Pakachoag Golf Course
22 Upland Rd.
Auburn, MA 01501
(508) 755- 3291

 

 

 

 

Before becoming Pakachoag Golf Course, Effie Ward's property was a historic site where a professor from Clark University, Robert Goddard, launched the first liquid rocket on March 16, 1926. It has been said that the golf course is the downfall of a historic site, but in this case it was the savior.
The open spaces of Effie Ward's farm have been perserved from construction and buildup due to the fact that the site became a golf course soon after the last rocket launch. The site became a golf course in 1931 and has been an active course ever since. The actual launch site is now located at the midpoint between the tee and the green on the ninth fairway of the nine hole course. A small stone fence still runs through the course as it did in Goddard's time. The site of the launch and landing of this initial flight has not been disturbed by the construction of the tees or greens. The 54- acre Pakachoag Golf Course on the gently rolling green hills called Pakachoag Hill remains essentially as it was in the mid to late 1920's. The site remained in the Ward family and Asa Ward operated the course until his death. Other family members helped to preserve the site through the 1970's. The golf course is now owned by the town of Auburn which can boast that it is the only golf course with the first liquid rocket flight obelisk as a hazard.

Golf Course Superintendent: Anthony Eckstrom

For directions to Pakachoag click here