»Visit our Historical Photo Gallery  Dorset Field Club is Showcased in the USGA Museum           On June 3 the USGA, headquartered in Far Hills, NJ, opened The Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History. It was the culmination of a three year, multimillion dollar project designed to offer the public a premier facility for the study and education of golf history. It houses a series of exhibits that highlight major champions, championships and the development of golf in the United States. There are interesting artifacts and displays devoted to champions like Francis Ouimet, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and many others. It is obvious that very considerable thought and planning went into making this Museum an outstanding attraction for golf aficionados. One of the first exhibits encountered by a visitor is entitled, The Dawn of American Golf. It showcases the first organized golf clubs and players in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Prominently displayed are the early photos of golfers at St. Andrews in Yonkers and on the links at Dorset Field Club, dated 1890. During my brief visit I took a few photos in an attempt to capture the scene for our members. If you have the opportunity a visit will prove to be interesting and worthwhile. Their phone number is 908 234 2300 and their website is www.usgamuseum.com.

The opening of the "new" Golf House Museum at the USGA the USGA headquarters in Far Hills New Jersey features information from America's Oldest Golf Course...The Dorset Field Club!

Dorset Field Club History

The Dorset Field Club was organized in the year 1886, principally by a group of golfers from Troy, New York. Crossing into Vermont for a summer vacation, they found the area to their liking, laid out the course and began to play.

The first President of the Dorset Field Club was A. W. Harrington, Jr. from Troy, New York whose first term started in 1886, and it was his house which provided the first clubhouse. Others who are listed as “original members and founders” in the records of the Club are:

Club Founders

Allen Bourne Richard M. Campbell      James C. Chapin Ransom H. Gillett Joe H. Harrington George B. Harrison Fred S. Hawley S. Frank Holley W. E. Kent Charles H. Keyes Edwin Q. Lasell O. P. Liscomb Geo. Lewis Prentiss Henry S. Woodruff

New York, N.Y. - N.Y. Central Railroad Troy, New York Troy, New York Troy, New York - Lawyer Troy, New York - Lumber Troy, New York Troy, New York - Hardware New York, New York - Importer Dorset, Vermont - Livery New York, New York - Importer Troy, New York - Department Store Troy, New York New York, New York - Investment Banker Dorset, Vermont

By common knowledge of all old residents, the original club rooms were in the rear of the Harrington residence, a white frame house on Church Street between the village and the golf course. A “golf room” was established on the second floor, overlooking the course. From these earliest and temporary quarters, the Clubhouse was later transferred across Church Street to the Sheldon cottage.

The present frame Clubhouse was started in 1895, completed in 1896, and named “Woodruff Hall” in honor of one of the founders, Mr. Henry S. Woodruff, who had died. Over the main entrance is the original sign it bore, the words cut into an old board, “Woodruff Hall Built in 1896.”

The Clubhouse remained essentially unchanged until the mid- 1960’s, although many changes were made in the layout of the golf course. In the years 1967 and 1969, extensive renovations were made in the interior of the Clubhouse to accommodate the growing membership of the Club and its activities.

In 1999 nine additional golf holes were completed and opened for play, providing the membership with both a scenic and challenging 18 hole golf course. With the expanded golf course came the need for improved facilities for both members and staff, as well as storage facilities for additional golf carts and maintenance equipment. In November 2000 a renovation of the Clubhouse and construction of two new buildings, one containing the locker rooms and business office, the other the pro shops, was started. The two new buildings share a common basement dedicated to bag and cart storage. The Woodruff Hall portion of the old Clubhouse was restored to its historical appearance and condition and remains the central part of the renovated Clubhouse. A new addition, added to Woodruff Hall, contains a new modern kitchen and a slightly larger grill room. The renovated Clubhouse and new buildings were opened for use by the members in the spring of 2001.