Brae Burn Golf Course

It all started with four gentlemen, an intriguing new sport and a sheep pasture. John and his brother Edwin Hall along with brothers Nicholas and Jansen Noyes were the pioneers that brought golf to Dansville over 110 years ago playing on land that was, at that time, home to Tracy Scovill’s sheep. The course was originally laid out with 6 holes and just a few years later expanded to 9 holes. Being named after the game’s Scottish origins, “brae” in Scotland is a hillside and “burn” is a stream, which aptly describe the course’s features.  

In 1901 Jackson Health Resort (Dr. James H. Jackson & Dr. J. Arthur Jackson) took over operation of the Brae Burn Links and appointed Dr. Walter Gregory as course manager. A clubhouse was built, fairways and putting surfaces were improved and a caretaker was hired to be on hand every day except Sunday. However, due to the course being a bit of a distance from the Sanatorium and medicine being their true focus, after a year of operating the course the Jacksons headed a move to form a corporation in 1902 which would take over lease of the land from Tracy Scovill. It was at this time that the course was officially incorporated and named Brae Burn Golf Club. 

There were several different caretakers throughout the years until Robert Ferris assumed control in 1944. In 1963, when the new syndicate was organized, the stockholders were Ferris, Leonard Fierle, Harold Shay, Robert Badger, Robert Kane and Howard Shay. Ferris became head of the new recreation center as well as the golfing enterprise while Fierle managed the bowling alley. It wasn’t until the late 1950’s or early 1960’s that Ferris bought the land, up until which time it had been rented or leased from the Scovill estate.