The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Ridgewood CC celebrates 100th anniversary
Ken Green’s memory of his second Connecticut Open victory in 1992 is pretty vivid.
“This was back when we played (the final) 36 holes in one day. I hit 35 out of 36 greens,” Green recalled. “The one I missed was on the fringe. It was my best ball-striking. I putted bad to win by 15. What I remember the most was it was a flawless day of golf. I was petrified (after the first round the previous day) I was going to blow up. You never know how you will do on your home course. You are expected to do well.”
The 1992 Connecticut Open was at Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury. Back then, the final 36 holes of the 54-hole event were played in one day. Green, a Danbury native, was on the back end of his PGA Tour career. Guys from the tour normally didn’t come back to play in their state open.
But not many golfers are like Ken Green.
His other win came in 1985, also at Ridgewood CC.
“When I won in 1985, I had just gotten out on tour. Then I came back in 1992 because it was at Ridgewood,” Green said. “I’m a loyal person. Even though I spend seven months (a year) in Florida, I still consider myself a Connecticut boy.”
Said Ridgewood CC head pro Justin Foster: “It’s sometimes easy to forget how accomplished he is and how lucky we are to be around him in a golf capacity.” Ridgewood CC will be hosting the Connecticut Open for the fifth time this week. It coincides with the club’s 100th anniversary.
“When the club has the opportunity to showcase its facility, it’s an exciting time,” Foster said. “There are a lot of legacy members whose parents have been here since the beginning. There are also a lot of members who grew up in the area with humble beginnings and joining Ridgewood one day was a sign that you made it.”
Club president David Petiford said a number of the centennial celebrations scheduled for this year have been pushed back to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s very disappointing. We had a great season of celebrations planned,” Petiford said. “We had a celebration for Labor Day weekend, including a Sunday gala dinner.”
The 2020 Connecticut Open wasn’t originally scheduled to be played at Ridgewood. The Country Club of Fairfield was scheduled to host, but pulled out in 2018 because there were plans to construct a new clubhouse.
Ryan Hoffman, the CSGA’s director of operations, rules and competitions, was aware of Ridgewood’s centennial year and asked Malcolm McLachlan, a member of the CSGA’s executive committee, to see if the Danbury private course was interested in hosting. It didn’t take very long to get something worked out, according to both Hoffman and Petiford.
“Malcolm deserves a lot of credit for getting us there,” Hoffman said.
Said Petiford: “I think the membership is proud and completely OK giving up the course. It’s a minor sacrifice to have the premier golf tournament in Connecticut at our home club. I think we will have lots of members out (watching the tournament).”
Deveraux Emmett designed Ridgewood CC. He also designed Congressional CC in Bethesda, Maryland, which has hosted several professional major championships. Ridgewood CC opened nine holes in 1921, the other nine the following year.
Gene Sarazen played and practiced at Ridgewood CC, owning a home not too far away. Ironically, Sarazen is also tied into another birthday celebration this year: he was once an assistant pro at Brooklawn CC in Fairfield, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary.
John Galeski won the first Connecticut Open played at Ridgewood in 1955. Nick Cook won the last winner in 2006.
Foster will be among one of several players competing from the host club. Max Theodorakis, who lost in playoff in the 2017 Open at Ellington Ridge CC as an amateur, and club champion Jim Arconti are also competing.
And like Petiford, Foster believes the members will come out and watch all of the action.
“They don’t like the club, they love the club,” said Foster, who also worked as an assistant pro at Medinah (Ill.), Doral (Fla.) and Seminole (Fla.). “I’ve worked three majors. I’ve done a lot of special stuff in golf. Being named head professional at Ridgewood CC is one of the great honors of my life. … I’ve always wanted to be at an old, established, historic venue like Ridgewood. The name may not have the sex appel of Seminole or Winged Foot but to me, it is a really special place.”