History
The estate of Farmington was patented in 1744, and was first built upon at some period prior to 1780. At the time of the American Revolution, the Commonwealth of Virginia confiscated the property from owner Francis Jerdone, who was a Tory, due to his political principles. Mr. Jerdone was able to regain the estate and then sold it to George Divers in 1785. Legend has it that Mr. Divers, who was in Philadelphia at the time, rode two horses to death in his dash south to claim the estate.
It was under Mr. Diver’s ownership that in 1803, Thomas Jefferson drew plans for an addition to the house, an octagonal addition with two rooms. A subsequent owner, General Bernard Peyton, divided the Jefferson Room into two stories and four rooms.
In the spring of 1927, an idea was conceived by local businessmen to develop a country club and residential community of a quality that would do justice to the historic atmosphere of Albemarle County.
Farmington, an estate of nearly a thousand acres, was selected as being ideally suited for this purpose. Its handsome plantation house, recognized as a striking example of colonial architecture; the beautifully planted grounds; and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains provided an unexcelled background for a country club in Charlottesville, Virginia.
On June 1, 1927, the Warner Wood Estate granted an option for the property known as Farmington, and on August 27, the State Corporation Commission issued a Certificate of Incorporation.
The first organizational meeting of the original sixteen subscribers was held September 3, 1927, and the following officers were elected: President, John S. Graves; Vice President, H.A. George; Secretary, Donald G. Stevens; and Treasurer, R.T. Minor, Jr. At the first Annual Meeting on January 11, 1928, Dr. Stephen H. Watts was elected President, John S. Graves and H.A. George, Vice Presidents.
By this time, work on the roadways, bridle paths and a steeplechase course were well under way, and renowned golf course architect Fred Findlay had begun work on the design and preparation of the course. Throughout 1928, workmen enhanced the landscape of the entire property, adapting the beautiful plantation for the purposes of a modern country club with outdoor facilities.
Restoration of the old house began in the spring of 1929. Fortunately, the University of Virginia possessed Mr. Jefferson’s original plans for the octagonal room, making it possible to restore the interior, which had suffered considerable alteration. Partition walls that had divided Mr. Jefferson’s principal room into four were removed, and the house now reflects the vision of its great builder. Since that time it has been known as the Jefferson Room. In 1976, the Jefferson Room was completely refurbished to portray the perceived intentions and vision of Mr. Jefferson. This work was performed under the direction of Dr. Frederick D. Nichols, Professor of Jeffersonian Architecture at the University of Virginia.
The plantation renovations begun in 1927 were completed in May of 1929, and the Club and grounds were formally opened on May 15, 1929, at which time Farmington Country Club became a reality.
The Clubhouse
The buildings at Farmington are unlike those of any other country club. To fully appreciate their historical and architectural significance, one must understand what they were. Now the Clubhouse, the main house was a spacious plantation house with an elongated wing that contained several guest rooms for the Divers’ extended family. The farm buildings consisted of rows of box stalls for horses (since converted to locker rooms), large barns, and numerous other buildings.
Similar to the all-weather passageway at Monticello, a covered passageway with fascinating flying buttresses led the plantation’s residents from the main house to the stable. This passageway now leads our members and their guests to and from the Clubhouse, Fitness Center, swimming pool, and the Farmington Grill. The Fitness Center and Grill were added in the late 1990s.
Except for the barns and a number of outlying buildings, all of the original buildings have been retained and updated to reflect the luxury of a newer age. The guest wing has been converted into a “Guest Gallery” — a long row of rooms opening onto a balcony that makes for a delightful place to enjoy warm weather. Below and in front of this Gallery is the swimming pool, a very popular place for Farmington families and their guests to relax all summer long.
Since the Club opened in 1929, two additional guest galleries have been added, both in keeping with the original design. One is an extension of the first gallery and rests above what is now The Children’s Place. The second faces the First Tee of the 18-hole golf course and is adjacent to the Farmington Grill.
The main house, or Clubhouse, is a large, impressive brick structure. Through the portico, with its beloved white pillars, one enters the Jefferson Room. The restored and noble Jefferson Room features two large fireplaces for the gathering of Club members. Passing through a hallway one reaches the Library, an inviting room with thousands of books, two additional fireplaces, and beautiful furniture reminiscent of the house’s earlier years.
Past the library are the North Bar and Terrace Dining Room, our formal dining room that was added in the 1930s. Later additions, such as the Main Dining Room, Ballroom, and additional Guest Rooms, have added much to the original house, and all are in keeping with the colonial architecture.
Along the entire western side of the house is a broad flagged terrace, where members may dine or enjoy a cocktail while admiring the panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the expansive lawn and a portion of the golf course.
The Golf Course
Farmington features 27 holes of golf: the original 18-hole golf course and a newer 9-hole golf course.
The eighteen-hole golf course, laid out by Fred Findlay, extends on three sides of the Clubhouse. It starts off to the south of the Clubhouse, drives through the woods to the east, then sweeps off to the north and around home again. It is surrounded by mountains: first the Ragged Mountains, Lewis’ and Observatory Mountains, the Southwest Range and then the glorious Blue Ridge.
And yet the course, while considered one of the most challenging in Virginia, is not unduly hilly. It runs along small valleys, across numerous “branches” and ravines, over two ponds, and between tall trees. These visually enjoyable obstacles play havoc with all but the straight and true shots. Few artificial hazards have been needed, but of course a number of these are cunningly placed where they will do the most harm and keep players from becoming careless. Filled with dazzling white sand, they keep the attention from wandering.
No two holes are alike, and no holes are parallel. There are three comparatively short holes of 160, 180 and 182 yards, and of these the 180-yard seventeenth hole is a shorter shot than the 160-yard sixth. None of them appear unduly short to any except the long drivers. The original yardage on the first 18 holes has been lengthened to some extent by construction of back tees.
An additional (and less challenging) nine holes were added in 1965 in an area that was once the steeplechase course. The “East” Nine originally consisted of three par threes, three par fours, and three par five holes — an unusual mix. It has been modified over the years to three par threes, five par fours and one par five. The East Nine is a haven for beginners and those who wish to play a casual round without the pressure of being on the 18-hole course. The variety of the holes and the availability of the East Nine truly provide something for everyone who is a part of the Farmington golfing family.