Essex County Club – Played July 2022
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 153 School Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
- Year: 1893
- Original Architect: Donald Ross
- Additional Work By: Bruce Hepner
- Course Access: Private
- Walking Rules: Carts & Caddies Available
Score Card Information:
- Blue: 6,555 yards, Par 70, 73.0 Rating/135 Slope
- Gold: 6,195 yards, Par 70, 71.0 Rating/132 Slope
- White: 5,996 yards, Par 70, 69.9 Rating/131 Slope
- Red: 5,504 yards, Par 73, 73.1 Rating/133 Slope
Essex County Club hadn’t been on my radar as long as some other stalwarts in New England. Once I did find out about it, however, I was very interested to check it out.
Essex was the first nine-hole course in New England and became the sixth (after the founding five) member of the USGA.
It also shares history with Donald Ross. Although the club’s first 18-hole course, attributed to Herbert Leeds, John Duncan Dunn, and Walter Travis, was laid out in 1900, it is Donald Ross’ design from 1909-1917 that survives today.
Ross became the head pro and made Essex his summer home. He probably spent more time designing here than any course, short of Pinehurst #2. He redid the routing, greens, fairways, and basically everything aside from the third green. That putting surface is said to date back to 1893 and holds the title of the oldest in the country.
Like so many courses of that era, the character was lost through tree growth and changing aesthetic tastes. Restoration work began in the early 2000s to bring back proper turf conditions and playing corridors.
Some 15,000 trees later and the course is much more open. Work continues to unearth more of the stone around the property.
Hole 1 – 408 yards – Par 4
There’s no easing into the round at Essex. You need a good drive to have a manageable approach shot into this green. I enjoyed the look of the fescue here.
Notice the little grass mounds around the green. I always notice these at golden age courses.
Hole 2 – 335 yards – Par 4
The second is much shorter, but if you leak your tee ball to the right, the bunkers and fescue can be a problem. The left side of the fairway provides the superior angle.
Hole 3 – 556 yards – Par 5
This hole must have been a brutal par when it was originally designed. Even today, it is difficult. You’ll need well struck shots to traverse this straightaway hole with a large bunker nearer the green.
Depending on your layup, the third shot can be almost fully blind.
Hole 4 – 223 yards – Par 3
Everything about this hole is big. It’s long and the green is huge. Anywhere but the bunker is fine.
Hole 5 – 458 yards – Par 5
This one is a definite birdie opportunity, but you must be fully committed to your second shot. A hazard awaits any poorly struck approaches.
The hazard is right there staring you in the face.
Hole 6 – 330 yards – Par 4
The same hazard from the previous hole factors in on this tee shot. Long hitters can carry it on any line, but others must be more careful.
The right side is the better angle but I found myself on the left after a poor drive. Luckily it is only about 100-110 yards from here.
Hole 7 – 142 yards – Par 3
I like a good short par three and this hole fits the bill. The green is quite contoured and if you miss the putting surface it will be a tough par.
Here is a look back at the green to see more of the slopes.
Hole 8 – 422 yards – Par 4
Trust your host or caddie here on the line. Too far left and the trees will swallow your ball, don’t ask how I know.
The fairway features some great ripples before giving way to a challenging green.
Hole 9 – 389 yards – Par 4
Plenty of space to wallop the driver on this tee shot. Just keep it out of the fescue.
The bunkers and fescue provide the defense and interest on this flat hole.
Hole 10 – 342 yards – Par 4
I had been told that things really turn up on the back nine at Essex County Club. It sure seems that way with ten! Belive it or not, there is a fairway out there to hit.
Take note of the prominent false front on this green. You won’t sneak shots onto this one.
Hole 11 – 178 yards – Par 3
This can be a devious hole if you miss left. There’s a little bailout short but you really need to muster a good shot here.
Hole 12 – 392 yards – Par 4
Having a caddie goes a long way at Essex County Club due to the blind shots. This hole plays quite shorter than the yardage due to the downhill slope of the blind fairway.
The green is off to the left from the tee and features some runoff for wayward shots.
Hole 13 – 379 yards – Par 4
We transition back to more straightforward holes here. However, notice the rock outcroppings up near the green. Classic New England right there!
This is one of the subtler greens here but that doesn’t mean it’s boring at all.
Hole 14 – 172 yards – Par 3
No tricks on this one. The green provides a good challenge with its two waves. This pin position was right in between them.
Hole 15 – 347 yards – Par 4
The big bunker is to be avoided but also provides a great aiming point on this shorter hole. The green is elevated and tucked behind it.
As you get closer the hole comes into form and you get a better idea of where the green really is.
Hole 16 – 406 yards – Par 4
This is a good time to unleash a great drive. The fairway is a wide target but the fescue can be playable at times.
As you might expect, this was a long hole back in the day, so the green is open and accommodating to running approach shots.
Hole 17 – 327 yards – Par 4
This hole can play tricks on your eyes. It’s short but the wall of fescue on the left is farther than it appears. You can see a blip in the middle of the photo and that is where the green is.
Shoutout to Matt up there being a great caddie!
Hole 18 – 389 yards – Par 4
The finisher at Essex County Club is the most photographed spot. It’s highly elevated and offers a great view of other holes and the clubhouse. You can launch tee shots from up here. The green is in line with the clubhouse and you can see it well from this tee box.
Your approach will feel much flatter than the tee shot.
You can really see the scale as you look back up toward the tee.
My day at Essex County Club was filled with interesting architecture and good conversations with Matt. I couldn’t have asked for much more!