MANCHESTER COUNTRY CLUB
Manchester , Connecticut
T he CSGA is proud to recognize Manchester Country Club as the 2016 Distinguished Club of the Year . Established in 1917 , Manchester Country Club has been a member of Connecticut State Golf Association since that time and consistently promotes and supports the game of golf as well as CSGA programs and competitions . Manchester Country Club is also proud to be the home club of two CSGA Presidents , J . P . Cheney ( 1926-1927 ) and current CSGA President Stan McFarland . Many of the club ’ s members support CSGA events and programs as players and volunteers and each spring the club hosts a member tournament with proceeds benefiting the CSGA ’ s Scholarship Fund .
The golf course was originally designed by Devereux Emmet and Tom Bendelow with modifications in 1935 by A . W . Tillinghast . Some of Emmet ’ s notable designs are Congressional Country Club , Country Club of Farmington and Wee Burn Country Club . Tillinghast is known for designing historic venues such as Winged Foot Golf Club , Baltusrol Golf Club and Bethpage State Park . The Manchester course utilizes the natural character of the land with rolling fairways and small , well-protected contoured greens .
Manchester Country Club ( MCC ) has hosted several CSGA major championships , including three Connecticut Senior Amateur Championships ( 1981 , 1983 and 2008 ), one Connecticut Junior Amateur Championship ( 1948 ) and the Connecticut Public Links Championship ( 2013 ). The club has also been the site of many CSGA qualifiers including the Connecticut Open , Connecticut Amateur and Connecticut Mid- Amateur Championships . MCC regularly hosts SNEWGA and CWGA tournaments and in 2017 , its 100th year , the club will host the 52nd Connecticut Women ’ s Amateur . The playing of that event will also mark 30 years since it was previously held at the club , when it was won by Caroline Keggi .
Following World War II , Manchester Country Club organized and began hosting The Manchester Open . “ The Open ” was first played in 1946 and was won by Tommy Armour . Over its history ; the field has included such greats as Gene Sarazen , Julius Boros , Bob Toski and many other noteworthy amateurs and professionals . The Open is now held over two days each August ; Sunday for accomplished amateur players , and Monday for golf professionals .
The Manchester Junior Open in Memory of Ralph DeNicolo , longtime club professional , is hosted by the club during the same week as The Manchester Open . This has led the Mayor and Town Board of Directors to designate the first week in August as “ Golf Week in Manchester ” In addition , in 2014 Manchester Country Club initiated the Alex Hackney Four-Ball Championship in honor of DeNicolo ’ s predecessor who was a mentor to many junior golfers .
Manchester Country Club is the home course and practice facility for Manchester High School Boys and Girls Golf Teams and the Cheney Technical School Golf Team . The club awards a free junior membership to a deserving student from each team every year . MCC Director of Golf , John Cook , recently introduced and pays for the SNAG ( Start New at Golf ) Program in the Town ’ s Junior High Schools and one club member has established a free Junior Golf Camp in honor of his late father .
In addition to club leagues , tournaments and special events , Manchester Country Club also hosts the Town of Manchester Senior Golf League and is home to the Town Rec League . The Club also grants three free golf days each year to town residents and is a popular venue with charitable organizations for their fund raising events . Membership promotion and introductory programs in 2016 have led to an increase in overall membership by 15 %, junior membership has increased by almost 20 %, and a 9-hole Women ’ s League on Tuesday afternoons has attracted 56 beginner and experienced players .
The town-owned golf course is run by Manchester Country Club Inc ., which signed a 10-year , $ 2 million lease in November 2010 . In the fall of 2015 , the club installed state of the art irrigation and lightning detection systems which provide expanded irrigation coverage and ensures the safety of players and grounds staff . Since 2011 more than $ 2.5 million has been invested in capital projects and a new maintenance facility is in the planning stages .
88 / CONNECTICUT STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION / 2016 ANNUAL