John Van Kleek

Williamstown, MA

Taconic Golf Club is a semi-private, par-71, 18-hole course in Williamstown, Massachusetts, owned by Williams College. Its origins trace to 1896, when William Howard Doughty, James M. Ide and others laid out an early course on land next to the college's athletic fields. Wayne Stiles of Stiles & Van Kleek designed the current 18-hole layout, completed in 1927-28 on about 100 acres. Many greens sit atop knolls, with the challenge concentrated around the putting surfaces rather than off the tee, and the par-3 17th is the only hole surviving from the original 1896 layout. Gil Hanse renovated the course in 2009. Visitors may play on a limited basis alongside members.

Last verified 2026-09-17

Dalton, MA

Wahconah Country Club was conceived in October 1928, when a group of Dalton residents hired Wayne Stiles to design an 18-hole course on the eastern hills of Berkshire County. Stiles laid out the front nine, which opened for play in the fall of 1929, while John Van Kleek designed the back nine. The formal opening was held on May 30, 1930. The front nine plays through open fairways with large greens and long views across the Berkshires. The back nine tightens considerably, with narrower, tree-lined fairways and smaller greens that demand positional golf off the tee. The par-71 layout measures 6,553 yards from the back tees with a course rating of 71.9 and a slope of 126. Wahconah has operated as a semi-private club throughout its history, welcoming daily-fee players alongside its membership. The bent-grass tees, fairways, and greens reflect the course's original Stiles and Van Kleek design, which has remained largely intact for more than ninety years.

Lenox, MA

Wyndhurst Golf & Club in Lenox occupies part of the historic Wyndhurst estate in the Berkshires, with an eighteen-hole course designed in 1926 by Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek. Tree-lined fairways and naturally contoured greens have been preserved through a century of play, and the club marked its centennial in 2025. The routing takes advantage of Berkshire hillside views while keeping much of the original Stiles and Van Kleek character intact. Attached to a resort built around a Gilded Age mansion, the course pairs golf with lodging and wellness amenities.

Lake Placid, NY

Classic Adirondack golf with Walter Hagen roots

Last verified 2026-09-17

Brockton, MA

D.W. Field Golf Course is a municipal course in Brockton, Massachusetts, set within D.W. Field Park, a large municipal park designed in part by Frederick Law Olmsted. The course, established in 1927, was designed by the firm of Stiles and Van Kleek. During the 1930s, Works Progress Administration crews expanded the original fairways, added bunkers and regraded portions of the course. The par-70 layout offers generous landing areas and open approaches into small, undulating greens, with a variety of tee options and noticeable elevation change across the property. The park setting includes ponds and wooded areas that surround much of the course. D.W. Field remains a municipal course open to the public, with outings and leagues hosted regularly at the facility.

Beverly, MA

Olde Salem Greens is a nine-hole municipal course set within Highland Park in Salem, Massachusetts, about 20 miles northeast of Boston (the course is sometimes listed under nearby Beverly). Built in 1933 as a WPA project, it was designed by Wayne Stiles, who also laid out Taconic Golf Club and other well-known New England public courses. The course follows the natural, rocky terrain of Highland Park with rolling ground, blind shots, and small, varied greens typical of early 20th-century minimalist design. Played from its standard tees it measures 2,847 yards at a par of 35 for nine holes. Owned and operated by the City of Salem, Olde Salem Greens is public, requires a collared shirt and soft spikes, and allows tee-time booking up to six days ahead for the general public.

Wellfleet, MA

Semi-links golf with stunning Wellfleet Harbor views since 1929

Plainfield, VT

Country Club of Barre is located in Plainfield, Vermont, despite its name, on rolling hills in the town. The club was founded in 1924 by a group of Barre businessmen who purchased a 210-acre farm, and the course was designed by architect Wayne Stiles. A second nine was added in 1969. The semi-private, par-71 course plays 6,315 yards and includes a pro shop staffed by a PGA professional, along with men's and women's leagues and club tournaments.

Last verified 2026-09-17

Vineyard Haven, MA

A hidden gem in the West Chop area of Martha's Vineyard

Bronx, NY

One of NYC oldest public courses - classic Bronx parkland since 1901.

Staten Island, NY

Silver Lake Golf Course is a New York City-operated public course on Staten Island's North Shore, close to the Staten Island Ferry terminal. It was designed by architect John Van Kleek, who also worked on several other New York City golf courses, and opened in 1929. The par-69 layout runs about 6,050 yards with a classic design of small greens and narrow, tree-lined fairways that make the course play longer than its yardage suggests. Holes in the 12th-through-14th stretch are known locally for testing shot-making. The course and its Veranda Restaurant are open to the public year-round, with a recent drainage project improving playing conditions.

Amesbury, MA

Amesbury Golf & Country Club is a 9-hole course in Amesbury, Massachusetts, near the New Hampshire seacoast. It was founded in 1922 when local businessmen purchased the 110-acre Smith Farm, and architect Wayne Stiles designed the nine holes, which opened for play in 1924 under the original name Powder House Hill Country Club. The club was member-owned until 1960, when it was purchased by the Mellon family and opened to public play while retaining club amenities. A spring on the sixth hole was the inspiration for a John Greenleaf Whittier poem. Today it operates as a semi-private, family-owned facility with a pro shop, restaurant and putting green, offering both public greens fees and seasonal memberships.

Springfield, MA

Franconia Golf Course in Springfield is a public 18-hole course, designed by notable architects, offering a well-conditioned and challenging round.