Getting Started

Rumors of plans for a golf club in Petaluma were first reported in the Argus-Courier on February 9, 1922. An unnamed prominent local businessman, who we can reasonably assume was George P. McNear, had been enthusiastically promoting plans to organize a country club and establish a course near the city. With San Rafael, Santa Rosa, Ukiah and Sonoma already having golf clubs, the article lamented “a city without this acquisition is not on the map any longer, so popular has golf become.”On March 21, a preliminary meeting of several locals was held at the Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of forming a golf and country club. The organizers determined to secure the services of a golf architect to survey potential sites to determine what the cost might be.William Locke, a golf architect who was then laying out the municipal golf course in Oakland and had constructed courses at San Francisco, Modesto, Eureka, Santa Rosa and other cities, arrived in town Wednesday, March 29. Mr. Locke spent the day with George P. McNear, H. C. Scrutton and L. V. Korbel inspecting several potential sites with easy access to the city.

Organizers met Friday, April 21, at the Argus-Courier office. Committees were appointed to deal with the permanent organization and finance of the club, membership, and bylaws. The most favorable site for the course was determined to be an 80 acre parcel south of town on May’s hill owned by Mr. McNear. May’s hill derived its name from Captain Hugh May who steamed on the Petaluma River between Petaluma and the San Francisco Bay in the early days and who had built a cabin and spent his holidays there.

The organizers met again on Tuesday, May 9, at the Chamber of Commerce’s office and reported membership of over 100 and that the list would soon be closed. Another meeting for all members was scheduled for 8:00 pm on Wednesday, May 17, to establish the permanent organization of the club and elect a board of directors. A committee was also appointed to immediately contract for improvements to the road leading to the plateau on May’s hill where the golf course and club house would be located.

Petaluma Golf & Country Club was formally organized on Wednesday evening, May 17, 1922 when more than 60 golf enthusiasts gathered at the Chamber of Commerce and named G. P. McNear as president, Dr. Thomas McClay as vice-president and Dolph Hill as treasurer. Dr. McClay explained the financial plan, which called for an expenditure of over $40,000 to include improvement of the road to the top of May’s hill, building a club house and grounds, a water system, the golf course, and furniture for the club house. McClay also announced that Mr. McNear had made a very liberal donation of his May’s hill property consisting of 80 acres with a worth of $9,000. With Mr. McNear’s donation and the $100 membership fees the club had property sufficient to secure about $20,000 in bonds to finance construction of the course.

The club was founded in 1922 thanks to the dedicated work of the founders and the generosity of the McNear family who gifted 80 acres for the golf course and clubhouse on May’s Hill. The clubhouse, designed by Brainerd Jones, a noted local architect was completed in 1924. In 1943, a plan to improve play led to the sale of 33 acres and the construction of three new holes in 1944. Numerous improvements have been made to the club since including expansion of the clubhouse, a swimming pool and a second parking lot.