Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard golf

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I am getting ready to spend a week in the land of good democrats. lol Would any of the guys have any suggestions for golf? A comment of lodging on the Cape would be appreciated too. Naturally I should be able to gain this from the Mass golf discussion below. I am not sure of the nature(links, parkland) of the courses plus access issues etc. thanks

[Bill_McBride]

John, Chatham Bars Hotel and its funky little 1900 9-hole golf course.  Although on second thought, how about staying there and playing at New Seabury Blue?  Good course and recent renovations since last time I was there.  The course is worth it for the holes along the ocean in the fresh breeze.

[SPDB]

Tigger - access will be a problem for some of the finer tracks - e.g. Eastward Ho! Oyster Harbors, Farm Neck. however there are some other places to play, Captains is fairly nice, as is New Seabury (Blue). There are also some historical, quirky gems such as Highland Links

[Tom_Doak]

John,

I've heard the new Vineyard Club on Cape Cod, by Donald Steel, is pretty good, but other than one member I don't know of anyone who has played it.  Would be curious to hear your review if you can get on.

[John_D._Bernhardt]

Thanks Guys, I will try to tour a course or two even if the opportunity to play does not avail itself. Most of the free time is on martha's vineyard so that does not help. I little links golf does make the heart soar though.

[Mike_Cirba]

John;

Having seen your face smiling playing linksy golf on the west coast, I have to concur with Sean here.   Get over to Highland Links and see if they can DRAG you off the course at sundown.  

[newtoneagle]

Tough situation for golf on the cape in season; great private courses that are tough to get on and overpriced/overrated public courses with 6-7 hour death marches. If forced to play one of the publics I prefer Cranberry Valley or Bayberry Hill to the (imho) vastly overrated Captains.

Anyone else surprised to see Oyster Harbors at #44, second only to Pinehurst and Seminole on the top Ross courses from that old rankings list in the "in my opinion" section. Wonder why it has lost its reputation over the years....

To echo the last post, for people who appreciate old-fashioned golf, skip both public and private and make the long haul to Truro for the 1890 Highland Links 9-hole course on towering dunes in the national seashore. Inexpensive, minimalist, anachronistic, hard, fast, windy and all natural conditions, like stepping back in time. Very short, but when the wind is up (as it usually is) must play ground game and play all types of shots. Unique experience.

[Mike_Cirba]

MJB is a man after my own heart.  I also found Cranberry Valley to be a lot of fun and better than newer public counterparts such as Captains and Ocean's Edge.  It has a certain low-key atmosphere and a variety of holes that fall lightly on the interesting site.

But, if you only can play one course, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find more FUN than at Highland Links.  And, John...I KNOW you love to have fun!!  

[John_D._Bernhardt]

Mike tell me where Highland Links is and i shall go there. I shall try and see the Vineyard Club too. You really only need 7 or so clubs to play anyway. lol

[newtoneagle]

Mike, the word fun is the best way to describe the links, you got that right. A link to an appreciative, interesting, and accurate review of Highland Links by Paul Harber:

http://www.boston.com/sports/golf/courses/053101.htm

[John_D._Bernhardt]

Thanks MJB, I now know where I will watch the sun set on June 9, 2003. Hopefully with a pint in hand with good thoughts of a ten foot putt made on hole 9 ,18 or maybe 27 for the afternoon.

[George Pazin]

John -

As someone mentioned before, Highland Links is in Truro. It's out toward the end of the Cape, shortly (maybe 15-20 minutes) before Provincetown at the tip. I played it last summer & had a lot of fun. Call ahead, there was some sort of local tournament the morning I drove out & couldn't play until afternoon. 9 holes of quirk & fun, lots of wind and some spectacular views. I'll try to find & post photos next week.

If you can swing it, Eastward Ho! looked incredible. Public roads border the course, so I did a driveby. The terrain was like a rollercoaster.

