Lots 116 and 117 of Township 11, Old Military Tract - that's where we of the Saranac Lake Golf Club have been playing golf since 1919.  But this land was not always a golf course or even a dairy farm - it was deep woods, mostly white pine.

     About 1840, young Daniel Ames settled here and presumably built the building which we know as Hike's house.  It is know that Daniel's children and grandchildren were born in the house.  He was a lumberman, felling his trees and placing the logs on Ray Brook where they floated to the Saranac River and thence on to Plattsburgh.

     In 1894, Daniel Ames sold a strip of his property to the Lake Placid-Saranac Lake Railroad.  He died in 1898 but there is no record of when the rest of the property was sold.  However, the Golf Club deed states that all of Lot 117 containing approximately 200 acres was deeded by Etta J. Whitman (not related to Ames family, as far as know) to Meadowbrook Farm Company on November 2, 1901, for $3,000.  Meadowbrook Farm Company was owned by George V. W. Duryee (according to Donaldson's "History of the Adirondacks") and his was the first dairy farm in the area run on scientific principles.  Mr. Duryee also organized the Saranac Lake Free Library in 1907 and donated the land on which it was built.  He died in 1912.

     However, on May 12, 1903, the Meadowbrook Farm Company sold part of Lot 117 containing 2 1/2 acres to Catherine M. McBean in consideration of $47.50.  She lived in the farmhouse and worked the farm.  Our old pro shop and men's locker room was the cow barn.  And our charming old clubhouse was the creamery.

     Just as a point of interest, when the Golf Club bought the property, Mrs. McBean build herself a house up on the hill to the west of the farm house behind the present red house.  During Prohibition, it was rented to Jerry Walsh and Fred (Mead) Quarte, who ran a speakeasy - patronized by members of the Golf Club, so the story goes.  This burned down in 1930.

     But the most important part of this history is that a preliminary meeting was held on August 29, 1919, to form the Saranac Lake Golf Club.  Those attending were:         William H. Scopes, Architect

                 George L. Starks, Hardware Company

                 W. C. Leonard, Department Store

                 Andrew W. Callanan, Lumber Company

                 William Morris, Theatrical Agency

                 Eddy Whitby, Real Estate

                 Alfred S. Bendell, Violinist

                 Walter H. Cluett, Shirt Manufacturer

     It was voted that "dues shall be $25 per year for heads of families or singles over 21.  All members under 21 and wives shall be $15."  According to former caddies in the 20s, the caddy fee was 40c for 9 holes and 75c for 18 holes.  Tips from some of the members were pretty lean - one even limiting his to 2 sticks of gum.  However, caddies were plentiful, there usually being fifty available, which necessitated having caddy masters.

     William Scopes was made Chairman of the organizing committee.  A golf course architect, A. H. Findley, was hired that fall and his plan for the course was accepted.  An architect by the name of Tillinghast was also involved - possibly the same Tillinghast who designed the Winged Foot course in Westchester County, New York.

     On December 10, 1919, a Certificate of Incorporation was signed "to encourage and develop athletic exercises and sports and especially the royal and ancient game of golf; to cultivate social relations among its members and guests; and for these purposes, to own, directly or indirectly, rent, build, construct, improve, maintain and operate a club house and grounds suitable for such purposes and especially for the game of golf."

     To step back slightly, the deed shows that on November 15, 1919, one of the founders, George L. Starks, purchased Lot 116 - approximately 160 acres - from J & J Rogers of Ausable Forks for $320.  However, it was not until August 6, 1929, that he gave or sold this property to Meadowbrook Golf Corporation.

     You will note that "Meadowbrook Golf Corp." is used in the deed but "Saranac Lake Golf Club" in the Incorporation Certificate.  The deed further states that on May 20, 1920, Meadowbrook Farm Co., sold Lot 117 (200 acres) to Meadowbrook Golf Corp.  It would appear that, although the Club did not own the land, play was started in 1919, because the first professional, Scott North, was hired that year and he had an assistant by the name of Craig Wood - both from Lake Placid.  Scott North remained here for 6 years.