New
Beginnings
As you enjoy the Green Hill of today, a most interesting history
lives on. In 1925, a group of 25 men purchased the land from Mr. Harry Jones for
$10,000 with the plan of building a 9-hole golf course. The name of Green Hill
Country Club was chosen, and Mr. John K. Gunby became its first president. He
officially opened the course in May of 1927, although men and women had played
here for over a year prior to this date. In May of 1928, the clubhouse was
completed at a cost of another $10,000 and put into use by the membership for
100 persons. Dues at this time were $100.00 annually for the gentlemen and
$50.00 for ladies. They have increased a little since then.
The Middle Years
During the ten-year
period 1927 to 1937, many good times were enjoyed. However, economic hard times
overtook the club as the depression of the 30's made its impact felt across the
country. In 1937 the dues were lowered to $25.00 a year, but it was still
impossible to keep an adequate and active membership to support the club. The
bank foreclosed, and Green Hill no longer existed.
The Phillips brothers, Pratt and
Lay, bought the entire property at the foreclosure sale. Becoming known as
"Willow Brook Lodge", it was used as a summer home by the Pratt Phillips'
family. During this period the house was enlarged, the grounds were landscaped
and cattle grazed over the 9-hole golf course.
In 1954 Alfred H. Tull, a New York golf course architect, constructed an additional nine holes which were opened in 1955. The final result was an 18-hole course measuring 6,477 yards from regular tees, 6,929 yards from the championship tees, and 5,975 yards from the women's tees. The old nine holes, which are now intertwined among the new holes, are the rolling ones as well as the most interesting.
Green Hill Today
Today as you drive on the grounds,
the completed aspects of a capital improvement program begun in 1977 are very
visible. On your left are the tennis courts, completed for use during the summer
of 1977. Your car will be parked on the site of the original courts. Near the
river on the left of the clubhouse is the swimming pool, put into use during the
summer of 1977. The present outside deck and inside dining room are built over
the first pool. As you enter the clubhouse, you see the Pro Shop. The original
one lies to the left of the 18th hole. The lounge, River Room, President's Room,
Terrace Dining Room, bar, locker rooms and offices were completed and opened
during the fall of 1978. All of these are an outgrowth of the first building,
which formed the nucleus for the present structure. The history goes on, and
Green Hill has risen from 25 interested men to a $1,750,000 club in excess of
500 memberships. There is a great deal of pride in Green Hill, and we hope you
take part in making future history.