Maine’s golf courses: diverse, challenging

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EXPERIENCE MAINE

Visitors to the Pine Tree State, also well known as Vacationland, will find that golf is the Maine sport of summer.

The diversity of the state’s scenery is reflected as well in the diversity of the golf courses in the state.

Between York Golf and Tennis Club in the extreme southern part of the state and Birch Point Golf Club in Madawaska and Fort Kent Golf Club in the extreme north, a golf course can be found for almost anyone’s taste and ability.

And since many courses are near some of the state’s most popular areas, they can provide an excellent opportunity to recharge a person’s batteries before another round of shopping and sightseeing.

Some of the state’s best-known golf courses are part of or close to resorts.

Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor, for example, is the second-oldest resort course in the country. It is now more truthfully a private club than a resort, but not being too far from the town’s hotels still gives it a resort feel.

During summer afternoons, Kebo Valley is an oasis of tranquility in, almost literally, a sea of activity. The club is close to downtown Bar Harbor, but the surrounding hills of Acadia National Park help insulate the golf course from the sounds of the sunworshipers.

And the best part is that anyone can drive into the parking lot, haul out the clubs, and play a world-class golf course steeped in tradition. There is even the possibility of rubbing elbows with members of some of the best-known American families.

The quietest time to play during the summer is early to mid-afternoon since most people play in the morning before going to the beach or shopping.

Another outstanding resort course is Samoset Resort Golf Club in Rockport.

The club is part of a complex which includes hotel accommodations, but the golf course is available to anyone.

The course sits close by the ocean with several of the holes running along the water. A player will find himself delicately working the ball against the on-shore wind at this sparkling, and difficult, course.

At the opposite extreme of these two coastal courses is Sugarloaf Golf Club in Carrabassett Valley. The club is at the Sugarloaf/USA complex approximately two hours northwest of Bangor.

The course sits on the northern flank of Sugarloaf Mountain with some of the holes climbing part of mountain and others running along the Carrabassett Stream at the foot of the mountain. In any case, the altitude adds a new dimension, increased length, to a player’s game.

The course is relatively new, only 5 years old, but the Robert Trent Jones II layout has attracted national attention. There are several spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, especially in the fall when the foliage is changing, but the many white birch trees lining the holes give a stunning picket fence effect.

Other resort areas include Va-Jo-Wa Golf Course in Island Falls, Bar Harbor Golf Course in Trenton, and Northport Golf Club.

Most private clubs are actually semi-private and allow the general public to play with few restrictions. Clubs in this group include Aroostook Valley Country Club in Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle Country Club, and Rockland Golf Club.

If possible, calling first to make sure is always a good idea.

But Maine is more than resort courses and private clubs.

Several Maine cities and towns have municipal courses available to the general public.

Bangor expanded its Bangor Municipal Golf Course complex to 27 holes last year with the addition of a new nine-hole course run as a separate entity from the original 18 holes which opened in 1964.

The new nine provides a completely different set of playing conditions even though at several points it is only yards away from the original layout. The original tends to be open and somewhat forgiving while the new demands greater accuracy and is more penalizing.

Play has been quite heavy on the original 18, but late afternoon is usually the best time to find an opening. Reservations can be made, and are recommended, for the new nine.

Portland has had 27 holes at its Riverside Municipal Golf Course for several years, but the layouts are less distinct.

Bangor and Portland have the best known municipal courses, but by no means the only ones.

Dexter Municipal Golf Course is a nine-hole layout of intermediate length and Val Halla Golf and Recreation Center in Cumberland Center expanded to 18 holes a few years ago.

By far the largest group of courses in the state are the privately owned public courses.

This collection includes some of the smallest nine-hole courses such as Woodland Terrace Golf Course in Holden, Carmel Valley Executive Golf Club, Island Country Club in Deer Isle, and Moose River Golf Course in Jackman, all of which are less than 2,000 yards in length.

It also takes in most of the longer nine-hole courses such as Pine Hill Golf Course in Brewer, Bucksport Golf Club, White Birches Golf Course in Ellsworth, Hampden Country Club, Green Valley Golf Course in West Enfield, and Palmyra Golf Club.

Even some better-known 18-hole layouts fall into this group, such as Hermon Meadow Golf Club and Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro.

Pine Hill is characteristic of the nine-hole clubs with generally open fairways which keep players moving, but with greens set up to provide a challenge. Hampden Country Club also fits this mold.

Bucksport is an example of a long nine-hole course, measuring more than 3,200 yards. It puts more of a premium on length off the tee.

Hermon Meadow, while moderately long, also requires accuracy.

And new construction continues to add to the size and selection of the state’s courses.

What it comes down to is you can find the type of atmosphere and amount of challenge that you want without much effort.