Brae Burn Country Club is a private, members-only club at 326 Fuller Street in West Newton, Massachusetts, founded in 1897. Its 18-hole Main course is a Donald Ross design that hosted Walter Hagen’s 1919 U.S.
Open win and Bobby Jones’s 1928 U.S. Amateur win, and you can only play it as a member’s guest, through a golf outing or private event, or as a free spectator at USGA championships such as the 2028 U.S. Women’s Amateur. Keep reading for a more detailed explanation of the course, its history, and how to get access.
Brae Burn at a Glance: Location, Contacts, and Getting There
Brae Burn sits at 326 Fuller Street in West Newton, MA 02465, about 10 miles from downtown Boston. The club runs 27 holes: the 18-hole Main course and the 9-hole Highland course. Sources disagree a little on the property size. A local conservation group’s newsletter puts it at 196 acres, while the club says 200. On the course side, Golf Digest ranks the Main course 23rd in Massachusetts for 2025-26, down from 21st.
Who to Contact
The right number depends on what you need:
- Main line: (617) 244-0680
- Golf Shop: (617) 244-4411
- Tennis House: (857) 226-5751
- Pool House: (857) 226-5739
- Fax: 617-244-0914. Some directories list 617-965-3256, but that number is probably outdated.
Questions about joining go to General Manager Jason Nill. If you’re planning a wedding, golf outing, or private event, reach out to Deirdre Duddy-Kennedy, the Wedding and Special Events Director, at ddk@braeburngolf.com or 857-226-5724. The club’s website is braeburngolf.com, and it includes a member login portal.
Directions and Parking
The club is about five minutes from the Massachusetts Turnpike via I-95/Route 128. From I-95/128, take Route 16 to Route 30 (Commonwealth Avenue), turn toward the hill, and look for the Brae Burn sign on the right. One catch: the club’s written directions still use the old I-90 exit numbers 14 and 16. The Turnpike has since moved to mileage-based exits, so rely on your GPS rather than those numbers.
If you’d rather skip the drive, the Woodland and Waban stops on the MBTA Green Line D branch are each about 1 mile away.
Once you arrive, enter through the stone pillars on Fuller Street. Bag drop is in front of the Golf Shop, and parking is in the two lots across the street. The club’s outings page also mentions a 230-space lot next to the clubhouse.
Hours and Season
Brae Burn doesn’t publish public hours, since members can use the club year-round. A Yelp listing shows 9 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m., but it’s unverified, so don’t plan around it. Golf season generally runs from about April 1 or April 15 through December 1.
Timing matters right now. As of late October 2026, the golf season is in its final weeks, and the pool stays closed until Memorial Day weekend.
The History of Brae Burn: From a Nine-Hole Links to a Ross Classic
Brae Burn began as Brae Burn Golf Club, built around a nine-hole “links” course. The club dates its opening to May 29, 1897, though another account puts it at May 12, 1897. It joined the USGA as an allied member in March 1898, and the first clubhouse went up in 1899.
How the Name Came About
The name has a Scottish backstory. At an organizing meeting, Mrs. George Frost suggested a Scottish name. “Brae” means a steep bank above a river valley, and “burn” means a stream. The club adopted the thistle and the Leslie tartan as its insignia on May 18, 1897, and its newsletter is still called The Thistle.
On March 9, 1904, the club renamed itself Brae Burn Country Club, partly to add winter sports such as skating, tobogganing, curling, and hockey.
How the Course Grew
The layout changed several times in the club’s first three decades:
- 1897-1902: the original nine holes
- 1902-1912: the first 18-hole course
- 1912-1928: the second 18-hole course
Around 1903, the club turned down a proposal to merge with neighboring Woodland Golf Club. In 1904, members voted to cap membership at 300, but demand kept climbing, and by the early 1920s the club had about 800 members. That growth led to the second nine-hole course.
The Ross Connection and Notable Moments
Donald Ross recruited his younger brother Alex as Brae Burn’s first professional, a post Alex held from 1902 to 1914. He won the 1907 U.S. Open while holding that job. Donald Ross redesigned the course in 1912 and again in 1928.
