Rye Golf Club (Rye, New York)

The stone building which functions as the facility's clubhouse and houses a restaurant was originally intended as a residence for the Chapman family. It was constructed between 1852 and 1854. It was modeled on Whitby Abbey in England and is known as Whitby Castle.{{cite web|url=https://westchestermagazine.com/things-to-do/arts-culture/westchester-iconic-architecture|author =Paul Adler|title=How Much of Westchester's Iconic Architecture Have You Seen?|date=December 3, 2020|publisher=Westchester Magazine|access-date=December 11, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/westonmagazinegroup/docs/rye-56-lr/36|title=Quarried Histories|publisher=Weston Publishing|author=Suzanne Clary|date=December 6, 2015|access-date=December 11, 2021}}

The land currently occupied by the Rye Golf Club was originally purchased by the Chapman family of New York in the 1800s and used as a private residence. It was subsequently sold to the family of Joseph Park before being sold in 1921.

Numerous entities have managed the property as a country club since then and have given it more than six different names. While the club has had periods of success, it has also endured many challenges, emerging from bankruptcy and surviving the threat of dissolution and development. Over 100 years, the key components of the club have remained the same: the main clubhouse, the golf course, and a large swimming pool.{{Cite news |date=August 17, 1945 |title=Old Park Estate To Be Developed|publisher=The Rye Chronicle}}

The Rye Golf Club was originally organized on July 1, 1921, as the Rye Country Club by a group of men from Rye and other Westchester towns with the intention of attracting an initial membership of 600. The club was built on 150 acres of the former George Park and William Porter Allen estates overlooking Long Island Sound. Activities proposed for the club included summer sports of golf; swimming; beach bathing with the creation of a new sandy expanse; and winter sports of ice skating and hockey. Four clay tennis courts and four grass lawn courts were also part of the original plan. The architect F. Burnham Chapman was retained to design additions for ballroom space, lockers, and a grill room. Organizers of the club envisioned bus service from the Rye and Harrison train stations to regularly transport the club's members and guests.{{Cite news|title=New Rye Country Club Rushing Work of Construction of 18 Hole Course|publisher=New York Evening Post|date=August 13, 1921|author=Henry R. Isley}} Devereux Emmet was selected to design the course.{{Cite news |date=July 14, 1921 |title=Meeting Here Tonight of the New Rye Club |publisher=The Daily Argus|page=10}}

Construction on the golf course moved slowly with some initial overall club projects like the lawn tennis courts and harborage for yachts deferred.

William H. Horne, a renowned long driving golfer from England, was hired as the club's first pro in 1922.{{cite web|url=https://golf.com/travel/masked-golfer-betting-story|publisher=Golf Magazine|date=September 29, 2020|title=This story of a big-betting masked golfer is almost too good to believe|author=Dylan Dethier|access-date=December 11, 2021}} Horne was followed by golf pro Martin Sykes in 1925.{{Cite news|title=New Golf Plans for eligibility|publisher=The New York Telegram and Evening Mail|date=February 20, 1925}}

In its early days, the Rye links drew famous people like Yankee great Babe Ruth in 1933 {{Cite news|title=Ruth Cards 75 at Rye|publisher=The Daily News|date=June 8, 1933}} and amateur golf champion George Von Elm. Duncan Barr was the club's golf pro at this time. Ruth and Elm were among those celebrities to play the course during this first iteration.{{Cite news|title=News of Social Interest|publisher=The Rye Chronicle|date=September 13, 1933}} Other celebrities to hit the greens included golfers Ed "Porky" Oliver and Gene Sarazen who played an exhibition match there in the summer of 1940 as part of a 60-day tour sponsored by Golf Magazine.{{Cite news|title=Oliver, Sarazen to Play at Rye|publisher=The Daily Argus|location=Mount Vernon|date=August 20, 1940|page=10}}

Despite the growth in popularity of the sport, the Depression took its toll on the club and by November 1936, its principals were facing bankruptcy.{{Cite news|title=Rye Country Club Files Plea in Debt|work=The New York Times|page=26|date=November 22, 1936}}

The club was transferred to the Bowery Savings Bank sometime around 1941.{{Cite news |date=April 7, 1944 |title=Harrison Residents Lease Former Rye Country Club|publisher=The Rye Chronicle|page=1}}

