Skunk Hollow & the Golf Course

            In Millinocket’s early days, a few early settlers built small houses near where a little brook made its way to Millinocket Stream. It became known as Skunk Hollow. The Laverty book states that “Old Man Sutherland” lived there, he kept pigs and perhaps the early name for the area was “Stink Hollow” rather than “Skunk Hollow.” Anyway, the name stuck for this area for a long time, changing only when the golf club came into existence and folks start calling the area Hillcrest with the road leading to the golf club being called Hillcrest Avenue.

            Golf had begun to gain in popularity in Millinocket in the late 1920’s and early thirties. By the late 1930’s there was a six-hole course operated by the newly formed Hillcrest Golf Club.  The course was designed by Larry H, Stirley. The Laverty book states that following difficulties operating as a private business, the town took over (1949) and placed the course under the direction of the recreation commission. With Great Northern’s help, three new greens were added making it a nine-hole municipal golf club. Later, Royden Pratt and others were able to get the club back to private status and membership grew. Subsequently, as new houses went up and new streets were named, this area of town was named Hillcrest Development.

            Other information about the golf club is from articles by Darrell Pratt, son of Royden Pratt, that were printed in The Katahdin Times in the summer of 1998. A few interesting tidbits are included here. In 1932 there were only a few temporary holes in the wild and rough ground. Very few locals had any idea how to play the game as they had never seen the game played and learning from a book was not very satisfactory. By 1933, a golf pro from Bangor came up once a week to give lessons. Some took advantage of about six of those half hour lessons at a cost of $1.00 each.

             The museum has a vintage wooden golf club donated some time ago by David Levesque. This club has a metal insert with a marking on its base identifying it as “spoon.”  Research says early wooden clubs often had a lead insert on the back of the head to add weight. The wooden club had been Royden Pratt’s, a founder of Hillcrest Golf Club, and had been given to Levesque when he was twelve years old.  

Skunk Hollow included the area down over the hill to Millinocket Stream. As time passed, the few little homes in the area became part of the New Development (Hillcrest development). Just across the stream was Arthur Russell’s farm. That is the location today of Stearns HS/Middle School and where the football field and other athletic areas

are found.

The golf club today is still called Hilcrest Golf Club, and its location is 1 Golf Course Drive. There is the clubhouse and a pro shop. There are activities for young and old including leagues, tournaments and youth clinics.

At one time (2003-2012) a mini golf business was located on Penobscot Avenue and provided a fun activity for young and old.