More Than 100 Years of Tradition: The Story of Hanover Country Club

The Hanover Country Club has been hosting avid golfers for more than 100 years. Located in Abbottstown, PA, just outside Hanover, Hanover Country Club has long been a place to eat, drink, socialize, relax, and enjoy playing golf. For generations, the club has served as more than a golf course; it has been a gathering place, a social destination, and a meaningful part of the surrounding community.  

Rooted in tradition, the legacy of Hanover Country Club is one to continue and maintain. Its story is not only about golf courses and tournaments, but also about the people who believed in its potential, supported it through challenging times, and helped shape it into the club it is today. Hanover Country Club reflects more than a century of perseverance, pride, and memories.

‍

The Founding Years: How Hanover Country Club Began

The Hanover Country Club golf course was built in 1923 and founded by members of some of the most prestigious golf clubs at the time. Before it became a golf course, the land was a 140-acre horse farm, abundant with rich soil and rolling hills. To many, the property may have looked like ordinary farmland, but the founders had a vision. The founders believed that, with time and a little perseverance, the land could be transformed into a cherished country club.  

Golf wasn’t popular in Hanover at the time, which made the creation of the course and club a bit ambitious. Still, Josiah. W. Gitt, a prominent publisher of the York Gazette and Daily, took it upon himself to begin to build the club and course. Gitt played an important role in bringing his and the founders’ idea to life, helping transform a stretch of rural Pennsylvania farmland into a place where golf could grow and flourish.  

By June of 1923, a temporary 9-hole course had been built and was ready to be played. This early version of the course marked the beginning of Hanover Country Club’s long golfing tradition. Noted by The Evening Sun in August 1923, members of the club were already becoming more proficient at playing golf. That same month, the club held its first tournament. Over time, the course expanded to include 18 holes. What started as a temporary course quickly became something lasting. The early members, founders, and supporters helped create something that would continue to grow for more than a century.

‍

A Course Shaped by Generations

Throughout the years, the Hanover Country Club has become a place to gather and enjoy rounds of golf, whether solo or as a group. Golf was the first activity played at the club, but it would not be the only. As interest in the club grew, so did the need for spaces where members could relax, socialize, and spend time with family and friends.  

In April of 1924, the club opened a clubhouse that had locker rooms and baths for the players. This addition helped make the club more comfortable and welcoming for members after a round of golf. The clubhouse also featured a large living room and dance floor, giving members a place to gather beyond the course. As memberships rapidly increased, the clubhouse became an important part of the club’s social life. Gitt was passionate about beautifying the course, planting thousands of trees to accent the area. In 1972, Gitt said that he believed the Hanover Country Club had one of the most beautiful courses he had ever seen.  

Not long after the clubhouse was added, tennis courts and a spacious pool were introduced in the 1940s. These amenities helped Hanover Country Club become a place where members could spend their entire days, enjoy different activities, and build traditions with their families.  By 1928, the club had 250 members. The club recorded its first hole-in-one in 1930, set by Gitt himself. The Great Depression was dark for the club, as many members had to leave. In order to save the club, Gitt paid the bills using his own money. His commitment helped keep Hanover Country Club alive during one of its darkest chapters. Thankfully, the end of World War II resuscitated the club as interest in leisure activities grew. As membership climbed and stabilized, many facilities were improved and added.  

By the 50th anniversary in 1973, numerous pieces of the original farm had been changed into parking lots, landscaping, and a pool. These changes showed how much the club had grown from its beginnings as a horse farm. Many new amenities have been added as the club has continued to grow, and it continues to innovate and expand in order to accommodate members.

‍

Carrying the Legacy Forward

Gitt died in 1973 following the club’s 50th anniversary, but his influence remained part of Hanover Country Club’s identity. His vision, leadership, and dedication helped shape the club during its earliest and most important decades. The foundation he helped build allowed future generations to continue improving and preserving the club.

The course went through a redesign in 1996 and debuted in 1998 as the club celebrated its 75th anniversary. With the redesign to avoid Canal Road, the 18-hole layout rose from a par 70 to a par 71. While the old course was beloved, a new course was necessary as interest continued to grow.  

Generations have grown up at Hanover Country Club. Since its opening, the club has held numerous events for golfers, families, and children alike. Over 100 years of memories make the club what it is today. The founders of Hanover Country Club envisioned something special in the farmland, and that vision was able to be built, nurtured, protected, and passed down through generations. Even over 100 years later, their vision and the community remain strong.  

Today, the club boasts an abundance of activities and dining. Hanover Country Club is more than a social hub; it’s a central part of the community where members can come together to dine, play golf, celebrate traditions, and create memories. Its story continues with every round played, event hosted, and generation that discovers what makes the club special.

‍