Heads up, golf lovers. There is more to the game on the coast of Maine than the well-known 18-hole tracks that chew up your time and wallet contents.

Whether you’re on the coast on business, vacation, or a day trip, chances are you’re near one of the numerous 9-hole gems tucked discreetly among the rocks, trees and blueberry barrens along the many peninsulas that extend like shark’s teeth into the sea.

Six such courses stretch fairly conveniently along U.S. Route 1 in Hancock and Washington counties. While these grassy havens each possess unique characteristics, they all offer what golfers on a schedule (and a budget) want most: a stimulating experience with the sticks featuring little or no waiting. Most can be played in 90 minutes or less, or in three hours if you’re playing 18. They’re the equivalent of a lobster roll instead of a sit-down, shell-cracking shore dinner – not as much fuss, cheaper and still damn good.

Traveling from south to north on Route 1:

Castine Golf Club is about a 20-minute detour down Routes 175 and 166 and well worth the extra driving. The first thing you’ll notice is that, like many courses in Great Britain, the hilly layout unfolds in the town itself. You’ll drive past the second green on your way to the Colonial-style clubhouse and pro shop. No. 6 tee is actually located at the corner of State and Court streets.

Into golf history? The club dates back to 1897. The course was designed by Willie Park Jr., a native of Musselburgh, Scotland, who won the British Open in 1887 and ’89 and went on to become an architect with 170 layouts in Europe, the U.S. and Canada to his credit, including Sunningdale near London.

Into American history? If you hit your drive too far right on No. 7 at Castine, a 466-yard, dogleg left par-5, you may very well find your ball sitting on the original site of Fort Gosselin. A plaque informs wayward golfers the fort was built in 1814 in honor of Gen. Girard Gosselin, second commander of British land forces that captured the town on Sept. 4, 1814, during the War of 1812. The site was a British garrison until the Red Coats evacuated in 1815.

All nine holes at Castine have character, but a couple stand out. No. 2 is a scenic par-3 measuring 175 yards from the men’s tee, which is nicely elevated. The small, sloping green is guarded by a bunker left and a road on the right. Perhaps the prettiest hole is No. 8, a 316-yard par-4, with trees lining both sides of the fairway, which slopes from right to left. It’s tempting to haul out the driver and go for it, but a long iron might be the smarter play. The small green stands out against a backdrop of old-growth fir trees.

A word of warning: Although the course is public, there are men’s and women’s leagues certain days of the week. So call ahead to be sure you can get on.

The Causeway Club is located in Southwest Harbor on Mount Desert Island, about a 30-minute drive off Route 1 in Ellsworth down Routes 3 and 102. Established in 1920, the golf course is marked by a vintage red barn a few yards from the cottage-style pro shop. But the dominant feature is the causeway itself, a curving body of water that borders four holes.

The water holes begin at No. 4, a no-nonsense 255-yard par-4 that features the causeway running down the left side, lurking menacingly for a hook or pull from right-handers or a slice from lefties. The fifth hole stretches 388 yards, again with the causeway along the left side and a row of trees on the right. The elevated green sits just below the red barn, which provides a memorable backdrop on the approach.

No. 6 is a 150-yard par-3 featuring an elevated tee and a small green guarded by a bunker on the left and the causeway behind on the right. The wind swirls, making club choice crucial. No. 7 is very tough, playing as long as a 255-yard par 4, or as short as a 162-yard par 3, depending on which of four sets of tees are utilized. From three locations, the tee shot must carry a significant portion of the causeway. The hole proceeds uphill to a sloping green.

Depending on how much golf you decide to play, the Causeway Club can be either pricey or a bargain. It’s $45 for as many holes as you can squeeze in.

Drive down Route 185 off Route 1 to Sorrento and you will soon come across Blink Bonnie Golf Links, operated for the past 19 years by Stu and Rose Taylor. This course situated by Flanders Bay possesses quirky charm with three fairways that criss-cross (be ready to yell “fore”), footbridges that span deep gullies, and a dramatic little 110-yard par-3 that drops more than 60 feet from tee to green.

The prettiest hole on the course is No. 2, a 270-yard par-4 that ends on a point with water on three sides. The green slopes back to front and is well bunkered, meaning long hitters might want to think twice about going for too much off the tee. The constant breeze makes even a short approach an adventure.

Holes 4, 5, and 6 share some common acreage. No. 4 is a straightforward 510-yard par-5 with the bay running along the right. No. 5 is a 490-yard par-5 that heads back toward the fourth tee, with the bay on the left. The hole doglegs right the final 100 yards to a small green. No. 6 is a 350-yard par-4, which tees off behind and to the left of the fifth green, meaning the tee shot crosses the fifth fairway. Be sure to refer to the diagram on the back of the scorecard or you could get lost.

