YARMOUTH, Massachusetts – Golf isn’t necessarily the best reason to visit Cape Cod but it sure is high on the list of things to do. With 559 miles of shoreline, the Cape offers spectacular beaches, quaint villages, museums, seafood shacks, lighthouses, ponds and 27 public courses and 15 private clubs.
Some of the most widely renowned golf course architects have had a hand in sculpting Cape Cod’s scenic fairways and greens including Donald Ross, who has designed or redesigned over 400 courses in the United States, among them is Bass River Golf Course, located about mid-Cape on the 65-mile peninsula.
Founded in 1900, this year Bass River Golf Course is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a ribbon cutting ceremony planned on Wednesday July 2 at 10 a.m. sponsored by the Town of Yarmouth and Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce. The public is invited and the day promises to be filled with fun, festivities and golf including a two-man Scramble tournament, prizes, 125th Anniversary merchandise, best dressed golf contest, food, drinks, lawn games, putting contests and more.
‘The town is energized and excited to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Bass River Golf Course,” said former Yarmouth Golf Committee member Andrew Laird. “The town of Yarmouth is proud of the 45 holes of golf available to the public golfer at our three golf properties. Based on the tee sheets filling up every day in first half of 2025, it appears our golf program is on a record-setting pace for rounds played and that golfers are enjoying the marvelous conditions of the courses.”
In 1914, Ross redesigned and expanded the original Bass River layout that features wide fairways, small greens and scenic views of Bass River. The course offers multiple sets of tees stretching out to 6,138 yards from the tips and the signature hole is No. 9, a 169-yard par 3 which plays across marshland to a slightly elevated green.
When the municipal course opened in 1900 the green fees were only 25 cents. In 1914, after Bass River hired Ross to re-design the track, adding 9 more holes, this raised the green fees to $1.25. The rates today are $60 weekdays and $70 weekends with discounts available after 2 p.m.
The front nine at Bass River features four par 4s, three par 5s and one par 3 totaling 38. The back side offers five par 4s, three par 3s and one par 5 totaling 34.
The signature hole at Bass River is the 169-yard par 3 ninth hole and a favorite of most players. The tee and green are slightly elevated but a large swarth of marsh from the Bass River carves into the left side of the hole. It’s all carry so take a little extra club.
Celebrating 125 years and going strong, Bass River Golf Course is one of New England’s oldest public courses and a favorite for native Cape Codders and vacationers!
