Saint Andrew's Celebrates 125th Anniversary

John Reid

When the Saint Andrew’s Golf Club—the oldest continuously existing golf club in America, founded in 1888—commemorates its 125th Anniversary this June, one of the highlights of the week-long celebration will be a star-studded panel of golf luminaries gazing into a crystal ball to predict the game’s future.

On Saturday, June 8, the famed Waldorf Astoria in midtown Manhattan will host the club’s Gala Anniversary Dinner Dance. A major part of the evening’s program will be a round table conversation on the “The Present and Future of Golf,” featuring notables from across the golf world. Hosting the discussion will be Jimmy Roberts of NBC Sports, who also will serve as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. Joining him in focusing on the game will be:

• Billy Casper, Jr., one of golf’s most prolific winners, two-time U.S. Open champion, winner of The Masters, and member of the World Golf Hall of Fame
• Ted Bishop, current president of the PGA of America and Director of Golf/General Manager of The Legends Golf Club in Franklin, Indiana
• Michael Breed, 2012 PGA National Teacher of the Year, author, and host of “The Golf Fix” on Golf Channel
• Stina Sternberg, Global Golf Director for Golf Digest 

Following the round table, the dinner’s keynote speech will be given by actor and golf enthusiast John O’Hurley, who has become famous—when not playing golf—by playing J. Peterman on “Seinfeld” as well as performing on Broadway and around the country.  Another highlight of the evening will be a special presentation by USGA President Glen Nager, recognizing the association’s five founding clubs for their pioneering vision in organizing the game of golf in America.

The New York-based PVH Corp. (NYSE: PVH) and its IZOD brand is the title sponsor for Saint Andrew’s week-long anniversary celebration, which will honor the past, present and future of golf, while raising funds for charity.  In addition to IZOD, PVH Corp. markets many of the most famous brands in men’s wear worldwide, including Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen and ARROW.

The gala evening is the culmination of a week of events honoring The Saint Andrew’s Golf Club. Highlights of the week include the Folds of Honor Pro-Am Golf Tournament (Tuesday, June 4) to support the families of killed or disabled members of the military; the Celebration of Women’s Golf (Wednesday, June 5), marking the history and growth of women’s golf in America; and the Celebrity-Am Golf Tournament (Friday, June 7), an invitation-only event at Saint Andrew’s Golf Club featuring celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment, paired with amateur golfers.

Continuing its legacy of charitable involvement, Saint Andrew’s has designated The First Tee of Metropolitan New York and the Folds Of Honor Foundation as the two key beneficiaries of the celebration, which has already attracted a variety of distinguished supporters and participants, from renowned golf champions and current tour pros to public figures, celebrities and sports legends.

“The founders of our club were motivated by a passion for golf, and a desire to organize and grow the game in America,” stated George Miller, President of Saint Andrew’s.  “Our anniversary celebration has been designed to honor that legacy, by giving back to the community around us, and supporting the next 125 years of golf in America.”

To inquire about participating in The Saint Andrew’s Golf Club 125th Anniversary events, to purchase tickets for the Gala Anniversary Dinner Dance or to make a contribution to The Saint Andrew’s Golf Club 125th Anniversary Fund, contact Karen Degnan at (914) 478-3500, or visit www.125yearsofgolfinamerica.com.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf