Thank you Jessica for this beautiful and poignant piece on what it feels like to be a Jew a lot of the time. This continued even after I revealed that I was Jewish. Books Wow I just read your comment. The offense you experienced at the club at the hands of an acquaintance completely oblivious to the historical context of her comment, burned inside you because of your particular brand of Jewish DNA forcibly mutated by fire and ash. "It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing your whole life." Public. The course plays long and tough but includes some of the most picturesque holes in the county. Really powerful and moving account of how were made to compromise who we are to fit in to a world we never really want to be a part of. Im a person who likes to understand. When it was my turn, I said I wanted to recite it in Hebrew as I knew it very well, and I didnt think it was fair not to give a girl a chance. Frequent topics included: books (Art Spiegelmans Maus); philosophy (Bertrand Russell, Sun Tzu, Machiavelli); art (Picassos Guernica); and politics lots of politics; music, too. 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That was that. Jessica Ursells excellent memoir has obviously touched a lot of nerves and memories. The Great Depression and World War II took a toll on the growth of golf everywhere, but the game in Westchester fully recovered. The insidious nature of anti-Semitism, or any type of hate for that matter, comes through clearly. The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. I love personal pieces like this and the way she conveyed her feelings brought it all together and gave it life .. Here are some more photos. WebJudaism in northern Westchester presents an uneven pattern. I was taken aback. Macdonalds loss prompted him to denounce the championship because it wasnt run by a national organization, so later that year, Saint Andrews secretary and founding member Henry Tallmadge invited representatives of four other leading clubs, the Chicago Golf Club, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Newport (Rhode Island) Golf Club, and the Country Club of Brookline, Massachusetts, to dinner at the Calumet Club in New York City. Ah it was a different time. You missed Tillinghast's Alpine (originally named Aldecress) in New Jersey. And, in truth, I know that it was obvious even then. She never came to my home after school, and I never went to hers. My grandparents in St. Louis had to belong to a Jewish country club; they were not welcome at a Christian country club. Surprisingly, I fit right in. Its awful to know that people we went to school with harbored such prejudice whether born out of ignorance or malevolence. This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. Private. Dan Jenkins. Rockrimmon by RTJ in Stamford, CT on the Pound Ridge, NY border and Preakness Hills in NJ are historically Jewish but I believe they have opened up over the years like many of those mentioned before. All rights reserved. Your family legacy, replete with tragedy, loss, resilience, heroism and amazing achievement against all odds, more specifically pegs you not only as a Jew, but a Jew with a particular yerushe. They played an exhibition over three improvised holes with John Upham, and golf in Westchester sprouted from there. 1060 Oregon Road, Cortlandt Manor I concur with SL Solow's economic analysis on the changes taking place within "historically Jewish clubs" and all clubs in Chicago with respect to membership policies. Daughter of an immigrant Jewish mother from the foothills of the Himalayas and a South Bronx born Puerto Rican Jewish father, Jessica Ursell is a veteran officer of the United States Air Force, poet, attorney, and progressive political activist. Insider's Guide to Country Clubs in Westchester - Suburbs Shames Jewish Community Center on the Hudson Health Clubs Sports Complexes 5. Even with my kids far from home, I light candles and celebrate/honor Jewish holidays and life with my friends. 914.967.6000 Dick Wilson did part of it and I believe it was Joe Finger who did the other, but I'm working from a weak memory. An original Tiffany window lights its grand staircase, and the view of the Hudson River may well be the finest in the county. It was here that the first national amateur championship was played, not to mention the first national Open tournament that included professionals. I will continue to fight for this. Perhaps a simple, What exactly do you mean by that? might have been enough to throw this girl, who was, I am certain, not as knowledgeable or thoughtful as her guest, off her high horse, and maybe even make her (if not on the spot, possibly later) consider the reductive and prejudiced nature of her comment. Regarded as one of the countys more challenging courses, Mohansic is a test to even the most experienced golfers. You became one, not part of the many but one. 808 Weaver Street, Larchmont 914.328.5047 But your dad would have been funnier. The employees are professional and friendly. It was won by Gene Sarazen, a Harrison native and Westchesters greatest homegrown golfer, who had won both the PGA and the US Open the year before. So, why did I fail when it came to defending my own people? I really enjoyed your piece. You learned a life lesson and were given a perfect memory full of literary device. Extensive course revisions in recent years have made this perennial Westchester favorite even more attractive and a greater challenge to golfers of all skill levels. 