Redlands Country Club is the oldest member owned country club in the West. Established in 1896, our 18-hole Championship golf course is considered one of the finest in Southern California. It is beautifully landscaped with mature oak trees and is nestled in the hills of Redlands with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. We know that you will be very impressed when you take the opportunity to play it.
On the evening of November 21, 1896, thirty men met at the Casa Loma Hotel in Redlands, California, for the purpose of organizing a golf club. From this group, these men were selected to serve as officers: A.S. Auchincloss, President; H.H. Garstin, Vice President; S.R. Hemingway, Secretary-Treasurer. These officers, along with R.T. Allan and John Auchincloss, made up the executive committee. The original course was laid out by A.E. Sterling and J.H. Fisher on land leased from the Ford family. The clubhouse was built by Mr. Fisher and Mr. Sterling in December, 1897 with the help of the Haver brothers, Harold and Sam, Don Hemingway and George and Leslie Gay. The clubhouse was 35’ x 18’ and was located on the center of the ridge now the intersection of East Mariposa Street and Country Club Drive.
Golf was enjoyed on a “skinned type’’ course, 9 holes, 2129 yards in length, bogey 38, with oiled-sand greens and all dirt fairways. This course from June, 1897 was located roughly in the area on the North Mariposa ridge to the Perry house, westward to a line running across the 14 and 16 fairways to the middle of 18 fairway, south to approximately the third green, eastward across the edge of the Dushane Hynson property, thence southeast along the south level of Mariposa ridge to the clubhouse. Three greens of this original course can be seen on the present course. One green called the ‘‘Crater’’ in the middle of 18 fairway on the hogback, one to the left and lower than 17 green called the ‘‘Midway,’’ the third recognizable green is located in 14 fairway 100 yards to the north of 15 green. It was called ‘‘Little Butte.’’
July 29, 1899, A.E. Sterling and A.S. Auchincloss journeyed to Los Angeles for the charter meeting of the S.C.G.A. Clubs attending this meeting were Los Angeles Country Club, Pasadena Golf Club, Redlands Golf Club, Riverside Polo and Golf Club and Santa Monica Country Club. Mr. Auchincloss was made Vice President of the S.C.G.A. at this organizational meeting. The first team match of the S.C.G.A. was held on January 26 and 27, 1900, at Pasadena Country Club. Redlands sent its team of A.E. Sterling, J.H. Fisher, L.D. Schaffer and Geo. S. Gay.
The interest shown in the Club, prompted the incorporation of the RedIands Country Club Company on June 25, 1900, with F.P. Morrison, Henry Fisher, A.E. Sterling, Halsey W. Allen and H.H. Garstin as Directors. The new corporation bought 80 acres of land from Arthur and Frances E. Ross on October 27, 1900, located immediately to the west and adjoining the original course. The second Clubhouse was a spacious building that served from the Summer of 1901 until February 28, 1942 when it was destroyed by fire. The first Clubhouse was moved from Mariposa Ridge to a location by the tennis courts and was used by the stewards for many years until torn down.
In November of 1901, Henry Fisher completed negotiations with George Lawson to become the first club golf professional. Mr. Lawson remained with this Club as Pro for 36 years, retiring in 1937. Mr. Lawson was born in Sterling, Scotland, April 21, 1864.
Golf was a lot of fun in 1900, much as it is today. The members competed each year for honors of the club championship at scratch and the Alonzo Hornby Trophy at handicap. A.G. Hubbard presented a handsome gold medal in March of 1906 to be won at the Saturday sweepstakes each month. The Mrs. A. Will ‘‘Year Trophy’’ was first donated in 1907.
Miss Katherine Harley of Fall River, Massachusetts, was a guest of Mrs. F.P. Morrison in the winter of 1906, and representing Redlands Country Club won the Ladies S.C.G.A. Championship. Miss Harley later won the Ladies National Amateur Championship in 1908 and again in 1914 as Mrs. Arnold Jackson.
Approach and putting contests were held, the men shooting from 100, 60 and 20 yards, and the ladies from 60, 50 and 15 yards. For variety, rounds were often played with one club only, member’s choice.
As early as 1906, Riverside’s Victoria Club and Redlands were engaged in team match inter-county competition for a trophy; the start of a spirited rivalry that lasted for many years.
The years of 1907 and 1908 saw activity in tennis take great strides with Maxwell Savage, F.C. Hornby and M.E. Ginn in charge of the activities.
Redlands Club activities were counted complete with the opening clay pigeon traps and a rifle and revolver range on the Club grounds in 1908. This year saw the remodeling of the 1901 course and play began on October 17, still a nine-hole course, 2974 yards, bogey 39.
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