The Kittansett Club – Played October 2018
- Rankings: Golf Digest #84, Golf Magazine #76
- Location: 11 Point Road, Marion, Massachusetts
- Year: 1922
- Original Architects: William Flynn & Frederick Hood
- Additional Work By: Gil Hanse
- Course Access: Private
- Walking Rules: Caddies Available
Score Card Information:
- Blue: 6,934 yards, Par 71 , 75.0 Rating/145 Slope
- White: 6,400 yards, Par 71, 71.9 Rating/139 Slope
- Green: 5,581 yards, Par 71, 67.9 Rating/130 Slope
- Yellow: 4,934 yards, Par 72, 65.0 Rating/123 Slope
I was able to play The Kittansett Club through the New England Series, a tour through some of New England’s best courses. I had randomly found the NES through some internet sleuthing and was happy to get an opportunity to play Kittansett.
As I mentioned in the post on Vesper, Nik would be joining me for this round. The NES is pretty laid back, which made the day fun. I was happy for that atmosphere because the wind was blowing something fierce and scores would be high!
I encountered plenty of traffic on a Monday morning drive from New Hampshire but I made it to the club with plenty of time before my round. After signing in and getting a shirt in the pro shop, I killed some time hitting putts. The course had a lot of rain the day before so some parts were soaked. Thankfully, most of the course had drained spectacularly well!
Kittansett was founded as a way to reduce costs for the local Beverly Yacht Club. Beverly’s clubhouse was only open for a short portion of the year in general but was actually used only on two weeks of official race days. Using it for golf as well would make it more cost-effective.
The building of the course is a bit of an anomaly. The club worked with Donald Ross and the firm of Toomey & Flynn on plans for the course. They used Flynn’s plans, but one of the founders (Frederic Hood) took over for the construction. He served as superintendent until construction was finished.
It seems the restoration work from Gil Hanse has brought back the great character of the course that had vanished as time went along. Unfortunately, this happens with many old clubs. Hanse removed trees to expose the grassed over rock formations from the original design. This also opened up views of the bay, especially on 2, 16, and 17. Hanse’s crew also worked on the bunkers and improved drainage.
Kittansett translates from Native American to “by the sea”. It lives up to that translation. I highly suggest you visit their website. It doesn’t have a ton of information but the overhead view of the course is wonderful.
We played the white tees for the tournament, so all yardages are from those markers.
Hole 1 – 415 yards – Par 4
The first hole shares a fairway with 18. This wide swath of land was the wettest we would encounter all day. With the wind, the hole was playing closer to 475 yards. You have all the room in the world left while a hazard comes into play on the right. Chose your shot shape but you can swing away.
You can see what I mean on the moisture below.
On a dry day, running your second shot up onto the green is a viable option. Not so much for me.
Hole 2 – 415 yards – Par 4
While the yardage for this one is the same as the first, they are dramatically different holes. The wind is usually with you, giving you options on the tee. A couple mounds guard the left side of the fairway. It’s best to hit your drive just to the right of them.
Anything in the right side of the fairway will get an open angle to this green. The beach is not far behind the green so be careful on downwind shots.
Hole 3 – 155 yards – Par 3
The third is the most recognizable hole at Kittansett. The green is plopped right in the middle of a beach. You have to carry the water and some sand to make it. This shot is diabolical with a stiff wind.
Below is the view from the back of the green.
Below is my view from the front.
Hole 4 – 360 yards – Par 4
It may look like it but the water isn’t really in play. The fairway is quite wide, however high grass comes in on the left. If you can find the short grass this is a green light special, shout out Johnny Miller!
Hole 5 – 395 yards – Par 4
I was a little confused about where to go on this tee box. There is a good bit of room out there with the preferred line being to the right of the clump of trees in the middle of the photo.
The putting surface has a ton of back to front slope. You don’t want to playing from behind the green.
Hole 6 – 385 yards – Par 4
This hole bends to the right. At the bend the hole emerges out of the trees to the exposed green. Wind can easily beat your ball down into the greenside bunker.
Hole 7 – 505 yards – Par 5
The famous “water level” sign resides behind the tee box on seven. Standing back there gave me a weird feeling knowing it had been under so much water.
The hole itself makes for a good birdie opportunity depending on the wind. A good drive will allow you to play away from the cross bunker on the left side of the hole that influences layups.
Most of the slope in the green is contained to the front portion.
Hole 8 – 190 yards – Par 3
This hole is tougher than it looks. Sure there are bunkers, tall grass, and mounds to provide challenge. What you can’t really see from the tee is the two-tiered green. You may hit the green and think the hard work is done, only to realize you are on the wrong level.
Hole 9 – 380 yards – Par 4
The close proximity of trees on the right makes a fade preferred here. Not me baby! I played my “fade”, which meant the ball went 10 yards left of center.
I didn’t catch all of it and had a long way into the green. Nik pounded it past me, of course. The putting surface is wide open in front. Beware of the right bunker when the pin is on the right as that’s a tricky up and down.
The halfway house felt very New England!
Hole 10 – 330 yards – Par 4
Everything looks benign from the tee but beware once you get to the green. Your best off being on the right of the fairway to have a look at the green. A front bunker guard the front while the back is surrounded by large mounds with long fescue grass.
Hole 11 – 220 yards – Par 3
Eleven is a beast of the hole with possibly the most interesting green I’ve played. It’s hard to see all of the green from the tee and the distance makes this shot even harder.
The closer look below brings the flag into focus.
Check out these next photos of the green. There is a massive runoff on the green as well as huge bunkers around it.
Hole 12 – 380 yards – Par 4
There isn’t much to say about twelve. It is a slight dogleg left. You will need to watch out for the long grass around the green. It can make for some interesting chips.
Hole 13 – 355 yards – Par 4
Check where the wind is on this hole. I started my drive up the right side, but once it got above the trees it barely stayed in the fairway on the left. The tee is in a protected area that doesn’t feel the wind.
The green is more exposed and the approach shot plays uphill.
Hole 14 – 175 yards – Par 3
Almost all the one-shot holes at Kittansett have some visual tricks on the tee. I don’t mean that as a knock on the course at all. The lay of the land makes the holes appear tougher and forces you to commit to shots. This one is a prime example with the view of the green obscured. You also can’t see the bunkers.
Like this one!
Hole 15 – 515 yards – Par 5
No tricks on this hole. Hit the ball straight and hard. Well placed bunkers make you think on layups. The green is a large target for you to try and hold on a long second shot.
Hole 16 – 390 yards – Par 4
The last few holes come out of the trees and back towards the bay. Sixteen is wide open and exposed. For best results, ride the wind on your tee shot. The green is raised in relation to the fairway.
Hole 17 – 375 yards – Par 4
The late afternoon sun made this tee shot difficult. The house in the center, right of the photo is a good line. The fairway dips down while hazards dot the right and left of the short stuff.
Hole 18 – 460 yards – Par 5
Slicers with a good round will be nervous on this tee with the road to the right. The fairway is shared with the first on the left. A very narrow creek bisects the two holes.
The green features a runoff on the left side. There is plenty of slope to test your putting.
Kittansett is a place I would love to come back and play when it is running firm and fast. Even though it wasn’t I still enjoyed it from start to finish. The location is awesome, providing bay views as well as fun among the trees. It is quintessential New England golf and I couldn’t have been more impressed.
