The Hampton Roads Golf And Country Club
First in Virginia & One of the First 100 in the Country
The Hampton Roads Golf and Country Club was established in 1893 on undeveloped land purchased for speculation by Mary Frances Armstrong in 1888. This site today would extend from Hampton Roads Avenue to East Avenue, from Kecoughtan Road to Hampton Roads. The 9-hole course covered 2,661 yards, with holes marked with traps and natural hazards. The clubhouse was located in the 100 block of Hampton Roads Avenue and was the starting and ending point of the course. In 1898 an agreement was made with the hotels at Old Point Comfort, where they would help with the cost of maintaining the links and, in exchange, they would promote the golf course as one of their recreational amenities.
On March 31, 1900, the famous British golfer, Harry Vardon, set the course record during his year-long tour of the U.S. This helped introduce golf to the country. Mr. Vardon was, at the time, called the “greatest golfer that ever lived.” He played four rounds of golf against Willie Dunn, the 1894 US Champion. The Hampton Roads Golf and Country Club became a member of the United States Golf Association in 1901, which allowed them status within the golfing community.
President Woodrow Wilson, a golf enthusiast, made an unscheduled stop at the golf club on the afternoon of May 15, 1915, Newspapers around the country reported that his personal doctor and friend, Dr. Cary Grayson, had advised President Wilson to make the stop for “rest and recreation,” due to the pressure of the political climate leading to World War I. Local doctor Edward Blackmore drove the presidential party from Old Point. Following the President’s wishes, no special preparations were made; he merely wanted to play a quiet game of golf. The President and Dr. Grayson played two rounds of golf, completing 18 holes in just over two hours. Both registered in the club’s visitors’ book before leaving.
The Hampton Roads Golf and Country Club closed around 1920 when the Chamberlin Hotel opened an 18-hole course. This led to the sale of the club house as a private home and permitted the Armstrong family’s land company to develop the area into the subdivision as it is known today.
Bringing History to Life
For more neighborhood information visit: www.oldewythe.com
For more visitor information visit: www.VisitHampton.com
In partnership with Virginia Civil War Trails, www.civilwartrails.org
Marker is at the intersection of Chesapeake Avenue (Virginia Route 167) and Hampton Roads Avenue, on the left when traveling south on Chesapeake Avenue.
Courtesy hmdb.org
