Salem Country Club

Overview: Salem Country Club in Peabody is a classic Donald Ross parkland course whose broad corridors and contoured greens reward position before the approach. The 6,916-yard, par 72 layout is shaped by rolling ground, mature vegetation and Ross-style green complexes that can present several different angles depending on the pin. It has the scale for championship golf without losing the visual rhythm of a traditional New England course, and its established design character remains the main attraction.

History: Salem Country Club held its first official meeting in 1895, but the club moved through several locations before settling at the present Peabody property. Donald Ross designed the current course, with play beginning in 1925 and a formal grand opening following on October 12, 1926. That distinction matters: the golf course was in use before the clubhouse and broader opening celebrations were complete. The Ross routing has since been used for major amateur and professional events, including the U.S. Senior Open in 2001 and 2017.

Did You Know? Salem’s 2017 U.S. Senior Open was won by Kenny Perry, who finished two strokes ahead of Kirk Triplett. The championship returned to a course that had already hosted the event in 2001, giving Salem an uncommon place in the tournament’s history. The club’s long timeline also explains why its name refers to Salem even though the course itself is in neighboring Peabody.