NORTHEAST HARBOR GOLF CLUB

Information

The Northeast Harbor Golf Club is an 18-hole, par 70 golf course. The first golf played in Northeast Harbor was in 1895. The name of that course was designed by JG Thorpe and was called “Northeast Harbor Golfing Grounds”. Founded more than 100 years ago, the existing golf club was organized in 1916 and started as a 9-hole course opening in 1919. The original nine holes, now known as the “inner nine” (holes one through six and 13 through 15) were designed by Arthur Lockwood, while the remaining nine holes which opened in 1925, were designed by Herbert Strong. Our golf course provides a challenge for those lower handicap golfers, but is still enjoyable for the average golfer.

History

Joining the nationwide embrace of the Scottish game, The Northeast Harbor Golf Club was organized in 1895 in Northeast Harbor, Maine. The first 9-hole golf course was laid out by J.G. Thorp, an amateur golfer who lived on nearby Greening Island. Thorp had the distinction of serving as the club's first President. Much of the course lay on what was Corson’s Farm and the farmer's cows were considered "hazards" on the rudimentary golf links. Competitions as early as 1896 between Kebo and Northeast attest to the early provenance of whatever holes Thorp had constructed.

The Northeast Harbor Golf Club was incorporated in September of 1916 and surrounding land was purchased using proceeds from the sale of stock to 49 original shareholders. The first 9 holes (now the "inner nine" holes of 1-6 and 13-15) were designed by Arthur G. Lockwood, a British amateur golfer turned golf course designer. As golf became more and more popular, the corporation offered another stock sale and raised additional funds to buy more land for a second 9 holes. The subsequent 9, which opened in the summer of 1925, was designed by Herbert B. Strong.

In 1939, the Board recommended that the Strong designed holes return to nature due to a lack of finances and/or manpower. The holes remained in disuse until the mid-1970s, when six of the 9 were re-established. For many years, the course featured 15 holes. Eventually, the other three holes were restored through generous campaign donations from some of the summer residents and due to the hard work of some year-round residents. The course officially returned to 18 holes in 1990.

The logo contains a pine tree, representative of the Pine Tree state, with the motto Far and Sure. Steeped in tradition, many descendants of the original shareholders are members today.