Wannamoisett Country Club – Played October 2020
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 96 Hoyt Avenue, Rumford, Rhode Island
- Year: 1914
- Original Architect: Donald Ross
- Additional Work By: Ron Forse
- Course Access: Private
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Black: 6,732 yards, Par 69, 72.8 Rating/135 Slope
- Blue: 6,417 yards, Par 69, 71.3 Rating/132 Slope
- White: 6,085 yards, Par 69, 69.7 Rating/126 Slope (Men’s), 75.5 Rating/130 Slope (Women’s)
- Green: 5,602 yards, Par 69, 72.2 Rating/126 Slope (Women’s)
Wannamoisett Country Club has been on my golf mind since my younger days. My uncle had raved about the course from the times he had been able to play it. This was pre social media and online networking so I wasn’t sure how I would get to play the course. Thankfully, there are avenues to meet fellow golf nuts that we haven’t previously had. So that is how I found my way to Wannamoisett this past October.
One of my favorite things in golf is meeting new people. I love to hear their stories and get a feel for their home courses. We may never talk again or become great friends, you never know, but I immensely enjoy meeting them. This say was no different, as my host shepherded me around and we had a great time.
Over time, I built up what I thought the drive in would look like but I was pleasantly surprised to find the course tucked into a neighborhood. The excellent use of 104 acres for the course means it can fit in this urban setting but not feel choked by the houses.
Wannamoisett Country Club has plenty of history. The course dates back to 1899 when Willie Campbell designed 9 holes. Donald Ross came in 1914 to remodel those holes and expand the course to 18 on the current site. It seems the land was at one point an orchard and some of the old apple trees are still around, near the 12th tee.
The history expands to competitive golf as well. Wannamoisett played host to the 1931 PGA Championship, won by Tom Creavy. He had to beat heavyweights like Gene Sarazen and Denny Shute to take down the match play title.
The club is also the annual host of the prestigious Northeast Amateur Invitational. The tournament is considered a “major” in amateur golf and is ranked in the top 5 of US amateur events by the R&A World Amateur Ranking List. The top amateurs have come to Wannamoisett since 1962 to compete. Winners of the event include Vinny Giles, Ben Crenshaw, Scott Hoch, Hal Sutton, David Duval, Luke Donald, Anthony Kim, Dustin Johnson, and Collin Morikawa.
That’s about all the history I usually put into my posts 🤣!!! I love to read about it but I’m not the best at conveying it. Let’s move onto my other meager talent of showing you around the course. All yardages are from the blue tees.
Hole 1 – 420 yards – Par 4
Don’t let the par 69 and short yardage fool you. This course is not short or easy by any means. You are reminded of that from the start. Hopefully you’re primed to hit a big drive here.
This plaque sits adjacent to the first tee.
The hole continues straightaway and uphill to the open green.
Hole 2 – 456 yards – Par 4
Two par fours and both are over 420 yards, see what I mean about this place not being a pushover! You want to keep your drive up the right side.
A creek bisects the fairway and the hole proceeds down to it and then back uphill to the green. This is one of the toughest and best holes on the course.
Hole 3 – 127 yards – Par 3
This is the hole I picture when I think of Wannamoisett. I love short par 3 holes and this one is a gem. The deep bunker is a true hazard and the green has plenty of contouring.
Hole 4 – 429 yards – Par 4
The play here is to skirt as close to the left bunkers as you can with a draw. Don’t overdo it though because OB lurks. The second shot is straightforward but it may be longish, so middle of the green is a great play.
Hole 5 – 364 yards – Par 4
This tee shot doesn’t need to travel more than 225 yards. The hole bends to the right and has some bunkers on that side. The real challenge is holding the raised/sloped green.
I worry that the photos don’t truly capture the slope and contour of the greens at Wannamoisett. They are some of the best I’ve seen.
Hole 6 – 415 yards – Par 4
Nothing fancy here as the hole bends slightly left. The green is one of the tamest on the property, but that is all relative.
Hole 7 – 335 yards – Par 4
You have a decision on club choice from the tee here. The true fun begins when you get to the wild green that will repel shots going too far left.
Hole 8 – 175 yards – Par 3
You’re given a big target here but if you miss, odds are you’ll be in some sand. Due to the slope in the green, a two-putt par is no gimmie.
Hole 9 – 428 yards – Par 4
Local knowledge comes in handy here as the landscape is not overly framed. Stray too far left though and bunkers come into play.
As the green comes into view you realize what you are in for. A pond menaces to the right and a massive hill guards the front of the green. Take note of the wind because you definitely want to hit this green.
Hole 10 – 399 yards – Par 4
The fairway here is generous but the bunkers are in play.
The approach plays a bit uphill to the punchbowl green.
Hole 11 – 386 yards – Par 4
A good tee shot on this hole can definitely set up an attack. As with most holes, the challenge lies on the green.
Hole 12 – 200 yards – Par 3
This one-shotter is all you want. We played it longer than 200 yards and it’s all uphill. The front bunker is where pars go to die.
It’s a lovely green but I don’t know what else to expect from Donald Ross.
Hole 13 – 361 yards – Par 4
This hole is straight with some bunkering but is by no means boring. The traps intensify around the green that has plenty of subtle contouring.
Hole 14 – 353 yards – Par 4
My host mentioned the club has removed a lot of trees on this hole. They’ve opened up some views and decluttered the pond. I loved it!
The pond is definitely in play from the tee and for the approach. Just an excellent hole on a flat piece of land.
I loved the putting surface and bunkering here.
Hole 15 – 187 yards – Par 3
This is the other stout par three on the back. From personal experience, I do not recommend the front left bunker 😉.
Hole 16 – 426 yards – Par 4
This is one of the tighter tee shots and the hole is plenty stout without that challenge. The hole doglegs to the left.
The bunker here is actually a bit short of the green. If you hit one solid it shouldn’t be in play at all.
Hole 17 – 533 yards – Par 5
I wanted to make a quick note here. I played on the day the course was aerating fairways. So take than into account here, as the next two were the only ones that had been done so far. Aside from this, the course conditions were immaculate.
The only par five on the course is a brute. It plays long and pretty flat. If you can get home in two, the green is open in the front to allow for runups.
Hole 18 – 423 yards – Par 4
The finisher is a dogleg left that demands a good drive. Draws shorten the hole for sure.
If you stray too far left, trees and OB can hamper your ability to score.
A wide open putting surface is inviting but the bunkers are waiting if you get off target.
This green is an excellent example of the slopes. They may not be the biggest around but they provide plenty of challenge and force you to think when you are putting. Masterful!
Wannamoisett Country Club absolutely lived up to the hype. That is saying something for a course I’ve wanted to play for 20 years.
Donald Ross’s brilliance really comes out in his understated work. These greens are by no means flat but certainly are not as flashy as Pinehurst #2. No matter, the course engages you from start to finish. The moment you think you are comfortable on the greens, they can bite you. I’d have endless fun looping this course regularly!