Need guidance re: Maine Golf Trip

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

Planning our annual buddies trip for 12 guys.  Destination this year is Maine and we are staying in the golf villas at Boothbay Harbor CC as our home base.  The trip is traditionally four competitive rounds and here is the tentative schedule for this year:


Sat, Sept 28th - Arrival Day
Sun, Sept 29th - 36 (Best Ball in morning, Alt Shot in afternoon)
Mon, Sept 30th - 18 (Best Ball)
Tues, Oct 1st - 18 (Singles)
Wed, Oct 2nd - Departure Day


We are able to play at the following places where I can schedule rounds far in advance:


Boothbay Harbor CC (home base)
Augusta CC
Bath GC
Samoset GC
North Haven GC
Belgrade Lakes GC


Sunrise is 6:30am that time of year and sunset is around 6:30pm.


I'm not opposed to moving the rounds on the days around or changing the formats if it makes sense.


Questions:


1. Logistics aside, what are your thoughts on each course?
2. I have always wanted to get out to North Haven and I think chartering a boat and taking the group out to play 27 holes (three nine hole matches) and then returning back to the mainland would be the quintessential Maine golf day.  Am I crazy?  Probably fits best on Monday.  Could you play Samoset and get out and back to North Haven (only 9) in one day instead?
3. Don't know much about Bath and the typical condition of the course.  Location works well with Boothbay.
4. Belgrade and Samoset offer caddies.  Do you think they would be available that late in the season?  Anyone ever taken them?


Thanks for your help.


Regards,


Geoff

[jeffwarne]

Make North Haven a dedicated Day.
Get an early start.
Pack food and beverage with you.
Will be an outstanding memorable day

[Brad Tufts]

Sounds awesome, good idea GW!  Northern NE is underrated.


Paging Michael Moore in terms of North Haven logistics..I have not done it and it’s on my list.  Playing the course is simple but I think it matters more on how easy the boat (and the boat driver being available when you finish) is to manage.


I have played Boothbay after the first renovation and it was good then, I imagine it’s a must-play now.  I have heard Augusta is solid.  BL is good with a couple weird holes, but totally worth a play.  The place has a great vibe too.


Bath I have not played, and every time I see it, it looks alternately pretty and alternately boring.  It makes me want to see it someday.


In terms of Samoset, I’m not a fan.  It’s the epitome of views without substance.  Pretty for sure, but the holes that aren’t weird tend to be less than memorable.  I bet Boothbay is twice the course now than Samoset.


My advice would be to focus on BB/NH/Aug.


The other courses to mention are Wawenock, a neat little Stiles 9 about a half hour from BB that is well worth a quick play, and Brunswick, which is an oft-seen in New England mix of 9 old and neat, and 9 strange and narrow from the 60s/70s that maybe shouldn’t have been built.

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

Make North Haven a dedicated Day.
Get an early start.
Pack food and beverage with you.
Will be an outstanding memorable day

Thanks, Jeff.  I feel the same way and I appreciate the advice on packing food/bev with us.  Is the walk from the ferry to the course manageable with bags in tow?

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

Sounds awesome, good idea GW!  Northern NE is underrated.


Paging Michael Moore in terms of North Haven logistics..I have not done it and it’s on my list.  Playing the course is simple but I think it matters more on how easy the boat (and the boat driver being available when you finish) is to manage.


I have played Boothbay after the first renovation and it was good then, I imagine it’s a must-play now.  I have heard Augusta is solid.  BL is good with a couple weird holes, but totally worth a play.  The place has a great vibe too.


Bath I have not played, and every time I see it, it looks alternately pretty and alternately boring.  It makes me want to see it someday.


In terms of Samoset, I’m not a fan.  It’s the epitome of views without substance.  Pretty for sure, but the holes that aren’t weird tend to be less than memorable.  I bet Boothbay is twice the course now than Samoset.


My advice would be to focus on BB/NH/Aug.


The other courses to mention are Wawenock, a neat little Stiles 9 about a half hour from BB that is well worth a quick play, and Brunswick, which is an oft-seen in New England mix of 9 old and neat, and 9 strange and narrow from the 60s/70s that maybe shouldn’t have been built.

Brad,


You and MMoore were the two I was hoping would chime in!  Augusta and Bath are the mysteries to me.  I don't know much about either one.  After doing some digging, it appears Bath is having some financial challenges:


https://www.pressherald.com/2023/11/09/residents-rally-in-hopes-of-preserving-bath-golf-course/


Augusta CC is a bit of a drive (1hr each way) but I have heard anecdotally that it is typically in great condition.


Geoff

[Michael Moore]

Geoff -
 
Here's how I would do it.

First day, as long as you are there, spend all day at Boothbay Harbor. It's a very good course, the hypermodern details (creeks, cliffs) have to be seen to be believed, and food/beverage are quite good, especially if the massive dining platform with long views at the non-returning turn is open. Why not after a long drive? I am almost certain that carts are required for guests.
 
Second day, yeah, get the boat and do a full day at North Haven. We are still talking about it fifteen years later. We had a full-service captain who took care of all the food and the ground transport. Famous quote - "Do I have a corkscrew on the boat? Yeah, I have one in every vehicle." The walk is a half mile, but I have always just stuck my thumb out. I would opt for a sunset cruise back to Boothbay in lieu of dinner on the island. You won't forget or regret this one, the sporty golf course is simply the icing on the cake.
 
