The Tuxedo Club is victorious in extremely close matches!
The Tuxedo Club hosts the traditional 1894 matches with prestigious clubs
On October 9th, 1894, the Tuxedo Club hosted the first inter-club team matches ever played in the country. The three other teams that competed in these matches were St. Andrews, Shinnecock and The Country Club, which prevailed over all. On March 23, 1982, The Tuxedo Club’s former Chairman of the Governing Committee, Brian A. Sichol, sent a letter to the respective Chairmen of the three prestigious clubs as an invitation to renew this Quadrangular match. Tuxedo again hosted the Matches which have been held annually ever since. Newport Country Club joined in 1989 and over the years, hundreds of team members have enjoyed the camaraderie and fellowship the friendly competition fosters.
In Round One, the clubs competed in a Singles Match Play where each player played three simultaneous matches against the players from the other clubs. Four Tuxedo players – Dan Rifkin (8), Mike Reardon (8), Howard Mertz (8), and Bruce Raines (8.5) helped set the bar high by with an impressive 8+ point performance. With those scores and the help from the other team players, Tuxedo was able to score 72.5 points. Following the lead of The Tuxedo Club were The Country Club (50), Shinnecock (49.5), and Newport (44). Saturday evening all of the players were able to reminisce about the best and worst shots of the day while enjoying carved tomahawk ribeye and lobster tails at the Golf Clubhouse.
Round two the next morning featured the much anticipated foursome matches. This is where partners compete in an alternate-shot format to play three simultaneous matches against each team from each club. Impressive points were made in this round by The Tuxedo Club’s Howard Mertz and Peter McGuire who scored a perfect (18) points and were the only ones to do so the whole tournament. The Country Club started to slowly close the gap between themselves and The Tuxedo Club, similar to 2014 when The Country Club mounted a dramatic comeback. In the end, The Tuxedo Club (135.5) surpassed The Country Club (135) by only a ½ point. This was followed by Newport (83) and Shinnecock (78.5). Next year’s matches will be held at The Country Club in Brookline, MA.
Throughout the weekend The Tuxedo Club was honored with having the U.S. Senior Open Championship Trophy on display. Loaned to Tuxedo by the USGA Golf House, the trophy originates back to this very match in 1894. The Country Club retained possession of the trophy until the mid-1950s, when it was given to the USGA Golf Museum for exhibition. As the USGA prepared for the inaugural U.S. Senior Open, The Country Club suggested the trophy be used as the formal award for the Championship. The trophy was presented “by The Country Club and Golfers of Massachusetts,” and formally dedicated to Ouimet, the 1913 U.S. Open Champion and two-time U.S. Amateur Champion.
About The Tuxedo Club:
The Tuxedo Club is a distinctive social institution that, since 1886, has provided its members, their families and guests with recreation and refuge in the close environs of Metropolitan New York City. The Club’s unparalleled grounds, varied sporting venues and multiple clubhouse facilities offer year round enjoyment for all ages and make it one of the most unique private clubs in the world. Facilities include golf, five racquet sport venues, boathouse, fitness facility, swimming complex, ice skating rink and two architecturally renowned clubhouses, all of which provide the diverse membership with opportunities for social interaction.
Orianna Santiago
The Tuxedo Club
1 West Lake Road
Tuxedo Park, NY 10987
(845) 351 – 4791
osantiago@thetuxedoclub.org
