About CSSGA

In December 1922, a select distinguished group of Connecticut business and financial leaders met in New Haven at the Graduates Club to form the Connecticut State Seniors Golf Association (CSSGA) to encourage “friendly competition in golf among senior players.”

This time-honored tradition of friendly competition among senior golfers will be repeated, as it has each year since 1922 when, in May, a similarly august band of senior golf aficionados will take up play at the New Haven Country Club.

In the early years, the Secretary’s record indicates that no greens fees were charged because it was considered “an honor and privilege to host an association of good sports under all conditions and circumstances.” Perhaps some things do change; but only the fees, not the spirit.

Trips to Fishers Island go back as far as 1931 when $18.50 brought you two days of links fees, lunches and Saturday night dinner. And all were encouraged to bring their bathing suits. The Cape Cod outings at Wianno, beginning in the 1970’s, three days of golfing and gastronomical indulgence, were truly elegant affairs. The President’s cocktail party and Saturday night dinner are still fondly remembered by many in our midst. New members were expected to attend, almost as a rite of initiation into the club. Price was not a consideration; it shouldn’t matter when such a select opportunity was available. Charlie Speidel’s wonderful photographs recorded these cherished events for us.

Today’s CSSGA tournaments include raffle prizes featuring top-of-the-line golf equipment. By comparison, back in ’24, the Treasurer’s notes show disbursements for that year’s events of “$12.00 for hors d’oeuvres, $11.00 for cigars and $1.60 for A. M. Dickinson’s chauffer.” Sounds like A. M.’s driver got the short end of that one, doesn’t it?

The 1928 log of the Directors’ meeting tells of concern for members’ attendance. Not enough of the lads were showing up to play according to C. Royce Boss, Secretary. In 2004, Secretary Ken Fitch and Tournament Chairman Paul Duevel bemoan the identical phenomenon – we must have better participation at events, further evidence of “what goes around comes around”, one would speculate. Also of interest is the custom of combining committee meetings with a round of golf. This custom would go back to the nominating committee’s soiree of 1927 wherein the notice indicated that “attendance is particularly desirable in order that business be promptly disposed of and a game of golf indulged in.

As the game of golf exploded in popularity and customs changed, CSSGA has adapted. This year, for example, we will play two events not dressing for dinner. One can only imagine the chagrin such heresy would bring to the countenances of the likes of J. P. Cheney, Henry Sargent or “Uncle Herbert” Pease. The above mentioned would no doubt be proud, however, to see our creation and funding of the CSSGA Foundation and the scholarships awarded.

Imitators have come along for sure, but none with the stature and élan of our venerable CSSGA. The roster of our founding fathers reads like a “Who’s Who” of Connecticut’s business and social elite. Fortunately, the names in this booklet continue that tradition. Strong, solid men who believe that golf and its life guiding principles give us the foundation to endure and thrive.

– Richard D. Carlson, 2005