From the B Y R O B E RT A . D OTO , A R C H I V I S T
FROM ITS FOUNDING IN 1890, THE APAWAMIS GOLF COURSE HAS HAD A NUMBER OF FAMOUS ARCHITECTS INVOLVED IN ITS EVOLUTION. IN MICHAEL MCCORMICK’S RELATED PIECE “EVOLUTION OF A GOLF COURSE,” ON PAGE 12 WITHIN THIS ISSUE OF APAWAMIS NOW, THERE IS AN INTERESTING CHRONOLOGY OF THE COURSE, ARTICULATING SOME OF THE MORE NOTEWORTHY CHANGES TO IT OVER THE YEARS.
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n this narrative; however, we will focus on the architects whose work has culminated in what we have today. Unlike many of the courses that were designed in the early 1920s, where the original architect did most of the work in the ensuing years, Apawamis engaged a number of professionals to help guide the Club in evolving the late 19th century designed golf course. As many members know, our existing golf course is our third. The previous two were on the eastern side of what is now I-95. The "official" credit for our current golf course, completed in 1899, accrues to W I L L I E D U N N , J R . A N D M AT U R I N B A L L O U . Dunn, a Scot, was originally at Shinnecock Hills when the course was a 12-hole layout. He added a ladies’ course, and in 1895 combined both courses into 18 holes. Ballou was our Chairman of Golf and partnered with Dunn to create what was considered, at that time, a "beast”!
TO M B E N D E L O W was born in Scotland. Bendelow worked for A.G. Spalding, a sporting goods manufacturer. The New York City Park District hired Bendelow in 1899 to redesign and manage the Van Cortlandt Golf Course, the country's first 18hole municipal golf course. In the May 4, 1899, issue of the New York Journal, there is a story about the new Apawamis property (the land upon Willie Dunn which our current golf course resides) and its soon-to-be-built golf course, designed by Tom Bendelow. The piece states that the new 18-hole course “…is scheduled to open, with great anticipation, on July 1, 1899….” The article describes the hole-byhole yardages for the new Westchester County masterpiece. What is fascinating is that the 18-hole specifications in the story look nothing like what we see today; there also is no mention of Ballou or Dunn. TO M W I N TO N hailed from a golfing family and was born in Scotland. He worked with Willie Dunn, Jr., and was also superintendent of the Westchester County Parks Commission. In addition to working at Apawamis, he performed work at Sleepy Hollow, Siwanoy, and Westchester South. P E T E R L E E S was born in England. He worked at Royal Mid-Surrey on the outskirts of central London. He was better known as a constructor of courses for C.B. Macdonald and A.W. Tillinghast. In the earlier referenced piece in this issue, you will find more detailed specifics on his contributions to the Club. Tom Bendelow
22 APAWAMIS NOW Winter 2022
