Morris County Golf Club facts for kids
Morris County Golf Club Clubhouse
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| Club information | |
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 Location in New Jersey
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| Coordinates | 40°47′8.43″N 74°26′34.4″W / 40.7856750°N 74.442889°W |
| Location | Morris Township, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Established | 1894 |
| Type | Private |
| Total holes | 18 |
| Designed by | Charles Blair Macdonald and Seth Raynor |
| Par | 70 |
| Length | 6,522 yards (5,964 m) |
| Course rating | 71.6 |
| Slope rating | 129 |
The Morris County Golf Club (MCGC) is a special golf club in Morris Township, New Jersey. It's a private club, meaning you need to be a member to play there. The club covers about 175 acres in a nice area called Convent Station.
It's one of the original 10 clubs that started the New Jersey State Golf Association. The club began in 1894. What made it unique back then was that it was started and run only by women!
A year later, MCGC became one of the first clubs to join the United States Golf Association (USGA). It was also the first place in New Jersey to host a national golf championship. Two people who were presidents of this club later became presidents of the USGA.
Contents
Club History
How the Club Started
On April 10, 1894, a group of women met in Morristown, New Jersey. They wanted to create a golf course. Miss Nina Howland led this group as president. Other important members included Mrs. H. McK. Twombly and Mrs. William Shippen.
The group rented 20 acres of land. They created their first golf course with 7 holes. By November 1894, this club was the only one in the entire country managed and organized completely by women.
Growing Membership
The club had different types of memberships. In its first year, it had 200 female members and 175 male members. On June 21, 1895, the United States Golf Association (USGA) officially welcomed Morris County Golf Club. This made it the first women-only club to join the USGA.
Changes Over Time
In 1896, the club grew even more. It became a company and bought almost 100 acres of land. This allowed them to make the golf course bigger. By 1897, men took over the management of the course.
While golf has always been the main sport, the club has offered many other activities. These include tennis, swimming, paddle tennis, and even ice hockey. The club's main building, called the Clubhouse, was built in 1919. Members and their guests can use it for special events.
Since 1995, a group called Preschool Advantage, Inc., has held its yearly golf event at the club. This year marks their 25th anniversary of doing so.
The Golf Course
Course Design and Features
The golf course you see today was designed in 1916. Famous golf course architects Seth Raynor and Charles Blair Macdonald created it. The original design of the course was brought back in 2001.
It's an 18-hole course, which means it has 18 different sections to play. It's a "par 70" course, meaning a good golfer should take 70 strokes to finish. The course stretches 6,522 yards from the main starting points.
The grass on the greens and fairways is a special type called bentgrass. It is kept in excellent condition for championship play. The club also has areas to practice. There's a putting green, a driving range (updated in 2011), and a place to practice short shots.
Club Facilities
Sports and Recreation
The Morris County Golf Club offers many ways to stay active. It has tennis courts with different surfaces, including "har tru" and hard courts. There are also platform tennis courts. The Paddle Facility was updated in 2016. It has an indoor space for parties and a fire pit outside.
The club also has a large swimming pool, called an Olympic-size pool. Next to the pool, there's a bar and grill. You can also find shops for golf and racquet sports, where you can buy equipment.
Dining and Events
The Clubhouse has four different places to eat. These include the Raynor Room, the Sun Room, the Pub Room, and the Patio (which was updated in 2017). The club's head chef creates different menus for both fancy and casual meals all year long.
The club hosts fun events for members and their guests throughout the year. These include a barbecue with fireworks for Independence Day. There are also picnics for Memorial Day and Labor Day. For Easter, there's a brunch with an Easter egg hunt for kids. They even have Father-daughter dances and more!
External Links
- Morris County Golf Club website
- Official PGA Website for Morris County Golf Club: https://www.pga.com/play/NJ/morristown/morris-county-golf-club/0560520
- The Morris County Golf Club Championship Scrapbook, 1898
