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DUBUQUE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB: Difference between revisions

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By the early 1900s, the first nine holes were laid out on pasture owned by [[BRADLEY, William L. Sr.|William L. BRADLEY, Sr.]], Elizabeth's father. The course with a total length of 2,800 yards was known as Rabbit Hollow Links. The original clubhouse was constructed on the farm orchard and a croquet court was added nearby. The original articles of incorporation were signed by Lester Bissell, Frederick's father; Charles H. Bradley, Elizabeth's brother; [[BURDEN, George A.|George A. BURDEN]]; W. P. Bingham; Eugene P. Kiene; James M. Burch; Maurice Lee; J. R. Lindsay; A. J. Parker; Eugene Ryan; and Horace Torbert. Membership was limited to one hundred fifty members.  
By the early 1900s, the first nine holes were laid out on pasture owned by [[BRADLEY, William L. Sr.|William L. BRADLEY, Sr.]], Elizabeth's father. The course with a total length of 2,800 yards was known as Rabbit Hollow Links. The original clubhouse was constructed on the farm orchard and a croquet court was added nearby. The original articles of incorporation were signed by Lester Bissell, Frederick's father; Charles H. Bradley, Elizabeth's brother; [[BURDEN, George A.|George A. BURDEN]]; W. P. Bingham; Eugene P. Kiene; James M. Burch; Maurice Lee; J. R. Lindsay; A. J. Parker; Eugene Ryan; and Horace Torbert. Membership was limited to one hundred fifty members.  


In 1902 a new corporation, The Country Club Company, was formed with a capital stock of $10,000. Shares cost $100 each. Land was purchased and leased to the Dubuque Golf Club for $303 annually. The articles of incorporation of this new company included Frank W. Coates, Lester Bissell, Maurice Brown, [[BURCH, James Merrill|James Merrill BURCH]], [[BURDEN, George A.|George A. BURDEN]], [[TREDWAY, Alfred|Alfred TREDWAY]], H. E. Tredway, Peter Kiene, [[LAWTHER, William Sr.|William LAWTHER, Sr.]]; and [[CONNOLLY, Thomas|Thomas CONNOLLY]], Ann's father.  
In 1902 a new corporation, The Country Club Company, was formed with a capital stock of $10,000. Shares cost $100 each. Land was purchased and leased to the Dubuque Golf Club for $303 annually. The articles of incorporation of this new company included Frank W. Coates, Lester Bissell, [[BROWN, Maurice|Maurice BROWN]], [[BURCH, James Merrill|James Merrill BURCH]], [[BURDEN, George A.|George A. BURDEN]], [[TREDWAY, Alfred|Alfred TREDWAY]], [[TREDWAY, Harry Ennis|Harry Ennis TREDWAY]], [[KIENE, Peter|Peter KIENE]], [[LAWTHER, William Sr.|William LAWTHER, Sr.]]; and [[CONNOLLY, Thomas|Thomas CONNOLLY]], Ann's father.  


[[Image:countryclub.gif|left|thumb|150px|Dubuque Golf and Country Club House]]In 1903 at a cost of $3,000, a new clubhouse was constructed with seven rooms and screened porches. Annual dues of ten dollars did not keep two hundred people from quickly acquiring regular and associate memberships and a long waiting list of potential members being created. (1) A golf tournament entrance fee of one dollar was also assessed. Frederick Bissell, an enthusiastic gardener, planted many of the trees. Athletic facilities were expanded to include a [[SWIMMING POOL]] and tennis courts. The flagpole was donated by the parents of Arnold Peaslee, a casualty of [[WORLD WAR I]].  
[[Image:countryclub.gif|left|thumb|150px|Dubuque Golf and Country Club House]]In 1903 at a cost of $3,000, a new clubhouse was constructed with seven rooms and screened porches. Annual dues of ten dollars did not stop two hundred people from quickly acquiring regular and associate memberships and a long waiting list of potential members being created. (1) A golf tournament entrance fee of one dollar was also assessed. Frederick Bissell, an enthusiastic gardener, planted many of the trees. Athletic facilities were expanded to include a [[SWIMMING POOL]] and tennis courts. The flagpole was donated by the parents of Arnold Peaslee, a casualty of [[WORLD WAR I]].  


The first of many golf tournaments was held in 1904 at Rabbit Hollow. [[DUBUQUE ENTERPRISE]] for ten cents announced the fourth annual Iowa State Golf Association tournament would be held in July at the Dubuque course and provided a guide on how each hole should be played.  
The first of many golf tournaments was held in 1904. [[DUBUQUE ENTERPRISE]] for ten cents announced the fourth annual Iowa State Golf Association tournament would be held in July at the Dubuque course and provided a guide on how each hole should be played.  


In 1920 the nine hole course expanded to eighteen following the 1914 authorization of $3,500 to purchase more land. The new course was laid out by Tom Bendelow who had designed an estimated seven hundred courses around the United States.  
In 1920 the nine hole course expanded to eighteen following the 1914 authorization of $3,500 to purchase more land. The new course was laid out by Tom Bendelow who had designed an estimated seven hundred courses around the United States.  
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[[Image:badge.gif|left|thumb|250px|Dubuque Golf and Country Club caddy badge from 1956.  Photo Courtesy--Bob Reding]]Just after [[WORLD WAR II]], the Dubuque Golf Club, which owned the buildings and operated the golf club, purchased the grounds from the Dubuque Country Club, the original title of the corporation which owned the land. The new corporation adopted a new name--The Dubuque Golf and Country Club.
[[Image:badge.gif|left|thumb|250px|Dubuque Golf and Country Club caddy badge from 1956.  Photo Courtesy--Bob Reding]]Just after [[WORLD WAR II]], the Dubuque Golf Club, which owned the buildings and operated the golf club, purchased the grounds from the Dubuque Country Club, the original title of the corporation which owned the land. The new corporation adopted a new name--The Dubuque Golf and Country Club.


