1912 view looking West

The early Altadena Country Club not only had golf for its members and visitors, but it also boasted horseback mounted hunting and trail riding as well as hiking and places to stay overnight on the grounds. The club was designed to be an escape from the bustle of city life to a more idyllic and rural setting. These were active times with people hiking to Mt. Wilson's peak and camping overnight before a journey back down the next day.

Rabbits and coyotes were still prevalent across the orchards and light development of the times. Founding members were industrialists of the times, many from Chicago. The more seasoned player of the current course might remember rims on the hot rods of the day manfuactured by the Kragar company. Kragar was owned by the family of Kraney Gartz and the company was named after the mashing together of her first and last names.

Also in the founding circle of the club were John B Coulston, the hotel magnate and driving force behind the club.

Leigh Guyer may be the man on horseback, one of the founders if it is not Charles F Holder of Avalon Tuna Club fame. Leigh was a popular man about town and field, having grown up living in the Alpine Tavern and commuting to school down the incline railway - he was the son of the co-founder of the Boston Clothing Company of Illinois.

Horatio D. West of West Publishing and their contributions to organizing legal cases for retrieval was in the small circle as well as descendants of Kelloggs and Scripps for three generations since their great grandfathers and grandmothers helped found the club! Longtime president of the present Altadena Golf Club, Bill "FennDog" Fennessey played tennis and swam and golfed at the club as did his parents. If you ever get the chance, catch a few holes or range time beside him, you won't regret it.