From Silas's Perch | Cooperstown History
What does the sinking of the Titanic have to do with a golf course on Otsego Lake? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Otsego Golf Club, just north of Cooperstown, has been part of the local landscape since 1894. One family helped shape its history, and one of its young members survived one of the world's most famous maritime disasters.
A Golf Course Dating Back to 1894
Long before golf was a familiar pastime in the United States, Leslie Pell-Clarke and Henry L. Wardwell established a course on their neighboring estates at the northern end of Otsego Lake. Otsego Golf Club opened in the spring of 1894 with 12 holes. It is one of America's oldest courses still in operation.
Getting there was part of the adventure. In the early days, some players arrived from Cooperstown on steamboats that traveled along the lake and docked at a 300-foot pier near today's first tee. Others came by horse-drawn carriage.
The Ryerson Family and the Titanic
Arthur Larned Ryerson, a friend of the founding families, became an important supporter of the club after Pell-Clarke died in 1904. In April 1912, Arthur was traveling aboard the RMS Titanic with his wife Emily and several of their children.
When the Titanic sank on April 15, Arthur lost his life. His wife and children aboard the ship survived, including their youngest son, John Borie Ryerson, who was 13 years old. John, his mother, and his sisters escaped aboard Lifeboat 4.
The family's journey was already marked by tragedy. They had been traveling home after learning that Arthur Jr., another of the Ryerson children, had died in an automobile accident.
From Titanic Survivor to Golf Club Owner
John B. Ryerson went on to become an avid amateur golfer and later owned and ran Otsego Golf Club for more than 40 years. His story links a quiet stretch of Otsego Lake with a major event in world history.
It is easy to look out over the fairways today and imagine generations of golfers playing the same lakeside landscape, unaware of the remarkable history tied to the people who kept it going.
Watch the Story
Our short video introduces Otsego Golf Club's Titanic connection and gives you a glimpse of the course. Historical correction: the on-screen caption says John was 12 when the Titanic sank. Records of his birth confirm that he was 13.
Watch our Otsego Golf Club history Short on YouTube or view the original Facebook Reel.
Can You Visit Otsego Golf Club?
Yes. Otsego Golf Club is open to the public during its golf season. The course now has nine holes, with different tee options for different skill levels and views of Otsego Lake.
Otsego Golf Club
144 Pro Shop Drive
Springfield Center, NY 13468
For current tee times and course information, visit Otsego Golf Club's website.
More Hidden History Around Cooperstown
We love finding stories like this, where a familiar place turns out to have an unexpected past. Explore more local history and travel ideas at From Silas's Perch. And if you're visiting the area, Cooperstown Bed & Breakfast makes a convenient home base for exploring Otsego Lake and the surrounding communities.