History

Back in 1885, there was exactly one golf course in the USA.  By 1900 there were hundreds of them, most built by private individuals and groups.  The 1890's truly was the decade in which golf captured the imagination of Americans.  Golf's popularity took off like a express train.

The 1890's was also the decade in which J. Kennedy Tod developed Innis Arden, his
147-acre estate on what is today's Greenwich Point, land that he had begun accumulating in 1887.  Tod built a 37-room mansion as well as a number of outbuildings, importing some 30 skilled stonemasons from Italy for the duration of the construction. He also built a 9-hole course for his beloved game of golf and invited his neighbors in Sound Beach now Old Greenwich to join him.  On November 11, 1899 Innis Arden Golf Club was organized by 64 charter members.

The golfers of Innis Arden would later be put to a test when  Tod's hospitality started being abused by the citizenry.  For example, the hotels and Inns along Shore Road and elsewhere began to advertise "nearby golf" to prospective guests, and visitors rode their horses and carriages across fairways and greens.

Legend has it that on May 2, 1904, Tod arrived somewhat later than usual for his Saturday game, only to find that all the caddies had already been engaged.  Well! The last straw!! Tod summarily closed the gates to Innis Arden that now stand adjacent to our first tee. Henceforth, the golf course would be his private enclave.  The Innis Arden golfers were resourceful,and promptly organized the Sound Beach Golf and Country Club.  Play resumed later in 1904 on a makeshift course in Shorelands.

Four years later, the Club moved to its present site on Tomac Avenue.  It leased 56 acres of land from the Ferris Family, which in 1640 had acquired the lands from the Native Americans.  Play on the new 9-hole course began in the summer of 1908.  In 1925, the Club purchased additional land in Greenwich and Stamford, expanding the golf course from 9 to 18 holes.  In 1931, the club's name reverted to " Innis Arden."  During the 1950's the Club began transforming itself from an aging, golf-only membership to a younger family club, adding tennis courts, swimming facilities and other amenities.

Innis Arden experienced rapid growth in its membership during the succeeding decades.  Its junior sports programs in golf, tennis and aquatics became world class.  In 1974, the Club was able to purchase the 56 acres that had remained on lease from the Ferris family. As the Club now owned all its real estate outright, a raft of improvements followed, including the purchase of lands adjacent to the then 13th hole.  This property became a new par 3 hole, the old par 4 13th hole became the practice range and the 17th hole was doglegged from a par 4 to a par 5.  More recently, the club has rebuilt the 1840 Ferris clubhouse and constructed a sparkling new swimming pool facility.

Today Innis Arden boasts seven har-tru tennis courts, four of which are covered for winter play, four paddle tennis courts with a brand new paddle hut built in 2006.  In addition to the newly renovated 18 hole golf course and practice range designed by Ken Dye, the club also added a golf teaching hut and new cart barn. The club also takes pride in their very active aquatics program.  The Clubhouse features a gourmet kitchen with four dinning rooms and the use of our patio for summer dinning, a well-stocked golf shop and locker rooms for both men and women.  Next to the first tee, Mr. Tod's Innis Arden gates continue to stand guard, a proud reminder of the Club's storied past.