Kingswood Golf Course: A Donald Ross Designed Jewel in Wolfeboro

By Mark Okrant

Donald Ross was one of history’s most famous golf course designers. He was born in Dornoch, Scotland before moving to the United States. During his lifetime Ross designed 413 golf courses, including some that are regarded as the finest in this country. Here are four Ross courses that people have rated among the nation’s top one hundred:

Pinehurst Resort (#2) in Pinehurst Village, North Carolina

Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida

Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Essex Country Club in Manchesterby-the-Sea, Massachusetts.

Donald Ross golf courses exhibit a number of signature elements. Ross was masterful at creating tight, challenging layouts. Unlike the courses that designers build today in large housing communities, Ross’s courses have little distance between each green and the next tee box. Greens were highly varied, with his most notable design element being the ‘turtleback’ green, which was shaped like the shell of one of those reptiles. Ross would feature treacherous double plateau greens, sunken ‘punch bowls’, and the occasional ‘volcano’ green perched high above the approach. All of these elements demanded well-placed approach shots, and certainly were not for the faint of heart, nor the high of handicap.

Ross loved to challenge a golfer’s shot-making ability. He often created ‘switchbacks’. A ‘switchback’ requires the golfer to shape the ball one way from the tee, and the opposite direction into the green. For example, a Ross designed fairway would demand a ‘draw’, wherein a right-hand golfer moves his shot from right-to-left from the tee. Next, the same golfer would be expected to hit a ‘fade’, wherein his ball approached the green from left to right.

To penalize poorly hit tee shots, Ross placed bunkers only a short distance from tees, with more bunkers as golfers approached greens. Many golfers of all abilities leave the greens at a Ross golf course shaking their heads but expressing their admiration for the man at the end of a round.

Serious golfers seek out the challenge of playing a Donald Ross designed golf course. Here in New Hampshire, a state that is fifth smallest by area and tenth least populous in the United States, we have the good fortune to offer eleven Ross courses. Two of these, Bald Peak Colony Club in Melvin Village and Kingswood Golf Club in Wolfeboro, are situated in the Lakes Region.

Located at 24 Kingswood Road in Wolfeboro, the Kingswood Golf Club offers a full-service pro shop and restaurant. The course provides 18 holes of golf, with seven sets of tees. Total course distances can vary from

3839 to 6327 yards.

The course offers a wide range of attractive membership opportunities. However, the public is welcome to play golf at Kingswood. As most golfers are aware, tee times should be booked in advance. Fees range depending upon which style golfers prefer to play. For example: 18 holes with a cart costs $85, walking 18 holes midweek is $58, walking 18 holes after 3pm is $37, and walking 9 holes midweek costs $28.

Kingswood will be offering a full range of golf tournaments throughout the 2023 season. Active members may participate in the following Club Tournaments:

Men’s two-ball tournament and ladies two-ball tournament

The men’s invitational two-day event

The men’s and ladies Butler Tournament

The men’s and ladies club champion-

Ship

The men’s and ladies president’s cup

The junior club championship

Ryder Cup

Solheim Cup

The men’s and ladies fall classic

Given the difficulty that Ross built into the Kingswood Golf Club course, one would be wise to schedule a lesson in advance with either PGA Head Golf Professional, Kristy Gleason, or LPGA Director of Instruction, Heidi Papoosha. Combined, the two have over 24 years of teaching experience. I may have saved myself a great deal of embarrassment by following my own advice. Several years ago, as dusk was approaching, I walked part of the course with good friend, Steve Barba, former president of The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel. Steve challenged me to see who could hit a ball closest to the pin on one of the typical turtleback greens. As a six handicap, Steve had no trouble placing his towering pitch shot within four feet of the hole.

My fate was quite different. As a twenty-five handicap, I watched helplessly as my pitch and run was devoured by Ross’s false front. Like many others before me, I came away from Kingswood with renewed appreciation for the Scots-American’s design skills.

The golf club has much more to offer than its historic golf course. Located in the clubhouse, the Bistro 19 at Kingswood Golf Club is a full-service restaurant and a place to enjoy pre- or post-round refreshments. Bistro 19 is open seven days a week, for both members and the public. The dining room, lounge, and three-season porch provide views of the action. Another option is to order dinner and drinks on the outdoor patio or deck.

Golf aficionados won’t want to miss the opportunity to play this historic course situated in the beautiful lakeside village of Wolfeboro. Be certain to book your tee time in advance by calling, (603) 569-3569.

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