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Joe Perches

  • Total Karma: 0
Wellesley - Nehoiden - Oldest 9 holer in the US?
« on: April 11, 2006, 08:27:24 PM »
I'm going to visit the campus with my daughter later this month.

http://www.wellesley.edu/Athletics/Golf/course.html
http://www.ngcwc.org/Nehoiden_Golf_Book.html
http://www.ngcwc.org/



I somehow expect the club to provide hickories for rent.
Should I bring clubs?

PCCraig

  • Total Karma: -12
Re:Wellesley - Nehoiden - Oldest 9 holer in the US?
« Reply #1 on: April 11, 2006, 08:51:06 PM »
I'm in Boston, currently attend Northeastern University. And to be honest with you I had no idea Wellesley had a course! Let alone the oldest 9-holer in the country. Any idea if you have to be affiliated with the school to play?
H.P.S.

Joe Perches

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:Wellesley - Nehoiden - Oldest 9 holer in the US?
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2006, 09:42:51 PM »
Any idea if you have to be affiliated with the school to play?

I don't know.  I'm not often in Massachusetts

I believe Wellesley students play without charge, their accompanied guests are $1.  http://www.wellesley.edu/Athletics/PE/Golf/At_Wellesley/student_membership_rules.html

Does anyone believe this course has any architectural merit or historical interest?  Anyone know the architect/builder?

Dan_Callahan

  • Total Karma: 2
Re:Wellesley - Nehoiden - Oldest 9 holer in the US?
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2006, 10:18:36 PM »
While you are in the town, it is worthwhile to check out Wellesley Country Club—a really fun Donald Ross course that is just across the street from Babson College.

Jay Cox

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:Wellesley - Nehoiden - Oldest 9 holer in the US?
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2006, 11:24:46 PM »
From a gentleman I caddied for a few times at Nashawtuc CC in Concord, I heard that Nehoiden was built by a Wellesley College benefactor who was also a decent player but had no architectural experience, along with a landscape architect Wellesley had retained to do other work on the campus.  He knew the names, but I don't remember them offhand; but now I'm curious, so I'll try to get in touch with him to get the names and see what else he remembers about the course's history.

I played Nehoiden quite a few times when I was about ten years old as part of a summer camp run by Wellesley College.  It's a very informal place - no clubhouse, green fees on the honor system, and, sadly, I don't think any hickories to rent - and while I think play is technically limited to members and affiliates of the college, I can't imagine they wouldn't let you on if you expressed an interest in advance.  

I remember the course as "neat" but very basic.  A narrow, fast-running stream and an old dirt road both came into play on a few holes and made things interesting.  The short par 4 2nd, with the stream fronting the green, was the most memorable hole.  I think the course as a whole is of a length best played with hickories, or by a ten year old, and the architecture is nothing to write home about, so it's probably not worth schlepping your clubs on a plane to play.

Wellesley CC, on the other hand, is definitely worth checking out: not a classic, but a lot of fun.  Brae Burn, Charles River, and Dedham Country & Polo Club are also within 15 minutes of the college by car, and are eminently worth checking out if you have the time and access - though all might require more of a "production" than you'd have time for on a college trip.

Jay Cox

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:Wellesley - Nehoiden - Oldest 9 holer in the US?
« Reply #5 on: April 12, 2006, 11:36:56 PM »
One additional note on the history:  my understanding is that Nehoiden IS the oldest nine-hole course that still exists as only nine, but that many older nines still exist as part of eighteen holes courses (such as Kebo Valley, ME, for example).  The golf course has existed on its current site since 1900; there have been no significant changes made to the routing since at least 1927 (the Francis Ouimet museum, next to the Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course in Weston, has or used to have a 1927 routing map, which is pretty crude but seems to follow the modern routing) - and I have no reason to think that the basic routing has changed at all since 1900.

Wayne Freeman

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Re:Wellesley - Nehoiden - Oldest 9 holer in the US?
« Reply #6 on: April 13, 2006, 12:24:43 AM »
Joe-  it's my understanding that the oldest course in America is the 9 hole Oakhurst Links in White Sulphur Springs, WV. Built in 1884. They still play on sand tees with hickory shafts and have sheep that cut the fairways.  

Jay Cox

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:Wellesley - Nehoiden - Oldest 9 holer in the US?
« Reply #7 on: April 13, 2006, 12:27:40 AM »
Wayne, perhaps one needs to through in a "continuously operated" in there?  I do not believe that Oakhurst was continuously operated - though I'd happily be corrected.  Also, was it nine holes in 1900, or was it extended to nine after that?

hick

Re:Wellesley - Nehoiden - Oldest 9 holer in the US?
« Reply #8 on: April 13, 2006, 01:00:14 AM »
I think in New England Grindstone Neck in Winter Harbor, Maine is the oldest  nine holes(1891) that i Know of. Mr. Moore May chime in on Maine golf. Looks Like it is older by ten years.

Wayne Freeman

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:Wellesley - Nehoiden - Oldest 9 holer in the US?
« Reply #9 on: April 13, 2006, 01:10:22 AM »
Jay-  play at Oakhurst pretty much stopped around 1910 and it wasn't until 1992 that the course was restored.

Sean_Tully

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Re:Wellesley - Nehoiden - Oldest 9 holer in the US?
« Reply #10 on: April 13, 2006, 01:35:48 AM »
Wayne

I have a reference to the course closing closer to 1904. Also, states that if one was to walk the course in 1929 the old cups could still be found!

Tully

Dan_Callahan

  • Total Karma: 2
Re:Wellesley - Nehoiden - Oldest 9 holer in the US?
« Reply #11 on: April 13, 2006, 08:17:29 AM »
Dorset Field Club in Vermont also claims to be the oldest course in the U.S. It was 9-holes until recently (last 5 years or so) when an additional 9 were added.

Craig Van Egmond

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:Wellesley - Nehoiden - Oldest 9 holer in the US?
« Reply #12 on: April 13, 2006, 08:24:43 AM »

Guthrie Country Club (Guthrie, Oklahoma) is the continously operated 9 holer in Oklahoma, laid out in 1900 by Alex Findlay.  A fine little nine it is.