A few other moments stand out:
- 1900: Boston pro Bernard (Ben) Nicholls beat Harry Vardon in a 36-hole exhibition on the original nine, in front of roughly 500 spectators.
- 1935: Member Edward S. Stimpson Sr. won the Massachusetts Amateur at Brae Burn. He also invented the Stimpmeter, the device that measures green speed, and one is on display in the clubhouse lobby. The club’s own timeline lists the inventor as “Jr.,” which conflicts with other sources.
Playing the Main Course: Design, Key Holes, and Numbers
Donald Ross redesigned the Main course in 1912 and again in 1928, building on early holes laid out by George H. Phelps and others. The layout has held steady since 1928, with only a few changes to tee boxes and greens. Club historian Kevin Mendik describes it as the same layout, tee to green, that hosted the 1928 national amateur.
Design and Preservation
The club has no Ross drawings of the course. The key historical document is a 1915 topographic plan by Wayne Stiles, an early member and architect.
A few changes are worth knowing about:
- 1960s: Geoffrey Cornish rebuilt the 11th green, a former punchbowl that had drainage problems.
- 2015 or 2019: Course databases list work by Ron Forse and Jim Nagle of Forse Design, with the date varying by source. Nothing public confirms what that work covered, so treat it as unverified.
Holes From 1897 Still in Play
Several holes follow the original 1897 routing. The 18th was the original 1st, played in reverse, and today’s 1st was the original 9th, also reversed. Holes 7 through 10 were the original 2nd through 5th.
The Signature Hole
The par-3 8th plays across a valley, with a footbridge running from the tee to the green. It also holds a piece of U.S. Open history. In the 1919 U.S. Open, Willie Chisholm made an 18 here, which remains the U.S. Open record for the highest score on a par 3.
Par, Yardage, and Ratings
Par is 72, but published yardages vary depending on the source and the tees:
- 6,192 yards: blue markers, per the club’s outings page
- 6,618 yards: Gold tees, 73.3 rating, 135 slope
- 6,218 yards: Blue tees, 71.0 rating, 130 slope
- 6,724 yards: championship tees, 74.7 rating
- 6,135 yards: the USGA setup for the 2024 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur
For current numbers, check with the Golf Shop or the USGA course rating database.
Other figures to keep in mind:
- Course record: 64, set by Nick Maccario at the 2019 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur
- Posted rated pace: 4 hours 3 minutes
- Ranking: 23rd in Massachusetts for 2025-26, per Golf Digest. The course ranked in the state top 5 in 1987 and 1991 and in the top 10 through much of the 1990s.
The Highland Course
Brae Burn’s second course is a 9-hole, par-33 layout that plays 2,440 yards from the blue markers. It opened on September 22, 1922, on land bought from founding member Henry B. Day. Its routing includes the original “Beacon Hill” hole.
For decades it was called the “No. 2 Course.” A 1994 upgrade added cart paths and moved the 6th tee to make room for the practice range, and the course was renamed the Highland Course at that point.
Championship History and the 2028 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Brae Burn has hosted eight USGA national championships, along with more than 40 state championships. It is one of three clubs to have hosted the U.S. Women’s Amateur three times, and it has hosted the Massachusetts Women’s Amateur 15 times, more than any other club in the state.
Eight USGA Championships
1906 U.S. Women’s Amateur. Harriot Curtis won the club’s first USGA event.
1919 U.S. Open (June 9-12). Originally awarded for 1917, the event was postponed because of World War I. Mike Brady led after the second and third rounds, but Walter Hagen made up five strokes in the final round to tie at 301. On the 72nd hole, Hagen called Brady out of the clubhouse to watch his putt for the win, then missed it. He took the 18-hole playoff 77 to 78, helped by a free drop on the 17th. It was also the first U.S. Open played as four rounds over three days.
The club calls Hagen the first American-born player to win the U.S. Open twice, but that claim is shaky. American-born John McDermott won in 1911 and 1912.
