'Experience of a Lifetime' at Worcester CC
By Joe McDonald
RIGA Senior Writer
WORCESTER – Jonathan Pannone stood on the tee box high above the par-3 10th green at Worcester Country Club and wondered how Bobby Jones played this hole with hickory shafts during the 1925 U.S. Open.
This iconic golf venue is drenched in its rich history. Designed by famous golf architect Donald Ross, Worcester CC hosted the 90th Tri-State Matches this week between Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Mass Golf finished with an impressive victory, collecting a total of 80 ½ points ahead of CSGA (75 ½ points) and the RIGA (36). All 48 players were in awe with the entire experience, especially with the club’s history.
“It was a joy to hit a golf ball here,” Pannone said. “Certain golf courses you get lulled to sleep with just another golf hole, but here you’re very much excited to hit the shot. The way they’ve made the bunkers and the green complexes it keeps your attention for all 18 holes.”
Club general manager Troy Sprister, golf pro Andy Lane, superintendent Adam Moore, and the entire staff went out of its way to create a memorable event.
“This golf course is second-to-none,” said Team Rhode Island member Tim Murray. “There’s so much history here and the golf course is spectacular. Conditions were extremely difficult, but everybody had to play in it. It was quite an experience. This was a bucket-list item for me because it’s unreal. The food was spectacular at the banquet and it was a lot of fun, just a lot of camaraderie. The history here is insane. It’s like a museum. The members were so welcoming and happy to have us here.”
There’s a plaque on the course that reads: Worcester Country Club. Eleventh Hole. 1925 U.S. Open. A Defining Moment in the Game of Golf. During the 1925 U.S. Open, Bobby Jones called a one-stroke penalty on himself for moving the ball as it lie in the high rough upon address. Only Jones saw the ball move. When praised by the press, Jones said “You might as well praise me for not robbing a bank. There is only one way to play the game of golf.”
The Ryder Cup will be held at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y. in 2025 and then at Adare Manor in Ireland in 2027. So, it was fitting this year’s Tri-State Matches were held at Worcester Country Club, the site of the inaugural Ryder Cup in 1927. The club does an incredible job displaying its rich history and players took it all in. There are photos, plaques, newspaper articles and memorabilia in the clubhouse, locker rooms, pro shop and throughout the course. On the first tee, there’s a plaque honoring the first U.S. Ryder Cup team that was captained by Walter Hagen. The U.S won 9 ½ to 2 ½.
Rhode Islanders are spoiled with all the great golf courses in state. The Ocean State is the home of 11 courses either designed or remodeled by Ross, including Agawam Hunt (1911 remodeled), the now-defunct Metacomet Country Club (1921), The Misquamicut Club (remodeled 1923), Newport Country Club (remodeled 1915), Point Judith Country Club (remodeled nine holes and added nine holes in 1927), Rhode Island Country Club (1911), Sakonnet Golf Club (1921), Triggs Memorial Golf Club (1930), Wannamoisett Country Club (1914, remodeled 1926), Warwick Country Club (nine holes 1924), Winnapaug Country Club (remodeled nine holes 1921, added nine holes 1928).
Ross created another gem in Worcester and when you’re on property it feels like the 1920s.
“It’s been very special for me,” Pannone said. “With all the history, going into the locker room to change into my Rhode Island gear, walking through the hallways took a little more time to look at all the pictures. Kind of like I’ve done this whole season, I’ve tried to enjoy the process, the moment and being at a course like this it’s very hard to stay in the moment because you find yourself daydreaming at certain parts of the golf course.”
Added Pannone, “You get all the range of emotions all packaged into one. It was an incredible event. Mass Golf, Connecticut and the RIGA have all opened their arms to us and this was a special event,” Pannone said.
As much as the players enjoyed the hospitality and history of Worcester Country Club, Rhode Island struggled on the course. RIGA legend Joe Pieranunzi served as Team Rhode Island captain and attempted to motivate the players prior to the tournament. Joe P, who turns 85 on Oct. 26, explained to the team how he recently beat cancer and would like nothing more than a Rhode Island victory, which hasn’t happened since 2001. His speech almost worked as Rhode Island was in second after Day 1, but ultimately finished last.
Rhode Island will host the Tri-State Matches in 2025 at a course to be determined. Connecticut hosted in 2023 at Wampanoag Country Club, which is a Ross course, and Massachusetts outdid itself at Worcester CC this week.
“It was an experience of a lifetime,” Murray said. “It was great.”
