Belmont Country Club has been a premier New England country club since 1918. It began with the vision of establishing a community of like-minded individuals committed to creating an environment of camaraderie, family and community service. While the physical buildings and clubhouse have changed, our core values remain strongly evident among both members and staff.
Willard E. Robinson purchased an almost 90-acre site and old Colonial house. The following year, he proceeded to lay out a nine-hole golf course. Mr. Robinson then bought land across Winter Street, giving him a total of 211 acres, with enough area to enlarge the course to 18 holes. This new course was designed by Donald Ross (1872-1948), and named The Belmont Springs Country Club.
The Colonial clubhouse burned to the ground and the stucco locker building was converted into the clubhouse, which was enlarged and remodeled. It was used until construction on a new clubhouse began in 2012.
7,000 people, estimated at that time to be the largest group ever to witness a golf match in the United States, swarmed over the course to watch Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, English Professionals, defeat America's leading amateur team of Francis Ouimet and James P. Guildford, 4 and 2 in a 36-hole exhibition match.
By the roaring 1920s, golf was so popular that even people who didn't particularly enjoy the game still played. President Calvin Coolidge was in that group of pretenders. There is a story often told that when Herbert Hoover succeeded Coolidge, the only thing Hoover found in the White House from the Coolidge years were Coolidge's golf clubs!
Belmont Springs Country Club was auctioned off and purchased by a representative from the outside. The new owners developed 24 acres on Marsh Street in the Country Club Lane area and reopened the club as a private golf course. The course was remodeled by Orrin Smith (1883-1958), who was associated with Donald Ross on many projects during his career. It is not known what year he remodeled Belmont Country Club.
Byron Nelson wins Belmont Open Golf Tournament.
The Club was, again, put on the market. A group of local businessmen tried to raise the money for its purchase, but fell about $5,000 short. The property was sold to an out-of-town group of men headed by Abraham M. Sonnabend of Brookline - reportedly for $75,000. It was then that the club name was changed to Belmont Country Club.
Ryder Cup, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA, 30th August 1949, The United States team group with their captain before the challenge match at the Belmont Country Club, They are L-R: E,J, Harrison, LLoyd Mangrum, Sam Snead, captain Ben Hogan, Clayton Heather, Jimmy Demaret, Chick Harbert and Bob Hamilton.
Due to the construction of Route 2, five holes (part of holes #8 and #9, and holes #10, 11, and 12) were relocated/partially relocated from the northerly portion of the site to an area of lowlands along Concord Avenue.
The golf scenes in the 1968 movie The Thomas Crown Affair, produced by a member at the time Alan Trustman were shot at Belmont. The movie starred Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway. In the movie Steve McQueen can be seen hitting a bunker shot on the 18th hole. His caddy in the movie was played by longtime employee "Toad". His name derived from his very low hoarse voice.
The golf course was renovated under the direction of Craig Schreiner, Architect.
Belmont began construction on a new clubhouse, pool and cabana facilities under the direction of CBT Architects and John Moriarty and Associates.
Belmont Country Club hosts the 2015 Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship Tournament. The four-day tournament saw the course record be broken and then broke again. Bernhard Langer sealed his win with a 3-under-par 68, Langer went wire-to-wire, finishing 19 under par and winning the Senior Players Championship by six shots over Kirk Triplett. In the process he became the first player since Arnold Palmer (1984–85) to win the Constellation Senior Players Championship in back-to-back years.
