St. Andrew's Adds to Teaching Staff

Tyler Jaramillo

Tyler Jaramillo is joining the professional staff to beef up teaching capabilities at Saint Andrew’s Golf Club in Hastings. Jaramillo, a well-known PGA Assistant Golf Professional in the Met Section, will focus on teaching and operations at the new Apple Tree Learning Center that opens at the club in May.

Jaramillo, a native of Albuquerque, NM, joins Saint Andrew’s with many years of experience at private clubs, most recently at The Seawane Club on Long Island. Prior to Seawane, Jaramillo was an assistant golf professional at Tamarack Country Club, Ardsley Country Club, and Fenway Golf Club, all in the Met Area. He has been a PGA of America Class A member since 2008 and is FlightScope Certified, as well as a TPI Level 2 Certified Coach and a US Kids Certified Instructor.

Additionally, Jaramillo is the owner/director and co-founder of Golf In Schools in Seattle, Wash., where he works with 25 elementary schools and more than 150 children to grow the game of golf.

Jaramillo will report to St. Andrew’s Head Golf Professional Greg Bisconti, joining PGA Director of Golf, Charlie Hicks and PGA Assistant Golf Professional Ambry Bishop to round out the professional staff. His focus will be teaching, both in the center and on-course with members.

A quality player, Jaramillo qualified for the PGA National Assistant’s Championship last year, as well as notching a win on the Met PGA Assistant’s tour at Patriot Hills. He also serves on the Met PGA Assistants Board as well as the Met PGA Tournament Committee.

A graduate of New Mexico State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Jaramillo grew up playing most sports until he concentrated on golf starting at age 15. When not on the links, he is an avid snowboarder.

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

Richest Deal Ever Made on a Golf Course?

It's probably impossible to prove, but it's entirely likely that a deal spawned at St. Andrew's GC in Hastings may have been the largest ever struck on a golf course. I ran across this interesting tidbit in American Colosus: The Triumph of Capitalism 1865-1900 by H.W. Brands. The club, which celebrated its 125th anniversary this year, played an essential role in the sale of member Andrew Carnegie's steel interests to J.P. Morgan and others in 1901.

The deal was a perfect example of the role golf can play in business--not to mention the value of scoring judiciously when playing against your boss.

Andrew Carnegie playing at St. Andrew’s circa 1899. He enjoyed the game so much, he built a home next to the course // Photograph courtesy of Westchester County Historical Society

Carnegie Steel President Charles M. Schwab was the hero of the piece. Morgan had made it known he and his partners wanted to buy out Carnegie so they could monopolize the steel industry. Schwab saw the value of the deal (he subsequently became President of the company it created, U.S. Steel) but the ultimate decision was Carnegie's, who wasn't particularly interested in selling. His wife, Louise, though, wanted him to retire. Here's how Brands described what happened:

"Louise Carnegie conspired with Schwab against her husband. Shortly after Schwab informed her of the merger scheme, she telephoned to say that Carnegie would be playing golf the next morning at St. Andrew's club in Westchester. He was always more cooperative after winning at the Scottish national sport, she suggested. Schwab took the hint, whiffed a few for the cause, and broached the subject of selling. Carnegie didn't reject the plan outright, which Schwab took to be a good sign."

It was. The next morning, Carnegie named his price--$480 million. Morgan accepted it and a few days later closed the deal personally. As he shook Carnegie's hand, he said, "Mr. Carnegie, I want to congratulate you on being the richest man in the world."

At that point in time, it probably wasn't an exaggeration. The deal would be worth about $13 billion in today's dollars. That has to make it one of the biggest ever born on a golf course.

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

Women In Golf Celebrated by St. Andrew's

Women interested in taking up golf in an easy-going, supportive atmosphere have a new champion. The Saint Andrew’s Golf Club—the oldest private club in the United States—is sponsoring a “Celebration of Women in Golf” on June 5, 2013, as part of the week-long commemoration of its 125^th anniversary.

The celebration has been designed by golf professionals to honor women’s historic contributions to the game while introducing non-golfers to everything that makes golf fun and exciting. Golf professionals from throughout the Met Area are volunteering their services to create a warm and welcoming environment for those who have never played and want to get into the swing. Event organizers are offering current golfers the opportunity to give back to golf by hosting and mentoring a woman new to the game while spending a fun filled day with golf professionals and other supportive women. 

The afternoon event, starts with registration at 11:00, followed by lunch and a presentation by Donna Orender, one of the most powerful women in sports who is now involved in engaging more women in golf through the PGA of America’s “Connecting with Her” program.  Orender, former president of the WNBA, grew up on Long Island and was a five-sport athlete in high school, lettering in basketball, field hockey, volleyball, softball, and tennis. 

Following lunch, indoor and outdoors stations at Saint Andrew’s Golf Club will consist of educational programs and instructional clinics. The on-course golf festival will feature stations of both golf and non-golf activities such as lessons, a fashion show, wine tasting, equipment demonstrations, and other experiences. The celebration will close with a cocktail reception. 

This special day is being supported with the help of The Saint Andrew’s Golf Club Ladies Golf Association, The First Tee of Metropolitan New York, Met PGA, and other area golf organizations.  The day is being sponsored in large part by one of Saint Andrew’s own female members, Carol Blum, who with her husband, Morton, made a $10,000 contribution to this event.

Proceeds from this charity event will support Girls Golf and FORE!, an initiative of The First Tee that educates, enriches, and empowers young girls by encouraging healthy habits and choices through pro-active thinking in the critical teenage years.

Tickets are $350, which includes two participants in the event or $250 for one person. To register, email email Ambry Bishop at abishop@saintandrewsgolfclub.com or call (914) 478-3475.  

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

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