Third day, stick with the theme and do Samoset. If you can find six caddies on a Tuesday I'll eat my hat, but the course is super walkable. It does get narrow and resort-y on the back, but you will enjoy most of the golf and all of the setting, which features by far the most oceanfront golf in Maine.
 
I will be in Liverpool on September 28 but call me regarding October 2.
 
PS - One other reason to go to Samoset is the stellar dining in Camden on the way home.

[PCCraig]

Personally, I think you'd be nuts to go to Maine and not spend a day at Cape Arundel. A few years ago it was ~$120 and I think it was an all day rate. Perfect for a guys trip if you're looking for a 36 hole day.


I'm not a fan of Samoset. Frankly I think it stinks. Beautiful setting but the golf course isn't good.


There are a ton of fun 9-holers. My personal favorite was Megunticook near Camden. It's private but a call from your home pro should get you on. It's absolutely spectacular. If I had 10 rounds to split between MGC and Samoset, I'd go 10-0 toward Megunicook, and it'll cost you 1/10th of the resort.

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

Personally, I think you'd be nuts to go to Maine and not spend a day at Cape Arundel. A few years ago it was ~$120 and I think it was an all day rate. Perfect for a guys trip if you're looking for a 36 hole day.


I'm not a fan of Samoset. Frankly I think it stinks. Beautiful setting but the golf course isn't good.


There are a ton of fun 9-holers. My personal favorite was Megunticook near Camden. It's private but a call from your home pro should get you on. It's absolutely spectacular. If I had 10 rounds to split between MGC and Samoset, I'd go 10-0 toward Megunicook, and it'll cost you 1/10th of the resort.

I actually have played Cape Arundel and completely agree with your thoughts on the course.  The problem with Cape Arundel is that non members can't reserve tee times more than a few days in advance.  I have reached out to the head pro to see if there is any flexibility for groups of our size at that time of year but I haven't heard anything back yet.  I can't take the chance w/o tee times with guys flying in from all over the country.

[Mike Worth]

Sounds awesome, good idea GW!  Northern NE is underrated.


Paging Michael Moore in terms of North Haven logistics..I have not done it and it’s on my list.  Playing the course is simple but I think it matters more on how easy the boat (and the boat driver being available when you finish) is to manage.


I have played Boothbay after the first renovation and it was good then, I imagine it’s a must-play now.  I have heard Augusta is solid.  BL is good with a couple weird holes, but totally worth a play.  The place has a great vibe too.


Bath I have not played, and every time I see it, it looks alternately pretty and alternately boring.  It makes me want to see it someday.


In terms of Samoset, I’m not a fan.  It’s the epitome of views without substance.  Pretty for sure, but the holes that aren’t weird tend to be less than memorable.  I bet Boothbay is twice the course now than Samoset.


My advice would be to focus on BB/NH/Aug.


The other courses to mention are Wawenock, a neat little Stiles 9 about a half hour from BB that is well worth a quick play, and Brunswick, which is an oft-seen in New England mix of 9 old and neat, and 9 strange and narrow from the 60s/70s that maybe shouldn’t have been built.

If you’re going to play Wawenok, you should also play Castine. Personally I lliked Castine better.

[jeffwarne]

Make North Haven a dedicated Day.
Get an early start.
Pack food and beverage with you.
Will be an outstanding memorable day

Thanks, Jeff.  I feel the same way and I appreciate the advice on packing food/bev with us.  Is the walk from the ferry to the course manageable with bags in tow?

pretty sure it's a car ferry.
and no , I don't think it's a short walk

[Richard Hetzel]

The walk is ~6/10th of a mile. I need to get up to Maine again soon, I have only played Cape Arundel.

[Brad Tufts]

Sounds awesome, good idea GW!  Northern NE is underrated.


Paging Michael Moore in terms of North Haven logistics..I have not done it and it’s on my list.  Playing the course is simple but I think it matters more on how easy the boat (and the boat driver being available when you finish) is to manage.


I have played Boothbay after the first renovation and it was good then, I imagine it’s a must-play now.  I have heard Augusta is solid.  BL is good with a couple weird holes, but totally worth a play.  The place has a great vibe too.


Bath I have not played, and every time I see it, it looks alternately pretty and alternately boring.  It makes me want to see it someday.


In terms of Samoset, I’m not a fan.  It’s the epitome of views without substance.  Pretty for sure, but the holes that aren’t weird tend to be less than memorable.  I bet Boothbay is twice the course now than Samoset.


My advice would be to focus on BB/NH/Aug.


The other courses to mention are Wawenock, a neat little Stiles 9 about a half hour from BB that is well worth a quick play, and Brunswick, which is an oft-seen in New England mix of 9 old and neat, and 9 strange and narrow from the 60s/70s that maybe shouldn’t have been built.

If you’re going to play Wawenok, you should also play Castine. Personally I lliked Castine better.

Yes, Castine is indeed better, but W is 28mins from BB, and Castine I think over an hour.

[Rick Sides]

Geoffrey,
Played Belgrade Lakes this summer and loved it!!! If you're not hitting driver straight that day, put it away.