1928 U.S. Amateur. Bobby Jones won. Brae Burn member Ray Gorton took him to extra holes in the second round, and Jones beat Phil Perkins 10 and 9 in the final.
The remaining championships:
- 1958 Curtis Cup: a 4½-4½ tie, which let Great Britain & Ireland keep the cup
- 1970 Curtis Cup: a U.S. win
- 1975 U.S. Women’s Amateur: won by 18-year-old Beth Daniel
- 1997 U.S. Women’s Amateur: held in the club’s centennial year and won by Silvia Cavalleri, the first Italian champion
- 2024 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur (September 7-12): the USGA took 491 entries, the most since 2007, and Hana Ryskova beat Lindsay Gahm 5 and 4 in the final
State and Regional Events
The Massachusetts Amateur has been played at Brae Burn 11 times. Francis Ouimet won it here in 1914, and the most recent edition, in 2021, went to Michael Thorbjornsen. The club has also hosted the Massachusetts Open five times and the New England Amateur in 1946 and 1963.
The 2028 U.S. Women’s Amateur
The U.S. Women’s Amateur returns August 7-13, 2028, which will be the club’s ninth USGA championship. The week also marks 100 years since Jones’s win in 1928.
Spectator admission is free, which makes it the easiest way for non-members to see the course. The club also runs a donor program for the event through Mass Golf, with tiers such as the $1,897 “1897 Club” and the $250 “Bag Tag Club.”
How to Get Access: Guest Play, Membership, and Private Events
Brae Burn offers three routes inside: playing as a member’s guest, joining as a member, or booking a golf outing or private event. There are no public tee times, so each route runs through a member or the club’s staff.
Playing as a Guest
Play is limited to members and their guests. The club appears on GolfNow, but you can’t book a tee time there. Members are expected to explain the dress code and phone policy to their guests before the visit, so ask your host for both.
Joining the Club
The club doesn’t publish membership categories, fees, or an application form. Its website points interested people to a current member or General Manager Jason Nill.
In practice, a sponsoring member comes first. Applicants are proposed by sponsors, their names go out to the membership, and an Admission Committee weighs member comments before it decides. When you reach out to Nill, ask about:
- Membership categories
- Initiation fee
- Annual dues
- Food-and-beverage minimum
- Capital assessment
- Any waitlist
A “long waiting list” has been mentioned only in an unverified, anecdotal comment, so confirm it directly.
Be careful with fee numbers you find online. Ranges of about $25,000 to $50,000 belong to an unrelated Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, NY. A BraeBurn Country Club in Houston is also a different club.
What the Financial Filings Show
Brae Burn is a 501(c)(7) social club, tax-exempt since August 1934, with a fiscal year that ends in October. Its filings give a rough picture of the money involved:
- Fiscal 2024: revenue of $17,149,774, expenses of $16,749,582, and net assets of $25,857,588
- Initiation fees and contributions: $2,311,550 in fiscal 2024, $1,855,950 in 2023, and $2,450,122 in 2022
Another filing summary lists $3,116,614 in “Season Privileges” and $1,222,200 in “Capital Fees.” That suggests members pay capital assessments on top of dues, though the fiscal year for those lines is unclear.
Initiation revenue of about $2 million a year points to a substantial buy-in. That’s an inference, since the per-member amount isn’t public.
The same filings show fiscal 2024 pay for three leaders: Nill at $400,724, Director of Golf Philip Psaros at $265,720, and Superintendent Sean Nolan at $233,002. Peter Gailligan was listed as president.
Golf Outings and Weddings
If you can’t line up a member host, a hosted outing or private event is the other way onto the property. Outings include carts, bag service, scoring by PGA staff, practice facilities, course books, and catering. The calendar is often filled a year or more in advance, so plan early.
Wedding packages include an event coordinator, a ceremony site overlooking the course, and bridal and groom suites. Third-party listings estimate about $246 per guest, or $3,750 to $8,750 for 50 guests. Those figures are unverified, so get a current quote.
