Northeast Harbor, ME - Donald Ross and Herbert Strong - PHOTOS and writeup

[Michael Moore]

We need less jerks on Golf Club Atlas, especially ones that t least should be contributing Golf Architecture content to help the site grow.

Fewer jerks!  More content!  Behold Northeast Harbor!

In the style of and with many thanks to Ran Morrissett.

Northeast Harbor Golf Club
Northeast Harbor, ME
5430 yards - par 69
Donald Ross - 1916
Herbert Strong - 1925

I am giving Northeast Harbor the full treatment for two reasons.

1. Herbert Strong designed half of the holes, and he is one of those shadowy figures who seems to pique our curiousity.

2. It turns out that several A-listers touched down on Mount Desert Island this summer, and I just wanted to say that if you are going to go all that way you should certainly check out Northeast Harbor. Access can be ticklish in July and August, but this is by no means an entirely private course.

Due to various legal matters and expenses, Northeast Harbor had the strange distinction of being a fifteen hole golf course for a portion of the last century. In recent years Geoffrey Cornish and longtime professional Rob Gardiner III restored 16, 17 and 18 and the course now can be examined without the stigma of truncation.

My first visit last month greatly exceeded expectations. The course looks humble from the road, but the third tee plunges one into an experience that has been described by more than one person as "playing golf in the Enchanted Forest".

Holes of note

3 - 149 yards (Ross)

A Ross standard - raised, pitched green with bunkers leftand right. I have seen variations of this Ross hole a half dozen times, and they are all great in a slightly different manner.





5 - 305 yards (Ross)

On all of the good Ross courses, there are a few points at which the routing stands up and says "look at me!" The fifth hole features a semi-blind tee shot that devours the slightest hook or pull. The approach, to the steepest on the course, is over a ravine and is also partially obscured.

Although I wish that thing on the left were a massive bunker,
I must say that it is the cart path.

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11 - 310 yards (Strong)



Eight holes at Northeast Harbor measure between 260 and 340 yards, but this course is neither monotonous nor too short.  This hole features an intimidating "skyline" tee shot and an elusive green that can only be reached via the air. The feeling of the hole can only be described as raw.






12 - 175 yards (Strong)

Often photographed, rarely negotiated. For better or for worse, the tree on the right dominates play to this tight green. The long green thankfully accomodates the low shot which is required here.






13 - 352 yards (Ross)

Can you spot the tee box in this picture?

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The thirteenth hole erupts from the forest and descends dramatically. A grassy knoll sits smack in the landing area and the green contains some curious contours. A fine "transition" hole.

[Jeff_Mingay]

I visited Maine only for a few days, a couple years ago. Nonetheless, I'm convinced there are more quirky old, cool golf courses in this state than any other.

Holes 3, 11, and 12 in these photogs look outstanding.

Thanks Michael,  

[TEPaul]

Michael:

There's a lady from my course in Philadelphia whose apparently taken it upon herself to care for that course in Northeast Harbor and to also discover its architectural history. I was talking to her about it a year or two ago and she was trying to establish exactly what was Ross and what wasn't. I think I recall she said that a few people up there attribute some of it to Ross but she was trying to prove that and apparently couldn't.

Could you tell me how or where you got the architectural attribution of the course and even the various holes so down pat as you apparently have? If that lady doesn't know that I'm sure she'd be very grateful to hear it and finally know about it.

[TEPaul]

Michael:

The photo (at least) you put up of the 12th hole just might set the all-time pace on here for a "natural look" golf hole. I think I'm gonna find some way of priniting that picture out, blowing it up, framing it and putting it on my wall as the definition of "natural looking" in golf architecture! Just look at the basic "twists and turns" of the topography on that hole and the way the "golf" grass corridor blends and flows into the natural grass!

[Michael Moore]

Tom Paul -

I used to think there was a big mystery about who designed the current holes at Northeast Harbor, but there isn't. Donald Ross designed 1,2,3,4,5,6,13,14,15 and Herbert Strong designed 7,8,9,10,11,12,16,17,18 (the last three were restored by Cornish). Rob Gardiner III has been the professional for thirty years and can tell your friend anything about the course.


Jeff Mingay -

There sure are a lot of clubs in Maine that go back to the 1800s. More than a dozen by my reckoning. Of course I am not the expert, and Tom Paul will be going into great detail about the Maine summer colonies in his upcoming book A Brief History of Rich People.

[ForkaB]

Michael

with all due respect to you (and Ross and Strong) why is this course any better (or worse) than the numerous other "golf holes amonst the pines" tracks than abound in New England and elsewhere?

Thanks in advance.

[Michael Moore]

Rich -

The point was to show some pictures of Herbert Strong's work. There is not very much of it.

[ForkaB]

Thanks, Michael

I must admit I'm finding it hard to see much in the Strong holes you included (11 and 12)--both seem to be wrappped in some sort of maintenance meld equivalent of a golden age muskrat coat.  You've been there--what am I missing.

PS--I've only played (that I know of) one other Strong course (Ponte Vedra).  I know it's been altered somewhat, but what I know of the 4-5 times I've played it is that it is an OK but not at all great (or wven very good) course.

Do you or anybody else know more about that track?

[BCrosby]

Rich -

A quick note on PV. I've played it for many years. As noted, it's not a great course, but has some very good holes. I've always liked the stretch from 2 through 5. I also like 8, 9 and 17. Bobby Weed did a nice nip and tuck about 5 years ago, including some good changes to the back nine par 5's. (They needed it.)

An interesting (and ironical) historical note is that RTJ was hired in the early 50's to defang PV. There was a feeling that it was too hard for a resort course. Old photos indicate that RTJ eliminated some forced carries and widened some fairways.

PV has its share of mediocre holes, but I've enjoyed playing it on a regular basis. And look forward to playing it again.

Bob