Golf of Maine in Southwest Harbor

“I’ve been playing mini golf since I was four years old,” says Holly Masterson, owner of Golf of Maine in Southwest Harbor. “When we bought this property, I never imagined it would become a course, but the more we thought about it, the more it felt right.”

For two decades, Holly fished year-round, even working through much of her pregnancy with her daughter. She spent 13 years on the state’s lobster license waitlist before receiving hers, all while building a career in real estate and finding new ways to stay rooted in the community. When she and her stepfather, Dave, bought the land in 2018, they envisioned a lobster pound or small museum. Then COVID shifted their plans, and the idea of creating a mini golf course that carried their fishing heritage forward began to take shape.

Family has been central to the project from the start. Holly’s partner, Devin, did the stonework by hand, her mother tends the flowers, and Dave manages the heavy lifting. Dave’s partner, Jennifer, his daughters, and Holly’s daughter all work together to help make Golf of Maine a success. Historic fishing relics are scattered across the course: a massive cleat from the old Addison Packing Company, a hand-built drag her Dave made in his early fishing days, and lobster buoys donated by families honoring fishermen who have passed away. Inside the clubhouse, screens loop Holly’s own videos from years on the water.

The course draws hundreds of players on a summer day, from toddlers to retirees, and hosts school groups, birthday parties, and tournaments. Holly says the best part is hearing what the experience means to others. “When families tell me their kids put down their phones for a while, or visitors say they learned something about Maine they never knew before, that’s what it’s all about.”

For Holly, Golf of Maine is a way of keeping her lobstering roots alive while creating something lasting for the next generation. “I have salt in my veins,” she says. “Fishing will always be part of who I am. Now we’ve built something that shares that history and gives people a place to make their own memories too.”

FAMOUS FOR:
Being a family-built course that brings together play, history, and community in Southwest Harbor.

ADDRESS:
55 Main St in Southwest Harbor, ME

WEBSITE:
golfofmaine.com

photos by Peter Logue