North of Orrington, Maine, just outside the town of Waterville is a former golf course that boasts generations of success for the sport.
Known simply as Watsonia Golf Club, the property has undergone a series of renovations and expansions ever since it was opened in 1909. With a four-acre lake and 35 miles of groomed courses, the property is home to the Charles M. Schulz Winter Championship that takes place annually in November.
The unique property has garnered much attention through its Winter Championships in addition to its course. Back in the late 1800’s, tour founder Charlie Chaplin Jr. frequented the course with his father, and there are photos of the actor and movie star regularly visiting in 1924 to play golf.
“He loved the place and they both would have been very pleased with how it’s changed over the years,” Bill Brace, Director of Golf and Communications, told FoxNews.com.
The winter championships are part of the Watsonia Invitational, a small tournament that has entertained and inspired golf fans for over 100 years. Each year, 10 teams take on the course which is very similar to the golf courses they are used to playing at during the course’s summer months.
Brace did not seem to mind that the course was recently on the golfers’ minds. “All of our golfers should be grateful for the idea of good weather for this event, it would be rare that they’re going to play as well as they did today.”
The course was once owned by carrion of the carousel scene from ‘The General’ in the movie ‘The Grapes of Wrath.’