Northern New England Golf Trip - Paging Brad Tufts and Michael Moore

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

Based upon my research, the following have made the cut for the trip which is focused on the FAR northern reaches of New England in late July:

St. Johnsbury, VT (Park)
http://www.thestjcc.com/index.php

Jay Peak, VT (?)
http://www.jaypeakresort.com/#/golf_summer/

Balsams - Panorama, NH (Ross)
http://www.thebalsams.com/golf

Mingo Springs, ME, per Mr. Moore's recommendation
http://www.mingosprings.com/

Sugarloaf, ME (Jones)
http://www.sugarloaf.com/summer.html

The reception to Sunday River seemed to be lukewarm on GCA and I can't justify going out of the way to play it.  Would people agree?

http://www.sundayriver.com/Golf/

Sugarloaf has been a polarizing course, but I have to include it in the rotation if I am heading all the way up there.

The Panorama Course seems to be the clear winner among the group based upon the posts I have read.  It almost comes across as a possible Top 100 course if it had more recognition.

We played Belgrade Lakes on our last trip which focused more on the coast (Kebo Valley, Cape Arundel, Grindstone Neck, Blink Bonnie, Prouts Neck, Abenakee and Belgrade Lakes) but could include it on the way back south.

http://www.belgradelakesgolf.com/

Thoughts?

[Ronald Montesano]

Try to get to Kebo Valley in Bar Harbor, Maine, if you can.

[Brad Tufts]

Geoff: Wow....damn solid group of courses!

You will certainly get your fill of mountain golf.

I have played all except Jay and Sunday River...but they both look worth checking out.  I will be curious to hear about Mingo Springs too, as I haven't been there.  Another

You will really enjoy both St. J. and the Balsams.  They would be top notch even in Mass.  The big course at Bretton Woods is also decent, although mostly flat.  I would call ahead to see if their greens have healed from last year's problems though before going.  It is a course with Ross roots, but was recently redesigned by Silva with some old-style whisker bunkers like Royal County Down.  To supplement St. J in the Northeast Kingdom, I have heard good things about Newport, as it has at least 9 by Willie Park (haven't played it though).

Belgrade is ok as you know, but isn't worth detouring to play if you already have played there.  I would recommend Penobscot Valley but that is in the other direction (and about 3 hours from Rangely).  I could recommend Waterville and Brunswick, but those are not at the level of some of the others.  My dad has played Augusta CC and said it was decent, but it is one of the few privates in Maine, so you would need access.  I have also heard that Bath CC is worth a play too.

Any others you are considering?

[Bill Rocco]

A very nice public golf course in Plymouth, MA is Pine Hills (rated 4th best in MA behind Brookline, Old Sandwich, Boston golf club)

[Brad Tufts]

A very nice public golf course in Plymouth, MA is Pine Hills (rated 4th best in MA behind Brookline, Old Sandwich, Boston golf club)

Boys, boys...stay on topic....NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND...we are talking about territory that is 5-6 hours driving time from Pinehills.  And who rates PH #4 in MA?  It currently does not crack the Mass. top 20 for Golf Digest...I might replace a few of the top 20, but not with either course at Pinehills.  Despite all of that, they are undoubtedly top 5 or 7 Mass. public.  But I digress!

And Ronald...Geoff said he played Kebo last time, and it is far from his route through Northern VT, NH, and ME. 

[JNC Lyon]

Some other course in New Hampshire, in North-to-South order:

1) Mount Washington Hotel.  It has a Donald Ross layout that was recently restored.  It is in Bretton Woods, which is an absolutely gorgeous part of the state.

2) Owl's Nest.  Solid Mark Mungeam layout in Campton.

3) Canterbury Woods.  This might be a little far south on I-93.  It is maybe three hours from the Balsams.  However, I highly recommend the course.  It is a fairly new Ross Forbes design with tons of strategy and interest.  It plays up and down a mountain, and includes a great set of five par threes, a great double-fairway par five at 15, and some wild greens.  Check it out if you get the chance.

If you can swing it, try to get on Bald Peak by Lake Winnipesaukee.  Classic old Ross course, a truly hidden gem.

Have fun on the trip.  That area of the country is phenomenal in July, August, and September.  I have vacationed in New Hampshire every year since I was born.

[Brad Tufts]

I can confirm Canterbury Woods as a fun course.  It might have a couple weird holes, but the good holes are real good.

[Cliff Hamm]

Maybe too far south but Green Mountain National  in Killington, Vt. is well worth a play. Okemo in the same area is also supposed to be good, but have not played it....BTW I find Belgrade Lakes to be a wonderfully fun course and well worth another play...Sugarloaf, ugh, depending on your skills.  Just too tough. The opposite of fun...  Have not played Sunday River but the vistas, oh forgot, the views, look spectacular.  If it were me I would give it a go and not play Sugarloaf, which is also out of the way I suspect.

[Tim Gavrich]

Geoffrey--

If you are driving into the area from the south, I might suggest a few courses that could easily be along your route on the way up or back:

- The Ranch--Damian Pascuzzo design just across the CT border into MA (Southwick to be exact).
- Taconic GC--Stiles & Van Kleek classic at Williams College
- Silo Ridge GC--In Armenia Junction, NY; I think it'll be reopened by July (renovation by Ernie Els & Co.)
- Crumpin-Fox Club--Located in Bernardston, MA, it would be on the way north on I-91.  Roger Rulewich, but don't let that deter you.  Like playing golf at summer camp.

[Mike Sweeney]

I have seen both and played neither, and Lake Sunapee and Manchester CC look like very sold New England Ross. You can stay at Sunapee and catch the 9 hole Hooper mentioned on the other thread that is 30 minutes away.

[Nick Campanelli]

I just found this thread....what are people's opinions of The Shattuck in Jaffrey, NH? 

Personally, i love the design, but conditions have been lacking in the past few years.  I know they recently came under new management, so i hope the course earns back its recognition as a fixture in NH.  I may be biased having played there alot while i was learning the game as a kid....playing there makes other courses seem much easier.   

[Michael Moore]

Geoffrey -

Did I recommend Mingo Springs? I would not recommend it to everyone, but if you loved Grindstone Neck, you'll love Mingo. It's the same - short, very quirky, and MEGA scenic.

Don't be so quick to throw Sunday River under the bus. It's probably the most scenic course in Maine and there a number of wonderful holes and greens.  If you are going to play there make sure to go to the Harris Golf web site and get some passes ahead of time.

On your way home consider Springbrook and Poland Springs.

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

I must remind our viewers that if they happen to be in the Carrabasset Valley area for the Sugarloaf course, they must must stop into Rangeley and play MINGO SPRINGS. The hiddenest gem I know - scenic, remote, and definitely old school.

"Aim just to the left of that mountain . . . "

Michael,

I was looking at some old threads and I noticed you mentioned MS a few times.  As you know I LOVED Grindstone, so we will try and make MS happen as well.

I found that Sunday River was panned by most of the comments I read.  If you had 10 rounds to split between Sunday River and Sugarloaf, where would you play?

Springbrook is where one of my playing partners grew up playing.  Looks like a nice piece of property for a course.  Thoughts?