ESSEX COUNTY CLUB

The North Shore's windswept terrain creates a masterclass in strategic golf architecture, where elevated tees reveal sweeping views of Massachusetts Bay while demanding precise club selection through constantly shifting coastal breezes. Donald Ross's routing genius shines brightest on the par-4 6th, where a seemingly innocent approach shot over marshland can balloon into disaster if you misjudge the prevailing southwest wind. This is old-school New England golf at its purest—no tricks, just honest shot-making rewarded and mental lapses punished by one of America's most unforgiving yet fair seaside tests.