The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History
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OAKWOOD CLUB - The Encyclopedia of Cleveland HistoryThe OAKWOOD CLUB, 1516 Warrensville Center Rd., was the first major Jewish organization located in the CLEVELAND HEIGHTS Founded as a golf club for Cleveland Jewry's successful merchants and professionals, it was incorporated 1 July 1905 by Leopold J. Wolf, MORRIS BLACK†, EDWARD M. BAKER†, Hascal Land, and MAURICE (MOSES) J. MANDELBAUM†. A 9-hole golf course was officially opened on 10 Sept. 1906, and an additional 9 holes were dedicated on the club's 159 acres in 1915. The course was chosen as the site of the 1921 Western Open Golf Tournament, which included golf greats Bob Jones, Gene Sarazen, and Walter Hagen. The Oakwood Women's Golf Assn. was established in 1931. As membership grew from the 70 charter members, Oakwood was expanded to provide additional recreational and social facilities. The largest expansion occurred with the merger of Oakwood and the EXCELSIOR Club in Jan. 1931, raising Oakwood's membership from 300 to 450 with new classes of membership established to accommodate the nonplayers of the Excelsior. The clubhouse was subsequently expanded, with the addition of squash courts, bowling alleys, and an outdoor swimming pool by 1935. Further changes included the enlargement of women's facilities in 1953 and the addition of an entertainment and dining center in 1972. During World War II, club members used the Isaac Joseph home on Oakwood Dr., while the U.S. Army's 729th Military Police Battalion utilized the Oakwood clubhouse as a barracks. Last Modified: 21 Jul 1997 02:04:37 PM
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