Representative image Photo: Stuart Logan · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Country Club
Brookline, Massachusetts, United States
18 Holes · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Parkland
— About
About The Country Club
The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, is a private club founded in 1882 and is often described as the first country club in the United States. This page covers the championship composite that draws on the Clyde and Squirrel nines, with holes from the Primrose nine brought in when a longer layout is needed for major events. Golf arrived in the early 1890s, and the course grew piece by piece under several hands rather than a single master plan. The club was one of five that founded the United States Golf Association in 1894. Its greens are notably small, which puts a premium on accurate approach play, and that feature has stayed part of the test as the layout has been refined over the years.
- Four U.S. Opens have been played here, in 1913, 1963, 1988 and 2022.
- The Ryder Cup came to the club in 1999, more than a century after its founding.
- William S. Flynn designed the Primrose nine in 1927, and its holes feed into the championship layout.
- Brookline has three nines in all, named Clyde, Squirrel and Primrose, giving the club 27 holes.
History of The Country Club
Members laid out the first holes in the early 1890s, about a decade after the club's founding, and the Scottish professional Willie Campbell extended the course in the years that followed. After the USGA was founded in 1894, the club's first U.S. Open, in 1913, produced Francis Ouimet's victory over Harry Vardon and Ted Ray. Julius Boros won in 1963, and Curtis Strange took the 1988 title in a playoff. Rees Jones later refined the layout, Gil Hanse became the club's architect, and the U.S. Open returned in 2022.
Signature holes at The Country Club
The 17th is the hole most tied to the club's history. In 1913 Harry Vardon's attempt to cut the corner ended in sand, and the hole has produced decisive moments in later championships. The 11th is a short par 3 of 131 yards that returned to the Open routing in 2022 for the first time since 1913, and the composite also borrows holes from the Primrose nine.
When to play The Country Club
The Country Club is private, so the practical answer is whenever a member invites you. The composite layout is the one the club uses for major championships, so an ordinary guest round may be played over a different combination of nines, and there is no public booking route for visitors.
Playing The Country Club: tips
Ask your host which nines you will play, since the composite is the layout used for championships. Greens here are small, so approach accuracy matters more than distance. Because the club is private and invitation-based, confirm guest arrangements with your host before you travel.
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about The Country Club
How many holes does The Country Club have?
The club has 27 holes across three nines named Clyde, Squirrel and Primrose. The championship composite combines holes from all three.
Who is the architect of The Country Club?
The course grew under several designers, including Willie Campbell and William S. Flynn, and Gil Hanse is now the club's architect.
Can the public play The Country Club?
No. It is a private, member-owned club with invitation-only membership, so a round depends on being the guest of a member.