Club History

The Hartford Golf Club is the oldest Club in the area devoted to the game of golf. The Club was organized in 1896 by John O. Enders, J.C. Sterling, Emerson Taylor and Frank Cooley, and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1996.

The Hartford Golf Club's first location was on property east of Prospect Avenue. Today, Elizabeth Park incorporates the original site of the Club where an old barn stood as a makeshift Clubhouse and nine holes of golf 'required agility and nerve, as you had to climb post and rail fences and dodge cows'.

In 1900, The Hartford Golf Club expanded, merging with the disbanded Hartford Lawn Club. The Lawn Club, founded in 1888, had several tennis courts on Lafayette Street just behind where the old State Library now stands.

Soon after the merger, the first formal HGC Clubhouse and eighteen-hole golf course were built on Huntington Avenue between Asylum and Albany Avenues. This Clubhouse was destroyed by fire in 1908. A new structure was built which included bowling alleys and sleeping accommodations for members. The Club evolved, for a time, into a young men's Club, with card playing at night and three or four dances a year. In 1928 four squash courts were built, and in 1940 the first paddle (platform) tennis court was erected.

In 1955, it was determined that the Clubhouse had to be completely rebuilt or abandoned. By vote of the membership, construction of the existing Clubhouse was approved and the move to the present Club property was made - relocating all activities to the northern side of Albany Avenue. Five new golf holes were constructed and incorporated into the existing course, and additional nine holes were built west of the Clubhouse providing the Club with 27 holes of championship quality golf.

The Hartford Golf Club, with its varied and unique facilities, had in its time: trap shooting, polo, croquet, curling, bowling on the green, cards, ice skating, sledding, tobogganing, squash, golf , tennis, swimming, sailing and paddle (platform) tennis. The Club has enlarged the golf and tennis pro shops, built more paddle and tennis courts, enlarged the swimming area and parking facilities, constructed a state-of-the-art grounds building and expanded the patio to incorporate a panoramic view of the grounds.

The bowling alleys, brought from the old Clubhouse, are still going strong. The squash courts, also brought over from the old Clubhouse, were renovated in 1995 to meet international squash court standards, expand the viewing gallery and improve the pro shop. A major Clubhouse renovation, completed in 1990, enables the Club to enjoy one of the area's finest facilities.

In 1999 the Club renovated the south side of its facility with a state of the art Recreational Facility. In addition, the Club renovated the golf course with new bunkers, tees and cart paths.

In 2005, the Club embarked on a major clubhouse renovation and also replaced the golf course irrigation system. All casual dining areas were renovated, both locker rooms were expanded, a new Golf Pro Shop was built, and a state-of-the-art Fitness Center was added. In addition, the exterior of the clubhouse was refurbished with wonderful new stonework, enhanced landscaping and an expanded terrace. A charming Platform Tennis House was also built.

These comprehensive programs, the excellent physical facilities and the dedicated service of our outstanding staff allow the Club to continue its long-standing record of excellence.