GRAND OAKS HISTORY
A Legacy Rooted in History
Tucked away off Huguenot Avenue, where Staten Island’s rolling hills meet peaceful woodland, sits one of New York City’s most storied destinations: South Shore Golf Course and Grand Oaks Country Club. Together, these neighboring properties offer not only a premier golfing and event experience—but also a deep connection to the rich and evolving history of the Rossville community.
The story begins in the mid-18th century, when the area was known as Old Blazing Star, later shortened to Blazing Star, named after a well-known local tavern that served travelers on Staten Island’s western shore. In the early 1800s, the area was renamed Rossville to honor Colonel William E. Ross, a prominent landowner, entrepreneur, and statesman.
Colonel Ross was a man of great accomplishment. In 1832, he fought alongside Abraham Lincoln in the Black Hawk War, and by 1860, he was one of eleven delegates from Pike County, Illinois, who cast votes for Lincoln at the Republican Nominating Convention. Throughout his life, Ross helped shape American civic life—founding the first bank in his area, operating three riverboats, a general store, a flour mill, and serving as postmaster. He was also instrumental in the founding of the Republican Party. On Staten Island, he built a grand mansion styled after Windsor Castle, locally known as the Ross Mansion or Ross Castle.
Meanwhile, the surrounding area evolved into a site of extraordinary historical significance. In the 1830s, after slavery was abolished in New York, freedmen settled nearby in what became known as Sandy Ground—one of the first free Black communities in the United States and a major destination on the Underground Railroad. Though the soil was sandy and poor for farming, settlers prospered thanks to the oyster-rich waters of Raritan Bay. Today, Sandy Ground is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, and its legacy lives on as a proud part of Rossville’s identity.
Fast-forward to 1930, when a private club was established under the name Mayflower Country Club. Initially envisioned with tennis courts and an indoor pool, the plan was scaled back following the 1929 stock market crash, and the golf course was renamed South Shore Golf Course. In 1966, the City of New York began acquiring the land, with the NYC Parks Department eventually assuming full operation. In the 1980s, American Golf Corporation took over management, implementing major upgrades such as an irrigation system, rebuilt greens, and a scenic pond that frames the course’s signature ninth hole.
Alongside the course stands a stunning Dutch Colonial Revival mansion, restored in 1989 and reopened as a dining and event space. In 2014, the building came under private management and was renamed the Grand Oaks Country Club. While the NYC Parks Department continues to operate South Shore Golf Course, we proudly manage Grand Oaks, transforming the estate into one of Staten Island’s most sought-after venues for weddings, galas, and community events.
At the Grand Oaks Country Club it’s been about more than golf and events. It’s about people, history, and connection.
That’s the heart of this place. Whether it’s tales of golfing greats like Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, and Jim Demaret, or local legends of how this land shaped American history, every story is another thread in the fabric of this enduring property.
Set among pine trees, ivy-draped hedges, and woodlands teeming with hawks, owls, and migratory songbirds, South Shore Golf Course and Grand Oaks Country Club represent a living landscape—a place where the past and present come together to create experiences worth remembering.
Because here, it’s not just about the game or the event—it’s about the legacy we share and the memories we create along the way.
Our Picturesque Grounds
Walk the same paths as the couples before you — through shaded trails, across rolling greens, beside historic architecture. Each photo reflects a moment, a mood, a memory waiting to be yours.
Hospitality Isn’t Just What We Do—It’s Who We Are!
Rooted in tradition and shaped by generations of stories, our approach to service is deeply personal. From your first visit to your final toast, every moment is crafted with care, warmth, and a sense of belonging. Here, celebrations feel timeless, meals feel meaningful, and every guest becomes part of the Grand Oaks story.
Because in a place with this much history, the most important legacy we create… is yours.