The club offers several event spaces:
- Sun Room: the main ballroom, seating up to 220 for dinner and 500 for a reception
- Curtis Room: 1,100 sq ft, seating 60 for dinner or 100 for a reception, with a 1,000 sq ft West Deck
- Skylight Room: 950 sq ft, seating 60 for a banquet or 80 theatre-style, with access to the East Deck
- Jones Suite: a private dining room
- First Tee Deck: an outdoor spot for ceremonies
The club lists the Sun Room’s size inconsistently: 1,600, 2,500, or 5,250 sq ft depending on the page. Confirm the room’s size and capacity directly before you commit.
Before You Visit: Dress Code, Etiquette, Amenities, and Recent News
Brae Burn enforces its dress code and phone rules, so it pays to read through them before you arrive. The sections below cover what to wear, how to behave on the course, what the club offers, and what’s been in the news lately.
Course Dress Code
On the course, range, and putting green, men need a collared shirt and Bermuda-length shorts. Women should wear golf attire of the kind sold in the Golf Shop. Shorts and skorts must reach at least mid-thigh, shirts must be tucked in, hats worn brim-forward, and shoes tied. Metal spikes aren’t allowed.
Leave these at home:
- Jeans of any style or color
- Tee shirts and tank tops
- Cargo pants or shorts
- Short shorts
- Tennis skirts
- Warm-ups and gym shorts
Clubhouse Dress Code
Jeans aren’t allowed anywhere on club property. White denim is the one exception, and only from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Distressed pants and cargo styles are also out, and hats come off indoors.
Other clubhouse rules:
- Workout clothes are fine only in or on the way to the Fitness Room.
- Swimwear stays at the pool.
- Tennis clothes are allowed in the Grille Room at lunch only.
- Some events require a jacket and tie, so check the event details.
Etiquette and Rules
Phone calls are limited to the locker rooms and parking areas. Quiet texting is fine elsewhere, including on the course, as long as it doesn’t disturb anyone.
The lightning signals are worth memorizing. One long horn blast means stop play and return to the clubhouse, and three short blasts mean all clear. The shelters on the course are for rain only and aren’t safe in lightning.
A few other points to keep in mind:
- Don’t drive golf carts across Fuller Street.
- Stay in bounds on holes 3, 4, and 11 of the Main course, since they border neighboring homes.
- Use yellow range balls when hitting woods or metals, and reach the range by the stone walkway behind the 18th green.
Facilities
Golf facilities include the Golf Shop, a Trackman simulator building, a driving range, and chipping and putting areas. The roughly 50,000-square-foot clubhouse has locker rooms, the Grille Room, and a member lounge, and the club also has a fitness facility.
Racquet sports and the pool round out the list:
- Tennis: 6 Har-Tru courts
- Platform tennis: the club’s own pages list 3, 4, or 5 courts, so confirm the current count
- Pickleball: 2 seasonal courts
- Pool: a slide, diving board, baby pool, and bar and grill, open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend
Juniors have golf, tennis, a swim team, and creative classes. Family events include Kids Club, the Halloween Spooktacular, Bunny Brunch, and Santa Brunch.
Recent News
Golf shop crash. On September 19, 2026, a car drove through the golf shop wall. Two employees and the driver went to Newton-Wellesley Hospital with minor injuries. Newton police cited unintentional operator error, and the building was found structurally sound. Call the Golf Shop at (617) 244-4411 to confirm its current status.
Property-tax breaks. Under Massachusetts Chapter 61B, Brae Burn saved about $600,000 in 2023. That was part of a combined $1.75 million for Newton’s three private clubs, which together saved about $7.9 million over five years. Qualifying land is assessed at no more than 25% of fair market value. Then-Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said the abatement level “deserves a second look.”
Water permit. A 2023 state Water Management Act permit covers the club’s irrigation withdrawals from the Charles River basin.
Conclusion
Brae Burn’s Main course is open to you through a member host, a golf outing or private event, or as a free spectator at the 2028 U.S. Women’s Amateur on August 7-13.
If you want to join, start by finding a sponsoring member and then contact General Manager Jason Nill, and book any outing a year or more ahead.
Before any visit, call (617) 244-0680 to confirm when the golf season closes and whether the golf shop has fully reopened.
