History of Golf Course at Poland Spring Resort

Poland Spring Maine - Golf History

Poland Spring Resort's Golf Course is considered the Oldest Resort Course in America.

Built by two extraordinary men ... one beautiful golf course at Poland Spring, Maine. You have a unique opportunity to play a historic course redesigned by Donald Ross and originally designed by Arthur Fenn.

Our Golf History

Tee it up where... Babe Ruth, Walter Hagan, Bobby Jones, Joe Kennedy, Harry Varden; Presidents Rockefeller and Roosevelt, Jim Gallagher, Sonny Listen, Jack Parr, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones and many, many more played golf!

Arthur Fenn was born in Waterbury, Connecticut in 1858. Fenn would later distinguish himself as a player and course architect. At a time when American golf was dominated by Scottish professionals, Fenn was hailed as one of America’s first home bred golfers. As an amateur, he would win many championships including the Lenox Cup (from Lenox C. C. in Massachusetts where Donald Ross was the pro). When invited to establish golf on the vast grounds of the Poland Spring House, Fenn quickly accepted. A six-hole course was opened for play in August of 1893 and he later added 3 more holes.

Later Donald Ross (of Pinehurst Fame) would redesign the Poland Spring Golf Course to an 18-hole championship course. Scotsman Donald Ross transformed the American sports landscape in the first half of this century. At his death in 1948, he left behind a legacy of 413 courses, including such gems as Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, Seminole in Florida, The Country Club in Brookline Massachusetts, and the site of the 1996 U.S. Open, Oakland Hills outside Detroit. Over 100 U.S. national championships have been played on courses he designed. Small wonder his name still resonates among golf history's aficionados.

Caddie's golf history

Poland Spring Caddies

Another interesting part of our golf history: Which caddy camp alumni went on to be a Governor, a Senator, a Mayor or a successful businessman? Did you or your father, (or grandfather) caddy at Poland Spring Resort? Who caddied for John D., William Rockefeller, Pres. William H. Taft, Babe Ruth or any other interesting personalities?

If you or someone you know is a retired Poland Spring Caddie... Please give the Poland Spring Preservation Society a call at (207) 998-4142.

Thank you for reading about Poland Spring's Golf History

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