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Founded in 1883 by a group of Dutchmen, Savannah's Forest City Gun Club is the oldest and largest continuously operated skeet, trap and sporting clays club in America. Not only is the club old but it is also large. Boasting twenty-six fields, a forty acre lake (Lake Roberts), a grand club house, dining hall, shooter registration facility and an assortment of other amenities, the club covers over 537 acres.
The property, located on Ferguson Avenue, was purchased in 1951 through the magnanimity of Dr. Frank Cheatham Wilson, who died in July 1950 and named the Forest City Gun Club as chief beneficiary of his estate. Dr. Wilson was president of the club from 1899 - 1922 and an active member until his death.
Colonel Ormonde Hunter, the oldest man in the club and an honorary life member, was named trustee of the Wilson estate. He remembers Wilson as "a great shot; a man who loved to hunt and to shoot in competition."
Dr. Wilson's wish, to be buried on any permanent home site that the club may acquire, was honored; and from Wilson's will, Colonel Hunter took the words that are inscribed on the tombstone:
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One of the greatest interests of my life, and one of my most pleasant moments, have been in the use of firearms and in association of gunners, both in the field and in competition. The Forest City Gun Club, of Savannah, has meant much to me in this respect. I wish to do what I may to make it possible to pass along this sport and the companionship which it forms, to the youth who may come after me |
Prior to the present Ferguson Avenue acquisition, the club had a variety of other locations. In the 1880's the founders shot on Hutchison Island. The targets were not today's clay pigeons, but glass balls. Then the club relocated to Ardsley Park (around 49th Street), until the land was need for a temporary hospital during the Spanish-American War. Other temporary venues included a location on Bee Road, the German Country Club as well Hunter Field and Chatham Park.
Colonel Hunter, as an agent for Wilson,, bought what is now the Savannah Yacht Club property. Because the property was not large enough, the club never built there, electing to sell the property instead. After that property was sold the club bought its permanent home in 1951.
Beginning with three fields, the club soon increased the number to six. Then, more than ten years ago, when the club first hosted the World Skeet Shooting Championships, the old fields were torn up and twenty-six new ones were built. At that time the Forest City Gun Club was the largest in the world. Today, San Antonio has more fields,, but Savannah's club remains the largest privately-owned gun club in the world.
In July of 2003, the FCGC hosted the International Skeet Shooting Competition. It was the fifth time that Savannah was chosen by the National Skeet Shooting Association as the host city. It was the largest world shoot since the inception of the World Championships over thirty years ago. The shoot brought competitors from as far away as Japan, Germany and Australia.
The club continues to strive for excellence in providing an ever-evolving world-class facility for shooting sports. Although the club has changed over the years, the one constant is the love of the sport which first caused the Forest City Gun Club to be organized.
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Important News - Please Read! |
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Skeet Game! |
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Webmaster Notes |
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