The reorganized club opened on April 3, 1943, as the Rye Sound Public Country Club. Advertisements highlighted golf but also additional amenities like two salt water swimming pools, one for kids and one for adults, filled with filtered water from Long Island Sound. The club offered four hard surface tennis courts.{{Cite news |date=March 19, 1943 |title=Announcing the opening of the new RYE SOUND PUBLIC COUNTRY CLUB|publisher=The Rye Chronicle}}

During World War II, the club took on another name, the Bayview Country Club{{Cite news |date=May 28, 1943 |title=Woman Golfer Makes Hole in One at Bayview C. C|publisher=The Rye Chronicle}} During this transition time William H. Horne continued to manage the golf operations. It was dissolved by 1945.{{Cite news |date=February 2, 1945 |title=Bayview Country Club Will Be Operated By New Organization|publisher=The Rye Chronicle|page=4}}

The waterfront location of the club captured the attention of builders. A syndicate acquired the land in August 1945 with the intention of erecting large homes.{{Cite news | title=Builders Acquire Golf Club in Rye| date=August 12, 1945|page=70| work=The New York Times}} But reorganization, as a golf club prevailed and led by the owners of Buddy Lee Clothes{{Cite news|title=Rye Wood Country Club: Old Bayview C.C|publisher=The Herald Statesman|date=June 22, 1963|page=6}} and William Horne, the club's first pro, the facility, was rebranded under the name Rye Soundview Country Club.{{Cite news |date=March 23, 1945 |title=Former Rye Country Club Now Membership Corporation |publisher=The Rye Chronicle}} This name for the club was used only a short time.

The club was renamed, and the pool and tennis courts renovated.{{Cite news |date=March 1, 1946 |title=New Golf Club Takes Over Former Rye Country Club|publisher=The Rye Chronicle}} Pat Tiso became the new club's golf professional following Duncan Barr who had previously been the pro.{{Cite news |date=February 25, 1946 |title=New Glen Castle Country Club Set To Operate This Season|publisher=The Herald Statesman|location=Yonkers}}

Sometime around 1949, the club's name had changed yet again. It was a popular venue for dances and luncheons and served the community beyond Rye. Organizations from Scarsdale, Mamaroneck, and Larchmont, like the Sisterhood of Larchmont Temple, held gatherings there.{{Cite news |date=September 29, 1949|title=250 Guests Expected At Sisterhood Dance|publisher=The Larchmont Times}}

By 1959, the club's Board of Governors represented residents throughout Westchester including New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, and Port Chester. The pro up to this period was Fred Annon (1951-1959).{{Cite news |date=April 16, 1959|title=Ryewood C. C. Kickoff Fete Attracts 150|publisher=The Daily Times|location=Mamaroneck|page=33}} Annon was succeeded by 1952 National PGA Champion "Whistling Jim" Turnesa who was hired in 1959 with a January 1, 1960 start date.{{Cite news |date=December 15, 1959|title=Jim Turnesa Named Head Pro at Ryewood|publisher=The Daily Item|location=Port Chester|page=18}}{{Cite news |date=September 26, 1961|title=Pro Golf's Royal Family|publisher=The Daily News|location=Tarrytown|page=22}} Turnesa was one of the famous "Golfing Brothers" dynasty of Elmsford.{{Cite news|title=Willie Turnesa, Last Brother In Golfing Family, Dies at 87|work=The New York Times|author=Corey Kilgannon|date=June 21, 2001}}

The City of Rye had their eye on acquiring the Rye Wood Country Club for many years and assembled a planning committee to study the possibility and its ramifications for the community. The proposal, the goal of which was to expand public access to recreation,{{Cite news |date=July 30, 1964|title=Country Club for Rye Residents|publisher=The Rye Chronicle}} was a topic of great debate and political discussion for many years starting as early as 1961.{{Cite news |date=October 5, 1961|title=1961 Rye City Republican Platform|publisher=The Rye Chronicle}} In 1964, with the possibility of losing the property to Westchester County looming, the City of Rye put the acquisition of the club to a vote by taxpayers who voted 6-1 for the city to purchase the club solely for the use of people living in Rye.{{Cite news |date=September 24, 1964|title=City of Rye Will Retain Country Club|publisher=The Daily Times|location=Mamaroneck|page=11}} The City tried condemnation proceedings to take over the club but was defeated in court. An initial offer of $1.1 million was refused by owners of the club as too low a price. The City returned with an offer of $1.7 million which was accepted.{{Cite news|title=Rye City Council Votes to Buy Rye Wood Country Club|publisher=The Rye Chronicle|date=March 4, 1965|page=1}} The city took possession of the club and its grounds in the spring of 1965.

