History of Ludlow Country Club

Donald Ross
Donald Ross

Ludlow Country Club (LCC) was established in 1921 and has been part of the Ludlow community for more than a century. Early records suggest the club’s grounds and clubhouse traditions may date back even earlier, with local references indicating a clubhouse on the property around 1912 (additional confirmation is still being researched).

In 1926, club leaders authorized a major expansion from a 9-hole layout to an 18-hole course—an ambitious plan that created new holes while reworking several of the originals. Newspaper accounts from that period describe a championship-style layout with long par-5 holes and a goal of attracting major tournaments to Ludlow in the years ahead.

Competitive golf has been central to LCC’s story from the beginning. The club participated in early Western Massachusetts league play and developed a long-running Four-Ball tournament tradition. After the death of Jeff Rogers during the 1948 event, the club honored his legacy by naming the tournament the Jeff Rogers Memorial Four-Ball, one of the enduring highlights of the season.

History by Era (Expandable)

1921: Ludlow Country Club is established. 1926: The club authorizes a major expansion plan from 9 holes to 18; records describe new holes, re-numbering of existing holes, and a vision to host major tournaments. 1926: Western Massachusetts Four-Ball League play is noted in early records.

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The club’s championships and match play continue throughout the decade, reflecting strong local competition. 1938: Flood and hurricane damage impacts the course; championship play is held on the clubhouse nine.

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1944–1945: Records reference the club’s “First Annual Four Ball,” reflecting the event’s long history (early-year documentation is being reconciled). 1948: Jeff Rogers dies on the course during Four-Ball play. 1949: The tournament is renamed the Jeff Rogers Memorial Four-Ball in his honor.

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Surviving notes also capture period details such as dues, club officers, and invitations — valuable snapshots of club life.

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Club and tournament play remain active and well documented in the notes, including Four-Ball winners across the decade. Records note a period with no Ladies competitions from 1978 to 1991.

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1996: LCC marks its 75th Anniversary. 1998: Major clubhouse renovation begins. 1999: First full season with the renovated clubhouse. Through the early 2000s, the notes continue tracking annual champions and Four-Ball results.

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Year Men's Championship Ladies Championship Four-Ball 2010 M Janiszewski Susan Stachelek S Lavoie – J Sullivan 2011 Andy Fisk Susan Stachelek M Murawski – B Reed 2012 Andy Fisk Paula Siok Andy Fisk – G Fisk 2013 Andy Fisk Kelly Karalekas M Janiszewski – J Foard ...

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Source Notes (Draft Timeline)

1921 Ludlow Country Club started.

1922 1923 1924 1925

1926 Western Mass Four Ball League Starts; Women's Club Champion, Eileen Paradis Men's Club Champion , Paul Persons def Al "Red" Mackintosh Mackintosh def. Hennessey in Semis Persons def Dr. Lannagan in Semis 3 new greens expected to be seeded this fall Brook damned on new 16th hole & ground broken on new 5th and 15th holes A.M. Scott of Ludlow in charge of construction

9/14/1926 Ludlow's new golf course be assured it is understood according to the latest information; Directors of the Ludlow Country Club have authorized the enlargement of the present 9-hole course to include 18 holes. Two of which will be among the longest in Western Mass and it is hoped to have at least part of the new layout ready for next season. Six holes stand.

Plans for the enlarged course call for the construction of 12 brand new holes. Six of the present holes will be worked into the new course and the present 4th green will become the green for the new 2nd hole. The present 2nd and 3rd holes nearest the railroad tracks are to be abandoned. Leaving the entire course on the same side of the tracks as the clubhouse.

In due time a larger clubhouse probably will be erected, but this is something for the future to settle current rapid growth of the Ludlow Club. With new members flocking there from Springfield, has made it necessary to add to present facilities and the club officials have worked out an agenda of paying for the revisions. It is hoped to bring major tournaments to Ludlow in the course of a few years.

Blueprints of the new course call for 2 of the longest holes on any golf course. A 12th of 653 yds and a 13th of 647 yards. Those who finished those 2 staggering holes and remained on their feet to play the remaining 5 would be sturdy men indeed. It has been deemed, however, to shorten those 2 holes probably almost 10 yards apiece, though actual revised figures are unavailable. Par probably 74.

