Stow Acres Country Club in Stow, Massachusetts, is marking a century since the opening of the historic Mapledale Country Club by offering nine-hole rounds for 50 cents from 27 to 29 October 2026. For the celebration, the operator has temporarily recreated a version of Mapledale’s original nine-hole routing, established in 1926 by entrepreneur Robert H. Hawkins. This is a limited-time commemorative setup, not a permanent redesign.
Location: Stow Acres Country Club, 58 Randall Road, Stow, MA 01775, United States.
Why the price is just 50 cents
General manager David Carlson told CBS Boston that staff recovered an old club sign listing historical prices of 50 cents on weekdays and 75 cents on weekends. Although its precise date is unknown, the sign inspired the three-day centennial promotion, which runs from 27 through 29 October. CBS Boston reported the offer on 27 October; Golf Digest covered it on 28 October.
The anniversary price applies to the special nine-hole round and should not be confused with the club’s standard green fees. Tee-time availability and any additional conditions should be confirmed directly with Stow Acres.
How the original routing has returned
Carlson estimates that the old configuration has not been played for roughly eight decades. To make it possible again, the staff established three temporary greens in areas normally used as fairways. The recreated routing measures approximately 2,100 yards, compared with around 3,100 yards for the current front nine of the Stow Acres South Course.
The arrangement gives modern players an opportunity to experience the approximate sequence and scale of Mapledale’s early course. It is not a claim that the architecture, terrain, or turf conditions have been restored exactly to their 1926 state. The temporary greens will serve the centennial event rather than replacing the established South Course layout.
A significant chapter in American golf history
Hawkins opened Mapledale in 1926 during an era when many clubs excluded Black golfers. His venue offered them a place to play and compete. The site hosted the first national championship for Black golfers in 1926 and again staged the tournament in 1927 and 1928. Historical accounts from Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area note that the events were not restricted exclusively to Black entrants.
Hawkins sold the property in 1929. The site later became known as Stow Acres, but much of the earlier story faded from public view. The Rediscover Mapledale organization now works to protect that legacy through interpretation panels, public education and centennial activities.
What visiting golfers should know
The present-day public facility operates an 18-hole South Course and a nine-hole North Course. The centennial recreation of the original Mapledale nine should not be confused with a standard round on the North Course. The 50-cent event is advertised only for 27–29 October 2026. The club’s official website confirms the address and current facilities; CBS Boston’s on-site interview with Carlson is the primary reporting source for the special routing and promotion.
Reporting sources: CBS Boston, 27 October 2026; official Stow Acres website; Rediscover Mapledale; Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area.
