The Rockport Country Club, with the combined efforts and cooperation of local business- men and summer residents, was established on December 11, 1913, and incorporated on January 2, 1914, as stated in its charter. George W. Harvey was responsible for the construction of a stately club house, with its open veranda, offering an ocean view as well as the ability to see every tee and green from its elevated location, and perhaps the only one in the country, as reported in an article by the Gloucester Daily Times, of September 8, 1916. The nine-hole layout was designed by Essex County Professional Eugene Wogan and developed on farmland owned by the Lane and Smith families. A cow barn used by the Lane family housed the construction workers and is still being used for maintenance storage today. At the course opening a temporary green was still in use on the third hole.
As with most courses in this area, the success lasted through the Roaring Twenties with a membership in excess of 225 golfers. With the onset of the depression, this number was reduced to approximately 40 in 1935, at which time it faced bankruptcy. Due to the efforts of George I. Emery, an officer of the First National Bank of Boston and his plan for reorganization, the dissolving of the club was avoided with re-incorporation, and was then renamed, The Rockport Golf Club.
Today, it is flourishing again with 300 members, under the watchful eye of Head PGA Pro Steve Clayton and Greens Superintendent Bill Yanakakis, and is known for the quality of its fairways and greens.
Stephen Clayton, Golf Professional
Born in Tallahassee Florida and raised in Keene New Hampshire Stephen Clayton has been the professional at the Rockport Golf Club for 27 years.
Steve attended public school in Keene, graduating from Keene High in 1978 and attended Keene State College. In 1982 with an interest in the golf business Steve enrolled in the PGA Apprentice Program. Working as Assistant Golf Professional at the Keene Country Club, Oceanside Country Club in Ormond Beach, Fl and the Haverhill Country Club in Haverhill, MA Steve earned membership in the Professional Golfers Association, Professional Golf Teachers Foundation in June of 1987.
Helping people enjoy the game of golf has been a rewarding experience for Steve and he looks forward to an enjoyable and engaging 28th season in 2018.
Steve lives in Gloucester with his wife Valerie. They have two children, Ryan and his wife Jill, and Leslie and her husband James Psychoghios , and two granddaughters Corynn & Sophia Psychoghios.