Total yardage, with the 12th and 13th cut down to something more like normal length will be in the neighborhood of 6155 yds with a par of 71. Though par figures have not been determined, the outward nine will total 3110 and the homeward nine about 3250 with par probably 37 each way.

The new part of the course will be laid out east of the present nine. The joining point will be the tiny water hazard located in the front of the seventh tee. The first hole will be the present first with the second tee close and the second green what is the present 4th.


9/14/1926 (Cont'd)

The present route will be followed, with new numbers for the next three holes. What now is the 5th will be the 3rd, the 6th will become the 4th and the 7th turn into the 5th.

Then will come 4 new holes laid out around the outside of the new tract of land, completing the 1st nine.

On the 2nd nine will be 2 short ones to balance the long 12th & 13th. The 10th is to be a 150 yard one shotter and the 16th will be 7 yards longer. That will bring the player back to what now are the 8th & 9th which will be turned into the 17th & 18th without any special changes. Figures on the new course with probable pars follow:

Hole # Outward Nine — Hole # Inward Nine

1.) Par 3 — 220 | 10.) Par 3 — 150 2.) 4 — 267 | 11.) 4 — 330 3.) 4 — 274 | 12.) 5 — 553 4.) 4 — 328 | 13.) 5 — 5.) 4 — 380 | 14.) 4 — 400 6.) 5 — 400 | 15.) 5 — 485 7.) 4 — 383 | 16.) 3 — 157 8.) 4 — 330 | 17.) 4 — 378 9.) 5 — 500 | 18.) 4 — 247 37 — 3082 | 37

1927 Women's Club Champ, Eileen Paradis Men's " Al Ramsey def. Al Mackintosh Ramsey 1st time winner, after 13 yrs away from game, started again last summer. From Carnoustie, Scotland. LCC presently 9 hole course and confirmed by scorecards in paper Directors Cup; Melvin Lynch def. George Smith, 4&3

1928 Club Champ: Al "Red" Mackintosh def. Al Ramsey, 8&7 Mackintosh beat Persons in Semis Ramsey beat H.Nunn in Semis All matches played at full 18 holes for the first time for Club Championship New hole #8 & 15 played twice as one par 4 and one par 5 not completed. Holes #8 & 15 played at 408 yds and 500 yds respectively Finals held on 10/7/1928, Pictures in paper and Mackintosh was 17 years old

Junior Club Champ: Stan Tenerowicz

1929 Club Champ: Stan Tenerowicz beat Harry Nunn 2&1, Tenerowicz stymied Nunn 6 times; In Semis Nunn beat Al "Red" Mackintosh and Tenerowicz beat Paul Persons

1930 Club Champ: Paul Persons beat Stan Tenerowicz Junior Club Champ: Stan Tenerowicz

1931 Club Champ: Paul Persons beat Stan Tenerowicz

1932


1933

1934 Club Champ: Harry Nunn beat Stan Tenerowicz, Tenerowicz win REVERSED due to ruling protest by Nunn, Re: Casual Water on 11th hole; Nunn unhappy with unruly spectators.

1935 Club Champ: Stan Tenerowicz beat Harry Nunn 4&3. Stan Tenerowicz fires "68" for Course Record in semis in win over Fred House

1936 Club Champ: Stan Tenerowicz beat Harry Nunn. Meeting for 4th time in finals.

Club President: Ed Knight

1937 Club Champ: Mickey Melnyk beat Stan Tenerowicz 2&1

1938 Club Champ: Mickey Melnyk beat Harry Nunn; Play was on the clubhouse nine only, due to flood and hurricane damage

1939 Club Champ: Fred House beat Mickey Melnyk. There was a competition called "The Directors Cup" which at the time was second only to the club champ and Jim House beat Harry Nunn.

1944 Joe Hodges, Springfield C.C. & Frank Albano, Franconia G.C. defeated Jeff Rogers and Ray Olt in the semis 2&1 and in the championship match beat Mike Megliola and Fred Hernsworth by the same score in Ludlow's First Annual Four Ball. OBVIOUSLY A CONTRADICTION of 1945???

