Welcome to the Inaugural Issue

Welcome to the SOCIETY (short for the Society of Golf Historians) Newletter. First and foremost, thank you for subscribing and taking the time out of your busy day to read this inaugural newsletter. I sincerely hope that you find it worth your time.

Golf History has been a passion of mine for decades and I want to take a moment to thank you for allowing me to share something I love with all of you. Whether its the TalkinGolf History Podcast or The Society of Golf Historians accounts on social media or now the SOCIETY Newsletter - without you, I would be golf history’s version of Cliff Claven, so thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving some meaning to this side of my life.

The sole purpose of the Society of Golf Historians has been to educate, inform, and to do our best to bring golf history to life. With that in mind - this newsletter is not mine, it is ours and if you believe you have a story that would be worth publishing here, please reach out to share it.

My email address is: [email protected].

Finally many of you have been clamoring for merchandise as well as golf outings - in the upcoming months I will work make both of those a reality.

The Unique Restoration of an American Original

(Foxburg, Pennsylvania) Foxburg Country Club is set to undergo one of the most unusual restorations in decades. While countless golf course architects are restoring golf courses from the Golden Age of Golf Design, Forse Design is set to rollback the clock on one of the oldest golf courses in North America and restore Foxburg CC to its original Victorian design! This unique golf course which is both a private club and open to the public, will soon be adorned with restored steeplechase (pre-1900 hazards) so that the modern golfer can step back in time to experience how golf was originally played here in the USA.

Foxburg CC was founded by Joseph Mickle Fox in 1887. Upon Fox’s graduation from Haverford College in 1873, he joined an international cricket team and in 1884 traveled overseas to challenge teams across Ireland, England and Scotland. It was on this very trip that Fox heard about the game of golf and set off to explore its hub - St Andrews. Upon reaching St Andrews, Mr. Fox made the acquaintance of Old Tom Morris who taught him the nuances of the game and sold him the equipment he would need to play the game in America.

Once back on American soil, Fox built a rudimentary golf course on his Summer Estate in Foxburg, PA, but only three years later in 1887, the golf bug had taken its hold on this early American golfer & in that year Fox built a 5 hole Victorian golf course on the land that would be named Foxburg CC. By 1889, Fox extended the course to 9 holes and utilized empty tomato cans to line its golf holes. This is the story of how Foxburg CC became one of a handful of courses to stake their claim on the rebirth of the game of golf in America - side by side with the names of Oakhurst Links (1884) and the St Andrews Golf Club (1888).

What stands today at Foxburg CC is the golf course’s original routing, but thanks to Forse Design, there is a plan in place to restore Foxburg to its original Victorian Design - a plan that this golf historian applauds and every golfer should yearn to experience. To turn back the clock on one of the earliest golf courses in America and play golf like our forefathers-forefathers once did - back when the game of golf was an adventure.

The restoration plan costs a mere $2.5 million, but they do need your help. The club is seeking donations, grants and any other assistance to make this masterplan a reality.

For more information please click the link below to learn more on how you might be able to give back to golf history:

www.1887project.org.

Help St Andrews create a statute of Old Tom Morris

Correspondance from St Andrews:

The Old Tom Statue Project Group, who wish to place a statue on the Scores to celebrate the life of Old Tom Morris, have received the green light from the St Andrews Links Trust, who are custodians of the Tom Morris brand. 

Speaking today, Ronald Sandford who is Chair of Old Tom Statue Project Group said, ‘I am delighted that we have the go-ahead from the St Andrews Links Trust to create this wonderful statue of Old Tom. He was a legend in his own lifetime and known then as the Grand Old Man of Golf. Be it winner of four Opens, or the creator of over 100 courses, he is Scotland’s greatest golfing icon and it is appropriate that St Andrews should herald one of its finest sons. Mrs Walker, Old Tom’s Great Great Granddaughter, and her cousin Melvyn Morrow were also said to be delighted with the news.’ 

Scottish sculptor David Annand will create the statue. His previous work includes the statue of golfing pioneer Dr John Rattray, that was been installed at Leith Links. David said, ‘It will be the opportunity of a lifetime to create this historic statue that will stand in St Andrews overlooking his shop and 18th green for all time coming.  It may well be a new target line for those playing from the 18th tee. My hope is that a few words with Old Tom before you tee off the first will settle any first tee nerves.’  

Speaking of the vision to have a statue for Old Tom, Ronald said, ‘A few years ago I was playing Rosapenna in County Donegal, designed by Old Tom Morris in 1891, and it was there that my friends and I discovered this wonderful statue sculpted by Paul Ferriter. I immediately said, ‘There should be a statue of Old Tom Morris in St Andrews.’ That statue was my inspiration and proved to be the beginning of a long running odyssey.’

The statue will be funded through private donations, local charities, and golfers from around the globe, such is the affection for Old Tom Morris. Ronald added, ‘We in the group appreciate that we must go through planning to receive permission and that will take a little time, but with the amount of positive support and good will worldwide that we have received so far, the hope is that all being well, the statue could be in-situ for the AIG Women’s Open in 2024.’

-Roger McStravick, Golf Historian

Golf History Trivia:

A major championship has been played in every month but one- the Month of January!

The PGA Championship has actually been played in 9 different months.