 | 10 | 396 |
| 13 | Club | 166 | 14 | 151 | 137 | 12 | 3 | 16 | 123 |
| 14 | Plateau | 209 | 10 | 189 | 172 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 159 |
| 15 | Brenton Reef | 444 | 4 | 411 | 403 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 391 |
| 16 | Island | 359 | 12 | 359 | 321 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 311 |
| 17 | Pond | 455 | 6 | 441 | 387 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 380 |
| 18 | Home | 420 | 8 | 379 | 365 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 318 |
| IN | 3386 | 3233 | 3027 | 35/36 | 2800 | ||||
| TOT | 6945 | 6584 | 6194 | 70/72 | 5601 |
| SLOPE | INDEX | |
|---|---|---|
| BLACK | 129 | 73.8 |
| RED | 127 | 72.4 |
| WHITE | 121 | 70.6 |
| WOMEN | ||
| BLUE | 126 | 73.0 |
| WHITE | 134 | 76.7 |
U.S.G.A. rules govern all play.
Local Rules
A ball is out of bounds when it lies outside the Club property where defined by fences, the road behind No. 11 green and stonewalls, with the exception of the wall to the right of No. 17 green. Stones in bunkers are moveable obstructions.Etiquette
If a match fails to keep its place on the course and loses more than one clear hole on the players in front, it should allow the match following to pass. Observe all cart signs and use paths where available. Keep all golf carts in fairway. Newport Country Club prides itself in fast play.Play
- Newport is an 18 Hole Golf Course, which plays just over 6,950 yards from the championship tees (blacks, par 70). In general the short holes play into the prevailing south west wind and the long holes play down wind.
- There are also the mens tees, (red, par 72) - the senior tees (white, par 72) and the women's tees (blue, par 72).
- Hole 1
The first hole is a par five from every tee box except for the blacks, from which it is a par four. It is a hole with bunkers left and right closest to the tees, fescue lining the fairway left and right, then arriving at an elevated green surrounded by bunkers.
- Hole 2
A short par four, it has one fairway bunker on each side about 150 yards from the green, then a cross bunker that cuts the fairway 80 yards in front of the green.
- Hole 3
An even shorter par four, teeing off slightly downhill to a cross bunker 150 yards from the green. Easily clearable, with short rough on your left and a bunker and fescue on your right. The hole goes to a slightly elevated green, which is almost on the Atlantic Ocean. One could easily hit a pitching wedge from one of the 5 greenside bunkers over Ocean Drive and into the water.
- Hole 4
A long par three, playing 242 from the championship tees. This hole lines the water, and hooks to the left will find the road or even the water, while pulls to the right find one of the 7 bunkers on the hole, or unforgiving fescue.
- Hole 5
One of the harder par fours, it plays uphill to a fairway riddled with bunkers. A long bunker on the beginning of the fairway runs up the left side and catches short tee shots. It is usually safer to aim right middle, but not so far right that you catch the small pot bunker on the right. A decent drive leaves about 180 in, easily enough to clear the two bunkers on your left in the middle of the fairway, 110 yards out from the green. The hole plays to a green guarded by four bunkers, and with a spine in the middle (tough to put over). A challenging hole.
- Hole 6
The sixth hole is a bit easier but does play into the prevailing wind. Drives usually find the fairway, but the punishment for left or right is stubborn rough or bunker with a low lip. The only real challenge on this hole is a cross bunker that crosses the whole fairway, 35 yards out from the green. Going right gives a short path into the green beside the cross bunker, but be careful as your ball may find the deep double bunker on the right.
- Hole 7
A long par five, playing over 500 yards from the championship tees. A massive bunker nicknamed the Sahara prevents short tee shots from heading towards the green. A small patch of fairway lies to the right of this bunker, but fescue resides to the right of that. Long hitters can go for the green in two, but accuracy is a must as there are four bunkers surrounding the green. To the left of the left greenside bunkers is OB, and to the right of the right bunkers is fescue.
- Hole 8
A short par four, playing 194 from the championship tees. A small fairway but large green are both concealed by six bunkers. Three to the left of the green, two to the right, and a cross bunker that catches very short shots.
- Hole 9
A daunting uphill par four, the key is to aim right over the "tongue" (or the grassy section in the middle of the cross bunker 230 yards out from the championship tees). Over this bunker puts a player in good position for a shot at the green, while leaving it safe either left or short gets you a 220+ yard uphill approach shot to a fast green. Lining the right and left of this hole is fescue, so fairway is a must. Other bunkers are ones in the left fairway 100 yards out, then 3 greenside bunkers.
Hole 10
Hole number 10 , although 572 from the tips, it plays down hill and predominately downwind. JFK’s in-laws former home “Hammersmith Farm” is a good target for the drive. Avoid the left and right fairway bunkers and you’ll have a long iron down to the 150 - 100 yard markers which are bunkered on both sides. In the heat of summer when the un-watered fairways harden, it is not unusual for better players to hit drives of 350 yards or more ! The well bunkered 10th green is double tired and is very accepting of short irons, just be careful not spin it off the green.
Hole 11
Hole 11 - Harbor. This short enticing par 4 can come up and sting you, if you look past it too casually. A well struck 4 iron or utility wood over the cross bunker will put you inside of 100 yards for a gentle flip onto the small heavily bunkered green. For those who have greed in their hearts however, the 11th is willing to rip it out. A long bunker stretching out from the right side of the green and meandering up the fairway a bit provides the venom with the “hardest shot in golf ”. The wayward tee ball hit with a driver in search of "driving the green" can easily end up being a 30 yard sand shot. What should have been an easy 4 , can now ballon to an ugly gut wrenching 5 or 6.
See also
- Brenton Point