This country club I located in Bronxville, New York, which is a village in Westchester County. It can be found about 15 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. The history of how Siwanoy Country Club came into existence is a mixture of facts and legends.
Siwanoy Country Club Membership Cost
Membership to the Siwanoy Country Club is by invitation only. Members only may sponsor someone for consideration. There is no information on the initiation fee or monthly or yearly dues. It states for information on membership contact them.
| Name | Siwanoy Country Club |
| Established | 1901 |
| Type | Private |
| Website | https://www.siwanoycc.com/ |
| Phone Number | 914.337.3840 |
| Address | 351 Pondfield Road, Bronxville, NY 10708 |
History This Club
The Legend—The Origins:
According to legend, around 1900, a small, enthusiastic group of golfers traveled from their homes on a trolley to play on a golf course that had nine holes. It was located on the outskirts of the Village of Tuckahoe on the southern side. This improvised course was on the Rose brother’s property. When they went there to play golf, they rented a room to be used as their locker room.
They were not happy about having to take the trolley to play golf because of the infrequent service and the long ride. After a game of golf, while waiting for the trolley, they came up with the idea of establishing a golf course closer to their home in Mount Vernon.
They decided after much discussion that they would use the Glover Estate for their new venture, as the legend goes.
The Facts—The Origins :
It was in the later part of the 1900s that a group of 18 golfers came up with the idea of forming a golf and country club. This idea came about when there was a possibility of buying the Glover Estate. They did not purchase the estate but leased it. Steps were taken immediately to incorporate and organize their vision of a golf country club. The clubhouse is the Glover Mansion.
After much discussion, the Siwanoy name was adopted. It is thought to be an Indian name of a family or Mohican tribe that inhabited the lands. In 1901, the papers of incorporation of the name of the club, Siwanoy Country Club of Mount Vernon were filed and recorded in the office of the Country Clerk. The name was changed to Siwanoy Country Club officially.
Originally, 107 men signed an agreement to pay annual dues of $25 with an initiation fee of $10. The original purpose was to maintain the grounds and clubhouse to promote athletic exercise, social interaction, and golf. The Siwanoy Country Club had its official opening on July 4, 1901. They also incorporate tennis courts, ping pong tables, and croquet grounds.
In 1903, their lease was terminated as the property was going to be sold. They were able to lease the Hunt Property. Again they built a clubhouse and nine-hole golf course. They leased the property for ten years until the membership had increased so much, the nine-hole golf course was inadequate. They considered purchasing the property and adjacent land but decided against it. Instead, they purchased land of about 114 acres adjacent to the Village of Bronxville. A 38,000-square-foot clubhouse renovation and expansion was completed in 2020 to the original structure, built in 1893.
Golf Course
For the third time, in 1913, Siwanoy Country Club began construction of a clubhouse and golf course but this time it would be an 18-hole instead of a 9-hole course. The course was constructed by Donald Ross, who planned and built more than 600 golf courses during the first fifty years of the 20th century.
The course that he built at that time is the same one as today, minus a few bunkers and sand traps. The original course was 6,251 yards. They made several changes to the golf course in 1952, under the guidance of Robert Trent Jones. They modernized the bunkers, built new tees, and reshaped the greens. The length of the course was increased to 6.400 yards.
This is an ideal walking course due to the rolling terrain.
Amenities
When the Siwanoy Country Club did its renovation and expansion in 2020, they gave their members the following.
- New dining facilities
- Dining patio and a rooftop terrace
- Grill room
- Formal banquet hall
- Golf shop with the latest apparel and equipment
All of these renovations gave the clubhouse the ability to accommodate comfortably 500 guests. They outfitted the dining areas with new bars and a 2,500-square-foot kitchen. The hospitality areas were expanded to include:
- On the third floor, six private hotel suites
- Heritage room to pay tribute to the historical significance of the Siwanoy Country Club
- Wine cellar
There are also two-story, full-service locker rooms for women and men. They include terraces that overlook the golf course.
The Siwanoy Country Club offers rooms in the clubhouse and areas outdoors for informal and formal events for members such as birthdays, anniversaries, bridal showers, and more. There are also member-sponsored events like fund raisers, corporate outings, business meetings, etc. The professional staff will coordinate any event for the members.
Pool
During the summer months, members and their families can take advance of the large, Olympic size pool. You can swim or relax on a chaise lounge, or enjoy a snack or lunch, or dinner at the Poolside Grille. You can also get a drink at the Pool Bar. At the pool, there are locker facilities. The pool staff offers swi lessons.
There are also diving and swim teams that compete against Westchester private clubs. The club provides a weekday summer camp for children ages three and up for five weeks. It is called Camp Siwanoy and during the camp, there are tennis, swimming, and golf instruction along with arts and crafts.
Racquet Sports
These are available year-round and offer its members four Har-Tru tennis courts. There are two of them under a bubble so you can play from fall till early spring in comfort. There are also four paddle tennis courts, which are popular in the winter. In 2017, the paddle clubhouse was remodeled.
There is a Pro Shop adjacent to the tennis courts and there are also racquet professionals for group clinics and private lessons year-round.
Rules Of The Club
There are some simple rules for the Siwanoy Country Club in general plus dress code, smoking, carts, and cell phone usage.
1. Carts :
- Keep all carts at least 30 feet from greens and tees
- Obey all signs and ropes directing cart traffic.
- Stay on the cart paths or in the rough except to cross the fairway when using a cart.
2. Dress Code :
The dress code applies to all members, their families, and guests
- The men have to wear collared shirts at all times
- Their shirts have to be tucked into their shorts or pants.
- The shorts must be Bermuda length
- Tee shirts and swimwear are prohibited on the golf course, practice area, or clubhouse
- All denim, including jeans, is not allowed anywhere on the grounds.
- The bills of caps are to face forward
3. Smoking :
There is a no-smoking policy throughout the clubhouse. This includes the card room, locker rooms, private dining rooms, trophy room, administrative offices, or any enclosed area of the clubhouse not already mentioned. There will be smoking allowed on the deck outside of the men’s locker room and on the lower terrace. This will only be allowed here there is no food service on the upper terrace.
4. Use Of Cell Phone :
You can use your cell phone in the parking lot and locker rooms only.
Trivia Facts For Siwanoy Country Club
- Before the end of the first year, ladies were allowed to use the ping pong facilities during the day without charge, except for the weekend and holidays.
- In 1916, Siwanoy Country Club hosted the inaugural PGA championship.
Conclusion
The Siwanoy Country Club is the athletic and social center for many families in the area. North of New York, it is the closest private club. It is a country club that has evolved from a men’s golf club to what it is today, a modern family club.