The 11 Oldest Golf Courses in New England

New England’s deep-rooted history doesn’t stop at colonial towns and ivy-covered colleges. It also holds a proud and distinguished place in American golf. Some of the oldest golf courses in the country were founded here, bringing Scottish traditions across the Atlantic to the rocky coastlines and rolling farmland of the Northeast. From seaside links to forested layouts, these venerable clubs helped shape the game in America. Here’s a look at the top 10 oldest golf courses in New England — and the architects who helped craft them.

1. The Country Club (Brookline, Massachusetts) — Founded 1882

• Architects: Originally members; later redesigned by Willie Campbell, William Flynn, and others

• Recognized as one of the five founding clubs of the United States Golf Association (USGA), The Country Club in Brookline is often referred to as the cradle of American golf. Although golf wasn’t played here until 1893, the club itself dates to 1882. The course evolved over decades, with Scottish pro Willie Campbell laying down early holes and William Flynn later refining the layout. It famously hosted the 1913 U.S. Open, won by amateur Francis Ouimet.

2. Newport Country Club (Newport, Rhode Island) — Founded 1893

• Architects: William Davis; later redesigned by A.W. Tillinghast

• Another USGA founding club, Newport is where both the first U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur were held in 1895. Scottish pro William Davis designed the original course, and decades later, famed architect A.W. Tillinghast made enhancements. Set along the Atlantic, its wide fairways and heavy breezes capture the essence of true links golf.

3. Manchester Country Club (Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts) — Founded 1887 (formal course in 1895)

• Architect: Alex Findlay

• Originally formed as the Essex County Club, this seaside town boasted early golf activity by 1887. The formal course, laid out by Alex Findlay around 1895, has ties to Scotland’s influence. Though overshadowed by neighboring Essex County Club today, Manchester’s early adoption of the game cements its historic place.

4. Woodland Golf Club (Auburndale, Massachusetts) — Founded 1896

• Architect: Donald Ross (redesign)

• Established in the leafy suburbs of Boston, Woodland welcomed golf before the turn of the 20th century. Donald Ross, the master of strategic course architecture, later redesigned the layout, emphasizing subtlety over spectacle. Woodland remains a treasured, challenging course to this day.

5. Kebo Valley Golf Club (Bar Harbor, Maine) — Founded 1888

• Architect: Alexander H. Findlay

• Tucked into the rugged coastal landscape of Mount Desert Island, Kebo Valley claims to be the eighth-oldest course in the United States. Its routing by Alexander H. Findlay weaves between hills and streams, with glimpses of Acadia National Park. President William Howard Taft famously recorded a 27 on its notoriously tricky 17th hole.

6. Myopia Hunt Club (South Hamilton, Massachusetts) — Founded 1894

• Architect: Herbert Leeds

• Designed by club member Herbert Leeds, Myopia Hunt Club is famously difficult — so much so that during the 1901 U.S. Open, not a single round under 80 was recorded. The course still features blind shots, punishing rough, and small greens, embracing golf’s early ruggedness. Leeds’ design is an authentic window into the origins of American championship golf.

7. Wannamoisett Country Club (Rumford, Rhode Island) — Founded 1898

• Architect: Donald Ross

• Though the club formed in 1898, Donald Ross completely redesigned the course in 1914. Today it is known for its routing on a small piece of land with tight fairways, bold bunkering, and small, slick greens — a Ross masterpiece. Wannamoisett remains a frequent host to top amateur competitions, including the prestigious Northeast Amateur.

8. Essex County Club (Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts) — Founded 1893

• Architect: Donald Ross

• Not to be confused with nearby Manchester Country Club, Essex County Club boasts an early start and significant historical pedigree. Donald Ross himself served as the head professional here early in his American career, leaving his architectural fingerprints all over the course. The rugged New England terrain and coastal breezes give it a timeless quality.

9. Woodstock Country Club (Woodstock, Vermont) — Founded 1895

• Architect: Robert Trent Jones Sr. (redesign)

• Vermont's oldest golf club began in the mid-1890s, a rustic 9-hole course in the hills. Though updated by Robert Trent Jones Sr. years later, it still holds an old-world charm. Towering trees, narrow fairways, and mountain vistas make Woodstock an atmospheric glimpse into golf’s early Vermont roots.

10. Brae Burn Country Club (West Newton, Massachusetts) — Founded 1897

• Architects: Donald Ross

• Details: Brae Burn has hosted multiple national championships, including the 1919 U.S. Open. Donald Ross enhanced the layout into a classic strategic test, where angles and approach matter more than brute strength. Its rolling topography and small, tricky greens remain a stiff challenge for even the most skilled players.

11. Hartford Golf Club (West Hartford, Connecticut) — Founded 1896

• Architects: Donald Ross (originally), Devereux Emmet, and later Willie Park Jr.

• Founded in 1896, Hartford Golf Club is one of Connecticut’s oldest and most prestigious institutions. Early designs were influenced by Devereux Emmet, with later refinements by Donald Ross and Willie Park Jr. The course features classic Ross trademarks like turtleback greens and deceptive bunkering, blended seamlessly into the rolling New England landscape. Over its long history, Hartford Golf Club has maintained a reputation for elegant, traditional golf with a strong focus on strategy and shot placement.

The Legacy of New England Golf

The oldest golf courses in New England are more than just places to play — they are historic institutions. They trace the arc of golf’s development in the United States, from crude fairways mowed by sheep to meticulously manicured championship venues.

The architects who designed them — pioneers like Donald Ross, Herbert Leeds, and Alex Findlay — weren’t merely building courses. They were importing a centuries-old tradition into a new, rugged landscape, often without the benefit of modern earth-moving equipment. Their designs still emphasize natural beauty, strategic challenge, and respect for the land.

Today, these courses continue to define golf in the Northeast. They host amateur championships, U.S. Open qualifiers, and casual rounds for lucky members and guests. And they serve as living museums — reminders of a time when golf was less about technology and more about creativity, toughness, and imagination.

Whether it’s the fabled fairways of The Country Club or the rocky hills of Kebo Valley, New England’s oldest courses offer something special. They are timeless, sacred grounds for those who love the game.