​Rittswood Golf  Course

RITTSWOOD HISTORY

 

Welcome to Rittswood Golf Course, located just 16 miles north of Pittsburgh off Rt. 8 in Middlesex Twp. This 150 acre 18 hole public golf course, was for 25 years a cattle and chicken farm owned and worked by Arch Ritts Sr. and his two sons Skip and Bill. In 1963 a family decision was made to change direction and transform the family farm into an 18 hole golf course. The family hired course designers Jim Harrison and Fred Garbin and in 1964 work began on “Rittswood Golf Course.”

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The family was committed to designing and building a quality course, and were determined not to cut any corners in the process. Their vision into the future, despite the initial financial burdens, produced a lovely, challenging course with character. Rittswood opened for business in 1966.

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In 1984 Skip and his wife Edna became the sole owners of the course and along with their three daughters; Connie, Tracie, and Jennifer, continued to provide friendly family service to its loyal customers. Skip was a pioneer for Western PA golf courses, he not only allowed women to golf on weekends, he encouraged it. His was also the first course to have a female starter on weekends and one of the first public courses to embrace the newest technology of riding greens mowers.

 

The course is still owned by the Ritts family and two of the three daughters are involved with daily operations. Jennifer Ritts McManus is the CEO and General Manager. Her husband John has been here for over 25 years and recently retired as superintendent. Her oldest son Zack now works full time on the course and her youngest son Cole, works part time during breaks from college. Connie Ritts Martin is President, and her son-in-law, Jonathan (Jay) Braund, has assumed the duties of course superintendent. We are also excited to announce that Jay and his beautiful wife Bethany have blessed us all with the birth of their daughter, Ella Mae, who is the fifth generation of the Ritts family to greet our customers.

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Uniquely positioned in the beautiful rolling hills of Western PA, Rittswood has always treated its players to a quiet secluded atmosphere away from housing and noisy highways. In recent years management has focused their energies on elevating the quality of turf in all areas, especially the greens. We continue to embraced and utilize the latest technology in turf equipment and the latest science in turf agronomy.

 

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