Club History
| Founded in 1893, Montclair Golf Club is one of the nation’s oldest golf clubs, which began as a single course in the Town of Montclair. By 1899, the first 18-hole course, designed by Tom Bendelow, was established roughly upon the location of the present-day first and second nines. In 1920, the legendary Scottish architect, Donald Ross, was commissioned to design the first, second and third nines. After the original Clubhouse was destroyed by fire two years later, a larger facility was constructed and still stands at the core of our current Colonial-style clubhouse. In October 1928, the Club added a fourth nine designed by Golden Era of Golf architect, Charles Banks. The original course designs and infrastructure were updated over the years by two world-renowned Club Members. Robert Trent Jones joined Montclair Golf Club in 1934 and remained a member until his death. His son, Rees Jones, “The U.S. Open Doctor,” learned the game here and remains a member today. In more recent years, Brian Schneider of Renaissance Golf Design, has led a restoration based on the 1920’s original second, third, and fourth nines designs along with a lengthening of the course and updating it with modern infrastructure. Montclair Golf Club has played a significant role in the history of golf in America at the national, regional, and state levels. It is the thirteenth oldest golf club in the nation. At the national level, The United States Golf Association has been led by two Club members as presidents, Charles Littlefield (1946-47) and Isaac “Ike” Grainger (1954-55). Two national championships have been hosted at Montclair, the 1973 US Women’s Amateur won by Carol Semple Thompson, and the 1985 U.S. Amateur won by Sam Randolph. In August 2026, Montclair will host the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. Club members have competed well in USGA championships throughout its history - most notably Jerry Travers with four U.S. Amateur titles and one U.S. Open title, and Carolyn Cudone with five consecutive U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur titles and one North and South Women’s Amateur title. At the regional level, Montclair was a founding member of the Metropolitan Golf Association in 1897, and the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association in 1899. Three Club members have served as president of the MGA, Ike Grainger (1943-45), Ken Gordon (1970-71), and Jack Kelsey (1989-90). All of the MGA major championships have been contested at Montclair, and Club members have competed well in MGA championships. Three Club members have served as president of the WMGA, Mrs F. E. Donohoe (1916-18), Marguerite Dorment (1961-62), and Valerie DePiro (2015-16). Montclair golfers have won numerous Team Match Interdistrict Championships as well as individual championships. At the state level, Montclair was a founding member of New Jersey Golf (formerly New Jersey State Golf Association) in 1900. The Club has hosted numerous New Jersey golf championships, including the inaugural New Jersey Women’s Open Championship in 2023. And Club members have competed in and won numerous New Jersey golf championships. Three former Club members are recognized in the New Jersey Golf Hall of Fame - Carolyn Cudone, Robert Trent Jones, and Jerome “Jerry" Travers. Nine former New Jersey Golf presidents have come from the Club - Paul Wilcox (1901), Jerry Travers (1931-32), Louis Christenson (1932-34), Theodore Rudd (1944-45), W. Halsted Taft (1950-51), S. Waldo Thompson (1952-53), Robert Miller (1966-67), David Johnstone (1974-75), and William Frese (2018-19).
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