Pelham Country Club had its origins as a small tennis club and five-hole golf course carved out of a cow pasture in 1908. In the summer of 1921, an influential member named Mont Rogers formed a company to buy the land and hired noted golf architect, Devereux Emmet, to create a championship golf course. Cut from virgin woodland and stretching around and over rolling, low-lying hills, Pelham's golf course opens up varying vistas of great beauty. The natural beauty of its setting is comparable only to an old English park, and it is difficult to believe that Manhattan is only 15 miles away.
While the course was taking shape, Rogers hired "Long" Jim Barnes, one of the top three golfers in the world, to be Pelham's first golf professional. One week after opening the new course, Jim Barnes went down to Columbia Country Club in Washington, D.C., and handily won the 1921 U.S. Open Championship. Barnes also bested the field in the first PGA Championship played at neighboring Siwanoy C.C., and in 1921 was presented the U.S. Open Trophy by the President of the United States, Warren G. Harding. Instantly, Pelham Country Club was the center of the golfing world. President Harding was made an honorary member of the Club and a tremendous welcome home gala was held at the Club for Jim Barnes, the new "Pride of Pelham."
Then in 1923, the decision was made to hold the PGA Championship at Pelham Country Club, and what a fine championship it turned out to be. All the great golf pros of the day participated, and the hotly-contested final match between Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen has stood the test of time. To this day, the epic 38-hole match, won by Gene Sarazen, is considered to be one of the most dramatic match play finals in the annals of the Championship.
The golf course was redesigned in the late 1950s to accommodate construction of the New England Thruway, and, in recent years, several new tees and bunkers have been added to make the course even more challenging. With continuing improvements to the course, it is generally regarded as demanding but enjoyable for all levels of play.
To ensure that the Club will continue to meet its membership's needs well into the future, the Club completed a major renovation in 2001. As part of this project, a new Fitness Center was added to the Club, and it has proven to be a very popular and well-used facility for members. The renovated Clubhouse features elegant and welcoming dining areas (including formal banquet rooms), rich wood-paneled locker rooms and several comfortable niches for quiet conversation and visiting. The Club's proximity to Manhattan makes it a great choice for city dwellers who want a quick getaway. Children are also given top consideration at the Club, making PCC a natural choice for young families. Our kids have several of their own sports programs and events including a Summer Sports Camp, kiddie pool, playground and several festive events throughout the year.
Pelham Country Club is committed to the continued improvement of the golf course and all other sports facilities. In support of future growth, a golf course renovation project commenced in August 2019 and was completed in June 2020. A winter tennis bubble was developed in late 2017 and opened in early 2018, and a renovation/expansion of the pool complex in two phases was completed in July 2020.