John D. Archbold, who became the first president (1895-1912), was listed among those present for the opening day festivities. For many years early in his career, Archbold was an active opponent of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil monopoly. But eventually, he joined Standard Oil, and became one of Rockefeller's most trusted lieutenants, ultimately the dominant power in the company next to Rockefeller himself. Rockefeller was an avid golfer and eventually had a private nine-hole course on his estate nearby at Pocantico Hills. We can speculate, therefore, that it was Archbold who acted as the catalyst in transforming a "social club" into a golf club.

Knollwood entrance circa 1893.

The club's membership roster grew quickly to include the"creme de la creme"of New York and Westchester society, the leaders of the region's banking and industrial community. Among them were men such as Oliver, J. Borden, and H.M. Harriman, W.K. Vanderbilt, William G. Rockefeller, Whitelaw Reid (the United States Minister to France and later an unsuccessful vice-presidential candidate of 1892), and Henry 0. Havemeyer, son of the first president of the United States Golf Association.

For the first two years of its existence, Knollwood leased its house and property from A.T. Gillender. Formal discussions began late in 1896 to purchase the property, and negotiations were completed quickly, as reported in the January 7, 1897 edition of the New York Times:

"When the Knollwood Country Club of Elmsford, Westchester County, opens in the spring for another golf season, the grounds will be in the ownership of the members. The final meeting of the committee appointed to arrange plans for the purchase was held Monday night at the residence of Nathaniel C. Reynal, 283 Madison Avenue. The other members of the committee are Tracy Dow, E.H. Clark, C.V.V. Sewell, and J. Borden Harriman. They decided to purchase the property on these conditions: To pay the owner of the land, Augustus T. Gillender, $20,000 in cash, and give a mortgage for $55,000 at four percent for ten years. This was accepted by Mr. Gillender. To raise the money, the club will issue 500 bonds of the par value of $100 each, secured by a second mortgage on the property."

And so the club dodged a bullet, so to speak. It had been feared that the Ardsley Casino, which opened in the spring of 1896 with a golf course whose opening holes ran along the craggy bluffs overlooking the Hudson, would compete with Knollwood for members. The effect was minimal, however, and the Knollwood membership roster was rapidly approaching 100 at the time of the sale.

Knollwood at the time was accessible by train, either the Putnam Line to Elmsford, followed by a short trolley ride, or the Harlem division of the New York Central to White Plains. The club operated a private taxicab to and from the White Plains station for the exclusive use of members living in Manhattan.

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