Shady Rest Country Club

Shady Rest Country Club in Scotch Plains holds a significant place in American golf history as the first African American country club, established in the early twentieth century. The club served as a gathering place for recreation, sport, and social life at a time when few such spaces were open to Black golfers and their families.

Its story is closely tied to John Shippen Jr., the pioneering golf professional associated with the club, and to the music and entertainment that enlivened its clubhouse. The site remains a landmark of African American culture and community, and its history is documented through a timeline tracing the people and events connected to it.