WALPOLE, New Hampshire — Given that it boasts lofty rankings according to Golf Magazine (No. 13 among the top nine-hole courses in the world) and Golf Digest (11th among the best nine-hole courses in the country) and has an impeccable pedigree owed to iconic designers John Van Kleek and Wayne Stiles, Hooper Golf Course has every reason to strut its stuff and stoke its ego.
Only that’s not the way of this community, which is rightfully proud of its creative heritage. Just as authors Louisa May Alcott (1850s) and James Michener (1950s) did during their time here, and esteemed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns does today, Hooper Golf Course finds this “quintessential New England Village” (Michener’s words) to be the perfect place to showcase its excellence while blanketed in humility and unpretentiousness.
“Internationally ranked, community drive, perfectly playable.”
Those are the words used in a story on Hooper Golf Course’s homepage at hoopergolfcourse.com, and they prove to be eminently legitimate.
A year shy of its centennial, Hooper Golf Course is more vibrant than ever, thanks to a group of 26 townsfolk who bought the club from local businessman Fred Dill in 2019. Just a year earlier, Dill served as a savior of sorts, buying the course when rumors spread that a housing development was planned.
The commitment to an affordable public golf course that the townsfolk could enjoy and visitors would travel to has been at the heart of the owners’ mission. What is also important, said Josh Beer, president of Hooper Golf Course, is to “remain true to the historic legacy of Hooper.”
On both counts, the owners have met their mark.
Not only did they hire an up-and-coming golf course architect, Jeff Stein, to do wondrous work with bunkering, tree-clearing and improved fairway mowing lines, but Beer and company have also hit the mark when it comes to affordability. Rates for nine holes are $30 on weekdays and $35 on weekends, while 18 holes cost $50 and $55, respectively.
There are also a variety of membership options. For travelers, a visit to Hooper Golf Course comes with two delightful options: The Watkins Inn is right on the property, offering rooms and serving as the Hooper clubhouse, and those who visit the town will experience pure New England hospitality.
Being one of the few true collaborations between Stiles (1884-1953) and Van Kleek (1888-1967) is a badge of honor that Hooper Golf Course wears proudly.
Beer said the greens were designed so beautifully that Stein saw no reason to touch them. Back-to-front slopes are plentiful, the par-3 fourth hole is a brilliant two-tier challenge, and the ninth is a punchbowl layout that offers numerous hole locations.
Ultimately, the greens have enabled Hooper Golf Course to stand the test of time. It measures 6,023 yards for 18 holes, playing from the white tees for the first nine holes and the blue tees for the second nine. The white tees are set at par 36 and the blues at par 35, making it crucial to hit the proper spots in the fairways.
Hooper Golf Course isn’t just worth the drive — it is about 120 miles from Boston, the same from Providence, Rhode Island, and about 85 miles from Worcester, Massachusetts — it’s a must-visit if you cherish adventure, affordability and history, and consider yourself a golf course aficionado.
- Address: 166 Prospect Hill Road, Walpole, NH 03608
- Phone: 603-756-4080
