History of Belmont Country Club
Overview
Belmont is an extraordinary facility, only now to be greatly enhanced by our new clubhouse, but what truly differentiates Belmont Country Club is that we are a community connected by the shared values, principles and priorities of our membership. The founding members, as outlined in our mission statement, had a vision for a membership "who are highly respected within their chosen fields and have demonstrated a commitment to charitable causes and to community service." With all that has changed since 1943, these principles are still what make the Belmont Experience so special. The integrity and continued dedication to these principles are re-enforced from generation to generation through the "Member Sponsor" approach to membership. We grow our family organically by bringing those we love and respect most from our communities into the Belmont Family. To be a Belmont Member is not defined by the chance to use an exclusive golf, tennis or dining facility, but by the privilege to share in memorable social traditions with other families who have shared priorities.
Key Dates
An 1853 map of the Town of Belmont shows a dwelling on BCC's site owned by an E. Green. The property was purchased by George H. Cotton about 1872 and named Cotton Place. After Mr. Cotton's death, Willard E. Robinson purchased the almost 90-acre site and old Colonial house in 1908. The following year, he proceeded to layout a nine-hole golf course. Next, Mr. Robinson bought land across Winter Street, giving him a total of 211 acres, with enough area to enlarge the course to 18 holes, which was designed by Donald Ross (1872-1948), a new course designer from Dornoch, Scotland and renamed The Belmont Springs Country Club. Mr. Ross moved to Boston in 1899, where he was the pro-greens keeper at Oakley Country Club. Ross is considered by many to be the best known and most active golf designer in America from 1912 until his death. In 1925, over 3,000 men were employed annually in the construction of Ross courses. Ross played a major role in forming the American Society of Golf Course Architects and is considered to be its patron saint. It's no coincidence that the coveted annual award for "Best Architect in America" is named after him.
In 1916, Mr. Robinson, who continued to conduct the duly organized club, added 20 more acres to the property and sold bonds to club members. They became the Belmont Springs Trust from which the club leased the golf course and clubhouse. With part of the money raised, a model locker building was erected to replace the old locker building and stables destroyed by fire in 1915. On December 31, 1917, the Colonial clubhouse burned to the ground and the stucco locker building was converted into the present clubhouse, which has been enlarged and remodeled.
During the post-war prosperity of 1919 and 1920, The Belmont Springs Country Club had its heyday with a full membership of 550 and an imposing waiting list. On July 30, 1920, a gallery of some 7,000 people, estimated at that time to be the largest ever to witness a golf match in the United States, swarmed over the course to watch Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, English Professionals, defeat America's leading amateur team of Francis Ouimet and James P. Guildford 4 and 2 in a 36-hole exhibition match.
September 28, 1937 - Belmont Open Match Play Tournament Byron Nelson of Reading, MA proved to be a better "mudder" than Henry Picard of Hershey, PA (born in Plymouth, MA as he gained a 5-4 victory in the 36-hole final round of the $12,000 tournament).
Hampered by wet weather, Nelson and Picard were all even after their first 18 at 71. Picard twice led by decisive margins. Rain was Picard's bane. "Every time I have ever found myself in a position to win a tournament I wanted, it always rains."
Two birdies on the 21st and 22nd holes made Nelson 3 up. A par 4 on the next hole, where Picard putted three times from 26 feet, more than decided the match and the name to be inscribed on the check.
The course was remodeled by Orrin Smith (1883-1958), who was associated with Donald Ross on many projects during his career, and entered private practice in 1925. It is not known what year he remodeled Belmont Country Club.
In 1969, Alfred H. Tull remodeled the course once again. Tull was renowned for his ability to lay out individual holes and establish a circuit by walking the land and staking holes without the benefit of a topographical plan. Tull studied under and worked with A. W. Tillinghast and Devereau Emmet (two of the most highly respected and well-known names in American golf course architecture) early in his career. Families of the original founding owners are still members today.
In 2005-2006 the golf course and practice facility underwent a major renovation. With clear vision to restore Belmont to its historical Ross tradition, golf course architect, Craig Schreiner and long term member, Charlie Gordon took on the massive project to not only replaced every tee, bunker and the irrigation system, but also re-contoured the "Valley Holes" (5 thru 9) to blend with the remaining thirteen holes on the course. Always known for its fast and true greens, Gordon and Schreiner, in what would be the boldest decision of the project, decided to replace the "Vesper Velvet Bent Grass" greens with a new strain of Bent Grass called "Greenwich Velvet." This was the icing on the cake! The greens at Belmont Country Club are some of the very best in the country and have restored Belmont Country Club as one of the premiere golf courses in the country!