Today the club occupies {{convert|126|acre|ha|}} overlooking Milton Harbor. Though the original purpose for the city's acquisition of the property was for the exclusive use of its citizens,{{Cite news|title=City Makes "Great Society" Move|publisher=The Daily News|location=Tarrytown, New York|date=January 6, 1965}} one no longer needs to be a Rye taxpayer to qualify for membership in the club and there is a separate non-resident category.

Every version of the country club since 1921 has had one or two swimming pools though the location of the pools has changed from time to time.{{Cite news|title=Pace Quickens at Rye Golf Club|publisher=The Daily Item|location=Port Chester|date=May 26, 1969|page=21}} At the time the main pool was constructed, it was reported to be the largest of its kind in all of Westchester County at 120 by 60 feet.{{Cite news|title=Larchmonters Join Rye Club|date=May 12, 1921|publisher=Larchmonter Times|page=1}} The swimming pool remained a focal point of the club's operations through 1950 when the owners faced water shortages. A new way to fill it with saltwater was solved by digging a {{convert|1700|foot|km|}} pipeline from Long Island Sound to pump water in.{{Cite news |date=May 12, 1950|title=1700-Foot Pipeline to Beat H2O Shortage|publisher=The Daily Times|location=Mamaroneck|page=2}}

In 1965, the two original pools were replaced by one larger pool measuring 165 by 75 feet.{{Cite news |date=October 14, 1965|title=Swimming Pool|publisher=The Rye Chronicle|page=4}}

Though the two sports are not reflected in the club's name, swimming and diving are activities that members have excelled at in competitions throughout Westchester County.{{Cite news|title=County Swimming Title to Rye Squad - Again|publisher=Herald Statesman|date=August 15, 1975|page=17}}{{Cite news|title=Good Investment for City|publisher=Rye Chronicle|date=September 4, 1969|page=4}}

In 2013, it was discovered that the general manager of Rye Golf Club, Scott Yandrasevich, had been embezzling money from the Club and defrauded the City of Rye. An investigation and lawsuit ensued and Yandrasevich was convicted and sent to prison.{{cite web|publisher=My Rye|title=In Wake of Golf Club Fraud, Rye City Receives $1.55M in Settlement|url=https://myrye.com/my_weblog/2016/02/in-wake-of-golf-club-fraud-rye-city-receives-155m-in-settlement-insurance.html|author=Jay Sears|date=February 26, 2016|access-date=December 12, 2021}}

The City of Rye was sued by several club members in 2017 over alleged negligence in the handling of application of pesticides to the greens which resulted in the golf course being closed to members in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/rye-city/2017/02/14/rye-golf-greens-lawsuit/97660008|date=February 14, 2017|publisher=Journal News|author=Gabriel Rom|title=Rye sued over Rye Golf Club greens closed by fungicide damage|access-date=December 12, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://myrye.com/my_weblog/2016/07/rye-golf-club-is-poster-child-in-pesticide-debacle-investigation.html|title=Rye Golf Club is Poster Child in Pesticide Debacle Investigation|publisher=My Rye|author=Jay Sears|date=July 28, 2016|access-date=December 12, 2012}}

Additional lawsuits related to staff have continued to plague the club.{{Cite news|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/sports/golf/2020/08/19/pro-center-settled-lawsuit-vs-rye-golf-club-city-leaves/5608132002|publisher=Journal News|author=Nancy Haggerty|title=Rye Golf Club, longtime pro part ways after lawsuit|date=August 19, 2020|access-date=December 12, 2021}}

The most recent controversy surfaced in 2021 as neighbors and Rye residents questioned plans for tree removal.{{Cite web|url=https://myrye.com/my_weblog/2021/12/allendale-residents-call-on-rye-golf-for-more-project-transparency.html|publisher=My Rye|title=Allendale Residents Call on Rye Golf for More Project Transparency|author=Jay Sears|date=December 1, 2021}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.ryegolfclub.com/ Rye Golf Club] - official website

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Category:Golf clubs and courses in New York (state)

Category:Buildings and structures in Rye, New York

Category:Sports venues in Westchester County, New York

Category:Golf clubs and courses designed by Devereux Emmet

New York

Category:Historic sites in New York (state)

Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state)

Category:National Historic Landmarks in New York (state)

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Westchester County, New York

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