Prouts Neck Country Club, Scarborough, ME

Experience a classic Maine golf experience at Prouts Neck Country Club! This course was built in the early 1900’s and designed by underrated golf architect Wayne E. Stiles. The original 9-hole design was extended in 1924 to make an 18-hole course. The course is made up of bluegrass fairways and bent grass greens.

The setting of this course is beautiful. It’s right along an oceanside cliff. The golf course design is an early 20th century classic. The fairways are mostly straight. They are also tighter than average. You’ll find over 100 sand traps on this course. The main hazard is sand bunkers (over 100 - are most often clustered around the green.) Make no mistake, this course is full of rustic, natural beauty.

Amenities are very basic at this course - there’s no golf carts or driving range. Since an irrigation system was never installed in recent years, ponding water can be a problem on some holes. There are a few large trees on the course. Many of the older dead trees have been removed over time.

Here’s some more detailed tips on the more challenging holes. There are blinds shots on holes #8 and #10 that dogleg left. A cluster of large sand bunkers surround the green on Holes #5 (155 yards) and #13 (129 yards.) Hole #6 (309 yards) is a blind shot. The fairway curves to the right just before the green.

Hole #8 (Par 4 - 410 yards) is the signature hole of the course. Like on Hole #6 (390 yards) the green curves to the right just before the fairway. Hole #1 is the second most difficult hole at Par 4 and 370 yards. It’s a very narrow fairway that angles to the left and it’s difficult to stay out of the trees that line the right side of the hole. Now some more tips about how to get on the course and the pro shop.

There is a way to golf this course if you don’t know a member. Guests of the nearby Black Point Inn are granted admission to the course. You also won’t want to miss the pro shop. This course has an eccentric grasshopper logo, and you’ll definitely want to pick up a coffee mug or a ballcap.

Step back in time at Prouts Neck Country Club!

Rather tight course at times, with average length. Some very good holes to play. If you can get out on this course, you will enjoy it

You start with the slightly dogleg left 1st, with natural dunes and ocean on your left and the woods on your right. The short par 4 9th, is the best golf hole I have ever played, which makes it only marginally better than most, at this spectacular piece of land. By the time you finish the par 5 18th, you are out of breath, not from the relatively flat walk, but from the unrelenting beauty, you have just witnessed. There are over 100 sand traps, assorted plants growing around all of them. The below sea level 11th and 12th fairways are usually loaded with puddles. There is no driving range, no golf carts and no irrigation. There is purity unmatched. An amazing experience, even if you do not hit a single shot.