The Early Golf Course 1910-1925
This locality was at some time... many years ago...a level plain, later to be eroded by the drainage of Trading Cove Brook and its tributaries. This erosion has left knolls, ridges, ravines, gullies and such like...obstacles which make attractive and interesting hazards. The locality was at one time a favorite camping place for the Mohegan Indians. The name Trading Cove Brook was derived from the fact that a salt water cove nearby was a trading point between the Indians and the Whites.
There is conflicting information on who designed this course. In one instance it is stated "The course has been laid out practically as suggested by R.H Pryde of N.H." (This probably refers to R.D. Pryde a professional in charge of Yale Golf Club and New Haven Country Club). Later it is stated "The links were laid out by Willis Austin, with the assistance of R.D. Pryde, a professional from New Haven." It appears that both Willis Austin and R.D. Pryde cooperated on the design but it is not clear which was the major influence.
On this course there were many blind holes; six out of the nine being blind.... two from the tee and four from the proper position to play the approach shot. The condition of the terrain at this place was much superior to the terrain of the first three courses in view of the absence of rock and property lines designated by walls over which the club members on the old three courses had to play.
The following is a description of the holes in 1910 described with reference to the current location of the holes.
1st hole: Played backwards on the existing 16th (current 16th tee being the green and green being the tee).
2nd hole: Played backwards on the existing 18th.
3rd hole: The location of the tee is unknown. The green was to the left of the existing 3rd fairway at the bend near the bunker. The outline of the green can still be seen.
4th hole: Played from the old tee behind the existing 10th tee, across the brook to the left of the existing 9th green. The green was probably at the base of the hill leading up to the existing 8th tee.
5th hole: Played from a tee located near the existing short 8th tee (white tees) down through the gulley, across the existing 9th and 4th fairways to the green that was located in the wide area to the right of the existing 4th fairway, just after crossing the brook.
6th hole: Played from a tee that is still visible to the right of the existing 4th fairway, just as you start up the hill. The fairway went up the hill, probably crossing the existing 9th tee to the existing 7th green.
7th hole: Played from a still visible tee cut into the bank, part way down the slope, to the right of the existing long (blue tees) 8th tee. The tee shot crossed the brook to the existing 2nd fairway. Play continued backwards on the existing 2nd fairway up the hill to the existing 1st green (Note: the green was redone in 2001). The pathways to the old tee and the one leading from the brook to the fairway can still be found.
8th hole: The tee is still visible on the rise to the left and just short of the existing 1st green. The hole was played to a green that was in the wide area to the left of the existing 3rd fairway, about 100 yards from the men's tee (near the area of the current chipping green).
9th hole: Played backwards on the existing 17th hole.
Play continued on the original 9 hole course during the summer of 1924 as the new course was being built. A temporary 6th green was used starting September 2, 1924. By September 13th the fairways and tees had been seeded and "Stolens" was used to seed the greens which were completed By September 22, 1924. Apparently there was some restricted play on the course (possibly to the old greens or temporary greens) in the Spring of 1925 since there were reports of "Match play at the course on June 2, 1925 and a "Memorial Day Program" with "special rules in effect due to the construction of the new 18 hole course".
The new course was open to play July 4, 1925.