The 1940s witnessed a great deal of growth in the organization and facilities. The first of two tennis courts were built and the central part of the present clubhouse was constructed. In 1954 a major renovation was made to the clubhouse. In the late 1950s, land was purchased and four more tennis courts were added. The old swimming pool, constructed in 1936, was replaced by a new one in 1966. From December 1994 until April 28, 1995, the clubhouse was modernized and expanded with all heating and cooling updated. Among the additions were three new banquet rooms, a porch overlooking the pool, a reconfigured bar and new locker rooms. Since 2000, improvements and additions to the athletic facilities, landscape, parking lots and clubhouse continued with the culmination in the construction of a state-of-the-art aquatic center.
The 1940s witnessed a great deal of growth in the organization and facilities. The first of two new tennis courts were built and the central part of the present clubhouse was constructed. In 1954 a major renovation was made to the clubhouse. In the late 1950s, land was purchased and four more tennis courts were added. The old swimming pool, constructed in 1936, was replaced by a new one in 1966.  
 
From December 1994 until April 28, 1995, the clubhouse was modernized and expanded with all heating and cooling updated. Among the additions were three new banquet rooms, a porch overlooking the pool, a reconfigured bar and new locker rooms. Since 2000, improvements and additions to the athletic facilities, landscape, parking lots and clubhouse continued with the culmination in the construction of a state-of-the-art aquatic center.


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Revision as of 01:40, 25 September 2014

Dubuque Golf and Country Club. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

DUBUQUE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB. Considered the first of its kind in Iowa. Articles of incorporation state the date of founding was November 21, 1899, but the inspiration may have come in 1898. Elizabeth Bradley had acquired a love of golf while a student at Smith College. She enlisted the aid of her friend Ann Connolly and Frederick Ezekiel BISSELL, then on vacation from Harvard, to form a local golf club. They laid out three fairways using hand mowers.

By the early 1900s, the first nine holes were laid out on pasture owned by William L. BRADLEY, Sr., Elizabeth's father. The course with a total length of 2,800 yards was known as Rabbit Hollow Links. The original clubhouse was constructed on the farm orchard and a croquet court was added nearby. The original articles of incorporation were signed by Lester Bissell, Frederick's father; Charles H. Bradley, Elizabeth's brother; George A. BURDEN; W. P. Bingham; Eugene P. Kiene; James M. Burch; Maurice Lee; J. R. Lindsay; A. J. Parker; Eugene Ryan; and Horace Torbert. Membership was limited to one hundred fifty members.

In 1902 a new corporation, The Country Club Company, was formed with a capital stock of $10,000. Shares cost $100 each. Land was purchased and leased to the Dubuque Golf Club for $303 annually. The articles of incorporation of this new company included Frank W. Coates, Lester Bissell, Maurice BROWN, James Merrill BURCH, George A. BURDEN, Alfred TREDWAY, Harry Ennis TREDWAY, Peter KIENE, William LAWTHER, Sr.; and Thomas CONNOLLY, Ann's father.

Dubuque Golf and Country Club House

In 1903 at a cost of $3,000, a new clubhouse was constructed with seven rooms and screened porches. Annual dues of ten dollars did not stop two hundred people from quickly acquiring regular and associate memberships and a long waiting list of potential members being created. (1) A golf tournament entrance fee of one dollar was also assessed. Frederick Bissell, an enthusiastic gardener, planted many of the trees. Athletic facilities were expanded to include a SWIMMING POOL and tennis courts. The flagpole was donated by the parents of Arnold Peaslee, a casualty of WORLD WAR I.

The first of many golf tournaments was held in 1904. DUBUQUE ENTERPRISE for ten cents announced the fourth annual Iowa State Golf Association tournament would be held in July at the Dubuque course and provided a guide on how each hole should be played.

In 1920 the nine hole course expanded to eighteen following the 1914 authorization of $3,500 to purchase more land. The new course was laid out by Tom Bendelow who had designed an estimated seven hundred courses around the United States.

Dubuque Golf and Country Club caddy badge from 1956. Photo Courtesy--Bob Reding

Just after WORLD WAR II, the Dubuque Golf Club, which owned the buildings and operated the golf club, purchased the grounds from the Dubuque Country Club, the original title of the corporation which owned the land. The new corporation adopted a new name--The Dubuque Golf and Country Club.

The 1940s witnessed a great deal of growth in the organization and facilities. The first of two new tennis courts were built and the central part of the present clubhouse was constructed. In 1954 a major renovation was made to the clubhouse. In the late 1950s, land was purchased and four more tennis courts were added. The old swimming pool, constructed in 1936, was replaced by a new one in 1966.

From December 1994 until April 28, 1995, the clubhouse was modernized and expanded with all heating and cooling updated. Among the additions were three new banquet rooms, a porch overlooking the pool, a reconfigured bar and new locker rooms. Since 2000, improvements and additions to the athletic facilities, landscape, parking lots and clubhouse continued with the culmination in the construction of a state-of-the-art aquatic center.

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Source:

1. "Golf Club Opens," Telegraph Herald, April 20, 1903, p. 5

"New Aquatic Center-Dubuque Golf and Country Club," Dubuque Telegraph Herald, June 29, 2014, p. 18