I played at this Club with my WFGC “Nibs” partner Jim DaBramo in May 2024 in the 31st MGA Senior Net Four-Ball Tournament. We tied for fourth low gross, mainly down to one bad hole.
Frankly, I had never heard of the place even though it is located just a few minutes from Winged Foot. On delving into some of the background to the Club, I discovered that it was a re-brand from a Club that went bust in 2021 - Willow Ridge.
Willow Ridge had a fine history, dating back to 1917, but ran into financial issues and closed in 2021. It was originally named Green Meadow Country Club. Devereux Emmet designed the course, so it is claimed, and perhaps he had some say in matters but it seems more likely it was designed by Maurice McCarthy and updated by Ken Dye.
The Town of Harrison bought the club, and in 2022 re-named it Harrison Meadows. I think the Town bought the property, and appointed Troon to manage the place. https://www.troon.com/about-troon/. Looks like they paid around $13.5m for it. Amazing how the Club must have collapsed so quickly as there are articles praising the Club on its centenary in 2017, although it seems it was losing around $300,000 per annum for the prior 6/7 years. Reading between the lines, it looks like there was quite the little battle until the deal was finally done. Perhaps as a result the town got stiffed a bit as when they took over, since lockers had been stripped, kitchen all gutted and chairs, tables etc all gone. Presumably sold by the outgoing owners.
Anyway, what makes this especially interesting to me is that a former President of Bonnie Briar Country Club (BBCC) may have been involved in the (mis) management of Willow Ridge, just as he had presided over a potentially catastrophic collapse of BBCC. Of course, I might be entirely wrong, but to explain: the former President, lets call him “Q”, ran a very contentious election campaign around 2004, where he tried to corall Members to support him in a wild spending spree directed at Clubhouse improvements. What made this so controversial was both the tenor of his campaigning - frankly, it was bigoted and nasty - but also incredibly blinkered and arrogant as he and his pals wanted money spent on the Clubhouse, because that’s where they had their social lives. No matter that the only asset of the Club - the golf course - was ailing fast. I mean it was in terrible shape as a result of years of under-investment and poor management.
As a result, Membership was declining and the finances of the Club were a mess. The Club did open up Membership around 2000 to a broader spectrum of society shall we say, and we joined as did several of our friends. We all saw the superb potential BBCC had, but what we did not know at the time was the awful mismanagement led by a Board of Q and his buddies.
I recall all this time very well. As we discovered that the real reason for opening up the Club was so new members would finance the Clubhouse renovation, I was motivated to stand for election and I did join the Board. I will never forget the first one; John McEnroe’s “you cannot be serious” described the situation. It was just excruciating how bad things were. As I dared ask questions and challenge the Q team, I was made to feel very uncomfortable by Q and his buds.
So, the gloves came off and the Club held that pivotal election in 2003/4, and Q lost. Greatly. He realized he had put himself in an untenable position and rounded up friends and got a cut price deal to take something like 25 families to Willow Ridge. Now, bear in mind BBCC was already in a very tenuous financial situation due in part to his mis-management, so taking 25 dues paying families out put us in an even bigger hole.
Fast forward a decade, and with the benefit of hindsight, the Members of BBCC prospered enormously from Q’s departure. Perhaps he could have taken even more of his crony friends with him, as BBCC flourished in the following years. Radical measures were take to change management, direct resources to the Golf Course, and today, the Club is absolutely bouyant. The golf course is sensational, paddle courts are installed, the Club house has seen various renovations, and there is a waiting list to join. Thank you Q. By creating such a mess you created the conditions for the re-generation of Bonnie Briar!
Anyway, enough of the rant; but just one more - there was considerable debate on the Board following Q’s exit, as to whether he ought to be banned from ever being allowed to come back onto the property. Some Members felt very strongly about this. It was decided however, that revenge is indeed a dish best served cold, and we did subsequently revel in seeing him show up at Member - Guest events to survey a massively improved golf course, the Clubhouse upgrades, and a spirit of friendliness that was notably absent during his tenure.
So getting back to the now Harrison Meadows, I must say I was quite impressed!
This is a link to the Club: https://www.harrisonmeadowscc.com
The layout and topography reminded me of Wee Burn, and but for a couple of weak-ish holes, this course was well laid out and presented some interesting challenges: narrow approaches, elevated greens and water in play on several holes. The quality of the course was not at all bad, and if this was under private club ownership, this could be really quite good.
It borders on two marvelous Clubs - The Westchester, and Apawamis. And Harrison also has Old Oaks, Brae Burn and the Golf Club of Purchase in its area. That is one heck of a group of great golf Clubs!
It’s hard to get a sense of the elevations for holes 1-9-10-18, but they were challenging. The water is in play for a few holes, and generally speaking needs to be played with considerable accuracy on approach shots. Again like Wee Burn, on a few holes - like our nemesis 13 - driver not needed as the miss is out of bounds or a trap.
I enjoyed the day, and congratulate the new management on how they have transformed the Club. I wish them well in the future as I am sure if they can get the finances, they can turn this into a gem that will be as good a course as Apawamis for example.
Must more important then the golf, however, was that today saw the arrival home of Rory Mansfield Champ!
Rory and me on May 14, 2024. He doesn’t get some of the new scoring rules either.
A very happy day indeed. 9lbs plus and 22 inches long, pretty much like how two brothers. A strong front row in the making?