Prouts Neck, Maine

Prouts Neck is a peninsula in the Town of Scarborough, Maine in the United States. Originally known as Black Point Neck, owing to the once predominant blue spruce trees there, it takes its current name from Timothy Prout, a Boston merchant who settled there in the late 1700s. Prouts Neck is known also for Winslow Homer, the late American naturalist artist (1836-1910), whose studio there, overlooking Cannon Rock, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Prouts Neck, or just "Prouts" to residents, is a mostly seasonal summer community. The neck itself is not completely gated, but it is well patrolled by local police and very exclusive. The peninsula is almost completely built out, meaning that existing houses sell for a significant premium, and land for new ones is difficult to come by. There are a number of antique summer "cottages" that have been in families for generations, several of which were designed by noted architect John Calvin Stevens. These cottages are unique in that many have not changed for well over one hundred years, presenting an interesting view of a bygone era. Although there were once many hotels on Prouts Neck, including the Jocelyn, and most notably the Checkley, the only one that remains is the august and venerable Black Point Inn, which has recently undergone a complete renovation and is open to the public.

The Prouts Neck Country Club (PNCC), established in 1907, is a private country club with an 18 hole golf course, putting green, driving range, tennis courts, golf shop, tennis pro shop, and clubhouse. Membership is restricted to residents of the neck and their guests.

The Prouts Neck Bathing Association (PNBA) is responsible for maintenance and regulation of the very private Beach Club.

The Prouts Neck Yacht Club (PNYC) is located on the southwestern corner of the peninsula, also known as Western Point. The club conducts sailing classes for children from age 6-17 as well as classes for adults. The club operates moorings for both powerboats and sailboats. The club owns a fleet of 420s, a fleet of Prams, a few Optimists and a fleet of about 8 Sonars. Prouts Neck Yacht Club has adult Sonar races weekly as well as 2 inter-club regattas each summer, both called the Golden Cleat Regatta.