[Pete Lavallee]

John;

Although Cape Cod and the Islands have over 75 courses, if one of your ancestors didn't make the trip over on the Mayflower, access to the upper tier can be quite problematic. The terrain is very sandy and the ever present wind causes the local trees to be stunted, oaks and pines not more than 12 feet tall. You'll find that most all of the old private clubs have a linksy nature with firm turf, and greensites which accept the runup shot you'll need to stay under the wind. If you can wangle an invite to Kittansett, Oyster Harbors, Wianno, Hyannisport or Eastward Ho!, drop everything and take the opportunity, you won't be dissappointed. Although there are a lot of newer public courses such as Cranberry Valley, the Captains and the like they don't really take advantage of the sandy terrain to provide a true links experience; call it parkland golf on sand! New Seabury is a very nice modern course (1960's) with a seaside and wooded nines but does not allow outside play from May to October. My recomendation for the best 18 hole public access course is Plymouth CC, just over the Cape Cod Canal. It's a Ross from the 1920's and the public is welcome during the week at a reasonable price. The Plymouth area is Mass. newest golfing hot spot with new courses by Rees, Jack Jr., Brian Silva and I believe a C&C now under construction.

For just plain fun I would recommend playing the three 9 hole courses though. Highland Links is quirky and fun, in nearby Wellfleet is the Chequesett Yatch Club, a 9 holer biult in 1926. Last but not least is "Little Marion" George Thomas's first foray into golf design. Also over the canal in nearby Marion, it is located on Point Rd just before reaching Mass.'s second best course Kittansett. Also built in the 1920's it makes good use of the rocks that littered the site before construction. Several greens are surrounded by stone walls, and there are huge berms created by piling the rocks and covering them with turf; we used to call it the "Indian Burial Grounds". Farm Neck is surely the best golf on the Vineyard, but since being popularized by Bill Clinton, is very busy. Have a great time in the Bay State.

[ForkaB]

Tiger

I think you would really like Woods Hole GC.  I've tried to talk it up on this site for some time with little or no support, but those non-supporters are full of it whilst I am right!  In any case the Falmouth/Woods Hole area of the Cape is still more real down home New England than most of the rest of the place, IMHO.

Let me know if you have any trouble getting on and I'll try to use my inconsiderable influence....

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Thanks George, Pete and Rich. Rich your considerable lack of influence cast a shadow much bigger than the average man of considerable influence. Your view from the top of the world is to be admired by one and all. However watch out for the sprogs may do you in. The little people can force the best of us to live conventional lives. lol

[Tom_Armstrong]

If you can get over to Nantucket check out Sankaty Head, you might like it.

[Tom_Armstrong]

Plymouth has to be the toughest 6,200 yds in the country. Enjoy!

[Chris_Blakely]

Plymouth CC no longer offers public play.

[michael_j_fay]

The sleeper on Marthas Vineyard is Mink Meadow, a 1930's Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek nine-hole walk through the rolling meadow. The nine is so good that you will want to play it from the second set of tees.

The pro is Alan Menne and is very accommodating.

[Bye]

Chequessett is a dog, don't bother with it!

[Bye]

You can also go off cape to Plymouth and try the new Pinehills Nicklaus and Rees courses or try Atlantic by Mungeam.

[John Foley]

John,

Cranberry Valley. Wow haven't heard that one in a LONG time. Very underated course. Great public track. Stay away from Ballymead very poor routing. Heard good things about Old Barnstable. Enjoyed Ocean's Edge. If you vcan get out on Cape Cod national, I hear it's very good.

Just off the cape is the 36 holes and Pinehills & in that neighborhood is Waverly Oaks whoich is a very good place.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I cannot express my excitement now. I am almost wishing I miss the cut in our State Am the weekend before, so I can get up there earlier and play more great links golf. Who really thinks a very average old guy will beat the college guys anyway? Nobody ,except me in don quiotian moments. lol The wind, the sea, the dunes, firm and fast and the ground game with a Pint waiting at the end of the round. It does not get any better than that. Yes Bob H, it may be better at the R & A, but for me seaside golf is grand.

[Martin Del Vecchio]

As for the Plymouth courses; I like Atlantic, but I think it is a cut below Waverly Oaks and both of the Pinehills courses.  If I were asked to rank them:

1) Waverly Oaks
2) Pinehills Jones
3) Pinehills Nicklaus Jr.
4) Atlantic

[Lou_Duran]

Tiger,

Did you finally decide to come out of the closet or were you outed?  Now I understand why you and DavidM became so cozy.  And I thought that it was just the drink bets!  BTW, what does lol mean?  Is it an oil and gas term?  BTW2, do your clients know that you have surrendered to the dark side?  My regards to Teddy, BarnyF, and Senator Dodd.  BTW3, if drinking with these guys, stay away from bars with large tables and long table cloths.  I hear that the two senators like to play under the table with the help, and of course, you know of Mr. Frank's persuasion.  Oh, if you find a course of architectural note, let us know.