Foxburg Country Club facts for kids
| Club information | |
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| Location | Foxburg, Pennsylvania |
| Established | 1887 |
| Type | Public |
| Total holes | 9 |
| Website | Foxburg Country Club |
| Designed by | Joseph Mickle Fox |
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Foxburg Country Club and Golf Course
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| 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 |
The Foxburg Country Club is a very old golf course located in Foxburg, Pennsylvania. It first opened in 1887 and is the oldest golf course in the United States that has been used continuously since then. You can find it in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, about 55 miles north of Pittsburgh. The course sits on a hill that rises about 300 feet above the Allegheny River. In 2007, the club and its golf course were added to the National Register of Historic Places, which is a special list of important historic places. Inside the clubhouse, there is also the American Golf Hall of Fame.
History of Foxburg Golf
The golf course was built by a man named Joseph Mickle Fox. He first saw golf in 1884 while traveling in Great Britain. He was there to play cricket. After a cricket match in Edinburgh, Scotland, Fox visited St. Andrews to watch people play golf.
A famous golf professional named Tom Morris Sr. taught Fox how to play. He also sold him golf equipment and special balls called gutta percha balls. Fox was so interested in golf that when he returned to his summer home in Clarion County, he made a small eight-hole course on his family's land.
In 1887, many people in the area became excited about golf. The club decided to build a bigger golf course. Joseph Mickle Fox let them use his land for free. This land became the Foxburg Country Club. The club officially started, and the golf course was made bigger to nine holes in 1888.
Some old and interesting things at the club include the clubhouse, which was originally a house built in 1912 and became the clubhouse in 1942. There is also a stone well house built around 1890. You can also see nine stone troughs that were used for golf. Golfers would mix sand and water in these troughs to make small piles. These piles were used instead of modern tees until about 1930.
The clubhouse was designed by architects named Starrett & van Vleck. It is a three-story building with a wide porch. Many golfers say that the Foxburg course is easy to play, but it can also be tricky because of all the trees.
American Golf Hall of Fame
The Foxburg Country Club is also 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 and other items. These items are from different times in golf history, especially from before the year 1900. The museum is free to visit and is located on the top floor of the Foxburg Clubhouse.