914.738.2730 100 Shadow Tree Lane, Briarcliff Manor This was not an Orthodox enclave but a secular community in suburban Philadelphia where many Jews had settled. Type Private. I have played with some great guys from both of these clubs over the years. The trick in life is to learn when to and when not to deploy that armor.. all the while knowing that human failings inevitably mean we cannot get it right 100% of the time. Many thanks to the writers who have shared their work with us and have helped create a supportive online community for Jewish writers. Willie MacFarlane, winner of the 1925 US Open, was Old Oaks first head pro. Lake Merced Country Club in San Francisco, CA is one of note as well--but was hacked by Rees Jones' firm (IMHO). Probably not. The simulator also features a multi-sport function offering a variety of sports such as soccer, baseball, hockey and more to indulge interest for all. Our Governor's Day event is something we look forward to each year to relive the long history of Westchester Hills Golf Club! Your anger is palpable and understandable. The golf course is beautiful. Sorry it took pain to birth this in you but that is how becoming one is birthed. Even though we were similarly equiped with a laser sharp self-awareness and keen sense of situation, a hallmark of our secular Jewish upbringing, you were still unprepared for the baked in anti-semitism. From Business: Founded in 1908, Pelham Country Club is a family-oriented facility in New York. It was a private nine-hole course that the county expanded to 18 holes and opened in 1927. Address 401 Ridgeway, White Plains, NY 10605. Re: The golf courses of the "historically Jewish clubs". It still twists your gut! In the Westwood thread that I started about 2 months ago, there was this comment: "Westwood was built as the Jewish equivalent of St. Louis CC" This has prompted me to ask about the courses of these clubs. I woke up as they say. HFS provides print and digital distribution for a distinguished list of university presses and nonprofit institutions. At Westchester Hills, our members value a year-round experience. I felt something twist in my gut. Its funny (ironic?) In that moment I became a bystander in her attempt to have me erase my essence. When will we ever learn? What about the other point of view? Private. 844.211.0512 Host of five U.S. I went to public school in 9th grademy first encounter with non-jewish kids. Naturally my favorite place is the dining room. Golf and country clubs offer bowling, Greek nights, summer camps, and, to the disgust of older members, facilities for sales meetings that include a day on the links, in the pool and on the courts. Jewish country clubs are country clubs whose members are predominantly Jewish, having been excluded from other elite social clubs during periods of rising anti-Semitism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Mr. Lordi was unavailable. Clearly this incident helped to clarify and solidify things in this authors mind. Known as one of the most difficult courses in the county, Trump National is also one of the most picturesque. Francis Ouimet, winner of the milestone US Open of 1913, played at Knollwood, as did the legendary Bobby Jones, who at one time held the course record with a round of 68. Trauma distorts our perceptions and recollections, but you captured vividly your feelings in the ensuing decades. As we get older, we have the tools and have learned to speak out strongly against anti-semitism. For the world? Sometimes you can find a way to express it, later, sometimes the people, places, events are gone forever. The Jewish Writing Project is now ranked as one of the "Top 50 Jewish Blogs" on the web. (LogOut/ They leave their used paper cups everywhere around town, she said, in addition to other anti-Semitic remarks. It wasnt as though she had given me her edict weeks before so I would have the chance to respond and, hopefully, decide that even Superman wasnt worth compromising my integrity and my sense of self. The damage anti semitism has is proven by her memory so many years later. Our experiences as children shape our values as adults. Golfers are treated to a beautiful view of much of the 7,000-yard course on the first tee, and can choose four sets of tees to match their unique skill level and playing style. Some of the most devilish greens I have ever played. My parents didnt belong to a country club. I was simply confused and so was he. American Jewish History Its practically part of our DNA. