In 1920 an aspiring group of businessmen chose the 40-acre Scarsdale estate of publishing baron Eugene Reynal as the anchor for a new golf course. Reynal’s mansion would later be utilized as the Clubhouse. Having begun this new venture almost 100 years to the day after James Fenimore Cooper, the American author of The Last of the Mohicans, settled in Scarsdale, they chose to name their new club after him. By the spring of 1921, members of Fenimore had acquired enough land to build a full 18-hole course as well as a nine-hole companion track.
During its first decade, Fenimore’s reputation grew as it became one of the first clubs in the country to employ a playing Tour professional and a standard club professional. Leo Diegel, who won back-to-back PGA championships in 1927 and 1928, was among the club’s notable playing pros. Both Diegel and Fenway tour pro “Wild Bill” Melhourn were members of the original Ryder Cup team and are enshrined in the PGA Hall of Fame. Fenimore and its members found themselves struggling to survive as the club’s 10th anniversary approached, a victim of the Great Depression. The club reorganized in 1936 and adopted a new name, Fenway, which gave them a fresh start and recognition to their history.
Two years after its rebirth in 1936, Fenway hosted the biggest tournament in the club’s history; the Westchester 108 which offered the PGA Tour’s richest purse at the time ($13,500) and drew a field full of legends. A young Sam Snead, had to scramble to take home the $5,000 first prize, shooting a humbling 10- over par.
The Club’s Golf professionals themselves have a reputation for long tenure and awards. Throughout the Club’s history, these individuals have won numerous tournaments, been MGA “Player of the Year” and established themselves as some of the finest Club professionals on both the local and national circuits.
GOLF, AMENITIES & SERVICES
Fenway’s stature as one of the pre-eminent golf clubs in Westchester results from time tested greatness of its golf course and the rich history of its golf professionals. The course was designed in 1924 by A.W. Tillinghast, one of America’s greatest golf course architects. It continues today to be one of his most highly regarded works. Fenway possesses design elements found in other nearby Tillinghast courses from the same era, such as Winged Foot and Quaker Ridge. For more than 25 years, Fenway has been included on Golfweek Magazine’s list of America’s Top 100 Classic Courses. Noted golf architect Gil Hanse has been working with Fenway for more than 20 years and has just completed a multi-year restoration and redesign of the course to maintain the integrity of Tillinghast’s vision. Fenway has just completed a replacement of the irrigation system. For more than 35 years, the course has been cared for by members of the Alonzi family of superintendents.
In addition to being the home of the annual Mittelmark Invitational, Fenway has hosted the Met Amateur (1953), the MGA Senior Open (2000), the IKE Championship (2007) and the Met Open (1955 and 1969). The Club hosted the Metropolitan PGA championship in 2015. In 2023, Fenway along with Sleepy Hollow will host the 43rd Annual U.S. Mid-Amateur tournament bringing the storied tournament, for the first time to Westchester County.
Fenway’s multi story Clubhouse includes a bar room with casual dining for 90 members and guests, a formal dining room (ballroom) seating 220 and a tented outdoor patio seating 125. The new resort style aquatic facility is home to the Pool Terrace with 90 seats and fire pit. The large clubhouse supports an active event and member activities schedule including traditional events and special occasions like bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, weddings and similar distinctive get-togethers. While the vast majority of activity at Fenway occurs during the summer months,
The Club utilizes H2B and J-1 seasonal staff and provides housing on the second and third floors of the clubhouse.