Under the leadership of Bill Jennings in 1954, a Pro-Am Tournament was planned featuring 33 foursomes for the benefit of United Hospital Medical Center.

The first Pro-Am saw Walter Burkemo shoot a winning 66 while Doug Ford, Fred Haas, Jr., Johnny Palmer and Jack Patroni tied for second at 69. By 1962, the last year the Apawamis Club in Rye, N.Y., served as host for the event, there were 48 foursomes. Sam Snead and Billy Maxwell tied for first place, and the ninth Pro-Am netted the Hospital $22,000.

1963 brought the Thunderbird Tournament from New Jersey to Westchester Country Club in Harrison, N.Y., where the purse was $100,000.

Arnold Palmer took home the $25,000 first prize from that initial Westchester Country Club event, beating Paul Harney in a playoff. The following year, "Champagne" Tony Lema nosed out burly Mike Souchak for the winner's check, and in 1965 Jack Nicklaus fought off challenges from Gary Player, Billy Casper and Gene Littler to claim the title.

The sponsoring Ford dealers decided to move the Thunderbird event back to New Jersey in 1966. Although the grounds of Westchester Country Club were void of "big" golf that summer, plans were being developed for the inaugural Westchester Classic -- with a purse of $250,000, the largest in golf history -- in 1967.

That first year, it was overcast and cool on Thursday. But the Friday, Saturday and Sunday rounds were rained out. It wasn't until late the following Wednesday that Jack Nicklaus defeated Dan Sikes by one stroke to become the first Westchester Classic winner. The 1967 tournament always will be remembered as the "Wetchester Classic."

In 2005 the tournament got a new and exciting title sponsor: Barclays.  Every year since, their involvement has helped this event become a world-class tournament.  The Barclays took a step further in 2007 when it became the first-ever PGA TOUR Playoff event for the FedExCup.

In 2008, The Barclays will make it's debut at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, NJ from August 19th - 24th. 

To date, The Barclays has donated over $33 million to  many worthy local charities and it looks forward to giving more for many years to come.

Northern PA (Via Rt.80)

• Merge onto I-80 E (Crossing into NEW JERSEY)
• Take the GARDEN STATE PARKWAY exit- EXIT 62A toward SADDLE BROOK
• Take EXIT 160 toward FAIR LAWN
• Turn LEFT onto S PARAMUS RD/W PASSAIC ST. Continue to follow S PARAMUS RD

Southern NJ (GARDEN STATE PARKWAY)

• Merge onto GARDEN STATE PKWY N (Portions toll)
• Keep LEFT to take GARDEN STATE PKWY EXPRESS LN N toward WOODBRIDGE/NORTH JERSEY (Portions toll)
• GARDEN STATE PKWY EXPRESS LN N becomes GARDEN STATE PKWY N (Portions toll)
• Take EXIT 160 toward FAIR LAWN
• Turn LEFT onto S PARAMUS RD/W PASSAIC ST. Continue to follow S PARAMUS RD.

Via upstate NY (RT 87 to RT 17)

• Merge onto I-87 S/NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY S via EXIT 1W toward NEW YORK/BUFFALO (Portions toll)
• Merge onto I-287 S/NY-17 S via EXIT 15 toward NEW JERSEY (Crossing into NEW JERSEY)
• Merge onto NJ-17 S via EXIT 66 on the LEFT toward MAHWAH
• Take the PARAMUS RD exit toward RIDGEWOOD
• Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto PARAMUS RD/CR-75

Via Connecticut and Westchester (Tappan Zee Bridge and Garden State Parkway)

• Merge onto I-287 W toward WHITE PLAINS/TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE
• Take the GARDEN STATE PARKWAY exit-EXIT 14A- toward NEW JERSEY
• Merge onto NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY S (Crossing into NEW JERSEY)
• NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY S becomes GARDEN STATE PARKWAY S (Portions toll)
• Take EXIT 165 toward RIDGEWOOD/ORADELL
• Merge onto E RIDGEWOOD AVE/CR-6 W toward RIDGEWOOD
• Turn LEFT onto PARAMUS RD/CR-75

Via Manhattan (Lincoln Tunnel)

• Take the LINCOLN TUNNEL ramp toward NEW JERSEY
• Merge onto NY-495 W (Crossing into NEW JERSEY)
• Merge onto i-95 N/NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE N toward US-46/CLIFTON/I-80 (Portions toll)
• Keep LEFT to take I-95 N/NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE N toward I-80 W/HACKENSACK/PATERSON (Portions toll)
• Merge onto I-80 EXPRESS LN W via the exit on the LEFT toward PATERSON/EXPRESS
• I-80 EXPRESS LN N becomes I-80 W
• Take the GARDEN STATE PARKWAY NORTH exit- EXIT 62-toward MIDLAND AVE/SADDLE BROOK
• Take the GARDEN STATE PARKWAY NORTH exit on the LEFT toward MIDLAND AVE
• Merge onto GARDEN STATE PARKWAY N via the exit on the LEFT (Portions toll)
• Take EXIT 160 toward FAIR LAWN
• Turn LEFT onto S PARAMUS RD/W PASSAIC ST. Continue to follow S PARAMUS RD.

Via George Washington Bridge

• Turn LEFT to take the ramp toward NJ HIGHWAYS
• Merge onto I-95 S/NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE S
• Keep RIGHT to take I-95 S/NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE S toward I-80/GARDEN STATE PARKWAY/HACKENSACK
• Merge onto NJ-4 W via EXIT 72A toward PARAMUS
• Keep LEFT at the fork to continue on NJ-4 W
• Take the SADDLE RIVER ROAD SOUTH ramp
• Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto PARAMUS RD /CR-75

Via Newark Airport

This section under construction. Check back with us later.

Crowne Plaza Hotel at Paramus Park

601 From Rd

Paramus, NJ 07652 (201)262-6900

Courtyard by Marriott

320 Route 17 North

Paramus, NJ (201)599-1818

Homewood Suites by Hilton

375 Corporate Drive

Mahwah, NJ 07495 (201)760-9994

Comfort Inn & Suites

211 Route 17 South

Paramus, NJ 07652 (201)261-8686

Doubletree Mahwah

180 Route 17

Mahwah NJ 07495 (201)529-5880

Hilton Woodcliff Lake

200 Tice Blvd

Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677 (201)391-3600

Holiday Inn Express

50 Route 17 North

Paramus, NJ 07652 (800)465-4329

Residence Inn by Marriott

7 Boroline Rd.

Saddle River, NJ 07458 (201)934-4144

La Quinta Inn & Suites

393 Route 17 South

Paramus, NJ 07652 (201)265-4200