Representative image Photo: Stuart Logan · CC BY-SA 2.0
Essex County Club
Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, United States
18 Holes · Par 70 · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Parkland
— About
About Essex County Club
Essex County Club is a private 18-hole, par 70 course at Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, a design by Donald Ross. The front nine runs across gently rolling meadowland where tall fescue frames the fairways, and Ross's chocolate drop mounds sit beside the greens. The back nine turns hillier and more rugged, playing around a central stone hill, with creeks in play across the lower ground. Native fescue grows beside many fairways, and the ground is hilly enough that elevation plays a part on several holes. Greens have subtle contours, and some tee shots are blind, including the drive at the 8th, which lands in a split-level fairway. The club is private, membership is required to play, and there is no published green fee.
- The club hosted the Curtis Cup, the international women's amateur team match, in 1938 and again in 2010.
- A portion of the 3rd green is counted among the oldest continuously used putting surfaces in the United States.
- Trees were removed during the restoration to recover the open, natural character that Ross wanted.
- It began as a nine-hole course and was later enlarged to the full 18 holes.
History of Essex County Club
Essex County Club was founded in 1893. Around 1908 it brought in Donald Ross, who began a redesign that ran for roughly a decade and was largely done by about 1917. In the years around 2000, Renaissance Golf Design, led on site by architect Bruce Hepner, began a master plan for the restoration. Trees were taken out, with the aim of returning the course toward his design. The club hosted the Curtis Cup in 1938 and again in 2010, the second time with the restoration well under way.
Signature holes at Essex County Club
The 3rd is a par 5 of more than 600 yards, famous for a bathtub-shaped depression in its green. The 11th is a par 3 built on a bold scale, played uphill over large bunkers, and is often listed among Ross's boldest short holes. The finish is memorable: the 17th climbs steeply to a hilltop green, and the 18th drops away, with a downhill second shot, to close the round.
When to play Essex County Club
Essex County Club is private, so the date is set by whoever invites you. Ask your host about seasonal closures, and confirm any restrictions with them, then leave time to walk the hillier holes on the back nine, where the terrain is most rugged.
Playing Essex County Club: tips
A round at Essex County means being the guest of a member, as there is no public tee time and no published green fee. The back nine is hilly and rugged, so wear shoes that suit a walk. The greens have subtle contours, so spend time on the practice green before you begin.
— Weather at Essex County Club
Approximate conditions · Observed · Open-Meteo
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Essex County Club
Can the public play Essex County Club?
No. It is a private club with membership required, and it does not publish a green fee. Play is arranged through a member.
Who designed Essex County Club?
Donald Ross redesigned it over roughly a decade from about 1908. Renaissance Golf Design later restored the course, with work beginning around 2000 under architect Bruce Hepner.
Has Essex County Club hosted national events?
Yes. It hosted the Curtis Cup, an international women's amateur team match, in 1938 and again in 2010, both times at Manchester-by-the-Sea.