Opened at the dawn of the 20th century, Pelham Bay And Split Rock Golf Courses stand as enduring monuments to public golf in New York City. Originally conceived as the Pell Golf Course in 1901, Pelham was among the nation’s earliest municipal golf facilities, predated only by Van Cortlandt Golf Course. This pioneering effort democratized a sport then largely confined to private clubs, allowing ordinary New Yorkers to experience the burgeoning popularity of golf alongside the city’s elite. The advent of public courses like Pelham Bay marked a pivotal shift, making golf accessible to a wider audience and fostering a vibrant community of players.
The nascent Pell Golf Course, as documented in the 1900 Parks Annual Report, was a product of transforming former estate lands within Pelham Bay Park. Parks Department crews meticulously cleared trees and removed stone walls—relics of the De Lancey family’s “Greystones” estate—to sculpt the initial nine holes. This involved creating nine greens, strategically placing bunkers (including one formidable 200-foot hazard), and establishing teeing grounds. By 1904, responding to growing demand, the course expanded by 30 acres. This expansion necessitated further clearing of stone walls and underbrush, the construction of additional bunkers, and the renovation of the greens, each now standardized at 86 square feet. Remarkably, even amidst this ongoing construction, the allure of public golf was undeniable, with 500 golf permits issued that year alone.
By 1914, Pell Golf Course underwent its most significant transformation, evolving into a full 18-hole championship layout. This ambitious renovation incorporated innovative techniques, notably the use of dynamite to loosen subsoil, which Parks Department reports lauded for its “very satisfactory result” in enhancing drainage and soil condition. With newly seeded greens prepared, the expanded course opened for play that summer. The surge in popularity necessitated the introduction of a reservation system for weekends and holidays, a measure spearheaded by Thomas Bendelow, the manager and designer of Van Cortlandt Golf Course and a key figure in organizing public golfers.
Pelham Bay Park, established in 1888, provided an idyllic setting for these new golf links. The park’s sprawling 2,764 acres, encompassing former private estates overlooking Long Island Sound, offered a picturesque backdrop. The very land upon which Pell Golf Course was built had once been productive farmland, part of the “Greystones” estate owned by the De Lancey family, descendants of John Hunter. Their grand second empire style mansion, leased by the Parks Department from 1898 to 1918, served as the Hunter Island Inn, a popular destination, and initially as the golf clubhouse. Though the mansion has since been demolished, the historical ambiance of the location remains palpable.
Despite the challenges of global conflicts and economic depression in the early to mid-20th century, the appeal of golf persisted and grew in New York City. Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, a transformative figure in New York’s recreational infrastructure, oversaw significant changes during his tenure (1888-1981). Leveraging federal funding from the Works Progress Administration (WPA), Moses spearheaded the creation and expansion of numerous public amenities across the city. In 1936, Pell Golf Course was modernized and renamed Pelham Golf Course. Crucially, that same year marked the creation of the adjacent Split Rock Golf Course, complete with its own clubhouse, further solidifying Pelham Bay as a premier public golfing destination.
Since 1983, under a city initiative led by Mayor Edward I. Koch, the management of New York City’s 13 golf courses, including Pelham and Split Rock, has been licensed to private contractors. American Golf Corporation has capably managed the Pelham Bay and Split Rock facilities, ensuring their continued operation and upkeep. Today, over a century after its inception, Pelham Golf Course, alongside Split Rock, continues to honor its original mission. Through renovations, expansions, and renamings, Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Courses remain steadfast in providing accessible, quality golfing experiences for all New Yorkers, upholding a rich legacy of public golf in the heart of the city.
