SIMSBURY – As part of a series of events marking 50 years since its establishment in 1961, Hop Meadow Country Club recently celebrated the anniversary of the day the first golf match was played there.
After months of planning and construction, the Geoffrey Cornish-designed golf course was ready for action on July 15, 1962. On that day 49 years ago, the Hartford Courant pictured Dick Barry, then club president, hitting the first (gold) golf ball.
“I guess the economic conditions were different in those days if they were using gold balls,” current president Bill Heidel quipped.
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For the anniversary event this July 15, a happy hour celebration was held on the driving range, where “longest drive” contests were held. Participants used the late Jonathan Eno’s golf clubs – irons only because there were no drivers in his historic golf bag. Mr. Eno, who lived across from the first tee, was one of the club’s founding members and his grandson lent the clubs to Hop Meadow for the event.
Both men and women competed, and there was a winner of each gender. Eric Brown of Granby won with a drive of 234 yards and Mikayla Sheary, 14, of Simsbury, was tops in the women’s contest at 154 yards.
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To lend a festive ambience, bagpiper Pat Whelan of Glastonbury, who was born in Dublin, played music for the event.
Citing from the club’s history, Heidel said golfers in the first match played the front nine holes twice because that was all that was open at that time. Local professionals who competed included Hop Meadow’s own Ed Kowalski, Harry Nettlebladt of the Golf Club of Avon, Bob Kay of Wampanoag and Bob Bodington of Hartford Golf Club, he said, and Nettlebladt was low man with a 78.
Other anniversary events Hop Meadow has held this year included a jubilee dinner on June 18 and a founders’ dinner on May 21, when the club bestowed an honorary membership to Al Schuyler, founding member number five. He attended the dinner and in a thank you note he later wrote, said: “The festivities of this year confirm that after 50 years, and some difficult ones, the club is a healthy, vital factor in Simsbury’s recreation and social life. Congratulations are in order and well-earned.”
None of the founding members were present for the July 15 event, but according to attendee and longtime member Irwin Hausman, who joined in 1974, “Hop Meadow is a great golf course that I’m going to master some day.”
One of the club’s newer members, Dr. Bob Morgan of West Hartford, said he joined for the golf. His wife, Melanie, added, “Everything is in one spot here, golf, tennis and swimming.”
Hop Meadow is a full-service private club featuring a championship 18-hole golf course (Par 72-6,915 yards) that has four sets of tees to challenge all levels. The facility includes a driving range, chipping/bunker practice area, putting green and pro shop. Jason Waters is head golf professional.
The club also has tennis courts and a swimming pool along with dining and social amenities. For more information, visit the club’s website at www.hopmeadowcc.net and for membership opportunities contact Susan Baughman, membership director, at 860-658-7623 x 257 or susan@hopmeadowcc.net.
