The Opening Of Washtenaw Country Club In August 1899 Was An Event For “Social Leaders”

I. Newton Swift was the winner of the first tournament held at Washtenaw Golf Club (then the Washtenaw Country Club) in August 1899.

The tournament was held as part of the grand opening of the club, according to an article in the Ann Arbor Daily Times from August 29, 1899. Putting and long drive contests also were on the agenda, followed by dinner and dancing.

It is evident from the enthusiasm in the article that — even as it was opening — Washtenaw Country Club was envisioned as a community center: “destined to perform an important function in creating a more cordial feeling between the social leaders of Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor.”

In our current fractious and disconnected — yet entirely too connected — society, I find it quaint that a community would have recognized local “social leaders” whose “cordial feelings” mattered. We have social media “influencers,” of course, but those strike me as different creatures. Influencers have millions of followers, only a handful of whom have observed their behavior in person. Social media influencers are creators of their own fictions for profit.

It strikes me that at the turn of the century, “social leaders” were people who would regularly be seen live in a community, particularly in small towns (Ann Arbor had a population of 14,000 in 1900; Ypsilanti’s was 7,000). Some were no doubt hiding things behind a more genteel facade. Others may have constructed fictions to maintain their status. They were not, however, disconected. They were known, and present and their presence seemingly mattered.

Papers of that time published lists of presumably notable people and their comings and goings. For example: Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ryan are visiting friends in Detroit. Mrs. R.S. Greenwood was in Detroit yesterday visiting friends. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Donnelly received word of a grandson in Chicago. And on and on.

Why did people need to know that Miss Annie Day Robinson was visiting friends in Cleveland? Perhaps it is because in those small towns, the absence of a social leader would have been noticed and discussed.

I also find it remarkable that the “Twin Cities” (Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti) community had coalesced so quickly around golf when the sport was relatively unknown in the area. Indeed, it was only the previous fall that Cora Henry and I. Newton Swift had returned to Ypsilanti from a summer vacation on Martha’s Vinyard with enthusiasm for a “wonderful game” they discovered. Along with friend Daniel L. Quirk, Jr., they convinced a farmer to let them sink three tomato cans in a hay field so they could continue to play.

Less than a year later, those three cans in a hay field led to the incorporation of the Washtenaw Country Club. Washtenaw was incorporated on July 18, 1899. The grand opening of the club and its clubhouse was August 26, 1899.

An article in the August 7, 1899 Free Press relates a story of a Chicago man who saw a sign advertising golf in an Ann Arbor sportings goods store. The Chicago golfer went in asking “where are the links?” The clerk replied “we will have them in tomorrow with our complete stock. You see we have just ordered a lot for the Washtenaw Country Golf Club.”

It seems likely from that exchange that the sporting goods clerk was unfamiliar with golf terminology, mistaking “links” for “clubs.”

I do not know that the original clubhouse looked like, but have several postcards and photos in my collection from as early as 1913 showing the one above. The original clubhouse is likely part of that structure.

In the official Washtenaw Country Club history, the clubhouse was built at a cost of $855, containing a “good-sized central room with fire­place plus a lean-to kitchen and wood-burning stove. Members took their own lunches or cooked their meals on the spot. Locker rooms were in the basement.”

The club history also says that by 1912 there were “many improvements to the clubhouse including a dining room, heating plant, basement lockers and showers, increased kitchen vacilities, verandas and an outside pro shop.”

Still, the clubhouse opening and celebration was an auspiscious start for a golf club that is now more than 125 years old and still going strong.

The complete text of the article follows:

I.N. Swift Won At Golf

Washtenaw Country Club Opening

There Were 150 Present From The Twin Cities

The Opening of the Washteanw Country Club house on Saturday was a social event long to be remembered by the 150 persons of the Twin Cities who were present, and the new organization is destined to perform an important function increating a more cordial feeling between teh social leaders of Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor.

The afternoon was spent in the ecitement of a golf tournament and the finals, which were contested by I. Newton Swift, of Ypsilanti and Dr. Arnell, of Ann arbor were won by the former. However, the Ann Arbor man conented himself by winning the contest for putting. Jesse Millard of Ypsilanti, won the prize for driving.

A 6 o’clock dinner was served to the guests and the remainder of the evening was occupied with dancing.

That the club will be come more and more popular is best attested by the genuine enthusiasm wich it as started out. The handsomeclub house will be the scene of many a social time this winter, and the already large list of members will have no cause of regret of perfecting such an organization.

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