Est. 1921 · Donald Ross
Why we love this place
One of New England's purest Donald Ross designs, lovingly restored to its crowned-green, strategic best. We love the connection to Francis Ouimet, the man who sparked American golf, who called this place home. Playing here feels like a warm handshake with the game's history.
Via Top 100 Golf Courses
About Charles River Country Club
Charles River Country Club opened in 1921 as a Donald Ross design and is considered one of New England's most authentic surviving Ross layouts. Set across rolling ground in Newton, Massachusetts, the par-72 course showcases Ross hallmarks: crowned greens, clever bunkering, and approach shots that reward precision over power; it converts to a sterner par 70 for competition. The club counts Francis Ouimet, the 1913 U.S. Open champion who ignited America's golf boom, among its most cherished figures; he became its first honorary member, a role he held until his death in 1967. A restoration by Ron Prichard in the mid-1990s removed trees, enlarged greens to their original dimensions, and rebuilt bunkers. The course later hosted stroke-play qualifying for the 2013 U.S. Amateur, underscoring its enduring championship pedigree.
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