Fox Hill Country Club has been around for a very long time – 98 years to be exact. And it is still one of the premiere golf clubs in northeast Pennsylvania.
Established in 1920 by a group of local businessmen seeing the need for a golf course, this members-only golf club is known for its challenging layout and beautiful surroundings.
There were many sites considered but, on June 23, 1920, the site along the borders of West Pittston and Exeter was selected. The only other golf courses at the time were Scranton Country Club and Wyoming Valley Country Club. Fox Hill was a perfect location to fill the need of golfers in greater Pittston.
At first, Fox Hill was a nine-hole course, with its initial layout designed by John Reid. Reid was also selected to be the very first club professional. By the end of 1920, the membership grew to 232 and, on April 21, 1921, the course was ready for play.
Memberships grew rapidly early on and the need to expand from nine holes to a regulation 18-hole course became apparent. A.W. Tillinghast was hired to complete the last nine holes in 1924. In three short years, Fox Hill Country Club had become a well-established club.
“Tillie” Tillinghast was one of America’s greatest golf course architects, designing more than 250 courses, including Baltusrol Golf Club (upper and lower), Winged Foot Golf Club, San Francisco Golf Club, and Winged Foot Golf Club (east and west) – all of which have been the sites of top pro tournaments over the decades.
As of April 2018, the locasl club has 304 social members and 373 golfers and spouses members, totaling 677.
Jason Tribbet, of Pittston, is enjoying his second year as a club member. “I enjoy the proximity to were I live,” Tribbet said. “I can come over and hit the range or I can play nine holes very quick. The pro shop is stocked with great equipment and the restaurant is fantastic.”
In addition to an excellent course, the clubhouse became well known for fine food, beverages and banquet facilities over the decades.
The clubhouse was completely renovated 19 years ago, bringing it into the 21st century.
The club offers four types of memberships: individual golf memberships, social memberships, non-resident memberships and junior memberships. Applications may be found on the club’s website at www.foxhillcountryclub.net.
Fox Hill Country Club is a member of the Golf Association of Philadelphia and the Anthracite Golf Association. The largest golf tournament held there is the John Allan three-day member/guest event known as one of the area’s top tournament, showcasing the area’s best golfers combined with out-of-the-area golf talent.
The Proshop has top brand equipment and accessories available to members or the general public for sale.
Member Tony Cella, 77, has been retired as the club’s head pro for 18 years, but still enjoys going to the club. “The golf course has changed in some areas over the years and probably plays faster these days,” Cella said. The course is 6,555 yards long from the pro tees down to 4,464 yards, making it a par 71 course.”
The golf staff consists of Francis Hayes, PGA head golf pro; Cleve Coldwater, PGA teaching pro; Ross Brown, PGA first assistant golf pro; and Victoria Petrosky, second assistant golf pro.
The club’s banquet facilities have hosted birthday parties, proms, weddings, graduations, class reunions, Chamber of Commerce events and much, much more.
Many years ago, the banquet hall was only utilized by members and their families, but over the years, the club has opened it doors to non-members, providing they are sponsored by an active member.
