Prouts Neck Country Club – Played July 2022
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 499 Black Point Road, Scarborough, Maine
- Year: 1907
- Original Architect: Wayne Stiles
- Additional Work By: Geoffrey Cornish & Bruce Hepner
- Course Access: Private
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Back: 6,032 yards, Par 70, 70.3 Rating/127 Slope
- Middle: 5,789 yards, Par 70, 68.5 Rating/125 Slope (Men’s), 74.2 Rating/133 Slope (Women’s)
- Front: 5,125 yards, Par 71, 66.5 Rating/119 Slope (Men’s), 70.4 Rating/129 Slope (Women’s)
Longtime readers will know that my posts don’t get too deep into history. This summary of Prouts Neck Country Club will be no different. I love history and try to learn as much as I can about courses, but I believe you come here to see the courses. That said, the website had basically no information for guests, so I couldn’t tell you much if I tried 🤣!
I was able to pull some information through other searches though. Prouts Neck started out as a nine-hole course, like many clubs of its vintage. In 1924, it was expanded to 18 holes. In recent years, Bruce Hepner has done some restoration work, such as improving sight lines, to give the course its early feel.
The club is unassuming right when you pull into the parking lot. Coupled with a friendly pro shop staff and a laidback vibe, you can’t ask for much more in a golf facility.
Let’s get into the tour.
Hole 1 – 370 yards – Par 4 – Westward Ho
We got a blustery day and the first hole is right next to the bay, so the tee shot was a little nervy. A draw works really well.
The open green facilitates running shots that will play well in the wind.
Hole 2 – 325 yards – Par 4 – Dunes
With trouble all up the left side, taking less than driver is a decent strategy here. The green is slightly elevated and was a tough target in the breeze.
Hole 3 – 367 yards – Par 4 – Birches
The routing moves away from the water for a bit starting on the third. This is a dogleg left that needs a precise tee shot since you can run out of fairway on the right.
Any miss short is ok here, just keep it out of the sand.
Hole 4 – 382 yards – Par 4 – Old Home
It can feel a bit pinched in on this hole, especially on the tee shot. Playing a fade at the bunker is a good strategy.
The green is not a true two-tier, but there is enough slope to make it interesting.
Hole 5 – 167 yards – Par 3 – Highway
The green is an ample target. However, I can recommend not missing left as I did. It’s tough trying to get up and down from over there.
Hole 6 – 390 yards – Par 4 – Elms
We’re back out in the open for this one. It plays pretty straightaway.
Like most of the greens at Prouts Neck, there is nothing in front. If you can keep it straight, you can score here.
Hole 7 – 380 yards – Par 4 – Meeting House
This hole flips direction from the previous one while bending slightly left. The green has some great contouring to challenge you.
I mentioned earlier that I didn’t get a lot of course history, but I was able to find some actual history.
Hole 8 – 410 yards – Par 4 – Massacre
I missed the tee photo here but was able to capture the approach to an exposed green.
Hole 9 – 326 yards – Par 4 – Marshes
Most of our group went with less than a driver on this tee shot. High grass to the left and water to the right make that an easier decision.
Hole 10 – 190 yards – Par 3 – Pines
Nothing but a challenging tee shot on this hole. The green is quite large, but you’ll need a good one to cut through the wind.
Hole 11 – 539 yards – Par 5 – Black Point
This tee shot looks tighter than it really is. Once you get past the trees on the left it opens up to some fairway and playable rough.
The green has some really good undulation and a dropoff to the right.
Hole 12 – 355 yards – Par 4 – Backshore
I appreciate a good golf bench and this one has quite a view.
The hole itself is welcoming for scoring. Straightaway and not overly long.
We do have one of the few front hazards on this green.
Hole 13 – 144 yards – Par 3 – Easy Alley
The defense on this hole is provided by the undulating green. You’ll want your distance control to be on the money.
Hole 14 – 367 yards – Par 4 – Ferry Rock
Sometimes golf interacts with infrastructure and this is the latest example for me. Driving over a road is always fun.
Allow me to admire this green complex for a minute. It’s super exposed to the wind and we felt the brunt of it. The putting surface has serious slopes and will reject anything short.
You are treated to another nice view off the back of the green.
Take note of the flag for an idea of the wind speed.
We’ve also got some more history.
Hole 15 – 377 yards – Par 4 – Cedars
The views come quickly and often in this stretch of the course.
After the dramatics of the last hole, Prouts Neck turns it down a bit for this flatter hole. You can catch your breath a little bit.
Hole 16 – 293 yards – Par 4 – Garrison
Long hitters can think about going for this green. It will take some thought though because it is a small target. The rest of us can bunt something out into the fairway.
Hole 17 – 188 yards – Par 3 – Settlement
I almost got to see a hole-in-one from my friend Patrick here. Even more impressive since he had just run back a full hole to retrieve a lost club. It must have lipped out!
Nice birdie Patrick!
Hole 18 – 482 yards – Par 5 – Home
The finisher is a definite birdie chance. Keeping the ball up the left plays well with rough/trees all down the right.
Make sure you don’t go too long on the approach or you might be in the pro shop!
I really enjoyed Prouts Neck Country Club. Catching it on a windy day really allowed me to get the full experience. The golf course is not long, but it can feel longer in the wind at times. The greens offer a really fun challenge. It’s a quintessential New England course which is always a positive for me.