|  In
the late 1890s golf was a novelty, perhaps even a curiosity, in
America. The founders of Colonia Country Club, however, took a
different approach from the start. They landed an authentic Scotsman
to design a golf course for them.
Thomas Bendelow arrived in America from Aberdeen, Scotland, in
1892 and devoted himself to teaching and course design completely
by 1895. He laid out nine holes at Colonia in 1899, and the trace
of his handprint remains strong enough today that an Old-World
golf experience awaits members and their guests at the 110-year
old club in Middlesex County. Colonia has been in continuous operation
since it opened, and is the 13th oldest golf club New Jersey.
Today, Colonia, is a member-sponsored club with 215 members.
Colonia boasts a 20,000-square-foot clubhouse fresh off a two-year
$3.5 million renovation, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The
clubhouse is home to a formal dining room which seats up to 275
for receptions and functions, a casual grill, an outdoor patio,
men’s and women’s locker rooms, a fitness center,
a card room, and a barber shop. In addition to the 6,380-yard
course, expanded to 18 holes by Robert White in 1923, there is
a driving range, a chipping green with sand bunkers, a separate
putting green, and a halfway house. A forecaddie is required weekends
and Wednesdays in season before 10 a.m.
Bendelow was responsible for designing more courses than any
architect in history, with more than 1,000 to his credit. Two
of his designs, Medinah Country Club (No. 3) in Medinah, Ill.,
and East Lake Country Club, in Atlanta, remain among America’s
Top 100, according to Golf Digest, GOLF Magazine, and Golfweek.
The golf course benefited greatly from the renovation work by
Hal Purdy and Frank Duane, both recognizable names in golf course
architecture, in 1969, and 1970, respectively.
Colonia offers nine categories of membership, with only Active
members having full golf privileges, and Associates having limited
golf privileges. Colonia is currently enlisting new golf members
endorsed by a member who has been at the club for at least one
year.
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