The Lake Como Golf Club was one of the first golf clubs in Italy. It was established at Dervio in 1905 and had ceased all activity before 1922.
It was founded chiefly on the initiative of a group of English residents holidaying in Bellagio: Margaret Scott, winner of the first three British Ladies Amateur championships (1893, 1894 and 1895), and her husband Frederick Gustavus Hamilton-Russell, who is recorded as the club's Captain.
In 1906 the club had 37 members, rising to 40 in 1908 and 1909, before returning to 37 in 1912.
The course The course was designed by J. H. Taylor and had nine holes, measuring 2,320 yards in 1912 and 2,347 yards in 1915.
A club-house was built to accommodate English visitors; the building, although altered over the years, still stands today.
Diversion of the Varrone stream In 1908 Frederick Gustavus Hamilton-Russell obtained permission to divert the final stretch of the Varrone stream so that it would cross the golf course. As a result, the stream bed was considerably shortened and made straight.
Closure of the club The golf club was still listed as active in 1921, but by February 1922 part of the course's land had already been transferred to the firm of Vincenzo Pensa.Gazzetta Ufficiale del Regno d'Italia, 17 June 1927, p. 2189: "Venne prodotto addi 15 febbraio 1922 un ricorso della ditta Vincenzo Pensa, subentrata al sig. G. F. Hamilton Russell nella proprietà di alcuni terreni siti presso la foce del Varrone in comune di Dervio."
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External links Lake Como Golf Club at Golf's Missing Links