Golf activity in East Aurora was somewhat dormant until the early years of World War I when it was decided to purchase land for a golf course. The present site was owned by Frank Hill and the heirs of John Hamlin.
Options were obtained to purchase the land for $12,000 and somehow the money was raised. A committee was formed to lay out the golf course but many members on the committee had never played golf. Haines Merritt was employed because he had studied landscaping at Yale.
Financing of the Club was given much thought. East Aurorans and some outsiders were induced to buy "Debenture Gold Bonds" payable in twenty years with interest at three percent after five years. |
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A November 8th, 1916 bulletin states “A course of eighteen holes has been laid out . Seven holes had already been completed and two more were to be completed early in 1917.
Original membership in the club in 1916 was 160 and dues were $20 per year.
One of the first “play” difficulties encountered was the many stones on the greens. This was solved by requiring golfers to come on Saturday with a pail and screw driver to remove the stones so that they could play on Sunday.
The next step in the Club's financial program might appear difficult but it wasn't. A pep banquet at the West End Hotel was held late in 1918 and Henry Knox furnished the champagne for all present as part of the seventy-five cent dinner.
After the champagne freely flowed for several hours a prearranged motion was made by Paul Wurst to exchange the “Debenture Gold Bonds” for "Participating Non-interest Bearing Ownership Certificates." The motion was approved and on December 31, 1916 certificates were issued replacing the bonds. |
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Thereafter, to join the Club, the applicant had to purchase one of these certificates from either the Club or an ex-member. In many cases, an initiation fee was charged in addition to the certificate. By 1925 the initiation fee was $25 and dues in that year were $60 with possibility of an additional assessment of $100.
To date, there remains about $20,000 of these certificates outstanding. |
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Bar Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday: 12:00 noon to Close
Dining Room Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday: 11:30am to 9:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am to 7:00pm |
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Visitors
