What happened to Englewood Golf Club host of the 1909 US Open?

Answer 1

In the 1950's, the Golf course was split into what amounted to two halves by the extension of routes 80 and 95 to the George Washington Bridge. The highways straddle what is essentially the border between the two towns the golf course's property encompassed---Englewood and Leonia.

When this happened, the golf course lost some of its luster. It became confusing traveling underneath the higways from one side to the other, as well as noisy. It was also known as somewhat of a "home course" for some local mob members, who would actually drive onto the course in their Cadillacs and Lincolns.

By the 1970's, the course was not very well kept. It became a hangout for locals to drink and vandalize at night (though still very fun to sleigh-ride on in the winter, as it was built on the side of a hill). Then a mysterious fire destroyed the clubhouse, sealing its fate and closing forever sometme in the late 70's.

The property sat overgrown and unused for a few years until it was sold to developers (the property was very desireable for its proximity to NYC). By 1981, the Englewood side had been turned into condos and townhouses, and the Leonia side was filled with single family homes.

And that is how it stands today...with nary a reference or any signage as to indicate what used to sit on that property.

How do I know all this? I grew up in Leonia in the 1970's and heard about, observed, and may have even participated in some of what I described above... :-)