Cape Arundel Golf Club

Detailed description of Cape Arundel Golf Club

Cape Arundel Golf Club, is a Semi-Private, 18 hole golf course located in Kennebunkport, Maine

Founded in 1896 as the Kennebunkport Golf Club, Cape Arundel Golf Club was created by summer residents and golf enthusiasts who wanted to bring their love of the game home. At its founding, Cape Arundel was one of just 74 golf clubs in the United States.

By the early twenties it was decided that a new course was in order. The architectural skills of US and British Amateur Champion, Walter J. Travis, were secured to produce the new links style layout. Every hole was planned carefully by Travis and promised to provide first class golf, beauty, and difficulty. From the natural hazards and beautifully contoured greens to the perfectly placed bunkers and strategic layout, the new course demanded the finest kind of golf.

This Scottish-links course is very challenging because water comes into play on thirteen holes. The greens are small and every hole has sand bunkers. This is the home course of former President George Bush and G.H. Walker, after whom the Walker Cup is named. John Duncan Dunn and Walter Travis designed the back nine, which opened in 1919, and they redesigned the original nine holes in the process.

Presidents Nixon, G.H.W.Bush, Clinton, and G.W. Bush have all teed it up, as well legends: Francis Ouimet, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Fred Couples, Davis Love, Justin Leonard, Phil Mickelson, David Toms, Greg Norman, Doug Sanders, Brad Faxon, Jose Olazabal, Tim Finchem, Babe Ruth, Louis Tiant, Roger Clemens, UK's Prince Andrew, Jim Nantz, and Rush Limbaugh. Former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman is a member and plays regularly throughout the summer.

On October 2nd, 2006, Phil Mickelson captured the course record, shooting a 9 under 60 against a par of 69. It is interesting to note that Prescott Bush, father of President Bush (41), once held that honor.

The Walker Cup Connection: George Herbert Walker was a wealthy American banker and businessman. His daughter Dorothy married Prescott Bush, making him a grandfather of former President George H. W. Bush and a great-grandfather of President George W. Bush. The Walker Cup is contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland. The event, officially called the Walker Cup Match, is co-organized by the R&A and the United States Golf Association and is named in honor of George Herbert Walker (grandfather and namesake of the former President of the United States and Cape Arundel member, George H. W. Bush). Walker was president of the USGA in 1920 when the series was initiated.

Blue tees: par-69, 5,881 yards, 67.1 / 118

White tees: par-69, 5,881 yards, 63.7 / 110

Red tees: par-70, 5,881 yards.