History

From 2012-2014, the design firm of Coore & Crenshaw restored Maidstone to recapture the strategic, hard and fast, uncluttered links designed in 1922 by Willie Park, Jr.

Dunes were cleared; trees, bushes, brambles, long grasses, weeds, and rough were eliminated. Fairways and greens were widened to approximate their original shape and short-grass run-off areas created wherever conditions dictated. All bunkers were re-edged, many were re-shaped or moved closer to green and fairway. Five bunkers that had fallen into non-use were reclaimed. Eight new bunkers were added to provide challenges for the long hitter. Six new “back” (blue) tees were added and nine new “short” (red) tees. Tall grass fescue was limited to marginal areas. The Coore & Crenshaw plan was to make the course fairer and more interesting for all handicap levels; to give players more than one choice in playing each hole; to enhance the beauty of the course by opening up unhindered vistas from the ocean to the inland waterways; to incorporate the dunes into the playing areas of the links; to speed up play by preventing lost balls; to enlarge greens creating more contour and additional pin positions and to restore the variety of shot-making that comes with a hard and fast links course.