Trick Shot artist JOE KIRKWOOD played in a foursome of Art House, Henry Bontempo and Tommy Filmore. Afterward, he put on his famed exhibition of trick shots. September 4, 1944.

Four Ball Champs: Joe Hodges, Springfield C.C. and Frank Albano, Franconia G.C.

Club Champ: Walt Nawoj beat Al Alexander 1 up.

1945 First Annual LCC Fourball under the direction of Jeff Rogers.

Four Ball Champs: Bobby Grant-Joe Mitchell of Wethersfield CC.

1946 Four Ball Champs: Tony Kozub-Milton Reach Jr.

1947 Four Ball Champs: Stan Tenerowicz-Phil Simon, Longmeadow C.C.

Club President: Ulysses J. Marlowe

Dues: Club membership to Mar 1, 1947 — $10.00 Annual Fee Golf Privilege — $40.00 Lockers and Towels — $4.00 Revenue Tax — $10.00 Total — $64.00

1948 Jeff Rogers dies on the course while playing in the LCC Four Ball

Four Ball Champs: Walt Martowski-Ken Nickerson


1949 First "Jeff Rogers Memorial" four-ball in honor of Mr Rogers, who helped organize the tournament. He was a longtime prominent player in golf hereabouts. Also, a veteran Western Mass Four Ball league star. Mr Rogers passed away on the course during the 1948 tournament and Ludlow was quick to take and name the tournament "THE JEFF ROGERS MEMORIAL FOUR BALL" as a means of commemorating his memory each season. LCC is one of the oldest four balls in the state.

Four Ball Champs: Joseph "Cookie" Pajak-Ed Rubis

1950 Four Ball Champs: Walt Martowski-Ken Ross

Ladies Club Champ: Ida Quaglini

Family Dues — $100.00 Lockers & Towels — 10.50 Revenue Tax — 20.00 Total — $130.50

1951 Four Ball Champs: Frank Comfort-Joe Cuzzone

Club Champ: Stan Tenerowicz

Ladies Club Champ: Ida Quaglini

1952 Four Ball Champs: Frank Comfort-Joe Cuzzone

Ladies Club Champ: Ida Quaglini

Club President: Ulysses J Marlowe

1953 Four Ball Champs: Walt Martowski-Ed Rubis

Club Champ: Walt Nawoj

Ladies Club Champ: Ida Quaglini

1954 Four Ball Champs: Tony Kozub-Stan Tenerowicz beat Joe Olko and Buddy Helmar 3&2

Club Champ: Joe Feicha

Ladies Club Champ: Gladys Papiernik

Calcutta Sheets on File

Club President: Stanley Sepiol

1955 Four Ball Champs: Walt Martowski-Ed Rubis

Club Champ: Walter Martowski

Ladies Club Champ: Ann Boyce


1956 Four Ball Champs: Walt Martowski-Paul Bannick

Club Champ: Walt Martowski

Ladies Club Champ: Ann Boyce

1957 Four Ball Champs: Frank Comfort-Joe Cuzzone

Club Champ: Joe Feicha

Ladies Club Champ: Gladys Papiernik

1958 Four Ball Champs: Tony Kozub-Ron Letellier

Club Champ: Joe Feicha

Ladies Club Champ: Gladys Papiernik

Formal Four Ball Invitation "Ludlow Country Club Cordially Invites" on file

1959 Four Ball Champs: Joe Olko-Walt Kupiec

Club Champ: Joe Feicha

Ladies Club Champ: Gladys Papiernik

1960 Four Ball Champs: Joe Feicha-Armand Feicha

Club Champ: Frank Comfort

Ladies Club Champ: Cecile Harnisch

1961 Four Ball Champs: Will Kurty-Barry Hansen

Club Champ: Walter Hespelt

Ladies Club Champ: Cecile Harnisch

1962 Four Ball Champs: Will Kurty-Barry Hansen

Club Champ: Frank Comfort

Ladies Club Champ: Gladys Papiernik


1963 Four Ball Champs: Will Kurty-Barry Hansen

Club Champ: Walter Nawoj

Ladies Club Champ: Gladys Papiernik

Dues: to Feb 15, 1963 Family — $120.00 Locker — 4.00 Towels — 8.00 Revenue Tax — 31.00 Capital Improve — 111.00 Food Tab — 20.00 Total — $294.00

