Photos courtesy of the Scioto Country Club
In addition to the nearly 100 events that it hosts every year, the Scioto Country Club will host two more in the coming months, unlike any others in its storied existence: The U.S. Senior Open golf tournament and the club’s 100th Anniversary Black Tie Centennial Gala.
For local residents and members of the club, this will be a summer to remember.
Scioto Country Club was founded in 1916 by four men: Samuel Prescott Bush (grandfather and great-grandfather of 41st President George H.W. Bush and 43rd President George W. Bush, respectively), Dr. James Hamill, W.K. Lanman and Butler Sheldon. Dr. Hamill was the club’s first president, and when the club was founded, he said, “Our club, in time, will become one of the most important social centers of the community, and will constitute one of the show places of the city to which you will be proud to take your friend and visitors from other places. It will attract visitors to Columbus and make Columbus a better place in which to live, all of which will directly and materially benefit not only the members of the club, but the community at large.”
The club’s history and place in the community are visible from the moment one approaches its entrance.
“The stone wall that surrounds the club grounds today was the stone wall for the Miller Farm that kept the sheep and cattle on the property,” says Greg Wolf, the club’s general manager.
Wolf sees the club and Upper Arlington as one and the same.
“(Scioto’s golf course) was one of the first courses in the country that was designed as the hub of a community that was to follow,” says Wolf. “The club and the community have been incredible partners, each keeping the other strong over the years.”
This strength is evidenced through the consistently solid membership numbers throughout the club’s existence and through the many well-known figures from our county’s history who have visited it over the years. From Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis to the Rev. Billy Graham, Perry Como and Bob Hope, the club has hosted many of America’s favorite personalities. Adding to the aforementioned presidential connection, Ohioan and 29th U.S. President Warren G. Harding played golf at Scioto on the day of his election (after voting, of course): Nov. 2, 1920.
The club’s golf history runs the deepest, so it is only appropriate that in this centennial celebration year, it would host the U.S. Senior Open. Scioto is one of only seven golf courses in the U.S. that have hosted five different major competitions, starting with the 1926 U.S. Open, won by golfing legend Bobby Jones; and followed by the 1931 Ryder Cup, 1950 PGA Championship, 1968 U.S. Amateur and 1986 U.S. Senior Open.
Scioto is also where one of golf’s greatest players, and local icon, Jack Nicklaus, learned the game under the watchful eye of legendary teaching professional Jack Grout. Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer have staged exhibition matches for charity at the club.
As if hosting the tournament isn’t enough, this year’s Senior Open holds increased significance because two of the sport’s most popular modern players have committed to playing in the event: Fred Couples and John Daly. Both are certain to have some of the largest galleries during the tournament. Daly, who turned 50 this year and thus met the qualifying age, will be playing in his first Senior Open.
Bobby Jones Jr. receives the trophy from USGA President H.C. Fownes
In addition to the long golf history of the club, there is a rich aquatics history at the club as well. Mike Peppe, the famous Ohio State University swimming and diving coach, started the club’s aquatics program in 1938. Many divers throughout the country gravitated to Peppe’s program, and “they would work at the club in the summer time so they could train at Scioto,” says Wolf.
The club endured some hardship over the years too, such as a large fire in 1951 that destroyed nearly two-thirds of the clubhouse, but never anything it couldn’t overcome.
While its member parties, speaker series dinners, wine dinners and carnival days are certain to be enjoyable this year, nothing will likely compare to the centennial celebration in September and the Senior Open in August.
One hundred years later, Dr. Hamill’s vision has proven true. Scioto has been an integral part of the community’s social fabric, as its local and national reputation can attest. While enjoying the moment this year, the club keeps an eye on the future, too.
“The club continues to modify its strategic plan on a yearly basis to keep current and make sure that we are not only a club for our current members, but also one for our future members,” says Wolf.
Bob Valasek is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.
