I just returned from a day at Belgrade Lakes Golf Club in central Maine. I had only played the course once, and that was about four years ago after a very difficult winter left several of the greens in tough shape. On Saturday, the course was immaculate. We teed off at 9:00 and seemed to be just about the only group on the course. They do a good job spacing tee times (every 15 minutes, I think), which helps pace of play.
Belgrade is more fun than difficult. We were playing with some guys who get out only a few times a year, so we were at the 6,200-yard tees. For the decent player, the design is really well suited for the next set back at 6,700 yards, which brings the wide part of the fairway back into play.
When you pull into the parking lot and walk up to the clubhouse, this is the view you get on the putting green. I could sit out there all day just relaxing.
The opening tee shot plays straight downhill. There is a plateau that is a good landing spot, leaving a wedge to the green.
The second is a 150-yard par 3 that plays slightly downhill. the green has a significant slope from back to front. When the hole is cut in the back (as it is here), you need to fly it all the way, bringing the bunker into play.
A definite half-par hole, this short par 5 is easily reached in two. However, the rocks are in play on the tee shot, and there is water on the left that extends all the way up to the green.
A great par 3, the 5th hole is about 165 yards with water short. the green is sloped making putts from side to side very difficult to negotiate.
The 9th is a nice end to the front. The tee shot can hug the rocks on the left, leaving about 150 yards uphill to a double green (shared with the 18th). That is the clubhouse looking over the hole. A cart is available to ferry walkers to the 10th.
Another cool hole, the 10th plays back down the hill and around the corner. A 3-wood is plenty, but a driver can fly the rocks on the left, leaving a wedge approach to an elevated green.
The 11th is about as straightforward a hole as you'll find. No fairway bunkers to avoid, and the green allows a running approach.
The 12th might be the most difficult par 5 on the course. The tee shot offers a generous landing area. The second, however, is to a blind layup area that is awkward to hit. The green is down a hill on a line behind the big rock and leafless tree. Any attempt to get there in two amounts to closing your eyes and hoping for the best.
The next par 3 is maybe the best on the course. At 200 yards, it forces you to hit a good shot. The bunker in the foreground is actually well short of the green. It really screws woith your depth perception.
The 14th allows you to take a breather. The uphill tee shot is blind, but there is ample landing area. It is a short hole at only 344 that leaves a very short second.
The 16th is the last par 5 of the round. A tee shot at the tree with a fade is perfect, leaving about 250 into a green that is well protected by bunkers.
17 is another strong par 3. It features a huge green and lots of room to miss on the left. Shots off to the right are in trouble.
The 18th is similar in appearance to 9, although the tee shot is semi-blind and has lots of trouble to the right. Where 9 had an uphill approach, the second shot on 18 is downhill. If you are on the left of the fairway, you can look right at the hole. An approach from the right is blind. The green itself has a crazy slope that makes a left hole location very difficult to attack.
The combination of incredible views, ease of walk, terrific conditioning, fun holes, and great pace of play makes Belgrade one of my favorite courses in New England. It doesn't offer the same challenge as a Crumpin Fox or even Red Tail. However, both times I have been there I have had about as enjoyable a round as possible. I am anxious to get over to Sunday River to see how it compares.