Many of the games greats were indeed on hand for the event. With a carry over fescue and bunker, this green is guarded on either side by deep bunkers and slopes extremely hard back-to-front. Opened for play in 1923, Kittansett and its various attributes should surprise visitors. This integrated piece appeared as a course feature and Walker Cup sidebar in LINKS Magazine during the summer of 2006. The opening holes provide wide fairways with generous landing areas. A charming rock wall and fescue guard just right of the green as well. Nober signed the agreement May 2. The fact that Kittansett was the site of the Mass Am last week for the sixth time in its history speaks to the high regard in which the course is held. The Club was originally built by founding member Frederic C. Hood who had significant knowledge of other American and British courses of the era. 18 brings you back to the clubhouse, and again throws off vibes of the opening and finishing holes at Maidstone and Fishers Island. The two Brits urged Pierson not to impose the penalty stipulated by the rules. Selectman Jon Henry recused himself from the discussion because he does some work for Briggs company from time-to-time. The rest, to be believed, must be experienced first-hand. The 8th marks the start of the interior holes, which have a decidedly different feel than their seaside companions. Unlock All Content, Become A Subscriber Today. Because Kittansett is a golf club youre not going to find a pool, tennis, or all of the other amenities that youll typically find at a country club. Actor Bill Murray enjoyed dinner at a Massachusetts seafood restaurant over the weekend, posing for photos with staff and fans. Longer hitters can cut the corner over the hills and leave a shorter approach into a back-to-front sloped green. Briggs said he had to do that after Marion Conservation Commission member Norm Hills had to recuse himself from the decision because his wife works for Tabor. Relative to par, Im not sure theres a more difficult hole than the 11th. Stay up to date with everything Boston. Those thinking of cutting the corner have to contend with tall trees lining the right. Its not just the length, the lack of elevation on the 11th teebox makes judging the distance even more difficult. In an age when clubs pay architects millions of dollars to return their courses to some original, classic ideal (real or imagined), Kittansett has charted a more honest, practical course ever capitalizing on its superb routing, features and location to make the course incrementally better, more classic and stern than its ever been, but never something it has never been. This approach runs uphill towards a back-to-front sloped green guarded by bunkers on either side. Throw in the fact that Gil Hanse has done extensive remodeling over the last 10 years, and that it has one of the most noteworthy par 3s in golf? Tee Par Yardage Rating Slope, Blue 71 6934 75.0 145, White 71 6400 71.9 139, White/Green 71 6029 70.0 132, Green 71 5581 67.9 130, Yellow 72 4934 71.0 133. But the fact is, we hate losing. The Walker Cup was the beginning of its wider reputation and its significant to reiterate that no one not Gene Littler, Ken Venturi, Charlie Coe, Harvie Ward nor Joe Carr managed to better par that scorching Labor Day weekend 53 years ago when, reportedly, the wind never rose above the wafting level. Sorry. Yet Kittansetts length (6,814 yards, par 70), its smallish, steeply pitched greens, its overall strategic mettle were undiminished. Venturi, 22, was the baby in the group but his form was perhaps the best of all. This was his first Walker Cup and he showed the promise he would later fulfill, going unbeaten on the weekend. This drive requires a carry of 145 yards and avoidance of dense marshes on the right. Kittansett can be a brute, but those who can control their distances and work their golf balls in the wind can certainly score. This keeps the vibe more chill and low-key, and really allows you to soak in the wonderful setting on the Bay. The course at that time measured 6,374 yards from the back of the regular tees, with the stands of pines and hardwoods combined with stretches of marshland and wispy field grass to give it a very New England feel. But its a leap of faith even for members familiar with the gambit, and a thrilling leap at that. The senior amateurs are in for a treat in 2022. Ward and Charlie Coe were the top international amateurs of their day, and Sam Urzetta, a 51 Walker Cupper, was the 1950 U.S. Verdict:The charming and exclusive Kittansett Club is one of the most underrated courses in America and might be my dark horse candidate for best course in New England. This keeps the vibe more chill and low-key, and really allows you to soak in the wonderful setting on the Bay. No reviews at this time. With a teebox in the middle of a marsh, this is a difficult teeshot with a forced carry of 160 yards and dogleg not coming until 225 yards. According to Hanse, his initial mission was to restore the unique architecture of the layout while also enhancing its look, conditioning and playability. It was nice to have the extra time to wander around and soak in the setting. 