History

In May of 1922, a group of prominent men from Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, and Portland met at Walter B. Parker’s home to finalize plans for a new country club on the 187-acre James Solomon Hannaford Estate. These were true sportsmen, rusticators and gentleman trailblazers. They established the Purpoodock Club, and within a few years had completed construction of the first 7 golf holes on the site.

They built what they could, when they could, with the resources they had on hand with the elbow grease, muscle, and sweat equity of members who volunteered their own time and effort to build each hole. This is quite literally a club built for its members, by its members. This spirit of adventurousness and the unique location of Purpoodock led to a golf course that has never been average, boring, or cookie cutter.

The course is rugged and natural by design. It’s cut out of woods, over rolling hills, on top of and through exposed rock ledges. Wind is always a factor, and no one is safe from ‘The Purpoodock Bounce.’ It’s always a challenge, a good walk, and a good time. 

Through history, the club has endured the hardships of the Great Depression, World War II, and two major fires that destroyed buildings on the site. But it’s also evolved and blossomed over the years. It gained its back nine holes in the 1960s, again built with the hard work of member volunteers, on land that was long considered too rough and rocky for golf holes.

The Union Mutual Classics in the mid-1980s added new investments, modifications, and bunkers, and put Purpoodock on the national map. Senior PGA legends such as Gary Player, Bill Casper and Orville Moody thrilled the gallery with the legendary Arnold Palmer taking the final year’s trophy in 1986. 

2022 marks the hundredth anniversary of this dynamic club. Against all odds, it was brought to life out of the rocky ledges and thick woods of Cape Elizabeth by generations of dedicated members. Purpoodock is a golfer’s golf course - a shotmaker’s club. The longest short course you’ll ever play. It’s rugged, windy, and challenging — and we wouldn’t have it any other way!