Metropolis Country Club

With a rich history and longstanding reputation, Metropolis Country Club is one of the oldest and most prestigious clubs on the east coast. Established in 1922, today Metropolis offers an array of amenities, including an expansive golf course and driving range, tennis courts, and elegant terrace and dining facilities.

A view from the deck.

That Was Then: Fond Memories of Metropolis from a Longtime Member

As a member of Metropolis since 1937, whose family belonged to the original Metropolis City Club in Manhattan, I've witnessed many changes, as you can well imagine. Perhaps some may be of interest to you.

Three Metropolis families lived in homes alongside of the thirteenth hole overlooking a large expanse of our golf course. In the wintertime, wild deer could be seen roaming the golf course - not surprising since, in those days, many parts of the grounds were fenceless.

The original clubhouse, which was previously Century Country Club, had only thirteen holes. Before it was Century, the property and much of its grounds belonged to one family. It was an elegant home overlooking what is now our pool and practice area. Huge white columns stood tall over an outside marble terrace where all our Saturday night dances were held. These affairs lasted until one or two in the morning and were followed by eggs, donuts and coffee in a large downstairs grill. Men who were scheduled to play early the next morning often times slept in a dormitory. Remember there was no Sprainbrook or New York Thruway in those days. It took a long time to drive up the Bronx River Parkway, maintaining no more than thirty miles an hour. On holiday weekends, depending on the traffic, it could take as much as two hours each way.

Luncheon service on the terrace was mainly for women. This may sound strange, but, according to the House Rules, should a gentleman choose to join the ladies, he was required to change out of golf attire and appear in a jacket and tie.

Now, as for Golf Rules, they were tough for women. Since there were men's tees only, the women played from the men's tees. On the weekends, no woman was permitted to play before two in the afternoon! If the course was empty, it made no difference.

Golf shorts were not allowed until the mid fifties. A sign was posted in the locker room which read in bold letters - “Ladies! If you wear your shorts any shorter, you will not be permitted to wear them any longer!!”.

With the exception of a few Sunday evenings, children did not appear on the Club grounds, and never in the pool. Finally, when our perennial pool chairman had tiny grandchildren of his own, he decided that if the temperature reached 90 degrees or over, children could use the pool facilities.

It should be noted that Metropolis was one of the last country clubs to permit gentlemen in the pool without shirt tops.

The Metropolis Club was utilized all year long. When we had snow, toboggan sleds zoomed down the first fairway. In off-season time, there was trap shooting on the practice tee.

Many important golf events were held on our beautiful Metropolis course, and it was not surprising to see “greats” like Snead, Hogan and Sarazen playing along with our home professional, Paul Runyon - know was “Little Poison” to his friends because of his great accuracy. He was little, but oh my!

How times have changed. In 1941 on the fourth of July, the formal dinner was priced at $4.75. On the inside of the invitation under a photograph of President Roosevelt, was a request from him to donate one dollar each from the $4.75 to the USO.

Caddies were always plentiful and here is a shocker - they received $1.50 (one dollar and fifty cents) for eighteen holes. Big sports tipped an extra twenty-five cents. It's painful, sometimes, to have a good memory.

Initiation Fees were $1,200.00, and dues were $200.00 a year. Guest Fees were $2.00.

BUT THAT WAS THEN AND THIS IS NOW.