Bill Hirsch noticed an opportunity 10 years ago to start a new club.
"On a lot of the dark days a lot of owners, trainers and jocks would just get together and look for a place to go play golf," he said. "We thought, why not organize a club to play on a regular basis?"

Trackmen Golf Club transpired from the situation, and membership has grown from the 42 in 1992 to 140 today .The club plays 12 tournaments a year at courses near Belmont Park, Aqueduct, Saratoga, and in Florida during the winter racing season. Two of the most popular tournaments include one in New York on the first dark day after the Kentucky Derby, and the first winter tournament in Florida.

Members live all around the country and come from a variety of professions. "We welcome all horsemen, whether they are a fan, owner, trainer, breeder or jockey," Hirsch said. Some of the more prominent members include jockey Jorge Chavez and trainer Patrick Kelly.

Membership dues are a minimum $100. The talk at the tournaments is mostly, as Hirsch says, "what is near and dear to their heart--golf and horses." Those connections have led to members forming two partnerships which own horses. One of those is a 12-person group that races Make Out, who won the feature race at Saratoga July 30.

The Trackmen held their fourth annual Saratoga Tee Off Party at July 29. The next tournament is scheduled for Aug. 27 at Wolferts Roost Country Club near Albany, N.Y. For information contact Bill Hirsch at (516) 356-6678 or visit www.trackmengolfclub.com.