1964 Four Ball Champs: Joe Feicha-Armand Feicha

Club Champ: Joe Feicha

Ladies Club Champ: Gladys Papiernik

Dues to Feb 15, 1964 Family — $120.00 Lockers & Towels — 12.00 Revenue Tax — 27.00 Cap Improve — 111.00 Food Tab — 24.00 Total — $294.00

Club Champ: Joe Feicha

Ladies Club Champ: Gladys Papiernik

1965 Four Ball Champs: Ed Costa-Frank Pluta

Club Champ: Frank Comfort

Ladies Club Champ: Gladys Papiernik

Dues Same as 1963 & 1964

1966 Four Ball Champs: Orlando Jorge-Jon Hunt

Club Champ: Frank Comfort

Ladies Club Champ: Lea Scibelli

Dues to Feb 15, 1966 Family Includes Locker & Towels — $132.50 Revenue Tax — 57.33 Assessment — 134.17 Food — 20.00 Total — $344.00


1967 Four Ball Champs: Joe Feicha-Armand Feicha

Club Champ: Ed Costa

Ladies Club Champ: Adele Duquette

1968 Four Ball Champs: Ed Costa-Ron Goldsmith

Club Champ: John Nawoj

Ladies Club Champ: Lea Scibelli

1969 Four Ball Champs: Harry Morrissey-Charlie Noble

Club Champ: Frank Comfort

Ladies Club Champ: Adele Duquette

1970 Four Ball Champs: Al Kurty-Ed Bilik

Club Champ: Charles "Skeets" Jablonski

Ladies Club Champ: Lea Scibelli

1971 Four Ball Champs: Al Kurty-Ed Bilik

Club Champ: James Pagos

Ladies Club Champ: Adele Duquette

1972 Four Ball Champs: Frank Pianowski-Dick Murphy

Club Champ: Frank Comfort

Ladies Club Champ: Fran Russell

1973 Four Ball Champs: Chick Alves-Clarky Wojtowicz

Club Champ: Charles "Skeets" Jablonski

Ladies Club Champ: Lea Scibelli

1974 Four Ball Champs: Chick Alves-Clarky Wojtowicz

Club Champ: Frank Pluta

Ladies Club Champ: Adele Duquette

1975 Four Ball Champs: Frank Pianowski-Dick Murphy

Club Champ: Orlando Jorge

Ladies Club Champ: Lea Scibelli


1976 Four Ball Champs: Will Kurty-Bob Ellis

Club Champ: Frank Pianowski

Ladies Club Champ: Lea Scibelli

1977 Four Ball Champs: Will Kurty-Bob Ellis

Club Champ: Robert Ellis

Ladies Club Champ: Adelle Duquette

1978 Four Ball Champs: Bucky Simao-Ron Goldsmith

Club Champ: Bucky Simao

Ladies Club Champ: No Competitions 1978 to 1991

1979 Four Ball Champs: Bucky Simao-Ron Goldsmith

Club Champ: Charles "Skeets" Jablonski

1980 Four Ball Champs: Frank Pianowski-Dick Murphy

Club Champ: Charles "Skeets" Jablonski

Dues: Single Male — $350.00 Food — 10.00 Total — $360.00

1981 Four Ball Champs: Ken O'Neill-Steve Bys

Club Champ: Manny Moraes

1982 Four Ball Champs: Mike Majka-Larry O'Toole Jr

Club Champ: Robert Kupiec

1983 Four Ball Champs: Mike Majka-Larry O'Toole Jr

Club Champ: Frank Pianowski

1984 Four Ball Champs: Dennis Burns-Mike Stefanik

Club Champ: Dave Szabla

1985 Four Ball Champs: Wally Les-Bob Mucha

Club Champ: Bucky Simao

1986 Four Ball Champs: Wally Les-Bill Downes

Club Champ: Walter Les III


1987 Four Ball Champs: Wally Les-Bill Downes

Club Champ: Robert Chilson

