A golfer watches his tee shot soar towards the flag on
Kernwood CC’s picturesque 15th hole. The Danvers River frames the hole.

Kernwood CC – The gem by the river

In a time long before GPS a young aspiring golf pro headed up the coast from the fabled fairways at New Jersey’s Baltustrol GC to an equally spectacular, albeit less nationally renown, course nestled on the banks of the Danvers River.

“I drove into town and I asked someone from Salem where it was and they said they had never heard of it,” Kernwood Country Club head pro Frank Dully recalled with a chuckle.

“Once I did find out how to get here, I quickly realized that what you have is such a little gem tucked quietly into the corner of Salem.”

Nineteen years later, ask Dully about the Donald Ross jewel and the same emotions that he felt on that very first trip over the Kernwood Bridge and through the winding stone archway that has been welcoming golfers to Kernwood CC since 1914 come flooding back.

“I was absolutely awestruck when I first saw the property, the facility, and the golf course; I still feel that way.”

Built by the best

Built on the former estate of Colonel Francis Peabody, the picturesque 166-acre parcel would become the first Jewish country club in Greater Boston. In recent years the club has adopted many ethnicities and today membership is based solely on philanthropy. It was transformed into a terrific par-70 test of golf by the esteemed Ross over the span of five years from 1914 (the first nine) to 1918 (the back nine). When he was finished, Ross took part in a gala opening day event on August 31, 1918 that saw Francis Ouimet, future U.S. Amateur champ Jesse Guilford, and Ross all pull out their hickory shafts for the occasion. Throughout the years the course has played host to a slew of MGA, NEPGA and USGA championships and qualifiers. The late Peter Oppenheim, the uncle of current Nationwide Tour player Rob Oppenheim, is the most prolific men’s club champion, while Betty Beckwith and Tami Bane have dominated on the women’s side. Bane’s son, Harry, is the defending men’s champion.

At just 6,351 yards from the tips, Kernwood often finds itself in the shadows of Ross’s two older, and longer, local gifts – Salem CC and Essex County Club – but line up a putt on the fifth green with a sea breeze gently wafting over the flag, a flock of Mergansers flying above, and a parade of fishing boats in the background and it is hard to imagine a more idyllic setting – regardless of how many strokes it took you to get to that point.
Picture perfect backdrop

“You’ve got the background of the houses and the water and it’s that classic Norman Rockwell New England seafaring portrait,” Dully enthuses of the 390-yard par-4 fifth, his favorite, which features an elevated tee shot and a green that slopes back to front and is guarded by a stone sea wall.

The Danvers River, which ebbs and flows into the Atlantic Ocean, frames several of the holes and in doing so makes this Ross offering unique.

“There are a lot of great Donald Ross courses, but there are very few that are on the water like Kernwood is,” Tim Lynch, Kernwood’s GM for the last 12 years, points out.

“People will also say that it’s only 6,300 yards, but Ross definitely makes up for it on the greens.”

True to form, all the greens at Kernwood feature Ross’s trademark sloping that makes ball placement and shot angles so critical.

One of the most bewitching holes is the dogleg par-4 16th, the No. 2 handicapped hole, which serves up the classic risk versus reward scenario with a tidal marsh guarding an elevated green that slopes sharply from back to front for good measure. Bill Flynn eagled the hole when he holed out a 6-iron en route to the Mass. Open title in 1963, but for most simply scratching a “5” on the card and not having to dip into your pocket is a moral victory.
The course only continues to get better as third year super and Rowley native John Eggleston, just the fourth super in the club’s nearly century old history, continues to raise the bar.

“He’s raised the level of the golf course to an unprecedented level,” said Dully of the former Triton Regional golf captain who was in the golf course construction business for 10 years. “He’s a real good golfer himself so when he looks at the course he sees it from a player’s eye. Just the way he’s cut the second and third cuts of rough and tapered some of the greens really make the definition of the hole stick out.”

Giving back

Starting with the very first golf outing held on the 18-hole layout at Kernwood, which raised considerable money for the Red Cross, philanthropy and Kernwood have been synonymous.

While the club is currently accepting new members, Lynch is quick to point out that those who do apply should bring with them far more than just references.

“They have to be philanthropic too and will not get in unless they can demonstrate that they have attained a certain level of charitable giving,” said Lynch who noted that the club has a committee that is completely devoted to evaluating just that.

“Basically, we feel that if you have the wherewithal to join a country club you should have also demonstrated that you have given back to those less fortunate.”

The course offers up its fairways for better than 15 charity outings a year, including a “Salem Day” that allows Salem residents to play the course each summer for a nominal fee. There is also a robust caddie/employee scholarship program. The end result is a tight knit family atmosphere that tends to make turnover by both members and employees a rarity.

Asked to characterize the membership; Dully hesitated just about as long as he does over a one-foot putt.

“There’s two things: it’s families first and it’s their charitable nature,” he said. “Their generosity in all aspects of life, not only in charity, but to us as well is really something special. It’s those two combinations that really make it an unbelievable place to work.”

That feeling of family was never more tangible than in the 2007 Mass. Open when Dully matched eventual champion, and current Nationwide Tour player Geoff Sisk stroke for stroke in an epic third round that saw both player’s tie Dana Quigley’s course record of 64 with seemingly the entire Kernwood membership helping Dully line up each putt.

“The fact that I was able to give them at least something to cheer about for 18 holes was personally satisfying,” said Dully. “They’ve been so supportive of me so it was nice to feel like I was able to at least give something back. The bottom line is that even if I hadn’t shot 64 there would have been just as many of them out supporting me.”

Salem's Arc de Triomphe

Course: Kernwood CC

Town: Salem

Architect: Donald Ross

Founded: 1914

Par/Yardage/Rating /Slope: 70, 6,351,72.1, 130

Head pro: Frank Dully II (13th year, 19th overall)

Superintendent: John Eggleston

Course record: 64 – Dana Quigly, Frank Dully II, Geoff Sisk

Current club champions: Harry Bane, Carol Adams

Tennis? Yes, two courts; Instruction available by appointment

Caddies? Yes.

19th hole? Men’s and women’s 19th holes as well as an on course snack bar.

Major championships: Kernwood has hosted four Mass. Opens as well as several NEPGA championships and USGA qualifiers.

Membership: Social and golf memberships are currently available.