Undermountain golf course
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This document summarizes the history of a family-run golf course called the "Back Yard Nine" over 35 years, including its conception and construction by Jack and his sons Stu and John. It details various fundraiser tournaments held at the course that benefited local community organizations. It recognizes the contributions of staff, members, and families involved in operating and maintaining the course over the decades.
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Undermountain golf course
- 1. History of a Family’s “Back Yard Nine”
- 3. Jack & sons, Stu and John working on the course.
- 4. Golf Course Superintendents Stewards of the Land
- 5. NY Giants football players kick off fundraiser… The Celebrity Open Pat & Jack organize the First Tournament
- 6. Fund Raisers: Herb Schafer Memorial Benefit Community Rescue Squad 1977-2007 Frank Stang Memorial Benefit Copake Park 1980-1990 Hospice Scramble co-sponsor JJ Pub 1996-1998 Ancram Fire Company Benefit 1988- present Adopt A Family Scramble co-sponsor Moore & More Printing 2002- present Judy Mitchell Memorial Benefit Breast Cancer Research Duke University Medical Center 1996-2009 E Fund Scramble Benefit Taconic Hills Educational Enrichment Fund 2007-present Salisbury Winter Sports Association Benefit Youth Winter Sports, Home of 2011 Jr. Olympic Ski Jumping 2009- present Roe Jan Community Library Benefit 2008 -present Amenia Fire Company Benefit 2010-present Drive for A Cure Benefit American Cancer Society Relay for Life co-sponsor Farm Credit East 2010-present
- 7. Beginning of an Era Community Rescue Squad Benefit Local residents serve Shakshober family honored as Tournament Chairs: Herb & Maryann Schafer Stosh & Carol Gansowski Paul & Joan Layer Pete & Jeanne Wehnau Ron & Clara Van Tassel Rich Webster Lucene Herrington Scott Chwalek Trish Shakshober MacArthur Jill Sims Elster
- 8. Frank Stang Memorial Benefit Copake Park
- 9. Hospice Scramble co-sponsor JJ Pub 1996-1998
- 10. Ancram Fire Company Benefit 1988- present
- 11. Adopt A Family Scramble co-sponsor Moore & More Printing 2002- present
- 12. Judy Mitchell Memorial Benefit Breast Cancer Research Duke University Medical Center 1996-2009
- 13. E Fund Scramble Benefit Taconic Hills Educational Enrichment Fund 2007-present
- 14. Roe Jan Community Library Benefit 2008 -present
- 15. Drive for A Cure Benefit American Cancer Society Relay for Life co-sponsor Farm Credit East 2010-present
- 16. Just for Fun Scotch Foursome Sadie Hawkins Day Macaroni Open
- 17. Membership The Pro’s at Events Undermountain • Member Guest Gil Anderson Bill Berry Memorial Larry Santoro • Club Championship Bill Berry. • Junior Golf Fred Murnane Judy Hill
- 18. NEGCSA Jack is recognized by The Northeastern Golf Course Superintendents Association Life Time Achievement Award
- 19. The People: Thursday Night Undermountain Golf Twilight Swingers Leagues Tuesday Men’s League Wednesday Men’s League
- 20. The Maintenance Staff The Food… A Huge Thank-you To Roger & Bette Gallup for years Stu Shakshober John Macarthur of dedicated service. D J Shakshober Fred MacArthur And to our current head chef John Arnold Stang Chris Milton Jim Layer John L. MacArthur Bob Jorgenson Dan Waite Lou Anzalone
- 21. The Pro Shop That was then Pat Shakshober Beth Anderson Trish MacArthur Caryl Shakshober Dori Shields John Stock Linda Jamison Judy Beckett Judy Reale Paul Marling Doug Westfall & family Sarah MacArthur This is now
- 22. 35th Anniversary Celebration In 2011 the course celebrated its 35th year in business.
- 29. Thank you for joining us for a trip down Undermountain Road from The Shakshober & MacArthur Families
Editor's Notes
- WelcomeThanks for comingUndermountain Golf Course is built on the western portion of the original Roberts farm. Jack & Pat moved to Boston Corner in 1950 with Jack’s parents Harold MacLean “Mac” & Adelaide Shakshober. Although Jack has a business degree from St. Laurence University he’s been quoted as saying “ I didn’t think my feet would fit under a desk.” They farmed beef cattle there until the late 1960’s. Jack supplemented the farm income with a trucking and logging business. In the early1960’s Taconic State Park Commission was attempting to link the Rudd Pond Area with the Copake Falls Park by purchasing all the mountainous land in between the two. The Shakshober’s sold the eastern parcel but continued to farm it for an additional 10 years. The family had grown to ten with the birth of 6 children. In 1972 Jack & Pat began construction of a new home on the western land. Pat & Jack’s 3 oldest daughters Lynne Caryl and Susan had already left for college and started lives of their own. Some of those remaining parcels of land were sold and have since been developed as private residence. The Shakshober’s currently own about 30 acres 90% of which has become golf course.
