Membership- If you're not a member already, consider joining in 2008!  Click here for 2008 rates and membership information.

Clubhouse-  The clubhouse will be open for the start of the 2008 season.

Events- See Upcoming Tournaments.

 

The following was printed in the Carthage Republican Tribune in 2007.  Used with permission.

Carlowden Makes Changes
By Elaine M. Avallone
Tribune sports editor

DENMARK — Carlowden Country Club Inc., once a nine-hole private golf club, has undergone drastic changes in recent years.

The club, located on Old State Road, just off State Route 26, is set on a hillside overlooking the Black River Valley, about mid-way between Carthage and Lowville. Carlowden grew from nine holes to 18 in 1991, and although still semi-private, began actively encouraging public play last year.

Last year, rumors abounded concerning the sale of the course. After the fall membership meeting, the members decided to make changes. This year, the club revised its by-laws and changed to a Type A corporation, pursuant to state not-for-profit corporation law.

Established in 1925 by a group of residents from Carthage, Lowville and Denmark, the club’s name is derived from the first three letters of the communities’ names. According to an article by the late Robert C. Rich posted on the Carlowden Web site, the idea for a golf club was conceived at a meeting of the Carthage Rotary Club May 26, 1925. George McAllister Gilbert reportedly gave a report concerning the Potsdam Golf Club. Mr. Gilbert was assigned the task of finding “an experienced man familiar with the laying out of links to come to Carthage and look over the different sites.”

He retained the services of a golf pro from Clayton to visit possible sites in the Carthage area to be used for the proposed course. A group of men, which included Mr. Gilbert, Urban Hirschey, John Strickland, Joseph Reeder and Benjamin Smith, visited a number of properties with the golf pro, who reported the John Austin property, where the course is located today, “was the only one suited to the economic construction of an interesting course.”

“Mr. Gilbert, Orman H. Braman, Charles J. Reeder and Antonio F. Mills signed a property agreement July 1, 1925, with Mrs. Orphana L. Stubbs, Carthage, for the purchase of the John Austin farm of 181 acres, for $3,250,” states Mr. Rich’s article.

A contest was held to choose a name for the golf club, which resulted in a number of suggestions including The Ridge, Maple Ridge, Cloverlea, Far Hills, Cloverset, Cedarcrest, Cold Spring, a number of Native American names and other versions of Carlowden such as Denlowcar and Lowcarden. However, Mr. Gilbert’s original moniker was the most popular.

T.H. Dolson, contractor for the Clayton golf course, was awarded the contract to construct “a nine-hole course at a cost of not more than $8,500; and to plan a total of 18 holes, so that construction of the second nine may be undertaken at any time without disrupting play on the first nine,” states the article about Carlowden’s early history.

The driving force behind Carlowden’s establishment, Mr. Gilbert, died shortly before it was announced Aug. 17, 1926 that the course was ready for play.

By the following June, a clubhouse was constructed and the building was used for many social gatherings and dinner dances. Over the years, the clubhouse was expanded and remodeled in the early 1960s and again in 1984. In 2003, a metal roof was installed. Over this past winter, the clubhouse was remodeled to house the pro shop. The fully stocked pro shop, under the direction of general manager Robert J. Peluso, carries a variety of golf clubs, balls, accessories and clothing, as well as snacks and drinks. The former pro shop was disassembled to increase the size of the parking lot.

The clubhouse’s restaurant, run by bar manager Annette Genito, and kitchen manager Cathy Martin, is open to the public for lunch and dinner. The menu offers salad, sandwiches and light lunches and dinner entrees and appetizers. Daily specials are offered. The newly redecorated clubhouse is also available as a banquet facility for wedding receptions, class reunions or other functions.

There were about 150 charter members of the club and the membership has since fluctuated. Carlowden had only 115 members in 1936, but three years later, the roster was up to 160. In recent years membership has decreased but this year, the club has gained 17 new members. The husband and wife memberships are up as are the junior members making a total of 225 dues paying members including 125 stockholders.
Michael E. Lundy, board vice president and chairman of the club’s steering committee, said changes were made in the membership rules to “encourage people to participate.” He added, “People have preconceived attitudes about the club being private. We want to change that preconception. It’s a great course. We want people to play.”

The club’s membership is broken down to three classes of membership — sustaining members, public members and social members — according to the club’s recently revised and approved by-laws.

The sustaining members own stock in the club and have voting privileges. This year, the members decided to cap the number of sustaining members. Another advantage of being a sustaining member is they are allowed to own a cart and store it at the club for an additional fee.

The club has increased its public membership to include seasonal memberships, weekday membership, vacation memberships and non-resident memberships as well as corporate or business passes. Public members are not voting members, may not own or use a sustaining member’s cart and may only play within the time constraints of their membership. Public members are required to check for available tee times.

Social membership is available for sustaining members who elect not to have golf privileges, thus they retain their voting rights and participate in club events. Social members may play golf and play in club tournaments but must pay the appropriate fees and may not own a cart or use a member’s cart.

Members of the public are welcome and encouraged by the club’s board of directors to play at Carlowden but are encouraged to call for tee times. Anyone wishing to join Carlowden may apply with sponsorship of a sustaining member or the general manager. Candidates will be accepted by a two-thirds vote of the attending directors during any regularly scheduled board meeting.

Board member Randy M. LaBare added military discounts are offered and special offers are posted on the club’s newly designed Web site, www.carlowden.com. He also noted a children’s clinic is offered during the summer to encourage future play.

In recent years, largely due to funds raised during the annual Steve Brennan Memorial Tournament and volunteer labor by members, improvements have been made to the course. A number of cart paths have been paved, brush has been cleared from the roughs and equipment needed to maintain the course has been upgraded.

Club president David H. Johnson is very aware the club “can’t survive as a private club,” and continues to lead Carlowden to ensure golf in the scenic Black River valley will continue for generations to come.

“Carlowden Country Club has been a ‘best kept secret’ way too long,” said Mr. Johnson. “With a little work and a lot of dedicated volunteers, we felt change was possible. This board of directors has been one that has had a single goal in mind and we are slowly accomplishing that goal of making Carlowden Country Club a place where we can enjoy the game of golf and enjoy it with our families and friends.”