SCORE: 9.2
Vesper Country Club Video Review Here
Value (8.6)
Condition (9.9)
Atmosphere (9.0)
Growing up as middle class kids in Chelmsford, we were thankful for the ability to play at Chelmsford CC and later Mount Pleasant - wouldn’t have it any other way. However, the golf mecca in the area resided on the Merrimack River in Tyngsborough, and any time you crossed that bridge to Vesper CC, it was a special treat.
My first trek onto the island was at 15 years old prepping for my first Lowell City Tournament. I’ll never forget blasting my first putt past the hole only to hear Mr. Dallmeyer say “welcome to Vepser”. The greens have always been the gold standard in the Merrimack Valley, even though a sliver of the population will actually get to experience them.
What was always known as a “stuffy” membership of out of touch elders has quickly turned into groups of younger families and individuals who appreciate the beauty the course has to offer. And of course if you have the dough, it’s an incredible place to raise your kids with a pool, tennis courts, camps, and countless activities.
The course has been met by several new golf professionals and greens superintendents in the last decade that has come with pros and cons. Consistency of conditions was always a strength of Vesper’s, which has been spotty according to certain members as of late. In late 2025, the membership invested millions to completely redo the bunkers all around the course. I’m extremely eager to see the final product and am curious how much of an impact it will actually make on the course.
If you asked me “what course in New England would you want to play every day?” Vesper would undoubtedly be at the top of the list. The Donald Ross layout that rewards righties with a draw (opposite of my ball flight) bolsters a challenge and beauty intertwined throughout 18 holes. The Eighth hole correctly owns the #1 handicap rating for a reason - a 235 yard tee ball that requires precision over a hill to a dog leg left, only to be met with a 160 yard approach to an elevated green with a brutal false front, just as Donald Ross intended. I can’t tell you how many times I've spun my approach shot off the front all the way to the foot of the hill, or forced into a deep bunker half way down. Making par isn't an easy feat on 8.
A part of me will always dream of a membership at The V, even as we travel across New England to play some of the top rated courses in the area. It will always have a special place in our hearts, and rightfully earns a spot in the top 20-30 private courses in MA.