Foxburg Country Club
Encyclopedia
Foxburg Country Club, established in 1887, is the oldest golf course
"in continuous use" in the United States
. It was listed as Foxburg Country Club and Golf Course on the National Register of Historic Places
. It is located in Foxburg
, Pennsylvania
, United States of America, approximately 55 miles north of Pittsburgh
along the Allegheny River
.
The course was built by and is named after Joseph Mickle Fox. Fox was introduced to golf while traveling abroad in England to partake in cricket matches, as a member of the Merion Cricket Club, also known as "The Gentlemen of Philadelphia." After participating in a cricket match in Edinburgh
, Scotland
, Fox visited St. Andrews to see the game of golf being played. Tom Morris Sr., the old bearded pro at St. Andrews took a liking to Fox and taught him the fundamentals of the game, sold him equipment and gutta percha balls to bring back to the United States. Fox was so intrigued by golf, that upon his arrival back to his summer estate in Clarion County
, he made an eight hole course on the Fox Estate. Soon, due to enthusiasm for golf, the cub decided to build a more spacious golf course and Fox provided the land rent free, for what was to become Foxburg Country Club. Eventually, the Foxburg Golf Club was established and the golf course was expanded to nine holes. Many golfers who have played at Foxburg have stated that it is an easy course, but also challenging at the same time. Due to the amount of trees and brush, keeping it in the fairway is crucial and this remains true even in 2010.
Foxburg Country Club is a throwback in time and considered a "must play" by true lovers of the game of golf if passing through on Interstate 80
in Pennsylvania. The course is approximately 5 minutes south of the Interstate.
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
"in continuous use" in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was listed as Foxburg Country Club and Golf Course on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It is located in Foxburg
Foxburg, Pennsylvania
Foxburg is a borough in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located along the east bank of the Allegheny River, about two miles north of its confluence with the Clarion River.-History:...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States of America, approximately 55 miles north of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
along the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Fox visited St. Andrews to see the game of golf being played. Tom Morris Sr., the old bearded pro at St. Andrews took a liking to Fox and taught him the fundamentals of the game, sold him equipment and gutta percha balls to bring back to the United States. Fox was so intrigued by golf, that upon his arrival back to his summer estate in Clarion County
Clarion County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 41,765 people, 16,052 households, and 10,738 families residing in the county. The population density was 69 people per square mile . There were 19,426 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
, he made an eight hole course on the Fox Estate. Soon, due to enthusiasm for golf, the cub decided to build a more spacious golf course and Fox provided the land rent free, for what was to become Foxburg Country Club. Eventually, the Foxburg Golf Club was established and the golf course was expanded to nine holes. Many golfers who have played at Foxburg have stated that it is an easy course, but also challenging at the same time. Due to the amount of trees and brush, keeping it in the fairway is crucial and this remains true even in 2010.
Foxburg Country Club is a throwback in time and considered a "must play" by true lovers of the game of golf if passing through on Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
in Pennsylvania. The course is approximately 5 minutes south of the Interstate.