[SPDB]

What does the group know about this course? It seems to have an interesting lineage, rudimentary 9-holer laid out on on Tyngs Island in the Merrimack River in the late 19th century, redesigned and supplemented with a mainland 9 by Donald Ross.

Also, legend has it that Harry Vardon slept in a tent along the banks of the Merrimack while playing a 2 day exhibition there. It hosted the first MA Open in 1905, won by later renovator Donald Ross.

[Steve Curry]

I believe the first 9 was done by Findlay.  I know this seems strange but it needs to have some tree removed, has some great holes that are treed in.

Steve

[ChipRoyce]

Matt Burrows, formerly 1st Asst super of Myopia Hunt, told me once that Vesper CC is the source of a unique strain of grass...a form of Velvet Bentgrass.

The have some of it on the greens at Myopia... when rolled, it provides a fantastic putting surface. Looks almost like a form of Moss - truly velvety.

[dsilk]

correct about "vesper " grass- Vesper has had thr rep of "growing their own"- so to speak-
great right to left tight track that befuddles local qualifiers for regional mid-ams etc..
and yes- when the greens are rolled and cut, they are devilish!!

[Tom Bagley]

There were several earlier threads about velvet bent grass:  the "Vesper" variety was originated by their former superintendent Manny Francis.  

According to "A Commonwealth of Golfers," the Mass. Golf Association's centennial book, Ross was hired in 1917 to add nine new holes (BTW, the above book is an excellent addition to your golf library, with contributions from HW Wind, Brad Klein, John Updike, Francis Ouimet, among others.  It also has profiles and photos of Salem, Kittansett, Wrocester, Taconic, the Orchard, Longmeadow, Myopia, TCC, Essex and other historic Mass. courses.)

Vesper is hosting the second round of The Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament, featuring some of New England's better amateurs on Thursday, July 29.  

[michael j fay]

Vesper Country Club is part Findlay, part Ross and for the most part obscured by the singular most ridiculous tree planting program ever carried out by a Club. I doubt there was any plan involved in the tree planting because once the holes were walled in  (cutting off many of the play angles) the membership went about planting trees in every nook and cranny that was around the holes. It is like wandering through a forest.

The eighteenth hole was rerouted years back to make room for a parking lot and the rerouting produced a simply stupid par five. It is really unfortunate, as there are quite a number of good holes on the course.

Vesper velvet was allegedly grown there very early on and produces a surface that is rather devilish.

This is a course that could go from a 3.5 to a 5.5 with the aid of a chainsaw. It could be even better if the parking lot was relocated and the eighteenth were reinstated.

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