HISTORY OF GOLF AT WHIPPOORWILL

The heritage and tradition of the Whippoorwill Club dates back to the mid 1920’s when Donald Ross, a leading golf course architect, designed the course, which lay entirely on the east side of Whippoorwill Road. At that time Ross was at the pinnacle of his career and was certainly the most recognized architect of the day.

Everything changed in 1928, when Fred Ruth, developer of the Mid Ocean Club hired Charles Banks, with whom he had worked at Mid Ocean, to redesign the Ross Course.

Whippoorwill took on its most unique characteristics when holes 4 through 9 were built on the west side of Whippoorwill Road. Steep terrain, tree lined fairways, and no parallel holes characterized this section of the course. The five most difficult holes on the course are 5, 7, 9, 12 and 14.

Banks is credited with the design and remodeling of more than thirty golf courses from 1921 until his death in 1931. It is said that he believed Whippoorwill to be his masterpiece.

Today, Whippoorwill stands as a testament to Charles Banks. Magnificent in its beauty and design, Whippoorwill is truly one of the great golf courses in the Northeast.