Golf near Rockland, Maine - Follow up w/ Pictures

[PCCraig]

Found out over the weekend that my in-laws are planning on renting a house at Samoset in Maine next summer. It appears we'll be up there for a week or two next July.

The golf looks pretty but not overly interesting from an architectural standpoint?

My knowledge of golf in Maine is extremely limited. For those that are more familiar with golf around Rockport, is there anything within a half a day's trip that is a must see? From old threads, it appears there are a ton of cool courses to check out (North Haven?) but I know it's a big state and fairly spread out.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

[David Grady]

 "pretty but not overly interesting from an architectural standpoint" would be a charitable description. Played 36 there a few weeks ago and was incredibly disappointed. Some spectacular views, few decent holes. I think I drove my playing partners nuts questioning the merits of various holes. Prime example is the par five 12th. The fairway is probably 60 yards wide at 220 yards of the tee, but narrows to 10! at 260, courtesy of a boulder and bunker. From there, it widens to 20-25 yards for the last 240 yards, with both sides of the fairway shrouded in trees. It's hard not to see how the course was expanded to 18 holes at some point and they found land wherever they could. Several odd walk/drives between greens and tees don't help.


The views could be even better if they clear cut the ones on the cliff line. I presume there must be some environmental requirement preventing it.


Considering the amount of rain they received over the prior few days, the course was in good shape. The greens were surprisingly firm.


If you have 10 months to plan, I'd advise you use them to arrange some times on other courses in the area.

[Billsteele]

Michael Moore is "Mr. Maine Golf." Hopefully, he will chime in. Mike Sweeney is "Mr. Maine Golf In Waiting." He may have some ideas also. However, depending upon your travel plans, Cape Arundel is an absolute joy. The Travis greens are an absolute blast and it is such a wonderful place that I can't recommend it enough. It is about a two hour twenty minute drive from Rockland...but well worth it.

[Conley Hurst]

In Rockport (several miles up the coast from Rockland), there is a really cool nine-hole course called Megunticook GC. It's a neat piece of property with views of the bay, a few blind shots over fascinating boulder formations, and a beautiful, open-air clubhouse. I think it's private but very much worth checking out for a late afternoon game.

[Christian Newton]

I will leave the authoritative replies to others, but I play in that neck of the woods every summer so I will give you my two cents:

North Haven is worth the poke. I also like the front nine of Rockland Golf Club, which is much older than the back nine, and much better. Kebo Valley on Mount Desert Island is two hours away and engaging.

If you really like to drive, note that the high GCA standard-bearers Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs are 10 hours away by highway. You could be out, play both and be back in three days. I know, I've done it!

Cheers,
Christian

[Dave Taylor]

Check out Belgrade Lakes. Nice track. Another enjoyable course is Waterville CC.

[Mike Sweeney]

Samoset has some very cool shots and views, but it is a mixed bag for sure. It's not why you go to Maine, but it is resort golf at a beautiful location. We stayed there in June for a non-GCA guys trip, and the people are very nice.


About 30 minutes south of Samoset is http://www.wawenockgolfclub.com/about-us/ Pretty much your perfect New England 9 hole Wayne Stiles course.


Definitely go to Acadia, and hike or golf. If you ask real nice in advance for a weekday, you may be able to get on Northeast Harbor, and Kebo has public times.


Prouts Neck (more Stiles) is a "147 Custodian" for a reason and Portland CC would fit a similar profile. They will be tough to access in July.


If you come down to Cape A (147), let me know, I may be there so shoot me a message. Webhannet is also worth a second play if you do 36 that day.


North Haven is a journey of logistics, with ferry and some rides needed to and from the ferry on the North Haven side. It was a fabulous day.


Lots more to discover in the future! 

[PCCraig]

Really cool. Thanks guys.


Sounds like if I get a one day hall pass I should try to drive down and see Cape Arundel and Prouts Neck in a 36 hole day? How else am I going to play all 147 Custodians? 


Is Prouts Neck the type of place a phone call from my home club professional could get me onto?

[Mike Hendren]

PCC,  I give Cape Arundel my highest endorsement, fwiw.  I played there last week and the course easily makes my top 10 favorites out of just over 300 courses.  Intimate routing (this fat boy walked and carried in 2:50), vintage Travis greens with clever hole locations, lush yet firm turf, varied one-shotters, viable ground game options (which you won't need given your game) and easy compliance with the one ball criterion.  Not to mention a steal at $45 after 3 p.m. 

In honor of my friend Barney, I will send you a check for $45 it you play there.

Bogey

[Brad Tufts]

Sounds like the respondents have it pretty much covered.


PN and CA are both worth it.  PN would probably take a call from your pro (that's how I got on for my one play), but doing that on a weekday would make that easier.


Wawenock is fun, and so is Castine...both neat old nines.  Samoset is only worth it if you find yourself needing a quick round near the house.  It's pretty but odd, and expensive.


