Peninsula Golf and Country Club in San Mateo has a new history display in its clubhouse, courtesy of Club Historian Mike Jamieson and others.
Thanks to the completion of a new Past Presidents Wall, which opened up additional space, there is now a display in the main hall of the club showcasing rare photographs and artifacts dating from 1911-2025. The course was founded in 1911 as The Beresford Country Club.
The new Club History Wall is loosely segmented into three eras: Beresford CC (1911-1945), (New) Peninsula G&CC (1946-1990) and Modern Peninsula G&CC (1991-2025). Each era has a large Club logo above the section of the wall.
“We have a master craftsman, Brad Nickel, who created the large circular logos, and Bennett Hall completed the final design work, framing and installation,” Jamieson said. “He had previously done the George Archer, Donald Ross, Past Presidents and Helen Lengfeld displays for us.”
According to Jamieson, the display helped answer some of the most frequent history questions he gets.
Among the most frequently asked:
Was the club 100% Jewish when it was founded? Yes, the Members were all predominantly Jewish of German descent. That changed in 1945 when the club became The Peninsula G&CC.
Was there a golf course here before the Donald Ross course? Yes, Thomas Bendelow designed the first course which was in play from 1912-1922.
Was the Grand Ballroom really used for badminton? Yes, the Ballroom was used for badminton. It has also been used for ping pong tournaments, yoga classes and a miniature golf tournament.
How many slot machines did the club have? The best guess is between six and twelve. They were highly profitable, AKA as Follett’s Folly, to generate income to help with the building costs when the Club modernized after WWII.
Where did the Donald Ross Centennial plaque come from? The plaque was a gift from Brad Becken and Donald Ross Society. Mr. Becken flew cross-country to be here as the Club celebrated 100 years as a Donald Ross course. A hickory club tournament was played that day.
How can I learn more about the Club’s History? There is a four-page history report on the public side of ThePGCC.org and read “The Blaster” in the Pen News.
Said Jamieson of the importance of tracking down and celebrating Peninsula G&CC’s history and the history of other NorCal venues: “Whether they realize it or not, all Members of a Club have a shared history of events and people that preceded them. I’ve seen many of our Members enjoy learning about different aspects of our Club history and it brings an added value to their Membership.”
