Emmet graduated from Columbia University in 1883;[4] in 1889 he married Ella B. Smith in an elaborate wedding at her home in New York City.

Ella's sister Elizabeth "Bessie" Springs Smith was the wife of architect Stanford White.

[6] A friend of his remarked: Emmet could not possibly conceive of any other use to which any given piece of real estate could be put except to lay out golf links on it.

[6] In 1916, after he won the father-son tournament at Sleepy Hollow Country Club with Devereux Emmet, Jr., the United States Golf Association instituted the so-called architects rule that barred golf course architects from competing as amateurs in tournaments.

[9] Devereux Emmet died in Garden City, New York, on December 30, 1934.