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Architect

Stiles and Van Kleek

Stiles & Van Kleek was the design partnership of Wayne Stiles of Boston and John Van Kleek of St. Petersburg, formed in 1924 and active until the Depression ended most new golf construction. Stiles handled the New England work while Van Kleek covered Florida, and the firm built a reputation for routings that followed existing land forms rather than reshaping them. Courses credited to the partnership include Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Boothbay Harbor Country Club in Maine, and Hooper Golf Course in Walpole, New Hampshire. Several of their layouts have since been restored using the firm's original drawings.

Courses on BogeyMap
3
States
3
Avg LooperScore
85.4
Highest rated
Rutland Country Club

Biography

Stiles & Van Kleek was the design partnership of Wayne Stiles of Boston and John Van Kleek of St. Petersburg, formed in 1924 and active until the Depression ended most new golf construction. Stiles handled the New England work while Van Kleek covered Florida, and the firm built a reputation for routings that followed existing land forms rather than reshaping them. Courses credited to the partnership include Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Boothbay Harbor Country Club in Maine, and Hooper Golf Course in Walpole, New Hampshire. Several of their layouts have since been restored using the firm's original drawings.

Where the work is: VT · ME · NH

Courses on BogeyMap (3)

Private18 holes

Rutland Country Club

Rutland, VT · Location not mapped

Rutland Country Club is a private 18-hole club a mile north of downtown Rutland, Vermont, at the corner of Grove and Field Streets. The club dates to 1901, when it began as the three-hole Rutland Golf Club at Clement Woods before moving to its current site. The present course is a Stiles and Van Kleek design, a par 70 playing 6,185 yards from the blue tees with a 71.2 rating and 143 slope. The layout is tight, with creeks, out of bounds and several fairways sitting close together, and the greens are known for heavy slope, especially the long par-3 fifth. The club has hosted plenty of notable visitors over the years, from Ted Williams to Keegan Bradley. Unaccompanied guest play is allowed based on availability, so non-members can call the pro shop to check the tee sheet. Baxter's Restaurant on site is open year-round to members and the public.

Role: original_design

Private18 holes

Boothbay Harbor Country Club

Boothbay Harbor, ME

Boothbay Harbor Country Club sits on the Boothbay Peninsula in Maine. Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek designed the original nine holes, which opened in 1921 for a group of Boston businessmen looking to draw visitors to the coastal town. The course grew to 18 holes in 1999, then went through a full rebuild by architect Bruce Hepner after businessman Paul Coulombe bought the property in 2013. Hepner reshaped the routing and greens as part of a larger renovation of the grounds, and the rebuilt course reopened in 2016 alongside a new clubhouse. The par-71 layout plays 6,655 yards from the back tees over rolling coastal terrain, with streams crossing several holes and views toward the surrounding hills. Boothbay Harbor Country Club operates as a private club. Outside play is not generally available, and access runs through membership or as the guest of a member.

Resort Access

Role: architect

Public9 holes

Hooper Golf Course

Walpole, NH

Hooper Golf Course sits at the top of Prospect Hill Road in Walpole, New Hampshire. Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek designed the nine holes, and the course opened on July 2, 1927, a year after the Hooper Golf Club formed. The old Watkins Tavern serves as the clubhouse. The land rolls hard, and the greens are small, tilted and full of movement, which keeps the course playing firm against modern equipment. Hooper measures 3,033 yards at par 36 from the back tees. It is a public 9-hole course that also offers memberships.

Hidden GemVibes

Role: architect