Holly Ridge Golf Club

Holly Ridge Golf Club sits in Sandwich, Massachusetts, the oldest town on Cape Cod, where the landscape transitions from the mainland's wooded character to the Cape's distinctive sandy terrain. Geoffrey Cornish designed the course in 1967, during a prolific period when the New England architect was shaping dozens of layouts across the region. Cornish, who studied under Stanley Thompson and later partnered with William Robinson, brought a practical, strategic design philosophy to courses intended for daily play rather than championship competition. The routing at Holly Ridge works through rolling, forested terrain typical of the Upper Cape, with elevation changes more pronounced than those found on the outer Cape's flatter geography. Cornish incorporated the natural contours and tree lines into his design, creating holes that require thoughtful placement rather than overwhelming length. The layout measures around 6,500 yards from the back tees, a standard length for courses built in this era for recreational golfers. Holly Ridge operates as a semi-private facility, serving both members and daily-fee players, which reflects the Cape's tradition of accessible golf alongside its resort courses. The club provides a straightforward test of golf in a wooded New England setting, without the seaside exposure or links characteristics found closer to Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic. For golfers exploring the Cape's variety of courses, Holly Ridge represents the Cornish design approach applied to the region's interior landscape.