- The concept began as somewhat of a whim. …In the 1970’s Roger Gallup talked Jack into joining the Copake Lakegolf league. Jack decided to use some of the family farm as practice area.A friend, Tiny Nielson introduced Jack to Joe Graham (superintendent of grounds at Glen Head Country Club LI, NY) who gives Jack pins, cups and a greens mower…After that…its on…The area which is now the 5th tee once served as a baseball field for the Shakshober children. Prior to the golf course the kids had kept the area mowed and built a small back stop for practicing ball there.
- Here we see Jack mowing the rough on the second hole. The John Deere tractor came from the family’s farm.Stu is broadcasting fertilizer on the ninth green and DJ mows the 1st green.In the early days of the course much of the maintenance was accomplished by hand. While many golf courses now employ riding greens mowers Undermountain still uses walking mowers.The soil at Undermountain is rich in gravel deposits making it well drained but difficult to sustain farm crops or turf grass. Each year the greens are aerated and top dressed as well as feed. Although most of the greens are what is known as push-up greens; meaning they are built up utilizing natural soils as apposed to being constructed with earth moving equipment Pat tells a story from the early days when the family helped “build” the 8th green. The sand trap area was dug out and the soil removed was utilized to help level one side of the green. “We had to hold a “rock concert” inviting members of the course to come and pick rock from the ground that was to become the green! What was once only suitable for pasture has been developed into lush fairways which still serve to create open spaces. According to the NYSTGA turf grass is highly efficient in stopping erosion and is a natural filter for rain water.
- Built in Scottish TraditionJack designed the layout to follow the natural alleyways and contours of the land. He utilizes the existing stone walls built by framers from a previous era to help define each hole. A former farmer and logger Jack takes great pride in preserving the natural landscape.Native turf grass, poaannua is still a prominent species in the Undermountain turf.The practice of integrated pest management is maintained today by current Superintendent of Grounds , Jack’s son in law, John MacArthur .
- Alex Webster : former All Star fullback & Head CoachJoe Sulaiitis: Assistant personnel director , & scout, former playerTucker Fredickson: star running backBobby Duhon: running backMike Kelly: defensive backIn following years they were joined byDan Henning: defensive back, coach NY JetsJohn Schmidt: former center NY Jets
- From the beginning of its 35 year history Undermountain Golf has been home to numerous fundraising activities. In addition to smaller private events the course has helped in fund raising efforts for all of these local charities.
- The Celebrity Open gave rise to an annual fundraiser fro the Clausen Raught Community Rescue squad.The squad was originally that wwas funded a volunteer organization which was funded 100 % by donation.Local couples assisted the Shakshober family in organizing the annual event. When Herb Schafer was killed by a drunk driver in 1981 the tournament was renamed in his honor.Over its 30 year history the Herb Schafer Memorial Tournament raised over $80,000. for the squad.
- For 10 years the course hosted a tournament to help construct a community park for the Town of Copake.The Park was named in memory of Frank Stang, owner Stang’s Garage.Here we see Ethel Stang with Jack presenting a jacket to Ed Kimmerle and Walt Shook, winner in 1983 with Ethel.
- For several year Undermountain partner with JJ’s Pizza and Pub owner Joe Hoffa to raise funds for the Community Hospice.
- In 1988 the course was approached by brothers Jim and John MacArthur to host a benefit for the Ancram Fire Company .The majority of fundraisers have moved to a team competition with a scramble format. The Fire Company Benefit tournament remains today as Undermountain only open individual competition event. Many people do not know that allow Undermountain’s mailing address is in Copake, Boston corner is a hamley in the Town of Ancram and is in Ancram’s Fire District.The Event raises on average $5,000 for the volunteer fire company.
- Our next fundraiser The Adopt a Family Scramble was create to raise funds for needy families in the souuthern Columbia and Northern Dutchess county areas. Adopt A Family provides Christmas gifts and clothing to families with children in need.Adopt A Family is chaired by Stacey Moore , More & Moore Printing in MillertonThe 9-hole event seeks to pair junior golfers with adults.
- In 1996 Barbara Schenkel and family from Salisbury, CT decided to host a fund raiser for Duke Univ. Medical Center.Barbara’s sister Judy received treatments there in the end stages of her battle with breast cancer.We see here members of Undermountain’’s Ladies golf league enjoy a New England pit bake prepared by John MacArthur and Mike Roper.
- The E Fund Scramble raises funds for Enrichment programs at Taconic Hills Central School.It also uses adult –junior golfer teams to support it’s cause.