This is strictly a walking course (no motorized carts) and it’s hilly. But the bay views and affordable price ($18 weekdays, $25 weekends for all you can play) make it worth the effort.

The next peninsula to the east – take Route 186 off Route 1 and proceed through Winter Harbor – features Grindstone Neck Golf Course, one of the most beautiful and historic layouts in Maine. Founded in 1891, making it the second-oldest course in the state and among the oldest in the nation, the holes and clubhouse have a classic feel that truly must be experienced to be appreciated.

All nine holes have at least a partial view of Frenchman Bay and on clear days the mountains of Acadia National Park are visible from some holes. And what gorgeous holes they are. No. 2 is a 340-yard par-4 that features a tight tee shot between trees, a landing area guarded by mounds and moguls, and a green with a false front that sits in front of the bay. Step over to No. 3 tee and you are literally overlooking the rocky shore. Then play the 317-yard dogleg left par-4, turn the corner, and there’s another perfect green perched in front of the rocks and bay.

As a finishing hole, No. 9 is a beauty, a 407-yard, par-4 that features a dramatic elevated tee that requires a drive between two old growth fir trees. Magnificent.

For a different coastal golf experience, Barren View Golf Course in Jonesboro is worth the trip. Located along Route 1 in blueberry country, the course offers no views of salt water. But it is strongly reminiscent of a Scottish links course, complete with knee-high grass in the rough, firm, undulating fairways, and strategically placed waste areas of sand and gravel. Factor in the ever-present wind, and it is more than a little challenging for even accomplished players.

The par-5 third hole is particularly tough at 452 yards. There are trees lining the left side and a devilishly placed water hazard along the landing area on the right. It’s short by par-5 standards, but demands accuracy. Another hole requiring some thought is the 295-yard, par-4 sixth. The green is protected by a water hazard on the left, making an iron off the tee an attractive choice. Then again, why not go for it!

Hole No. 5 is an attractive par 3 featuring a green sitting like an oasis in a waste area of sand and gravel. Miss the putting surface at your own peril. The three finishing holes are all par-4 doglegs (left, right, left) made difficult by the tall grass that makes cutting the corners risky. When you finish your round, you can get a drink and a snack in the modern clubhouse.

Traveling farther Down East, you can stop for a quick 9 or 18 at Great Cove Golf Course in Roque Bluffs, just outside of Machias. Established in 1977, the course is short (1,709 yards) but features several holes with elevated tees or greens and nice views of the cove.

Perhaps the most interesting hole is No. 3, a 245-yard, dogleg left par-4. You can either dump a 5-iron down the middle and leave an uphill wedge shot to the green, or you can pull out a metal wood and try to cut the corner, a shot requiring a high trajectory to clear the trees.

Also eye-catching is No. 8, a 185-yard par-3 from an elevated tee, across a gully, to a hillside green. The wind is usually a factor, so choose your club wisely.

Having recently played all these courses, I found myself cured of being an 18-hole snob. Nine-holers along Maine’s coast are every bit as satisfying to anyone who appreciates golf. So enjoy.

Mike Dowd can be reached at 990-8238 and mdowd@bangordailynews.net.

Hot Shots

1. Great Cove Golf Course

387 Great Cove Road, Roque Bluffs, 434-7200

Green fees: $9 for nine holes; $18 for 18

Motor carts and pull carts

1,709 yards, par 30

Hilly terrain, some ocean views

Clubhouse with grill

No tee times required

2. Barren View Golf Course

U.S. Route 1, Jonesboro, 434-6531

Green fees: $16 for nine holes, $26 for 18

Motor carts and pull carts

2,741 yards, par 34

Rolling terrain, sand and gravel waste areas

Clubhouse with grill

No tee times required

3. Blink Bonnie Golf Links

Route 185, Sorrento

Green fees: $18 weekdays, $25 weekends, all you can play

Pull carts only

2,850 yards, par 36

Hilly terrain, ocean views

Clubhouse

No tee times required

4. Castine Golf Club

Battle Avenue, Castine, 326-8844

Green fees: $20 for nine holes and $35 for 18 after July 1 through Labor Day

Motor carts and pull carts

2,994 yards, par 35

Hilly terrain, views of town and bay

Clubhouse, pro shop

No tee times, some limited availability

5. Grindstone Neck Golf Course

Grindstone Avenue, Winter Harbor, 963-7760

Green fees: $22 for nine holes and $35 for 18, weekdays, $28 and $45 weekends

Motor carts and pull carts

3,095 yards, par 36

Hilly terrain, bay and shore views

Clubhouse

No tee times required

6. Causeway Club

Fernald Point Road, Southwest Harbor, 244-3780

Green fees: $45 (summer) all you can play

Motor carts and pull carts

2,266 yards, par 32

Rolling terrain, water views

Pro shop and snack bar

No tee times required

– Mike Dowd