The Kittansett Club - Marion, MA
As part of a broader trip that included some time spent in NYC, New Bedford, MA, and Acushnet, MA, a round at Kittansett needs to be on everyone’s must play list. Following the round, I made my way back to New Bedford where I explore the city a bit where I discovered a Cisco Brewers location. Hannah and I first visited Cisco Brewers at their original Nantucket location, and have loved their atmosphere and beer since. The following day was spent with Sugarloaf Social Club at the Titleist Performance Institue at Manchester Lane, Titleist Ball Plant III, and Marion Golf Club. We split in to groups and spent the time doing a comprehensive bag fitting for the new Titleist T series and GT clubs, learning more about the AIM golf ball products, touring the Ball Plant III that produces ProV1 and ProV1x golf balls, and testing various wedge grinds and bounces. After that concluded, the whole group made their way over to Marion Golf Club (affectionately known as Little Marion) in Marion, MA for a loop of their nine hole gem. More on the experience at Titliest and Marion experience here! For now, here is the recap of The Kittansett Club.
Perched at the edge of Buzzards Bay in Marion, Massachusetts, The Kittansett Club has long held its place among New England’s most revered seaside courses. Founded in 1922, the club emerged at a time when golf in America was taking root, and its creators—course architect William Flynn and club founder Frederic Hood—crafted a design that blended the rugged, windswept character of the coastline with the subtler inland contours of the site. Flynn’s work is celebrated across the country at courses such as Shinnecock Hills, Cherry Hills, and The Country Club at Brookline, and Kittansett proudly reflects his same dedication to strategic, timeless design.
The architectural story of Kittansett is one of both preservation and renewal. The course was shaped not only by its original vision but also by the challenges of nature—storms, hurricanes, and shifting shorelines that left their marks on the land. A marker near the shoreline records the fury of hurricanes in 1938, 1944, 1954, and 1991, each storm a reminder of the delicate balance between land and sea. In recent decades, architect Gil Hanse has worked with the club to restore many of Flynn’s original features—expanding greens, reimagining bunkers, and reopening views to the bay—ensuring that Kittansett remains true to its Golden Age roots while meeting the standards of modern championship play.
The routing is a distinctive blend of inland corridors and seaside exposure. Early holes move through stands of trees before opening to windswept stretches where the bay becomes a constant presence. The par-3 3rd hole, set dramatically on a peninsula reaching into Buzzards Bay, is as photogenic as it is demanding, emblematic of the course’s balance between beauty and precision. Kittansett Club is one of the best walks in golf that I have experienced so far. With the mix of seaside and inland holes, it feels like an adventure laid out over the 18 holes. The traditional southwest wind is Kittansett’s ever-present defense, shaping strategy throughout the round, though sudden shifts can transform the course entirely—making it play almost like a new layout each time.
Kittansett has also been a stage for golf’s great moments. In 1953, the club hosted the Walker Cup, where Francis Ouimet captained the victorious U.S. side. More recently, it has welcomed U.S. Senior and Mid-Amateur Championships, reinforcing its reputation as a stern but fair test of golf. Through it all, the course has stayed true to its identity: a place where history, architecture, and nature converge to create an experience that is as memorable as it is enduring.
