Salem Country Club

Peabody, MA • Private

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Overview

Salem was a mainstay on the Golf Digest ranking of America’s 100 Greatest Courses since the list’s inception in 1966, until falling off in 2005. Hoping to jolt the venerable Donald Ross-designed course into relevance, the club hired Eric Iverson to engage in a major, $3.5 million restoration of Ross’s bunkers that also included adjusting and adding tees, redefining fairway lines, increasing hole flexibility on the putting surfaces and taking down several hundred trees that had been choking many of the holes.

About

Holes 18

Length 6916

Slope 134

Facility Type Private

Year Opened 1895

Designer Donald J. Ross, ASGCA

Awards

100 Greatest: Ranked for 36 years from 1969-2004. Highest ranking: No. 52, 1995-'96. The course was also part of Golf Digest's original 200 Toughest Courses list from 1966-'68.

Best in State: Ranked inside the top 5, 1977-2005. Ranked sixth, 2011-'12. Ranked seventh, 2013-'14. Ranked eighth, 2019-'20. Ranked ninth, 2015-'18, 2023-'24. Ranked 10th, 2021-'22. Ranked inside the top 10, 2007-'10.

Current ranking: Ninth.

Panelists

Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists

4.3

100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES

Shot Options

7.1144

Character

7.2279

Challenge

6.9974

Layout Variety

7.1414

Fun

7.2166

Aesthetics

7.0393

Conditioning

7.1247

Reviews

1 / 5

Review

“A really great Donald Ross golf course with a lot of USGA history. The club has continued to work hard to restore the design to the original Ross plans, and continues to prioritize conditioning. Great test of golf!"

2018

2 / 5

Review

“A very good Donald Ross course. Recent work by Ron Forse has really improved the greens by expanding their footprint/size to original intentions. Great land for golf and recent clearing significantly improves the playability. Just a notch below other top Ross designs, but certainly worth a visit (or day off of work) if you get the invite. Definitely recommended."

2018

3 / 5

Review

“A really great Donald Ross design that has been largely restored to its original look. Every hole is unique and interesting. Huge greens with lots of slope. Site of 2017 US Senior Open and several other important events. Terrific facilities. Don't pass up a chance to play here."

2018

4 / 5

Review

“Some tree removal and minor tweaks have restored a classic Donald Ross design with outstanding greens. Only criticism I can see is members love to use carts."

2018

5 / 5

Review

“This venerable old Ross course has hosted a number of major events. The course deserves them. It is brilliantly routed course conditions are excellent."

2018