STONEBRIDGE GOLF COURSE OPENING 2024
An Integral Part of Martinsburg, WV
HISTORY COMES HOME
We're focused on preserving the past, and paying homage to the future.
The Sycamore at Stonebridge is an integral part of the rich history of Martinsburg, West Virginia. The building originally opened in 1922, as the “Opequon Golf Club,” in 1955, as the “Martinsburg Golf Club,” and in 1997, as the “Stonebridge Golf Course.” Finally, on June 9th, 2021, the full 175 acres of land, including the clubhouse, was purchased by Jim and Jakki VanMetre and named “The Sycamore and Van Metre 9 at Stonebridge”. With original architects and builders including Clarence Lowell Harding and Alexander Finley, the building’s architectural classification is a late nineteenth century and early twentieth century American Movement Bungalow, Adirondack Lodge Style. On the interior of the building, the exposed structural elements, such as the truss purlins, are derivative of that style. The massive end chimney in the main dining room and the cathedral ceiling are also elements of the bungalow style. Its original function was to provide recreation and culture and to be a community golf club. Still standing with its original limestone foundation and walls, it has been rehabilitated to return to serving its original purpose.
The nine hole golf course sits on 175 acres of land and lies in a roughly circular formation, bounded by natural and man-made features, including the Opequon Creek, the Baltimore and Ohio right of way, County Route 36, and County Route 38.
From the highest point on the grounds, which is the location of the clubhouse, there is a view of the Shenandoah Valley to the east. On the southern boundary of the golf course is a rugged hillside and gully filled with trees and shrubs. On the southeast corner of the course is one of many ponds located on the property. On the eastern third of the course, a small rill runs north-south and empties from the pond mentioned above. When first laying out the nine hole course, Jack Henson, a prominent attorney and State Attorney General, went to the site of the proposed golf course with a tape measure, knife, and tin cans and laid out the tees and holes. The final course was officially laid out under the direction of F.L. James, a golf course constructor.
The initial land where the golf course and clubhouse sit now was described as costing a mere $15,000 before being transferred to various hands throughout the mid-late 1900s. The club used to serve as a center for leisurely business transactions for politicians and business persons of the county. In July 1922, a newspaper article concerning the new club described it as “suitable for the needs of the community.”
The article goes on to further explain the benefits of fresh air and exercise and the beautiful natural sitting of the club, which affords a view of the entire Shenandoah Valley, a fine natural turf, and a delightful creek. Then, a September 2nd article in the same newspaper in 1922, announced an informal reception on Labor Day at the “practically completed” clubhouse. Only a few days later, on September 5th, 1922, the article described the opening events of the brand new golf course and clubhouse with over 70 persons in attendance. This was described in the article as “the most successful social event ever taking place in the Martinsburg vicinity.” At this time, Howard H. Emmert, a lawyer, businessman, and banker, served as the president of the golf club. He was also the secretary of the Interwoven Mills, Martinsburg’s major employer at the time.
