Ouimet Memorial Preview: The Courses

The year after Francis Ouimet passed away in 1967, his friends at Woodland GC decided to start a tournament in his memory. Until 1974, Woodland hosted the event alone. That year Charles River CC cohosted the event; that model has continued the last 51 years. One course hosts the first two rounds, and then Woodland GC welcomes the cut makers for the final round.

In 1999, a Lowery Division for the seniors was added to the tournament. It’s named after Eddie Lowery, Ouimet’s friend and caddie int he 1913 U.S. Open win. Then in 2004 a women’s division rounded out a robust event with all three divisions competing simultaneously.

Wollaston GC is hosting the Ouimet Memorial for the seventh time and the first time since 2013 when Matt Parziale won. Wollaston has close connections to Ouimet, as he won the Mass. Amateur there in 1913. It wasn’t on this particular property, as Presidents GC in Quincy, Mass. was the original site of the club.

In 1976, Wollaston GC opened in Milton. George and Tom Fazio designed the course and also touched up the old site to prepare it for public play.

In 1992, Tiger Woods won the U.S. Junior Amateur at Wollaston GC. The second of his six straight amateur USGA triumphs (U.S. Junior 1991-1993 and U.S. Amateur 1994-1996).

The club recently tweaked the course, removing trees and softening the greens. As the course evolves, some of the strategy has changed. Technology also has had an impact on how some of the holes are attacked by the best players, particularly the par fives, which all have a fair bit of quirk that can reward risk taking.

Woodland GC’s connection to Ouimet goes back to when he was 17 years old. He joined as junior member in 1910, just years before he changed the sport in America. He won the 1915 Mass. Amateur at Woodland, capping a run of three straight Mass. Amateur wins which started in 1913 at Wollaston GC.

The course claims a few different architects. Wayne Stiles designed the first nine holes in 1901 and Donald Ross did a redesign in 1928. Geoffrey Cornish did some work in the middle of the century and Stephen Kay did some work in the 1990s.

In 2020, Tyler Rae did an entire bunker overhaul. The work improved and moved bunkers into landing areas, making the course play more true to the original intent.

The Ouimet tees at Woodland measure 6,800 yards and play to a par 71.

The identity of the course is in the flow of the routing. The opening and closing stretches are where birdies can be grabbed, while the middle of the round presents a real challenge.

There are no bad holes at Woodland GC, but there are no truly eye-popping holes. A strong set with some outstanding greens that look mundane, without massive tiers, but players can walk off wondering what happened after a three-putt.

There’s just one par three and one par five on the front nine, which is also an interesting quirk.

Let’s dig into each course and look which holes could have an impact on the event.

The rest of this post dives into important holes at both courses. It will continue for paid newsletter subscribers.

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