club history
On October 25th, 1924, between 30 and 40 charter members of the proposed Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club met at the Snider House (now the Sodus Hotel) to create what would become the present-day club.
Prior to that meeting, the whole Sodus Bay Heights area had been known as the Blackmar Farm owned by Countess VonHemert of Paris, France. After her death the buyers had grandiose plans for the sale of the property and development of a housing and recreation tract. The area below the knoll was to resemble the Hollywood Bowl with a golf course running clockwise around the bowl. Plans also called for tennis courts and a playground for children. The golf course materialized first and then tennis courts were added at a later date.
Contrary to a belief that Robert Trent Jones designed the course, the architect is unknown. Actually Robert Trent Jones, the famous golf course designer, was in his teens and served as the first golf professional of the club. It was later that he went to Cornell under the sponsorship of James D. Bashford and became a world-renowned designer.
Originally, there were nine holes, a club house, a separate pro shop and a small caddy building. In 1953 an addition, planned and constructed by Jim and Al Santelli, was made to the bar room forming the present grill room. On July 1st, 1972 the new club house was opened with the pro shop included in the building eliminating the need for the caddy house. The scenic dining room was designed with huge windows to take advantage of the wonderful views of Sodus Bay. Finally the patio was added outside the grill in 1980.
In 1966, Claude Wright formed a committee to begin planning the extension of the golf course to eighteen holes. A contract was given to Geoffrey S. Cornish, a golf course architect from Amherst, Massachusetts, to redesign the existing course and expand on the west side of Route 14. On May 25, 1969 the new course was dedicated and a memorial stone commemorating the day was placed next to the flagpole. On the rainy dedication day, a number of pros were invited to play, each accompanied by two members and driven by women club members.
Long service and family involvement seem to be a tradition at Sodus Bay Heights. Our first Golf Professional was Robert Trent Jones; he served from 1930 until 1935. In 1935 Scoop Haubner came in as the pro and was here until 1939. At that time Douglas Cousins was hired and stayed until 1942. After an interruption in services by WWII, Mr. Cousins returned in 1947 for one season. In 1948 Byron Proesus served for one season.Douglas Cousins returned in 1949 and remained as pro until 1951. Leland Boice was hired in 1952 and stayed here as pro until 1977. Mr. Boice was very instrumental in the expansion to 18 holes and spent many hours working with Warner Featherly on the course. 1978-79 saw Dennis Mead as the Golf Pro and in 1980 Paul M. Carter was hired. Paul remained at the club for 26 years and at the end of the 2006 season he handed in his resignation. Paul and his family are now living full time in Florida where he still remains active teaching golf. April 2007 saw David B. Jones take control of the pro shop duties.
In 1998 Cheryl Davies was hired as our business manager and in 2000 Cheryl was elected by the Board of Directors as Secretary / Treasurer of the club.
For 50 years Warner Featherly and his family kept the course in fine condition. Warner became an expert in golf course maintenance through experience and hard work. In 1974 he decided it was time to retire and Kenneth Campbell was hired to take over maintenance of the course. Unfortunately Mr. Campbell passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack after only one season, and Warner was asked to return until a replacement could be found. In 1975 Tom Charnock was hired as superintendent.Tom maintained the course for the next three years and moved on to Brookfield Country Club in 1978. Paul Christ was hired in April of that year and remained at the club for six years. Paul then moved to Whitney Farms Golf Course in Monroe, Connecticut. Stephen Boone, who had spent summer seasons mowing for Warner in the early 70s, returned in 1978 to full time position as Tom Charnocks Assistant. Working under the direction of Tom and Paul, Steve learned his craft and was hired as Superintendent in 1984. He and his staff continue to keep our course one of the finest in the area.