Cape Ann Golf Course

    If it wasn't for a bolt of lightning, the Stavros family might still be getting up early to milk the cows.
      In the 1920's James Stavros and James Thanos ran a dairy farm on the scenic strip of land overlooking the salt marsh on the Essex Coast, but when the barn caught on fire in the storm of 1930, the livestock was lost and the farm was destroyed. Left with a wide stretch of land and not much to do with it, Stavros and Thanos asked Eugene "Skip" Wogan, then the pro at Essex County Club in Manchester to design a golf course on the land. Wogan studied under the pre-eminent course designer at the time, Donald Ross.
      "It was as if Donald Ross designed the course." said George Stavros Sr. who began working at the golf course full time in 1953.
      From the ashes of the dairy farm, James Stavros (George's Uncle) and James Thanos opened Cape Ann Golf Course in 1931, in the height of the depression. And with that, a life of early mornings, long hours and little time off during the warm weather months was set in motion for future generations. In many ways, a family's life of running a golf course is like farming, right down to the resilience of the weather. Instead of the cows, they now rely on fairway mowers to help keep the grass short. In 1945 Stavros bought out Thanos and the Stavros Family has been in charge ever since.
      Today at Cape Ann, it's George's son Jim who runs the course. George serves as the patriarch after handing over the keys to the next generation. The course itself is 9 holes and features a number of water holes overlooking the Essex River. Our 4th hole dog leg left that sits atop the hill is best known for the view. The view overlooks the Essex salt marshes, the Essex river and the backside of Cranes Beach. It was recognized in North Shore Golf Magazine article "Dream 18" The par 3 7th hole which is only reachable by hitting over the marsh was also recognized in North Shore Golf Magazines "Top hardest holes on the North Shore."
      Cape Ann Golf Course has been visited by some notable people. Of them was famous writer John Updike who was seen playing the course every now and then. He has mentioned the course in an essay he wrote called This Crowded Life. He also wrote two pieces about the golf course; one called The Big Bad Boom which can be found in his book titled Golf Dreams and the other one called The Golf Course Owner. The Big Bad Boom describes the 4th and 7th holes and The Golf Course Owner was written in honor of late Golf Course owner James Stavros. In the piece Updike doesn't use James's name, instead he refers to him as Harry.

CAPE ANN GOLF COURSE
HOLE	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	OUT
WHITE	342	364	169	414	336	278	197	385	341	2826
PAR	4	4	3	4	4	4	3	4	4	34
HCP	7	5	15	1	9	11	13	3	17
RED	248	274	169	311	262	273	96	253	326	2212
PAR	4	4	3	4	4	4	3	4	4	34

HOLE	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	IN	Total
BLUE	357	379	181	462	346	289	258	410	354	3036	5862
PAR	4	4	3	5	4	4	3	4	4	35	69
HCP	8	6	16	14	12	10	4	2	18
RED	248	274	169	311	262	273	96	253	326	2212	4424
PAR	4	4	3	4	4	4	3	4	4	34	68

Massachusetts Golf Association COURSE & SLOPE RATINGS
Cape Ann Golf Course	Course Rating	Slope Rating
BLUE	68.3	119
WHITE	68.3	119
RED	65.2	113

USGA RULES

USGA rules govern for areas defined by white, red, and yellow stakes.

LOCAL RULES

USGA rules govern for areas defined by white(OB), red (lateral) and yellow (hazard) stakes.

GENERAL RULES

No more than four players per group. Be sure groups ahead are out of range before playing. Players making the turn for the back nine will alternate with players starting the front nine.