The History of Wawenock

Wawenock Golf Club is a historic 9-hole course in Walpole, Maine, that celebrates its centennial in 2026. Since 1980, Wawenock has been a 501 (c) (3) non-profit run by a board of trustees for the benefit of its community.

Wawenock’s century-long story unfolds in three distinct chapters, each marked by ambition, struggle, reinvention, and resilience. The club began in 1926 as a for-profit venture conceived by Ohio businessman Murray Shipley, who summered in Christmas Cove and believed a country club could stimulate tourism and real estate development in the region. Shipley, along with First National Bank president Leon Dodge, assembled investors to build a Wayne Stiles–designed golf course that opened on August 11, 1926. From the outset, Wawenock was envisioned not only as a golf destination but also as a real estate play, with nearby lots in Clarks Cove advertised to summer visitors. Memberships were offered by the week, month, or season; daily green fees were $1; and the club quickly became a social hub, hosting exhibitions, dances, afternoon teas, and South Bristol Days celebrations that drew large crowds.

Despite opening just three years before the stock market crash of 1929, Wawenock thrived socially through the late 1920s and early 1930s. Notable figures such as heavyweight boxing champion Gene Tunney and prominent golfers from around the region played the course, exhibitions attracted galleries of more than 150 spectators, and women’s golf and social programming flourished under the leadership of figures like Martha Betts Shipley and Helen Payson. Afternoon teas on the veranda, bridge gatherings, dinner dances, and fundraising fairs gave the club a vibrant social identity even as the country slipped into the Great Depression. Golf publications praised Wawenock’s greens as among the finest in Maine, and August play in 1929 alone exceeded 1,100 daily rounds. Yet financial pressures mounted steadily. Membership discounts were offered to year-round residents, shuttle service was provided for caddies, and reciprocal agreements with nearby clubs were established to attract players, but by the late 1930s, unpaid taxes, declining membership, and mounting debt pushed the club into serious trouble.

The 1940s brought further hardship as World War II disrupted daily life and leisure nationwide. Greens fees were reduced, bridge parties and charity events supported the war effort, and service members were offered discounted play, but course conditions deteriorated, and revenues continued to decline. By 1945, the situation was dire. The First National Bank of Damariscotta, which held the club’s mortgages, demanded payment or foreclosure. An auction of the property was scheduled, and the South Bristol sheriff prepared to seize the grounds. Salvation arrived in 1946 when George E. Merrifield, a Cleveland businessman who summered in Nobleboro, purchased the course, clubhouse, and equipment from the bank. For much of the next decade, Merrifield remained an absentee owner, leaving operations to on-site managers, but his intervention kept Wawenock alive.

Under Merrifield’s ownership, Wawenock regained its footing as a community gathering place during the 1950s and 1960s. The club hosted teenage dances, garden clubs, civic organizations, 4-H events, and countless social tournaments built around Scotch foursomes and communal meals. Lucille Merrifield Brooke, George Merrifield’s daughter, moved to Maine in 1956 to take an active leadership role, while her husband Tom Brooke became general manager. Their stewardship coincided with a period of strong social engagement, modest golf access, and a welcoming atmosphere that attracted families, veterans, and young players alike. Potluck suppers regularly drew crowds of more than 100 people, and Wawenock became known as an affordable and inclusive hub at a time when entertainment options were limited. Children caddied, skied, sledded, and played on the grounds, forging lifelong connections to the course.

By the 1970s, however, financial instability resurfaced. Storm damage, declining infrastructure, and limited capital strained the club’s resources. The pivotal transformation came in 1979 when philanthropist Elizabeth “Betty” Noyce provided the funds to purchase Wawenock from the Merrifield Trust. Though not a golfer herself, Noyce believed the course could serve as a buffer against overdevelopment and as a lasting community asset. In 1980, Wawenock was converted into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission centered on public access and community benefit. A volunteer board of trustees was established, bylaws were drafted, and the club formally shifted from a for-profit enterprise to a charitable institution.

The 1980s marked a period of renewed growth and structure. Membership increased rapidly, tee times were introduced, social events expanded, and the club began hosting charity tournaments benefiting organizations such as Miles Hospital and the American Cancer Society. Facilities were upgraded incrementally, traditions like Scotch foursomes endured, and women were formally integrated into the handicap system. While finances remained tight, the nonprofit model stabilized operations and reinforced Wawenock’s community-first identity.

The 1990s brought further momentum, fueled in part by the national surge in golf participation during the Tiger Woods era. Membership climbed, leagues filled to capacity, and tournaments became major social events once again. Volunteers pitched in to paint the clubhouse, irrigation was modernized, and youth golf initiatives expanded through partnerships with local schools. By mid-decade, Wawenock was hosting more than 20,000 rounds annually, and its reputation as an active, spirited, and welcoming club was firmly reestablished.

The early 2000s were defined by debate over the club’s future direction. With membership peaking and golf booming nationally, trustees and members weighed the possibility of expanding from nine to eighteen holes. Land was acquired, architects were consulted, and fundraising strategies were explored, but concerns about financial risk, mission drift, and long-term sustainability ultimately prevailed. The club chose to remain a nine-hole facility, reinvesting instead in maintenance, programming, and community partnerships. In 2004, the name was changed to Wawenock Golf Club to reflect its identity and donor appeal better.

The 2010s focused on operational sustainability, modest capital campaigns, and creative programming, including wellness-oriented initiatives and continued charitable engagement. While revenues often lagged expenses, community support helped bridge the gap. That resilience was tested again during the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions sharply reduced participation and strained finances. Through careful adherence to public health guidelines and a renewed emphasis on customer experience, Wawenock weathered the disruption.

By the mid-2020s, the club had fully rebounded. Membership once again exceeded 300, league participation surged, social events drew full fields, and revenues from daily play, the driving range, and the pro shop returned to pre-pandemic levels. Under the leadership of a committed board and management team, Wawenock entered its second century firmly grounded in its nonprofit mission.

From its origins as a speculative business venture to its present role as a community cornerstone, Wawenock’s history is defined by adaptability, generosity, and an enduring love of the game.