Prouts Neck Country Club

Prouts Neck Country Club occupies a rocky peninsula jutting into the Atlantic Ocean south of Portland, Maine. Wayne Stiles designed the course in 1923, working with the dramatic coastal topography that defines this corner of Scarborough. The property sits on the same promontory where American painter Winslow Homer maintained his studio, and the landscape retains much of the rugged, windswept character that inspired his seascapes. The routing takes advantage of elevation changes and ocean views, with several holes playing along or near the water's edge where the terrain drops toward Saco Bay. Stiles, a prolific New England architect of the early twentieth century, shaped holes that respond to the natural contours rather than imposing geometric patterns on the land. The course measures relatively short by modern standards, but the combination of coastal winds, firm turf conditions, and strategic bunkering requires thoughtful club selection and shot placement. The rocky outcroppings and native vegetation that frame many holes give Prouts Neck a distinct Maine coastal character, different from the links-style courses found elsewhere in New England. The club operates as a traditional summer retreat, reflecting the seasonal patterns of coastal Maine golf. Membership has historically included families with longstanding connections to the Prouts Neck community, and the clubhouse maintains the understated atmosphere typical of older New England seaside clubs. The course remains a relatively private enclave, less widely known than some of Maine's other coastal layouts but valued for its authentic Stiles design and oceanfront setting.