The SOCIETY Newsletter #119

THE SOCIETY OF GOLF HISTORIANS

The Third Annual Auction

Where the Game’s Greatest Places Fund Its Greatest Stories

There are moments in golf where the past and present intersect in a way that feels almost intentional. We would like to think that this year’s Society of Golf Historians Auction is one of those moments.

Our third annual auction is not just a collection of extraordinary rounds at some of the most revered clubs in the world. It is a direct investment in the preservation of golf’s intellectual and cultural history.

Proceeds from this year’s auction will support the continued research and writing of Stephen Proctor as he undertakes his next book on Bernard Darwin, one of the most important voices the game has ever known.

Stephen was recently awarded the Herbert Warren Wind Award by the United States Golf Association for his remarkable book Matchless. There is no better steward to tell the story of Darwin, and no better cause for this year’s auction.

This is what the Society exists to do. Not simply to remember the game, but to actively fund its storytelling.

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THE AUCTION

A Collection Without Equal

This year’s lineup may be the most compelling we have assembled. These are not just rounds of golf. They are invitations into the inner sanctum of the game.

Highlighted offerings include:

• The MacKenzie at 21 Golf Club: A three-some with me serving as your host. Come experience a Alister MacKenzie course brought to life after almost 100 years. There isn’t a course like this in the world with 9 shared greens and only 15 bunkers. It’s an experience like no other.

• Belleair Country Club: A threesome with me serving as your host. The oldest golf course in the state of Florida, the course was renovated by Donald Ross in 1914 and is one of the most stunning golf courses in the state of Florida with 17 holes overlooking the Gulf.

• Interlachen Country Club: Threesome at the home of the 1930 US Open. This stunning Top 100 Ranked Donald Ross course was recently restored by Andrew Green. It’s breathtaking and you will be accompanied by one of the club’s historians.

• Inverness Club: Threesome at Donald Ross’ Top 100 Ranked Ohio stunner. Host of multiple majors and has been recently announced as the host of a future U.S. Open.

• Oak Hill Country Club: Threesome at this gorgeous Donald Ross located in Rochester, NY. Home of major championships, most recently the PGA Championship.

• Sara Bay Country Club: Threesome at this sleeper Donald Ross course located in Sarasota. SBCC was originally called Whitfield Estates and Bobby Jones called this club home for two winter seasons. The club also hosted 36 holes of the Match of the Century pitting the Great Bobby Jones vs Sir Walter Hagen.

• Hyannisport Club: Threesome on one of the most elite clubs in Massachusetts, made famous by the Kennedy family who played their golf here. The course has been designed by three of golf’s Johnny Appleseed’s, most notably Donald Ross.

• Saint Andrew’s Golf Club: Threesome at one of the oldest golf clubs in the United States. SAGC was founded in 1888 and was one of the original founding members of the USGA. You will be joined by one of the club’s great historians! This is a golf trip for the true golf history lover!

• Lake Zurich Golf Club: Threesome at one of the craziest and coolest golf clubs in the United States. We did a podcast on Lake Zurich years ago called, “The Club That Time Forgot.” Playing Lake Zurich’s 9 holes is like stepping back in time. The club has virtually been untouched since the 1890s and the club has never had more than 37 members! And if you think that is cool - as your host about the bodies buried on the property.

• Black Sheep Golf Club: Threesome at one of Chicago’s most exclusive golf clubs. The club is a men’s only club and as such the winning threesome must be all male golfers. Black Sheep is comprised of 27 holes of American Links Golf.

• Hollywood Golf Club: Threesome at this Top 100 ranked Walter Travis classic in New Jersey recently restored by Brian Schneider. While I have yet to play it, my friends swear by its brilliance!

• Eastward Ho!: Threesome at one of my favorite and underrated golf clubs in the USA. This Top 100 Herbert Strong design was recently restored by Kyle Franz. It’s holes are stunning and the views will take your breathe away! One of my favorite courses in the USA.

• Old Barnwell: Threesome on what has been hailed as one of the greatest modern golf courses in the last 25 years. This is an opportunity to play Brian Schneider’s brilliant course and a new era of golf course architecture!

• Army Navy Country Club: Threesome on a course with one of the most prestigious membership, including founding members Dwight Eisenhower and Omar Bradley. Bradley, along with Chester Nimitz and Hoyt Vandenberg, served as Club presidents. The club's membership includes four Presidents of the United States, with numerous others enjoying access as honorary members.

