Country Club of Darien
| Established | 1957 |
|---|---|
| Type | Private Country Club |
| Location |
|
| Products | Golf, Tennis, Swimming |
| Website | ccdarien |
The Country Club of Darien is a private country club located in Darien, Connecticut.[1]
History
Edgar S. Auchincloss' vision of turning his family's 200 plus acre "gentleman's farm" into a club became a reality in 1957. Formerly named Keewaydin, from Longfellow's "The Song of Hiawatha", the famed Auchincloss family bought the farm in 1905 as a vacation retreat. In 1956, Edgar and his widowed mother, Catherine Agnew Auchincloss, transformed the land into the grounds of the Country Club of Darien that we know today.
By June of 1957, the 250 charter members had been assembled, and the Country Club of Darien opened its doors and the membership quickly expanded to 400. The golf course was designed by Alfred Horace Tull and by 1958 was available for play.
The Clubhouse continued to expand throughout the years with the Ballroom being completed in 1959 and in 1966 the Mixed Grille was added, which was modernized in 1988. Further renovations to the Club have been completed throughout the years including the introduction of the Wine Room and White Oak Room in 2016 and a 5th paddle court in 2018.
In addition to the 18 hole golf course, the Club has eight Har-Tru tennis courts, five paddle courts with a newly built Paddle Hut, a six-lane pool, gated baby pool, two restaurants, and a fitness center.
Edgar's generosity lives on as the Country Club of Darien has truly fulfilled his dream of a "club for all seasons".[2] In terms of valuation, it is recognized as having one of the highest estimated property values in the town, ranked behind only the Wee Burn Country Club.
Golf facilities
The club features a private golf course On a farm named "Keewaydin" owned by the Auchincloss Family, the Country Club of Darien was born.
The original 18 hole layout was designed by Alfred Tull, who was a partner of noted course architect Devereux Emmet in the firm Emmet, Emmet and Tull. He was also a construction engineer for the renowned architect A.W. Tillinghast, famed for his works at Baltusrol and Winged Foot.
In 2007, Dr. Michael Hurdzan, architect of US Open host Erin Hills, was commissioned to modernize the course. For his work here at the Country Club of Darien, Hurdzan received the Renovation of the Year award in 2010 by Golf, Inc. Along with Jack Nicklaus, Dr. Hurdzan is one of only two living men to have received the Donald Ross Award (American Society of Golf Course Architects), the Old Tom Morris Award (Superintendents Association of America) and The Don A. Rossi Award (National Golf Course Owners Association). We are proud to call him a member.
The course hosted 2018 PGA Met Match Play Championship, 2019 Westchester Open, 2021 Connecticut State Open, 2022 IKE MGA Stroke Play, and the 2022 Ladies MET Open.
The Club's practice facilities include two practice ranges, two chipping greens, and the main putting green. An indoor Golf Performance Studio provides year round hitting facilities, golf lessons, and high tech swing analysis.[3]
Raquet Sport facilities
The Country Club of Darien also maintains eight Har-Tru courts for spring, summer and autumn play from April through October, and four Platform Tennis courts for the winter months.
The Director of Racquet Sports offers seasonal clinics and camps, both on a weekly basis and through private, semi-private and group lessons. League play is a big attraction for their members looking for competitive play during the tennis and platform tennis seasons. Social events for all ages and abilities are scheduled throughout the year at Country Club of Darien.
Their Paddle Hut, completed in 2013, features a lounge area with a stone fireplace and kitchen area, as well as an observation deck with a built in fire pit. This is one of the most popular hang-out areas at the Club and is perfect for parties of all ages.[4]
Swimming facilities
The club also offers a swimming pool complete with six olymic size lanes, a 12 foot deep, deep end, and a baby pool. the food and beverage amenities at the pool include the "pool bar" overlooking the 18th hole at the club, and a snack bar offering a various selection of casual foods including their wraps and sandwiches.
Clubhouse amenities
The Country Club of Darien’s dining facilities center around their casual and family friendly, Mixed Grille. It’s an informal venue where you can be comfortable in a jacket and slacks or in golf attire when it’s mild out. The room’s décor, updated in the summer of 2013 during our Clubhouse refurbishment, it has the feel of a New England Colonial farmhouse. The adjacent Pub Room, with its rich wood trim and stone hearth fireplace, is a favorite place to gather for libations and conversation. In the warmer months, the Grille and Pub open onto our outdoor Terrace, overlooking the 18th green and beautifully landscaped grounds.
Their opulent Ballroom with its attached lounge area overlooks the golf course and provides a sensational venue for large Club confrences, golf outings, or weddings.
A new restaurant, the White Oak Room, was opened to the Membership in August 2016. It was named for the stately White Oak Tree near holes 15 and 16. Part of a $5.6 million Clubhouse renovation, this new restaurant showcases the best views of our golf course. Overlooking the 18th green and our short game practice facility, the room features a beautiful stone Veranda and two sets of unique glass Nana doors that allow for the room to be completely opened to the outside during the summer months. A stone fire pit on the Veranda is lit year-round, and is a good place to enjoy a drink year-round.
The Lounge or the "Blue room", hence it's navy blue currtains and walls, is both elegant and laid back. The comfortable banquettes with gold detail, have made it a great spot for drinks.
The Wine Room was another addition to the Clubhouse in 2016. This gorgeous room, with its deep wood tones and handcrafted racks, holds about 2,700 bottles of wine and can seat up to 14 guests. Used for dinner parties..
As part of the Clubhouse renovation, a new, expanded patio was added off of the Pub, also featuring a lounge area with a fire pit. The existing Terrace area was completely redone and the addition of glass Nana doors allow for year-round use in total comfort and gorgeous views of the 15th tee.
On the second floor, there are two meeting rooms, the Auchincloss Room and Boutique Dining Room, and a golf simulator the boutique room is a dining room With seating for up to fourteen it is a room for small gatherings such as birthdays, anniversary parties, and corporate meetings. The Auchincloss Room named for our founder Edgar Auchincloss, seats up to twenty-four, and can be set up with the latest audio/video technology for corporate meetings.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ "[[Darien, Connecticut]] - Familypedia". Familypedia. Retrieved March 31, 2026. URL–wikilink conflict (help)
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namede3grfbdvb - ↑ https://www.ccdarien.org/
- ↑ http://www.jjpool.com/
- ↑ ccdarien.org
External links
Official website Category:Golf clubs and courses in Connecticut Category:Buildings and structures in Darien, Connecticut
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