Country Club of New Bedford

The Country Club of New Bedford sits in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, on land that has hosted golf since the early twentieth century. The course was designed by Willie Park Jr., the Scottish two-time Open Championship winner who became one of the era's most prolific golf architects in both Britain and North America. Park's American portfolio includes several notable New England layouts, and his work at New Bedford reflects the strategic principles he championed throughout his career—emphasizing thoughtful bunkering, natural contours, and holes that reward careful planning over pure power. The property occupies rolling terrain characteristic of southeastern Massachusetts, with mature tree-lined fairways and modest elevation changes that create variety without severe climbs. Park routed the course to take advantage of the natural movement in the land, and while the layout has evolved over the decades through maintenance practices and membership needs, the fundamental character of an early golden-age design remains evident. The course presents a traditional test of accuracy and course management rather than extreme length. The club has served the greater New Bedford area for well over a century, maintaining a place in the region's golfing community through generations of members. Like many private clubs of its vintage in New England, it combines golf with social and dining traditions that reflect its long history. The course provides a window into early American golf architecture through the work of one of the game's pioneering designers.