10, with a diagonal row of grassy mounds on the left side of the landing area and a pair of bunkers on the right, both of which force golfers to consider distance and direction on their drives. But whether it was Hood, Flynn, Ross or Hanse, every brilliant golf mind who has laid eyes on The Kittansett Club has come away with the same conclusion: Let the views speak for themselves. The layout, however, also evoked the Old Course in golfs ancestral home of St. Andrews, Scotland, thanks to an out-and-back routing and opening and closing holes that ran parallel to each other. An 18-hole golf course became a possibility when in the early 1920's a group of residents bought the land on Butler's Point, which until that time had been occupied solely by the Beverly Yacht Club. (Murray later offered to pay for the damaged phones, so no charges were filed.). A fine hole in its own right, this short one-shotter features a front-to-back sloped green with a giant bunker short and cliffs long. Out by the 7th tee box theres a 9-foot signpost that shows the high-water marks of the major hurricanes that have blown through here over the years: 1938, 1944, 1954 (Carol), 1991 (Bob). At 16, for example. This hole plays 175 yards to a wide yet shallow green surrounded by deep bunkers and fescue. At just over 5700 yards, this par 70 plays more difficult than youd expect with small greens, tight fairways, and a hilly terrain. Pace of play is tremendous, and this seaside gem is a joy to walk. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Briggs admitted to violating the conflict-of-interest law by voting as a town Conservation Commission member to issue an Order of Conditions authorizing Tabor Academy to install two 2,000-gallon saltwater tanks at its Marine Sciences Center building. Some of that credit goes to Hanse who recommended some serious tree clearing when he first refurbished the bunkers in 1995 (adding fescued eyelashes to each one, a perfect fit). We were hosting an Eighty Club event at Old Sandwich and Boston Golf Club, and I tacked on an extra day to the trip to make the journey out to Marion and experience a course Ive been excited about visiting for years. The major defense is undoubtedly the wind, which usually whips off the Ocean, but the layout is also difficult, especially off the tee. But considering, again, there was no water in sight, I had a feeling a still had a little ways to go (The GPS sends you to the halfway house after the 9th hole). The 375 yard 17th is another dogleg left running in the opposite direction of 16. Donations to this. The fund-raiser has. At a prodigious 220 yards, this is a semi-blind par 3 courtesy of tall fescue directly in front of the teebox. This hole is perhaps the courses only routing blemish as the 8th green is near the 9th and you have to walk the length of the hole backwards to reach the teebox. Thirteen holes at Kittansett feature some sort of deep cross bunker or bank of mounding perpendicular to play. Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), Bill Murray and Wynonna Judd spotted at Newport restaurant, Jill Biden visited a beloved Boston seafood restaurant, Complaint about Bill Murray leads Searchlight to halt filming of Being Mortal. The practice facilities are also strong and include a grass range long enough for driver and two short game areas. Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com. The most prestigious event hosted by Kittansett was the 1953 Walker Cup when the United States defeated Great Britain & Ireland 9 to 3. Its easy to see why the course is consistently rated among the best in the country. Another one thats been on my personal list? 6, 10 and 13 a bit further from the tees. You and those before you have made a habit of these tainted appointments for years and years. Sometimes, the slants were quite subtle, like those on the par-5 seventh, and No. A mile later, I arrived at the end of the road. Free shipping for many products! After the third hole, most of the course is actually tucked back away from the water. These include the Massachusetts Amateur Championship in 1958, 1978, 1990, 1999, 2008 and 2020 and the WGAM Edith Noblit Baker Trophy in 1954, 1979, 1989, 1995, 2005 and 2015. Im honestly surprised I was able to get out and see the course considering theyd just finished up the event. After the original drawings from William Flynn were discovered, Hanse refined his project in 2003, 2014 and again in 2019, adapting much of the Flynn plan. 17 is a visually tricky hole, as from the tee it can be tough to know exactly where youre going. Holes 3 through 8 is my personal favorite stretch of holes on the course. The 15th is the longest of a short set of par fives at 515 yards. But Kittansett is seldom what it appears to be, especially at first glance. The 18th with the clubhouse and outdoor patio bar over on the left. This hole features beautiful views of the Ocean in the background but dont let this distract you on this difficult teeshot. About 30 yards short of the green, two cross-bunkers squeeze the fairway, preventing runners from reaching the green. The Caddyshack actor was on the South Coast this weekend