Foxburg Country Club facts for kids
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Foxburg, Pennsylvania |
| Established | 1887 |
| Type | Public |
| Total holes | 9 |
| Website | Foxburg Country Club |
| Designed by | Joseph Mickle Fox |
|
Foxburg Country Club and Golf Course
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 369 Harvey Rd., Foxburg, Pennsylvania |
| Area | 61 acres (24.7 ha) |
| Built | 1887 |
| Architect | Starrett, Goldwin; Vleck, Van |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 07000076 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | February 21, 2007 |
Foxburg Country Club is a very special place. It opened in 1887 and is the oldest golf course in the United States that has been used continuously ever since! It's located in Foxburg, a small town about 55 miles north of Pittsburgh. The course sits on a hill, high above the Allegheny River. Because it's so old and important, the course was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. Inside the clubhouse, you'll find the American Golf Hall of Fame.
Contents
How Golf Started Here
The golf course was created by a man named Joseph Mickle Fox. Joseph Fox first learned about golf in 1884. He was traveling in Great Britain to play cricket matches. While there, he visited St. Andrews in Scotland. This is a very famous place for golf.
Joseph Fox watched people play golf and became very interested. An old golf professional named Tom Morris Sr. taught him the basics. He also sold Fox some golf equipment and special balls to take back home.
Building the First Course
When Joseph Fox returned to his summer home in Clarion County, he was excited about golf. He decided to build a small, eight-hole golf course on his family's land. This was one of the very first golf courses in America!
People in the area quickly became excited about golf too. In 1887, there was so much interest that they decided to build a bigger course. Joseph Fox generously provided the land for free. This land became the Foxburg Country Club.
Growing the Club
The club was officially started in 1887. The golf course was made even bigger in 1888, expanding to nine holes. Over the years, some historic buildings and items were added.
The clubhouse itself was originally a seasonal home built in 1912. It was later changed to be the clubhouse in 1942. You can also see an old stone well house built around 1890. There are also nine stone troughs that were used by golfers until about 1930. Golfers would mix sand and water in these troughs to make small mounds. These mounds were used instead of modern tees to hit the ball.
The clubhouse was designed by a company called Starrett & van Vleck. It looks like a rustic building you might see in the Adirondack mountains. It has a wide porch, which is called a verandah.
Many golfers say that the Foxburg course is easy to play. However, it can also be challenging because of all the trees and bushes. True golf fans often say it's a "must play" course if you are traveling through Pennsylvania. It's only about five minutes south of Interstate 80.
American Golf Hall of Fame
The Foxburg Country Club is home to the American Golf Hall of Fame. This is like a museum for golf! It has a large collection of very old and valuable golf clubs. You can also see other items from the early days of golf, before the year 1900.
The museum is free to visit. It is located on the top floor of the Foxburg Clubhouse. It's a great place to learn about the history of golf in America.
