Shennecossett Golf Course facts for kids

Shennecossett Golf Course is a public golf course in Groton, Connecticut. It started with just four holes in 1898 on a local farm. Over time, it grew and changed a lot. A famous golf course designer named Donald Ross even redesigned it.

Eventually, it became a full 18-hole country club. In the 1960s, the town of Groton bought the course. This made it a public course for everyone to enjoy. Later, in 1997, the course traded some land with a company called Pfizer. This trade added three new holes along the Thames River and Long Island Sound. Golf Magazine said these new holes made it "one of the deals of the century."

History of Shennecossett Golf Course

How the Course Began

The story of Shennecossett Golf Course started way back in 1898. A local person named Thomas Avery created a small four-hole golf course on his farm. The fairways, which are the grassy paths between the tee and the green, went around his barn and farmhouse.

In the next few years, five more holes were added. This made it a nine-hole course. The land where the club was built once belonged to the Pequot and Mohegan Native American tribes. The name "Shennecossett" means "level land" in the Pequot language.

Growing into a Country Club

Around the early 1900s, a summer hotel called the Griswold Hotel was built next to the course. The hotel owner, Morton Plant, bought a lot of land nearby, including Thomas Avery's golf course. Between 1913 and 1914, Plant added more holes to create a full 18-hole course.

A clubhouse was also built during this time. It opened to the public on June 9, 1914. On August 10, 1916, the club became an official member of the USGA. During these years, it was known as "Shennecossett Country Club." A Scottish golf professional named Alex Smith worked at the club for many years. He even set a course record with a score of 69.

Donald Ross's Design and Big Tournaments

In 1926, a very famous golf course architect, Donald Ross, redesigned the course. His design stayed the same for many years. In the early 20th century, Shennecossett hosted several important golf tournaments. These included the Connecticut Open and the Connecticut Amateur.

Club pro Alex Smith also invited some of the world's best golfers to play exhibition matches. These famous players included J.H. Taylor, Joe Kirkwood Sr., and Walter Hagen.

New Owners and a New Name

In 1945, the course was sold to Morton Mencher. He also bought the Griswold Hotel next door. The course's name changed to the Griswold Hotel and Country Club. However, many people still called it "the Shennecossett."

During this period, the course hosted the Connecticut Open once. This is the state's official open tournament. The legendary golfer Harry Cooper was the club's professional at that time.

The Town of Groton Buys the Course

In the 1960s, the town of Groton wanted to buy the golf course. In 1964, the town started talking with Milton Slosberg, who owned the course. The town asked the federal government for money to help buy it, but their request was turned down.

The town's Recreation Commission still believed in the project. They then asked the state government for financial help. The state's Attorney General Office reviewed the request. After some thought, they approved it. On August 25, 1967, the town officially bought the course. They made a down payment, and the state government paid the rest.

The Land Swap and New Holes

In 1997, the club made a "land swap" with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. Pfizer bought three holes of the course. In return, Pfizer gave the club a large piece of its own land. The club then used this new land to create three new holes. These new holes are located along the beautiful Thames River and Long Island Sound.

Golf Magazine praised these new seaside holes. They said the changes helped turn the "always good public course into one of the best deals of the century." In 1994, The Hartford Courant reported that Shennecossett's 4th hole, a par-3, was rated the best par-3 in Connecticut by golf professionals. In 2004, Golf Magazine included it in its "Thrifty 50" list. This list featured top American courses that golfers could play for less than $50.

Shennecossett Golf Course Scorecard

A golf scorecard helps players keep track of their scores. It also shows the length of each hole. In the 1920s, the Shennecossett course was about 6,512 yards long from the back tees. Today, the total length from the back blue tees is 6,562 yards. This shows that the course's length has not changed much over the years.

External links

• Donald Ross Society
• http://www.mitchellathletics.com/sports/mgolf/2006-07/news/Shenne_Map