Wampanoag Country Club

In the early 1920s, 330 men from the area decided to spend $1,000 each to purchase territory near Hartford to create a country club.[1] The club's property was acquired in April 1924.[2]

The course was designed by the well-known golf course architect Donald Ross.[2] In June 1924, builder Peter Sazio and engineer Fred Dale began work on creating the course. Shortly thereafter, "[e]ntire charge of the proposition" was given to J.G. Kanter, an "expert" golf course construction engineer.[2] In 1925, the course was under construction.[2] As of February 1925, everything was moving ahead of schedule.[2] The course was to exist upon 185 acres.[2] The course was intended to have moderate terrain, never rising above "fifty feet" with "undulations [that] gently rise and fall" and a lack of "steep hills."[2] The engineering was known to be ahead of its time and the bunkers were intended to be "self-draining."[2]

The members of the club also wanted a clubhouse. Construction of the clubhouse was intended to begin in the spring of 1925 and the clubhouse was expected to open concurrent with the golf course.[2] However, building the "golf course was above expectations" and the intended clubhouse was not completed.[1] The members decided to purchase a farmhouse on North Main Street and use that as a clubhouse.[1]

In 1928, the golf course was complete. William B. Goodwin would be the first president.[3][4] Over half a million dollars had been invested to create the club.[3] It was also announced that the entrance membership fee was $1,000 and annual membership fees were $150.[3] Membership was then limited to 350 people but was intended to expand to 400 people.[3]

In the 1930s, the course began hosting significant tournaments. The club hosted the Connecticut Open, then a PGA Tour-level event, several times during this era.[5]

In 1954, construction for a new clubhouse began.[1] The Anderson Fairoaks Construction Company was commissioned to build the clubhouse.[1] On January 22, 1955, the new clubhouse with "ranch-style architecture" opened.[1] A swimming pool and locker room were new additions from the old clubhouse.[1] According to The Hartford Courant, "[o]nly minor changes" were made to the golf course.[1]

A few months after the opening of the new clubhouse, the course hosted the Connecticut Amateur.[1] Wampanoag has hosted the tournament several times since then.[6] In the late 20th and early 21st century, Wampanoag has hosted a number of other significant tournaments. In 1998, the course hosted the Kennedy Cup, an event pitting local golfers from Hartford County, Connecticut against amateur golfers from Wexford County, Ireland.[7] In 2005, the course hosted the Connecticut Women's Open. The event was won by Elizabeth Janangelo, a member of the club.[4]

• Official website

41°48′00″N 72°45′19″W