Tickets are free for members; $12 for non-members; $7 for students, Free for kids -5
Near the turn of the 20th century, golf exploded in Maine as wealthy summer visitors and local enthusiasts formed social golf clubs and built courses near popular resorts, coastal towns, and inland retreats. This exhibit explores the courses, clubs, and players that shaped the early days of the sport in Maine.
Golf in the United States established roots as early as the late 1600s. However, the sport’s popularity surged in the 1880s as Scottish and English enthusiasm for golf crossed the Atlantic.
By the late 19th century, the US had about 950 golf courses, primarily concentrated around wealthy Northeastern cities such as New York, Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Maine, like today, was the summer playground of the rich and famous, and high-quality golfing clubs and courses naturally followed.
Golf has a long and distinguished history in Maine, home to some of the oldest surviving courses in the United States. Many of these historic layouts remain open to the public today, offering players a tangible link to the state’s golfing past