Nation's First Country Club Established
On this day in 1882, a group of men from the social elite of Boston formally established The Country Club of Brookline, the first such club in the United States. Only four miles from the center of Boston, Brookline attracted well-to-do families who could afford to get away from the city for the summer. After the Civil War, many of these families turned their summer retreats into year-round suburban residences. Country clubs offered horseback riding, shooting, tennis, and the newest sport, golf, in a pastoral setting not far from home. Unlike downtown city clubs, which were restricted to men, country clubs also allowed wives and children to participate in their activities. But not all families were welcome. Membership was by invitation only.
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