If you need more opinions, let us know!

[PCCraig]

Brad,


Castine GC is worth checking out? It appears it's a Willie Park Jr 9-holer? Can't find much else on it online.





Has anyone played Northport?

[PCCraig]

Bumping this to see if anyone has played the Abenakee Golf Club? Looks like a seaside private 9-holer south of Portland. Looks interesting from the sky...

[Wayne_Kozun]

If you don't mind driving a bit and crossing the border, the Algonquin course at St Andrews by the sea has just been renovated by Rod Whitman, the architect of Cabot Links and several other excellent courses here in the land of the NBA champs.  It is right on the Maine-NB border.


https://algonquinresort.com/golf/golf-course-redesign/

[Brad Tufts]

Hey Pat...sorry I never saw this...Castine is very neat.  There are remains of an old Revolutionary War fort behind the first tee/clubhouse, and I have seen old photos were the first tee was atop the ramparts!  If you do a search, Castine played a funky and outsized role in the post-Revolutionary War and War of 1812 era as a base for the British.


I have not been to Northport or Abenakee.


The nine that has always intrigued me is Lucerne, on the road to Bar Harbor before you get onto Mt. Desert Island.  It may have been a mail-in, but it's on the Ross list.

[Tim Martin]

Bumping this to see if anyone has played the Abenakee Golf Club? Looks like a seaside private 9-holer south of Portland. Looks interesting from the sky...

Abenaqui is an 18 holer in Rye Beach, N.H. That is spelled differently though pronounced the same as the 9 holer(Abenakee). There were some newer holes built on the inward nine a number of years ago that don’t really fit with the originals. That said there are a lot of fun original holes with some cool greens at grade. Worthy of a play especially if you pair it with York Golf & Tennis(Donald Ross)which is north and just over the Maine border. Just a tad south of that in Greenland N.H. is Brian Silva’s Breakfast Hill which is a fun public.

[Bill Crane]

Thanks to all who contributed to this post.


I will be in Camden first week in September and will try to sample some of these 9 holers.  If my wife is flexible.

[PCCraig]

Has anyone played, or heard of, Sebasco Harbor Golf Course? Looks like an interesting 9-holer?:

[V_Halyard]

Has anyone played, or heard of, Sebasco Harbor Golf Course? Looks like an interesting 9-holer?:

Back for "mah lahbstah"?

[PCCraig]

Back from our vacation to Maine.

I thought I would post here a follow up to my thread as I managed to check out a few spots thanks to recommendations that folks made here.

My first round in Maine was at Megunticook GC in Camden. Megunticook was just down the road from where we were staying and WOW, was it cool. I haven't had that much fun playing golf in a long time.

Here is the approach to the 5th hole. A par-4 where the tee shot is hit across an active local road. The golfer is rewarded with this attractive shot to the green:

After a tight tee shot and 2nd shot on the par-4 1st, you climb a hill and are rewarded with this view:

A bit closer to the green...wow!:

The green at the par-4 3rd is quickly followed by:

...the blind tee shot on the 120-yard par-3 4th:

Here is the par-3 6th, with the natural rocky terrain:

The terrific 2nd shot into the par-5 7th. The green is beyond the mounds, but short of the entrance drive and the white home visible:

The green becomes visible beyond the mounds:

Looking back from the green:

Not having a guide, we thought the par-3 8th was played to the left to the yellow flag. Turns out that is the practice chipping green! The actual 8th is a blind par three where the green sits on top of the fescue covered hill on the right:

A closer view of the green:

A view from behind the green with it's bell:

Golf in Maine is one big nature walk:

The par-4 9th at Megunticook is a short hole but features a terrific and wild green that sits in the shadow of their clubhouse which is on the national register of historic places:

[Mike Sweeney]

Pat,


I just left Michael "Ask me about golf in Maine" Moore at dinner in Portland, and that is an awesome find. Thanks for posting and it is now on the list. 

[Jon Wiggett]

Pat,


none of the pics are showing for me.


Jon

[Mike Sweeney]

Pat,


none of the pics are showing for me.


Jon

Pat,


I have done this with posting pics on Google a few times. I can see your pics but Jon can't. I think it is because I am signed into a google account on my browser and maybe Jon is not, but not sure. I post pics with a private account now instead of Google.


Thanks again.

[Ronald Montesano]

I'm signed into a google account on my google browser, but cannot see the photos.


rm

[PCCraig]

I'm signed into a google account on my google browser, but cannot see the photos.


rm

Err...sorry guys. I'll have to figure something else out.

[Jon Wiggett]

Pat,


none of the pics are showing for me.


Jon

Pat,


I have done this with posting pics on Google a few times. I can see your pics but Jon can't. I think it is because I am signed into a google account on my browser and maybe Jon is not, but not sure. I post pics with a private account now instead of Google.


Thanks again.

Mike,


I am also signed into my google account but getting zipp.


Jon