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Exeter Country Club

EXETER COUNTRY CLUB

EXETER COUNTRY CLUB | 58 JADY HILL AVENUE • EXETER, NH 03833 | (603) 772-4752

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About Us

Golf Historic Exeter Country Club

Exeter’s golf course opened in 1889, making it one of the oldest in America. Golf Magazine placed Exeter’s challenging nine-hole layout among the 100 oldest courses nationally, but other documents indicate Exeter may claim to be among the 25 oldest clubs in the country.

The widely reported “locals’ claim” that Exeter’s original golf course was the second founded in the country is not confirmed and likely untrue.

Historians working from factual documents say the club was formed first under the name Exeter Golf Course in 1895 and became Exeter Country Club in 1900. However, the Exeter Gun Club was playing golf at the present Jady Hill location at least as early as 1889, then calling the course Eddy’s Links.

Phillips Exeter Academy also maintained a five-hole golf layout off Drinkwater Road as early as 1902. The academy course closed and its golfers went to Exeter Country Club sometime later.

The postcard view (above) of the bungalow style club house with its wide surrounding porch is the original Exeter club house built in 1900. Today it is long gone. A 1953 tornado, described in eyewitness and press reports as a “twin-headed monster,” ripped through the Exeter clubhouse and across the first tee, destroying the club facility as it stood at that time.

Read the article by Exeter historian Barbara Rimkunas about the club.

Who is Manny Francis Anyway?

The legendary Manny Francis, who redesigned Exeter Country Club in the 1950s, was a noted architect of many New England courses. But he was more well-known as the developer of “Vesper Velvet,” the turfgrass that revolutionized putting surfaces. First used at luxurious Vesper Country Club in Lowell, Manny’s hybrid velvet grass quickly became the norm for elite clubs everywhere.

Francis remained as Vesper’s superintendent for decades, renowned for the quality of that course. Somehow he found time to design and update dozens of other New England courses including The International in Bolton (MA,) Abenaqui CC in nearby Rye, and Hickory Hill in Methuen (MA.)

Manny’s offspring followed those footsteps. Manny II and grandson Manny III (pictured above flanking Manny Sr.) became respected designers and superintendents in their own right. Manny II was the Belmont (MA) course superintendent for some 15 years. Today, Manny III remains course superintendent at Green Harbor CC in Marshfield (MA,) the course his father and grandfather founded and designed.

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Course News

The Club is in Full Swing!  Check out our Events Page for the latest!

 

2020-2021 New Membership Special! Starting Sunday August 9th, pay $350 to play the remainder of the 2020 season and pay the remaining $750 for the 2021 season after January 2nd!

The Bar & Grill is open! Lots of grab and go food for hungry golfers! Stop in for a fresh hamburger, hot dog, snack, and a cool beverage after your round!

Keep an eye out on our Facebook Page and our emails for weekly updates!

Keep an eye on our Events Calendar page to stay updated about events at ECC!

We are always accepting new members to the club. Visit the Memberships Page to print an application!

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What’s New

  • ECC is Reopening! May 6, 2020
  • History! May 16, 2019

Golf Channel News

  • After playoff loss last year, Brendan Steele (61) leads through 54 holes at Sony

  • Sunday tee times moved up, TV schedule adjusted at Sony Open

  • Ralph Lauren discontinues sponsorship of Justin Thomas in wake of slur

  • Next month's WGC-Mexico relocated to Florida's Concession Golf Club

  • Trump logo no longer on bag, Bryson DeChambeau says PGA decision 'is what it is'

  • Bryson DeChambeau focused on brain training, gut health after Masters health issue

  • 'Great idea': Players OK with Tour's late addition of internal out of bounds at Sony Open

  • Angel Cabrera arrested in Brazil, to be extradited to Argentina to face several charges

  • Harry Higgs opens Sony Open in 65 after early, roller-coaster start

  • Pebble Beach scraps multi-day pro-am format because of virus concerns

Exeter Country Club | 58 Jady Hill Avenue • Exeter, NH 03833 | (603) 772-4752

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