CAPE ARUNDEL GOLF CLUB
🇺🇸 Kennebunkport, ME, USA
Designed by Bruce Hepner, Tyler Rae, Walter Travis
Cape Arundel stands as a monument to presidential leisure and seaside golf, forever linked to the Bush family's legacy in Kennebunkport. Carved into the rugged Maine coastline, the course is a classic example of early 20th-century design, favoring strategic shot-making over sheer distance. The ocean breeze dictates play, with closely mown fairways demanding controlled approaches and a keen awareness of the wind.
Originally crafted by Walter Travis, Cape Arundel has seen the hands of Donald Ross, resulting in a layout of subtly contoured greens and strategically placed bunkers that reward intelligent play. While not a venue for major championships, the course’s charm lies in its understated elegance and the authentic character of its golfing experience.
The club fosters a relaxed atmosphere where the traditions of the game are deeply respected, with a membership drawn to its unpretentious nature and proximity to the Atlantic. Stories abound of presidents teeing off alongside locals, further embedding Cape Arundel in the fabric of the community. The famed Clam Bake remains a club staple, providing a taste of local flavor as integral to the Cape Arundel experience as the challenging par-3 eleventh.
Reviews
Shorter course. Lots of open play. Driver is not the answer off a handful of tee’s. The greens are always in great condition and give the course an edge. Nice spot.
Played the day after Bush family outing, really fun pin placements and passed 4 blacked out suburbans with flags on my way off property.
I mean, let's get this out of the way...There's a tiny cemetery adjacent to the course and I'm pretty sure the ghost of a child wanders around here. So there's that. Spent a long weekend playing CA. 4 rounds in 3 days, which was plenty. Quirky. Fun. Unique. REally cool place. Not sure I could jsutify ranking it in the 8s, definitely not 9s, because it simply doesn't stand up side-by-side with other courses I have in that range. Clsing note: this might be the best hickory course around.
If I was forced to spend all my golfing days at one single course then it would be Cape Arundel.
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Cape Arundel at Cape Arundel Golf Club has a Course Vaults score of 8.7 out of 10 based on 43 explicit golfer ratings.
Cape Arundel was designed by Bruce Hepner, Tyler Rae, and Walter Travis.
Yes. Cape Arundel at Cape Arundel Golf Club is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Cape Arundel is 69.
Cape Arundel plays 5,881 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Cape Arundel is 124.