All about history
FOXBURG — History is definitely on Foxburg Country Club's side.
Play began at the course in 1887 and Foxburg CC is known as the oldest continually used golf course in the United States.
In 1971, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution that formally recognized Foxburg Country Club as the oldest in the nation.
“People will travel to play here for that reason,” pro shop manager Denise Mains said. “We have a member here who lives in Texas. He comes up for a couple of weeks every year to play.
“A number of people come down from Canada to play here all of the time.”
While Foxburg Country Club is a public nine-hole golf course, its membership actually owns the facility. An annual membership costs $550 and entitles one to play the course as often as he or she likes for the entire year.
Mains said Foxburg has close to 100 members this year.
Foxburg CC is run by a nine-person board of directors. Mains has served on that board for 20 years.
The facility is also home to a free golf museum — available on the second floor of the clubhouse — featuring old clubs and bags, photographs and other items depicting the history of golf.
“People will visit us just to see the museum,” Mains said.
Foxburg provides a fitting home for it.
When the golf course was first constructed, quart tomato cans were used as cups on the sand greens. The fairways were cut with a scythe by a man named John Dunkle. He was paid an annual salary of $15.
The clubhouse that still serves Foxburg CC today was built in 1912 and bought by the club in 1941.
“We've been open to the public for more than 50 years,” Mains said. “But we will never change our name. There is far too much history here.”
Foxburg is home to an annual hickory sticks tournament, an event where golfers play with old-time clubs while dressed in garb depicting that era.
Only one golf league plays at Foxburg — a 40-member men's league on Thursday afternoons.
“Thursdays after 2 p.m. would not be a good time to try to get a tee time,” Mains said, smiling. “But people should always call for a tee time. We never know when we're going to be busy.”
Other leagues are welcome to use Foxburg's facility, Mains emphasized.During the month of May, senior citizens (age 65 or older) may play 18 holes with a cart at Foxburg for $15. The course's regular rates are $25 for 18 holes with a cart on weekdays, $33 on weekends.Mains said that the course generally fills up on Saturdays — again, through scheduled tee times — but the course is pretty accessible during the week.One men's group plays one day a week for a discounted rate of $20 for 18 holes. That group welcomes new players. It is not a league, just an informal round of golf.For more information on that group, or to schedule a round at Foxburg, call 724-659-3196.
