Established in 1896 through the efforts of star Boston Red Stockings shortstop George Wright and others, the William J. Devine Memorial Golf Course is the second-oldest public golf course in the United States.

As the story goes, Wright and his business partner Henry Ditson operated a sporting goods store near Franklin Park. In 1894, despite knowing nothing about the game of golf, Wright and Ditson purchased golf balls, clubs and a rulebook. When their first attempt to play in Franklin Park was stymied by a local policeman, the pair successfully petitioned the Boston Parks Department to play golf in the park on an "experimental" basis. Using buried tomato cans as holes, the partners and two additional friends became the first foursome to play a round of golf on public land in the United States.

In 1896, a petition from Boston resident (and professional golfer) Willie Campbell led to the official establishment of the golf course. Designed by Campbell and built on the site of Olmsted's Country Park section of Franklin Park, the course was originally designed with 9 holes and was expanded to 18 holes in 1922. It is named for William J. Devine, a former Commissioner of the Boston Parks Department.