Enjoy Our History... Be Part of Our Future

By Dede Rittman

Beautiful Highland Country Club is located just ten minutes from downtown off the Bellevue/West View exit. Thousands of cars pass by that that exit every day; yet as Pittsburghers tend to do, no one really thinks about how the Club got there, or how long it has been established. Even the members sometimes forget that the greens and fairways are located on land that once belonged to William Penn, for whom Pennsylvania was named. If you are a Pittsburgher who enjoys both history and golf, keep reading!

In the course of over 200 years, The Club is just the fourth owner of the rolling green hills and lovely grounds known today as Highland Country Club. The first owners, of course, were Native Americans, followed by William Penn. Later, Mr. Penn granted the land to Casper Reel, who was from Frankfort, Germany. Few know that Mr. Reel was the first white settler in what is now known as Ross Township (named in honor of James Ross, an eminent lawyer from Pittsburgh, Pa.) Casper Reel was a soldier in the American Revolutionary War, and he also served during the British and Indian War. Also a well known farmer, Mr. Reel died on October 10, 1824. Golfers at the Club know that he is buried next to his wife, who died in August of 1843, in the family burial plot, located next to Number 18.

Part of the Highland Clubhouse is original to the Reel farm house. The date on the transom of Reel Hall is 1792, the year that Casper Reel settled in Ross Township. After the death of Miss Reel in 1919, Highland purchased the property through Orphans Court for the sum of $40,300.00. That price included 117 ½ acres, The Reel Home, which is now a part of the Club House, two tenant homes, and two barns. After the property was purchased, the name was changed to Highland Country Club. Work began immediately on the construction of an 18 hole golf course. Mr. Emil “Dutch” Loeffler (1894-1948) of Oakmont supervised the building of the greens. If that name sounds familiar to you, Mr. Loeffler was the greenskeeper and professional at Oakmont Country Club and had a large part in modifying that course under the direction of Henry and William Fownes. “Dutch” won the Pennsylvania Open in 1920 and 1921, years in which he also qualified for the United States Open. It was Dutch who invented the weighted rake that placed furrows in the bunkers at Oakmont. Golfers at Highland feel fortunate that this tradition was never followed at Highland! Other courses that Dutch designed include Alcoma, Hillcrest, the original nine holes at Latrobe, Shannopin and Wildwood. Dutch was assisted by John McGlynn.

Highland Country Club was opened for play on July 3, 1920, with the qualifying round of the Independence Day Tournament.

In 1922, soon after the Club opened, Gene Sarazen (1902-1999) who was the professional at Titusville Country Club, was hired to come to Highland, stock the pro shop, and give lessons. That June, he traveled to Skokie Country Club, outside of Chicago, and won the 1922 United States Open. Later that same year, he won the PGA Championship. Gene Sarazen was the first golfer to win the career grand slam (victories in each of golf's four professional majors), and was among the first class of inductees into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Mr. Sarazen is just as famous for his invention of the modern sand wedge, which, according to the World Golf Hall of Fame, he invented after observing how an airplane's tale adjusted during flight. He noticed all this while receiving a flying lesson from the legendary Howard Hughes in 1931.

Highland’s widest fairway (number 8) would be the narrowest fairway in the United States Open, at just 28 yards where it is also very difficult to control iron shots from the heavy rough. Also on number 8, there are some large hills to contend with, and a perfect level lie is difficult to find. As a result, you'll be able to score well only with accurate driving and iron play. The course is very challenging!

The golf course has been revised several times since it opened in 1920. Architects that revised the course include J.G. Harrison in 1953, Edmund B. Ault in 1961, and Ferdinand Garbin in 1964.

Besides having a great golf course, Highland CC also has a renovated and beautiful Club House, an Olympic size swimming pool, tennis courts, and lovely facilities for office meetings to weddings. Highland also has some of the friendliest members of any Club around! If you would like to join Highland, please stop by or call 412 761-6000. Highland Country Club is also available for outside parties, golf events, and more, so please “link up” with us soon!

ENJOY OUR HISTORY... BE A PART OF OUR FUTURE.

Updated Thu, 05/31/2007 - 12:54pm