1988 Four Ball Champs: Mike Majka-Wade Lavigne

Club Champ: Bucky Simao

1989 Four Ball Champs: Mike Majka-Wade Lavigne

Club Champ: Mike Majka

1990 Four Ball Champs: Jim Donoghue-Mike Burke

Club Champ: Mike Majka

1991 Four Ball Champs: Jim Donoghue-Mike Burke

Club Champ: Mike Majka

1992 Four Ball Champs: Mike Majka-Gary Burt

Special election held Mar 30 to elect a Treasurer. Tim Kurty, Incumbent and Dave Case, a nominee from the floor, were tied at the Annual Meeting on March 2nd. Tim Kurty was elected.

Club Champ: Paul Nunez

Ladies Club Champ: Mary Jasinski

1993 4 Ball Champs: M Majka & G Burt

Club Champ: Mike Majka

Ladies Club Champ: Betty Dubois

1994 4 Ball Champ: S. Lavoie & S. Bys

Club Champ: Mike Majka

Ladies Club Champ: Betty Dubois

1995 4 Ball Champs: Majka & Burt

Club Champ: Mike Majka

Ladies Club Champ: Mary Jasinski


1996 75th Anniversary- LUDLOW COUNTRY CLUB 4 Ball Champs: S. Lavoie & S. Bys

Club Champ: Walter Martowski Jr.

Ladies Club Champ: Amy Gatchell

1997 4 Ball Champs: M. Majka & F Gaudette

Club Champ: Dennis Burns

Ladies Club Champ: Betty Dubois

1998 Current Clubhouse Renovation Started 4 Ball Champs: M Majka & F Gaudette

Club Champ: Mike Majka

Ladies Club Champ: Betty Dubois

1999 First full season with new clubhouse begins 4 Ball Champs: M Majka & F Gaudette

Club Champ: Mike Ostrowski

Ladies Club Champ: Betty Dubois

2000 4 Ball Champs: M Majka & F Gaudette

Club Champ: Mike Majka

Ladies Club Champ: Betty Dubois

2001 4 Ball Champs: M Majka & F Gaudette

Club Champ: John Sullivan

Ladies Club Champ: Betty Dubois

2002 4 Ball Champs: Tony Dias & Chris Burke

Club Champ: Jim Byrne

Ladies Club Champ: Gale Gates

2003 4 Ball Champs: Tony Dias Jr. & Chris Burke

Club Champ: Joe Zina

Ladies Club Champ: Betty Dubois


2004 4 Ball Champs: Matt Murowski & Brian Reid

Club Champ: Tony Dias Jr.

Ladies Club Champ: Wendy Marchese

2005 4 Ball Champs: Mike Smith & Joe Brosseau

Club Champ: Glen Dias

Ladies Club Champ: Betty Dubois

2006 4 Ball Champs: Mike Smith & Joe Brosseau

Club Champ: Jim Byrne

Ladies Club Champ: Carol Pelletier

2007 4 Ball Champs: Matt Murowski & Brian Reid

Club Champ: Matt Murowski

Ladies Club Champ: Carol Pelletier

2008 4 Ball Champs: Mike Janiszewski & Jim Foard

Club Champ: Mike Janiszewski

Ladies Club Champ: Betty Dubois

2009 4 Ball Champs: Andy Fisk & Greg Fisk

Club Champ: Jim Byrne

Ladies Club Champ: Betty Dubois


Addendum: Champions (2010–2015)

Year

Men’s Champion

Women’s Champion

Four-Ball Champions

2010

M Janiszewski

S Stachelek

S Lavoie – J Sullivan

2011

A Fisk

S Stachelek

M Murawski – B Reed

2012

A Fisk

P Siok

A Fisk – G Fisk

2013

A Fisk

K Karalekas

M Janiszewski – J Foard

2014

A Fisk

B Dubois

A Fisk – G Fisk

2015

A Fisk

P Siok

A Fisk – G Fisk