OUR STORY
More Than 90 Years of Golf, Community, and New England Character
Rockingham Country Club, affectionately known as “The Rock,” has been part of the Newmarket community since the early 1930s. The course grew from farmland near historic Rockingham Junction, and in 1933, local attorney and entrepreneur Erban Fellows purchased the property and helped establish it as a destination for recreation and community gatherings. Local recollections describe an early clubhouse near the neighboring Rockingham Ballroom, which opened the following year and brought visitors from throughout the Seacoast region.
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The course was designed by Manuel Francis, an accomplished course builder, superintendent and turf innovator whose career began working on golf course projects associated with legendary architect Donald Ross. Francis went on to design several courses during the 1930s and develop Vesper Velvet bentgrass, a durable strain that became widely used on golf courses throughout New England.
One of The Rock’s most enduring stories dates to the early 1940s. Les Kennedy, then the club’s golf professional, recorded an extraordinary score of 27 on the course’s original, shorter layout. Kennedy later became one of New England’s most accomplished professionals, leading the 1949 U.S. Open after its opening round and competing in the 1950 Masters Tournament. His Rockingham course record remains a proud piece of club history.
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Through the decades, Rockingham Country Club has remained more than a place to play golf. The property has welcomed generations of families, friends and neighbors for leagues, tournaments, weddings, fairs, celebrations and community events. Its comfortable atmosphere and classic New England setting have helped make The Rock a familiar gathering place for more than 90 years.
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Today, Rockingham Country Club is a public nine-hole, 3,026-yard, par-35 course where experienced golfers and newcomers alike can enjoy the game without the formality or expense often associated with a country club. The setting may be historic, but the philosophy remains simple: provide an affordable, relaxed and enjoyable place where everyone feels welcome.
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More than 90 years after its story began, The Rock continues to be a place to play, gather and feel at home.