Kennebunkport, Maine
Cape Arundel is a shotmaker’s paradise—short but endlessly engaging, with wild greens and riverside setting making every round unique. Its historic pedigree, member culture, and architectural purity make it a must for classic golf fans visiting Maine.
Cape Arundel is an iconic Walter Travis design where terrain, tides, and strategy rule the day. Although short on the card, the course is long on challenge—every hole rewards precise positioning, brave line selection, and deft green reading. Among the most vivid Golden Age layouts in the Northeast, it’s defined by its dazzling, flamboyant putting surfaces, creative routing along the river, and old-world blend of fun and rigor. Restoration work since the late 1990s has revived Travis’s original intent: firm, open, deceptive—and a blast to walk.
Travis brought his signature focus on angles, green contours, and strategic play, resulting in one of New England’s purest Golden Age experiences.
A classic opener running parallel to the Kennebunk River, this hole demands a smart drive away from trouble and an immediate encounter with Cape Arundel’s trademark green contours. The river’s presence makes every shot feel momentous.
Favor the right side for an optimal angle; left is pinched by the river and a tougher approach.
Miss left and you risk the river; the green’s left slope can funnel balls away from the pin.
Fast, firm, and true; the bouncy turf and restored greens keep Travis’s design alive.
Generally brisk—rounds under four hours thanks to the routing and local culture.
Classic, understated, old-money New England—warm but proudly traditional.
Traditional collar required in all areas; no denim; soft spikes only (confirm specifics direct before play).
Spend extra time dialing in your chipping and putting—these greens can be fiendish.
Practice fairway woods and controlled tee shots—the course is all about position, not distance.
Blustery coastal breezes are common; pack low-trajectory options and stay nimble with club selection.
Public tee times are scarce; call exactly three days out for best options.
Club founded as Kennebunkport Golf Club
First 9 holes built by Alexander Findley; clubhouse constructed
Walter J. Travis completes 18-hole redesign, shaping the modern course
Course, clubhouse listed on Maine’s National Register of Historic Places
The legendary Bush family—starting with President George H.W. Bush—became famous for playing brisk, two-hour rounds at Cape Arundel, embodying the club’s emphasis on pace, fun, and camaraderie. Their presence gives the course a presidential mystique and deepens its social golf legacy.
Walter J. Travis totally reimagined the club in the early 1920s, replacing its plain original with a cunning, strategy-filled layout that revolves around wild green complexes, layered angles, and short par 4s. His work established Cape Arundel as a true connoisseur’s course.
Bordering the tidal Kennebunk River, the course is shaped as much by its ever-shifting winds and salt air as by its fairways. The water's presence—visible from multiple holes—defines the rhythm and visual drama of Cape Arundel rounds.
Opened in the 19th century, Cape Arundel survived war, depressions, and the changing tides of golf fashion, remaining a living link to the origins of American golfing society along the New England coast.
Only one par 5 appears on the entire course.
The iconic 41 House clubhouse is named for the 41st president, George H.W. Bush.
Cape Arundel’s wild greens are considered some of Travis’s most inspired work.
The Kennebunk River is a visual companion for much of the round.
The club’s original name was Kennebunkport Golf Club, dating to 1896.
Dramatic shot values and rocky terrain—local public favorite
Strong, well-regarded classic with pristine conditioning
Fun, accessible layout with local flavor and open tee times
Historic, traditional routing near the ocean
Kennebunkport or Kennebunk village for charm, quick access, and excellent coastal dining.
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