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt feelings. Here are some more photos. No do-overs. Quaker Ridge hosted the Walker Cup and Century and Old Oaks are regular sites for US Open qualifying. Your frame of reference doesnt contain the oh, this is what I should say or do The anger is still there, years later. You pose interesting questions in your writing. It wouldn't be summer without the organized swim team and many swim games each weekend. Public. One club manager, who asked not to be identified, said his club had some Jewish members but that they were members of families which had converted to Christianity. There are probably scores of predominantly Jewish clubs in South Florida-with almost all of them being on flat, uninteresting terrain. Where the Masters was conceived and the US Open broke Phil Mickelsons heart. I wonder if there is a protestant/catholic divide in Scotland or Ireland? Where the very best golf architects displayed their artistry. When I finally biked miles to his house one morning, he couldnt hang out because his dad told him he didnt want that Jewish rich kid being seen with his son. Westchester Country Club and Winged Foot Golf Club opened in 1922 and 1923, respectively, preceded in 1921 by Bonnie Briar Country Club in Larchmont, where artist Norman Rockwell was a charter member and Delmonicos managed the kitchen. You were a guest. Members at the time included steel mogul and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and architect and bon vivant Stanford White. The only lesson that I can take from this event that still burns on the walls of my consciousness all these years later, the only lesson that I can draw strength from today, is that one must never be a bystander, nor must one ever participate in self erasure. I would like to think that if time were able to stand still and you had been able to take a minute or two or however long it took for you to process those words, you WOULD have reacted differently, but the moment had passed. 914.231.3481 Private Golf Club sites by MembersFirst | Terms of Use | Privacy | Request My Information. It is obvious now. We think, we ponder, we discuss, and we try to figure out the why of things. Copyright 2022 Westchester Jewish Council. None of the clubs queried in the survey had Negro members. Its important that her voice is out there ! This incident took place when I was a bit older than middle school. So does the memory of Carnoustie's foreboding. I too remember hanging out and riding bikes in the summer between 7th and 8th grade with a good friend in those same neighborhoods (back when 12 year-olds could ride around all day miles from home with no means of contact). A state-of-the-art year round practice facility opened in 2015. We werent elite, even though my parents were elated as they moved us out of the Amalgamated Workmens Circle housing in the Bronx to the cushy azalea filled suburbs of Westchester. Thank you for sharing this very personal moment in your life. By the time Saint Andrews started hosting tournaments, a handful of other Westchester clubs were in their nascent stages. And more relevant. Each week one boy was chosen to recite Kaddish in Hebrew and one girl would recited in English. During luncheon, the woman began railing against the dirty Orthodox Jews who summered in her New Hampshire town of Bethlehem. No upcoming events. The club offers catering services for weddings, golf outings, bat mitzvah and, From Business: Alpine Country Club, located in Demarest, N.J., offers a variety of recreational facilities and services throughout the state. A friend asking us to be someone else is not a true friend. Filed under American Jewry, Family history, history, Jewish, Jewish identity, Jewish writing, Judaism, Tagged as assimilation, Country Club, family history, family rituals, Family roots, immigrant experience, Jewishness, silence, too Jewish, Westchester, Workmen's Circle. Jack Nicklaus redesigned the course in 1983. Its facilities include a fitness, From Business: Delray Dunes Golf and Country Club, located in Boynton Beach, Fla., is a private, member-owned community club. We think, we ponder, we discuss, and we try to figure out the why of things. "The mystique of Muirfield lingers on. The first time I heard the expression to Jew one down, was from my former mother-in -law. And as you can read in the essay, the fact that I was silent has been a smoldering fire within me for decades so Im very glad I was able to release this piece out into the world. 914.698.8400 Thank you for so eloquently sharing this searingly honest and heartbreaking experience. It's 162 acres and definitely a family favorite.more, Anyway, back to the country club. Your actions or inactions that day did not change or detract from the person you are and were meant to be. I played an event at Northmoor a few years backfast greens and the renovation they did made it an OK course. 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