for the U.S. Senior Amateur golf championship at The Kittansett Club in Marion before heading up to Mattapoisett for a 7:30 p.m. dinner of swordfish and sushi specials at Turks Seafood on Sunday, according to Fun 107. The course layout originated and concluded at the unprotected ocean end of the Point. At about 280 yards, rough and a bunker on the left bisect this fairway. This teebox is directly adjacent to the pro shop and youll almost certainly have a gallery. That should tell you something about its allure. The first and second holes both measure 415 yards from the white tees. Verdict: The charming and exclusive Kittansett Club is one of the most underrated courses in America and might be my dark horse candidate for best course in New England. The reachable 330 yard 10th gets my vote for easiest hole at Kittansett. As for the largely blind, uphill green, it is protected by bunkers left and right. Originally, it was the Native Americans who led the Plymouth settlers and their cattle to the warmer winter pastures on these shores. The latest version of the Master Plan was released in 2013, and it involved the moving of mounds on Nos. Briggs said his original fine by the state Ethics Commission was for $10,000, but his lawyer was able to negotiate the fine down to $7,500. The approach to this small undulating green is guarded by a deep bunker on the left. That finish of Ronnie Whites made us all proud to be British.. The green itself sits about 4-5 feet above the bunker, and the water from the cove comes in on the right-hand side. Membership at the club is strictly invitation only, with initiation fees ranging from $250,000 to $500,000. The club was established in 1922, and officially opened for play in 1923. George Herbert Walker, great-grandfather to President Bush and founding patron of the international cup series, embodied the spirit of these times. The 47 year old from Washington state the sitting U.S. (Credit to this SI article for additional details). Now, thanks to a slow and thoughtful 20-year restoration by Gil Hanse, the course . Fun work place with very supportative management. American James Jackson was another type of newcomer in 1953, playing his first Walker Cup foursomes match on the Friday when he unwittingly instigated the events most poignant moment. Town of Marion, Massachusetts, United States View. Kittansett seems tailor-made for a national mid-amateur championship, and while Demmer hinted that the subject has been broached presumably with the folks who famously value par there are no plans. Briggs lawyer, Robert Troy of Troy Wall Associates in Sandwich, used the Rule of Necessity in arguing Briggs case before the state Ethics Commission. Kittansett loosely translates to "near the sea," and that only scratches the surface of this gem. Trees had grown up around several of the mounds and made them all but invisible, said Hanse, who credits the Kittansett job as a breakthrough for his young firm as its first top-100 golf course. The 6th plays out towards the water and has a sign off the green designating the high water level from previous hurricanes. When we got to the par 3 11th, all we could say was what??. This approach plays slightly uphill to a small, undulating green surrounded by deep bunkers. The Walker Cup, international golfs most prestigious amateur team competition, has been staged in New England on three separate occasions, twice (1932 and 1973) at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., where so many prestigious events have been held, USGA championships and otherwise, theyve begun to bunch. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. 16 that was fashioned in the thickly forested land that made up the interior part of the track. I think it was because the foreman for that job got fired for sleeping on the job and stealing, Briggs said. Kittansett. This eponymous business irked him somewhat in later years; he periodically protested, publicly, that these or any amateur matches had become so closely associated with a particular person. Im not sure people realize just how difficult this golf course really is, says Steve Demmer, the head pro here since 1994 [departed in 2014]. Rolling down Point Road toward The Kittansett Club, past Sippican Harbor and passing before an ever more stately line of summer cottages (all in gray shingle), the ancient course comes into view through the drivers side window initially a hole or two bounded by Cape-style miniature pine, but then a striking, open expanse punctuated by golden fescues, lines of bracken hedgerows and chocolate-drop mounding. Because of the ever-present winds perhaps, Hoods design rarely calls for forced carries into the greens themselves. A brute, but those who can control their distances and work their golf balls in the setting! For easiest hole at Kittansett feature some sort of deep cross bunker or bank of mounding perpendicular to play,. Massachusetts seafood restaurant over the hills and leave a shorter approach into a back-to-front sloped guarded. In 2022 a bit further from the white tees Ireland 9 to 3 the course in on the course theyd. 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