KINGSTON, Massachusetts – Indian Pond Country Club, a private 18 hole, par 72 championship course that Golf Digest has rated in the top 20 in the Commonwealth, is in the news again, but this time for all the right reasons.
If you recall, in 2021 Indian Pond Country Club made national news because a couple sued the neighboring golf course after more than 650 errant golf balls struck their home near the 15th hole. In the lawsuit – Tenczar v. Indian Pond Country Club, Inc. – a 2021 jury initially awarded the family nearly $5 million, but the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court unanimously overturned the verdict in December 2022 and ordered a new trial. Eventually, the case was sent back down for a retrial to determine whether the 15th hole’s design or operation was fundamentally unreasonable, rather than just blaming the club for standard errant golf shots and the case was settled when the club adjusted the layout and moved the tee box on the 15th hole to help minimize dangerous wayward shots.
Now comes good news for the club and its membership. On May 1, longtime member Bobby Palma, an established local business owner who owns several full service dental laboratories across Massachusetts, purchased the property for $12 million. The property covers 147 acres of rolling, scenic vistas and includes 52,000 sq. ft. clubhouse, pro shop, member’s private grille, Grand Ballroom, driving range and pool. According to records at Plymouth Country Registry of Deeds, Rockland Trust financed the purchase holding an $8 million mortgage.
“Indian Pond Country Club has been a special place for me for many years, not only as a member, but as someone who grew up here in Kingston and cares deeply about this community. Owning the club is both a personal honor and a significant responsibility,” said Bobby Palma, an avid golfer and 12 handicap. “My goal is to build on the strong foundation that already exists, support our members and employees, and continue making Indian Pond a place where families, friends, and neighbors can come together for generations to come. I’m grateful to Rockland Trust for their partnership and support in helping make this vision a reality.”
The Plymouth area of Massachusetts is rich in golf history totaling 11 public and private courses, that seemed to lead the way in golf course openings around the Tiger Boom era. Plymouth Country Club is a Golden Age gem, with both Old Sandwich Golf Club and Indian Pond Country Club being 21st century entries into the region’s scene. Award-winning public courses include Pine Hills, Waverly Oaks and Crosswinds. Atlantic Country Club is popular as is Southers Marsh, which is also celebrating its 25th year. https://newengland.golf/southers-marsh-golf-club-celebrates-25-years/
Indian Pond was originally built as part of a residential development by Fred Tonsberg, who added the golf course sitting outside of the property lines. In fact, with the exception of a few holes, the course takes a rather Pine Valley-approach to its routing, with individual holes living within their own tree-lined corridors. Adding to the excellent golf experience is the number of large bunkers that require accuracy and strategy to make par.
Three holes come into play with the namesake Indian Pond. Hole No. 10 is a reachable par 5 where the pond comes into play with an aggressive approach. Hole No. 12 is a reachable par 4 with a similar theme, while No. 13 is a par 3 that will require a carry across the water.
The private club offers attractive membership fees in the $10,000 initiation range and then annual dues of about $8,000. Those fees are discounted compared to Charles River CC, Winchester CC GC or Wollaston GC which collect about $100,000 non-refundable initiation fee. The new & improved Indian Pond Country Club offers several levels of memberships and has started a new chapter with a new owner, after some turbulent years under the Tonsberg reign.
Homes prices in the Indian Pond Estates and set among wooded conservation land start at $750,000. Indian Pond’s management team will continue to oversee daily operations across golf, dining, events, and facilities. Erik Daigle, owner of Bluefish River Tavern in Duxbury, will join the project to lead food and beverage operations. He’ll be joined by acclaimed local chef Joel Mantel of Plymouth’s East Bay Grille. Brian Langevin will continue as Director of Golf.
https://www.indianpondcountryclub.com
