Wentworth by the Sea at Wentworth by the Sea Country Club

Wentworth by the Sea Country Club occupies a coastal site in Rye, New Hampshire, with views across the Atlantic and the Isles of Shoals. The course was originally designed by Donald Ross in 1897, making it one of his earliest works and among the oldest courses in New Hampshire. Geoffrey Cornish later contributed renovations that updated the layout while preserving elements of Ross's routing. The property sits on relatively modest terrain for a seaside course, with gentle rolls and strategic bunkering characteristic of Ross's early design philosophy.

The course plays along the New Hampshire seacoast, where ocean breezes influence club selection and shot-making throughout the round. Several holes offer water views, and the routing takes advantage of the natural contours without dramatic elevation changes. Ross's design principles—emphasizing strategic angles, thoughtful green complexes, and risk-reward decisions—remain evident in the layout. Cornish's work modernized certain aspects to accommodate contemporary play while respecting the historical framework.

Wentworth by the Sea Country Club serves a membership drawn largely from the New Hampshire seacoast region and seasonal residents. The club maintains a traditional New England country club atmosphere, with the golf course as the central amenity. The property's connection to the adjacent historic Wentworth by the Sea hotel adds to its regional identity, though the club operates independently. The course provides a straightforward test of golf in a coastal New England setting, blending Ross's design legacy with practical updates for modern play.