- In 2008 The Roeliff Jansen Library’s Capital Campaign Committee requested to hold a fund raiser at Undermountain. As a retired librarian and member of the Library’s Trustee Board Pat willingly agreed.Originally chaired by Ned Schneier, Copake & Meg Mettler-Wormley, Copake Falls the event raises funds annually for the new library constructed on Route 22
- The most recent addition to Undermountain’s long history of Fundraising is the Drive for A Cure Tournament.An annual event to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
- Undermountain is noted not only for it’s involvement in community events but also for “keeping the fun in golf.Early resident’s of the area organized an event called ”Sadie Hawkins Day” For those of you familiar with the comic strip “Lil Abner” you know that Sadie Hawkins Day was the day a gal got herself a fella and married him.Here we see Pat & Jack attired as Daisy Mea and Lil Abner. The golf course was set up as an obstacle course. One had to tee off from atop a bale of hay in the rear of a pick up truck or from a floating tee. On one hole you replace your putter with a crochet mallet and on another you chipped into a toilet seat. All the entrants dressed up Dogpatch style . The Stang family shown above even went so far as to re-design their golf equipment as might be fit a resident of Dogpatch. Another popular event was the Scotch Foursome. We see the team of Dick & Laurel Clapp , Bette & Roger Gallup pictured above. The rules are Each player alternates shots on one ball through out 9-holes. Many a marriage have been tested after finishing a round of golf played in this manner. One can imagine a the husband having a superb tee shot only to be followed by his wife putting the ball back off the green…quite often the pro-shop personel would recommend pairing yourself up with someone other than your spouse! Another popular event was the Macaroni Open. Joe Santmorena is seen stirring a mammoth pot of pasta. I’m not certain exactly how the event was inspired but I am certain that it served as an excuse to get everyone together for a round of golf and a few beers afterward.I have brought along some photo albums from these early events which tell the full tale of the fun that everyone had at Undermountain.
- Though the years Undermountain had serval PGA professionals and other teachers of the game.As an small course many many golfers got their start here. Gil Anderson, Former PGA professional and his wife Beth were the first to give lessons and assist in the Pro-Shop.When Gil moved on Larry Santoro, retired PGA pro joined the Undermountain team. Larry was instrumental in creating a junior golf program that survives today.Bill Berry, another retired PGA professional spent years teaching not only the kids but gave lessons to all who asked.He was instrumental in prompting members to become involved in course events and after his passing the Member Guest tournament was named in his honor. He spent many afternoon in friendly matches with Undermountain’s maintenance staff. Jack and his crew, played nearly every afternoon for a 25 cent niche. Niches are earned by birdie-ing, greenie-ing, or outright winning the hole. Pat and Trish were told that they needed to play the course daily to “check conditions”Fred Murnane, a retiree from Central Hudson persued his life’s passion for golf by becoming a Certified Teacher of Golf and marker of custom golf clubs. Many of us still play today with clubs which Fred built.The current teaching professional is Judy Hill. Judy fits the definition of golf nut. Speaking with Judy about the current economy and loss of participation in the sport Judy states that: ”I’d rather eat cat food than go without golf.” Judy assists with the junior golf program and pro-shop operations and has helped many young girls to become prficient in golf.
- In the Shakshober family travelled to Normanside Country Club in Delmar to watch as Jack was recognized by the NEGCSA for lifetime achievement. The NEGCSA is a professional association which is the local chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents of America. Much of Jack’s education in agronomy is as a result of his membership in this association. To be recognized by his peers is a crowning achievement for the self-taught superintendent.
- For over 30 years community members have joined one or more of Undermountain’s golf leagues.These leagues have created a social network for many of our local business people and while competition is on a friendly level all members of the leagues take pride in adhering to USGA rules and abiding by proper golf course etiqu
- The maintenance staff at Undermountain have all been dedicated employees. The majority were without formal agronomy backgrounds and have learned the trade from practical experience as Jack did. While some of the work has become easier due improvements in equipment, maintaining a golf course remains a labor of love. One has to be a “jack-of-all-trades” when involved in a small family business. In the early years golf tournaments wand prize presentation were also accompanied by a meal. Since Undermountain’s facilities do not include a commercial kitchen these meals were all prepared picnic style. Roger & Bette Gallup exchanged their culinary talents in exchange for greens fees. Today guests at the course at treated to such goodies as Ancram Fire Companies award-winning chicken prepared by John MacArthur. I often remark that Undermountain is probably the only golf course in American where the Superintendent of Grounds is also the head chef!
- The building that houses the Pro-Shop was initially designed as a garage for jack’s Mack truck. The building was certainly not what one would expect when one hears the term golf club. In 1991 the family decided it was time to move from primitive to rustic in terms of décor. Running water is installed and a kitchen of sorts is built.Today it retains its rustic character but what really makes the place stand out are the people.One walks in and is immediately made to feel at home. The pro-shop Staff over the years at Undermountain have made this a priority. For years Pat would come home from working long days as the school’s librarian and went immediately to work as shop clerk/hostess/barmaid/bookkeeper/janitor. Regardless of your familiarity with the sport of golf Pat always makes you welcome at the course. The staff under her guidance has continued that tradition.
- Last summer the course celebrated it’s 35th season in business. Our original pro, Gil Anderson, had recently written a book about correlations between golf and life and was hoping to use the course as a venue for a book signing. We decided to mark the anniversary with Gil’s book signing as a highlight.What golf at Undermountain really comes down to is our customers.They have always been the heart and soul of the place. We so tremendously pleased that so many inhabitants of the Roe Jan area have chosen to become part of the Undermountain family.I will leave you now with some views of the vistas at Undermountain.