• Palmetto Golf Club: Threesome on one of my favorite golf courses in the Southeast. Opened in 1892 and in the early 1930s Dr. Alister MacKenzie was hired to renovate. I have on occasion said Palmetto- “is what ANGC was like before it evolved.”

• Moraine Country Club: Threesome on oneof the most underrated golf courses in the U.S. Alex Campbell designed the course as much as it was shaped by Mother Nature. The wow factor of this course will overwhelm you.

• Prairie Dunes Country Club: Threesome on one of the greatest golf courses on this planet? How good is PDCC? It inspired Sand Hills which inspired Brandon Dunes. It proved that great golf can exist anywhere and thrive.

• Meadowbrook Club: Threesome on one of Willie Park Junior’s designs. Expertly restored by Andy Staples, this course will give you a glimpse into the design genius of one of golf’s underappreciated architects.

• Peachtree Golf Club: Twosome with me and our host. Join me and our host to play a round at one of the two golf courses Bobby Jones helped design. Peachtree is not only one of the best golf courses in the country, there are some who consider it better than Bobby Jones’ club to the East,

• Dismal River Club: Threesome on Tom Doak’s gift to the Nebraska Sand Hills. This oasis in the middle of rolling sand dunes has been hailed as one of the best in the country. 36 holes to choose from - I highly suggest the Doak design!

• Everglades Club: Twosome with me and our host. Here is a chance to play one of the mos exclusive, under the radar Seth Raynor courses in the world. Located in South Florida it’s spoken about in a whisper.

• Fox Chapel Golf Club: Threesome on this wonderful Seth Raynor course in the Pittsburgh market. Amazing history, amazing course with perhaps the best Biarritz hole in the world.

• Blue Mound Golf & Country Club: Threesome playing this Top 100 ranked Seth Raynor’s only Wisconsin course. This club is truly a stunner!

• Mountain Lake: Threesome at Central Florida’s hidden gem. Mountain Lake is one of Seth Raynor’s earlier courses, part of a master planned community for the elite of the Northeast. Tyler Rae kicked off the restoration of Mountain Lake this Monday, meaning you will be playing the newly restored Mountain Lake!

• The Lido: Threesome at one of the greatest golf projects perhaps since the original Lido. Tom Doak and team with the help of Peter Flory’s digital recreation brought back one of the greatest golf courses that has ever been built. This is your chance to play it.

• Midland Hills Country Club: Threesome at one of the most under appreciated, under talked about Seth Raynor courses in the world.

• Country Club of Naples: Threesome at one of the premium golf courses in SW Florida.

• Crystal Downs Country Club: Twosome with me and our host. The round must be played in October, but with the leaves changing this Alister MacKenzie design which many rank just behind Augusta National and Cypress Point will be a stunner!

• Broomsedge Golf Club: Threesome on this eye popping new design in South Carolina. Broomsedge is one of the great courses designed to challenge the golfer both physically and mentally. It’s gorgeous!

HERE IS THE LINK TO OUR AUCTION:

And finally the week after the Society Auction concludes we will pay tribute to past auctions by putting three experiences up for auction on Twitter/X.

We will be auctioning off a two-some who will join me and a member to play a major championship course in Pennsylvania. And a threesome at the Covey at Easy Ranch the #1 ranked golf course in the state of Texas!

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WHY THIS MATTERS

There is a temptation in modern golf to believe that the game’s future lies solely in new construction, new technology, and new audiences.

But golf’s staying power has always come from its stories.

From the written words of Darwin to the architectural philosophies of MacKenzie and Ross, the game is built as much on ideas as it is on land. Without those ideas being preserved, studied, and shared, something essential is lost.

This auction ensures that does not happen.

Every bid placed is a commitment to the game’s intellectual heritage. It is support for the historians, writers, and thinkers who give golf its depth.

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A FINAL NOTE

Opportunities like this do not come around often.

To play these courses is rare. To do so while contributing to the preservation of golf history makes it something more.

It makes it meaningful.

We look forward to another extraordinary auction and to continuing the Society’s mission of honoring, preserving, and advancing the story of the game.

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The Society of Golf Historians

Preserving the past. Investing in its future.

THANK YOU!

As always, thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter and thank you for bidding on our auction items!