Assembly Resolution No. 557

BY: M. of A. Gallahan

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the Wells
College Golf Course in June of 2023

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the quality
of life of the citizens of the State of New York is greatly enriched by
the availability of exceptional recreational facilities; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Wells College Golf Course of
Southern Cayuga County; and

WHEREAS, The Wells College campus is home to a meticulously
maintained nine-hole golf facility overlooking Cayuga Lake which
according to documents in archives, existed as a six-hole course as
early as 1890; during this time, Wells College faculty and students
played on the course with hand-dug holes near the present ball field on
the corner of Poplar Ridge Road and New York State Route 90; and

WHEREAS, In 1909, the current 'AA' house was the clubhouse of the
incorporated Aurora Country Club which was located on the north side of
Dublin Hill Road in the Village of Aurora; it had no heat, water or
electricity and they used Japanese lanterns for lighting the clubhouse;
and

WHEREAS, In 1923, Kerr Duncan MacMillan, President of Wells College
from 1913-1935 and an enthusiastic golfer, purchased the six-hole golf
course as part of a million-dollar development project; the clubhouse,
which was donated by Robert L. Zabriski, was moved from Dublin Hill Road
to its current location on campus, by rolling it on logs; and

WHEREAS, In 1925-26, the Athletic Clubhouse was reconditioned and
furnished, and the six-hole course was upgraded to nine holes between
1925 and 1929; and

WHEREAS, Edward Hayton became the first groundskeeper and PGA
professional in 1938, and one year later a new pro-shop was erected
close to the first tee box, the course was lengthened, and sand traps
were built around some greens; and

WHEREAS, In the 1960s, renowned golf architect and husband of Wells
alumna Robert Trent Jones redesigned several of the holes, with minor
upgrades made by his son in 1970; and

WHEREAS, Throughout its distinguished 100-year history, the Wells
College Golf Course has been successfully managed by: Edward Hayton
(1936-1976); Mary VanDuyne (1976-1992); Jim Boeff (1993-2010); Matt
Schooley (2011-2016); Rick Wilson (2017); Rick Wilson and John Wade
(2018); John Wade and Scott Winkleman (2019); John Wade and Jim Button
(2020); and Kevin Fitzgerald and Brian Dugan (2021-present); and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, the Wells College Golf Course has been home to
many annual golf tournaments, including the Hank Carr Tournament,

Challenge Cup, H.R. Wilson Tournament, and the Francis Losurdo Summer
Classic Tournament; and

WHEREAS, The success of the Wells College Golf Course is in direct
correlation to the efforts of its managers, Kevin Fitzgerald and Brian
Dugan, as well as its dedicated members and staff, whose involvement is,
and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an
unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in
all endeavors on behalf of the organization and the community it serves;
and

WHEREAS, Today, remaining true to its high standards and original
purpose, the Wells College Golf Course is one of the best kept secrets
of the County, and is justly proud of its noble history and firmly
committed to a future of healthful recreational activity for its
membership and community, while fostering a greater appreciation for all
of mankind's relationship to his natural environment; and now, therefore
be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Wells College Golf Course,
fully confident that such organizations provide the vehicle by which
progress is achieved in preserving the heritage of our community; and be
it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Kevin Fitzgerald and Brian Dugan, Wells College Golf
Course.