The Tuxedo Club Tuxedo Park, NY
Year Opened: 1889
General Manager: Randy St. John, CCM, CCE
Website: www.thetuxedoclub.org

One of America’s oldest private clubs, The Tuxedo Club was founded in 1886 by the Pierre Lorillard IV, great-grandson of the tobacco tycoon. Originally designed to be a fishing and hunting retreat, golf was quickly added in 1889 Various improvements followed until the 1950s when the construction of the New York Thruway required that an entirely new 18-hole course several miles from the main clubhouse be built. In 1957, the Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed course opened, quickly proving itself to be one of the most beautiful and challenging courses in the New York metropolitan area.

The Tuxedo Club hosted the country’s first interclub match in 1894 between The Tuxedo Club, St. Andrew’s Golf Club, Shinnecock Hills and The Country Club (Brookline). The trophy presented that year to the winning team The Country Club was eventually donated to the U.S.G.A. and is now the U.S. Senior Open trophy.

Additionally, in 1898, The Tuxedo Club and Morris County Golf Club inaugurated an annual Team Match to be played alternately at these Clubs. In 1920, Somerset Hills Country Club was invited to make what then took the name of the “Triangular Team Match”. In 1954, Rumson Country Club joined as the last addition to form the “Quadrangular Team Matches” – as it is known today. The Quadrangular Team Matches are widely believed to be the oldest ongoing interclub competition in the United States.

Hole #16. The 374-yard par 4 resembles the classic Cape hole with a diagonal tee shot over four fairway bunkers that force the golfer to determine how much to bite off. The narrow two-tiered green guarded by a deep left greenside bunker further challenges the golfer on the approach shot on this risk/reward hole.

Hole #17. The extensive use of water hazards is another hallmark of Trent Jones’ designs. The tee shot on the 181-yard par 3 is one of the most intimidating on the course calling for a carry over water the entire distance and wraps around the left side. Bunkers front right and back right greenside require daring play, for even the most skilled golfer. Certainly A Difficult Par here.

Hole #18. The 518-yard par 5 finishing hole is another risk/reward hole in many aspects. The expansive pond that guarded the previous hole protects the right side of the fairway yet is the best position for those seeking to reach the green in two strokes. . A creek runs across the fairway 100 yards from the green complicating an aggressive approach to a heroic finish.

Additionally, the Club has tapped  Rees Jones, son of Robert Trent Jones, Sr., to lead a multi-million dollar renovation of the course which will debut in May 2022.  The project includes the creation of a new short game practice area, a new 9^th hole, the renovation of all fairway and greenside bunkers and the re-grassing of all necessary green surrounds.

Having restored over two dozen of his father’s courses, Rees Jones explains that his goal  was to honor the course’s classic look, while a making the  layout  more modern. His design includes repositioning and reimagining the bunkers to incorporate his father’s original style, as well as constructing the bunkers in way that improves the playability for today’s game.