Wawenock Golf Club in Walpole will mark a full century of golf and community on Saturday, Aug. 1, with a day-long centennial celebration honoring the club's opening on Aug. 11, 1926, and looking ahead to its next hundred years.

The club's story began on that August afternoon a century ago, when Murray Shipley stepped to the first tee and sent a true, well-placed opening shot down the fairway — a swing that, in effect, opened Wawenock Golf Club to the community it has served ever since.

Now, 100 years later, the club is inviting members and friends to celebrate that milestone together. The Wawenock Centennial Celebration will include:

- An 18-hole tournament, open to members looking to test their game on the course's centennial anniversary

- A cookout, bringing together golfers and families for a casual midday gathering

- A 9-hole family scramble, offering a relaxed, welcoming format for members of all ages and skill levels

- A centennial celebration dinner, capping off the day with a fun evening of reflection and celebration

"This is a milestone about looking back and looking forward at the same time," said Matt Poole, president of Wawenock's Board of Trustees. "We're incredibly proud of the first 100 years of golf and community here at Wawenock, and just as excited about where the club is headed next. Our leadership has things moving in the right direction, and August 1 is a chance for everyone who has been part of this club's story — past and present — to celebrate that together."

As part of the centennial celebration, a team of members from Wawenock Golf Club published "Wawenock: A Century of Golf & Community," a commemorative book chronicling the club's history from its founding to today. The book was provided free of charge to all club members and to local libraries and historical societies throughout the region, ensuring that Wawenock's story remains part of the community's shared history for years to come.

The centennial year has also brought a new investment in the game's future. As part of its commitment to growing golf among the next generation, Wawenock is proud to announce Hamilton Pierpan and Harrison Thompson of Lincoln Academy as the inaugural recipients of the Murray S. Shipley Scholarship. The award honors Wawenock's first president, who struck the club's opening tee shot — fitting namesakes for a scholarship launched exactly a century later to invest in the next 100 years of youth golf.

"A hundred years ago, Murray Shipley's opening tee shot set the tone for everything this club would become," Poole added. "Publishing this book, launching a scholarship in his name, and gathering together on August 1 is our way of honoring that legacy while making sure the next hundred years are just as strong."

About Wawenock Golf Club

Founded in 1926 in Walpole, Maine, Wawenock Golf Club is a 501 (c) (3) organization that has served as a home for golf and community for a century. As the club celebrates its centennial in 2026, it continues to look toward its future under the direction of its current leadership.

For more information, visit wawenock100.com and wawenockgolfclub.com.