Maine’s Best Golf Holes
From the western foothills to the coast, rounding up the top holes at the state’s most impressive courses.
POLAND SPRING RESORT | 4TH HOLE
THE COURSE
Arthur Fenn designed the first six holes of the Poland Spring Golf Course, then in 1912 Donald Ross added his signature by redesigning the original six holes and adding twelve more, completing the full eighteen-hole championship design. This treasure of Poland Spring has bent grass greens, beautiful fairways meandering through the Maine woods, and four sets of tees to accommodate players of all levels. Sitting atop “The Hill,” the course features some of the most beautiful sunsets and fall colors that are nothing short of spectacular, and fifteen of eighteen holes have views of the White Mountains or Lower Range Pond.
THE HOLE
The 4th hole presents golfers with one of Poland Spring’s risk-reward challenges and forces the player to evaluate the tee shot in terms of skill and nerves. The corridored fairway carved out of pine and white birch trees guide the player and serve as defense against a poorly struck shot. Players should choose a club that they have confidence in, will allow them to keep the ball in play, and set themselves up for a second shot from the fairway. A tee shot in the fairway is pivotal in setting up the approach to the small undulating green. Players will approach this green from 100 to 180 yards, depending on the tee played and skill level. Two bunkers guard the right side of the green, the first is 55 yards from the front right edge and the other is 20 yards from the right-hand side of the green. This green requires an approach shot that has height and spin to hold the green. Avoid hitting it long on this hole because the drop off makes recovery shots difficult from behind. Once on the green, players will find that this medium size green slopes slightly from front to back and right to left. Four is an excellent score on this hole.
640 Maine St, Poland, ME 04274 | 207.998.6002 | polandspringresort.com
PENOBSCOT VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB | 9TH HOLE
THE COURSE
Penobscot Valley Country Club is a semi-private, 18-hole championship golf course located in Orono. It was designed by the celebrated Donald Ross and built in 1924. The club has hosted golfers from Arnold Palmer to Tom Watson to Gene Sarazen and has established an impressive pedigree of competitive events. Since 1926, ten Maine Amateur Championships have taken place at Penobscot Valley. Members have special privileges at Penobscot Valley, but the public is always welcome. The nearby Maine Savings Amphitheater brings some of the nation’s largest music acts, and they often play at the course when they are in town. If you get lucky, you might be able to catch the next big star playing a round! Penobscot Valley Country Club is owned and operated by Resurrection Golf, Maine’s premier golf course management and ownership group.
THE HOLE
The 9th hole at Penobscot Valley, called “orchard,” is a true test of a par 4. A well-placed tee shot to the right side of the fairway will leave you with a significantly shorter shot to the very elevated green. A tee shot to the left side make it a more challenging hole. Landing on the green is no small feat. The green is a bit of a turtleback shape, with everything rolling off the front and back. A long shot will give you a very difficult pitch to a green that slopes away from you, while a shot that is short will allow you to try again. The green is very fast with not a whole lot of flat spots. This hole will test every part of your game.
366 Main St., Orono | 207.866.2423 | penobscotvalleycc.com
OLD MARSH COUNTRY CLUB | 18TH HOLE
THE COURSE
Old Marsh Country Club, a semiprivate, 18-hole championship golf course in Wells, was designed by Brian Silva and built in 2008 as an homage to the golden-age stylings of C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor. In its first year, it was ranked in the “Top 10 Best in America” by Golf Magazine and is consistently ranked in the top 25 courses in New England by New England Golf Monthly. Old Marsh is owned and operated by Resurrection Golf, Maine’s premier golf course management and ownership group.
THE HOLE
The 18th hole at Old Marsh Country Club, titled “home,” is ranked as one of the hardest finishing holes in the state. You have one last strategic decision to make before you’re “home”: challenge the right side of the fairway to shorten your path to the green—a path over water—or drive to the left, safer side of the fairway and add 20-plus yards to an already difficult approach. The green is protected by three deep bunkers and slopes from front to back. With a depth of almost 40 yards on the green, club selection is very important on your approach.
445 Clubhouse Rd., Wells | 207.251.4653 | oldmarshcountryclub.com
BOOTHBAY HARBOR COUNTRY CLUB | 8TH HOLE
THE COURSE
Penobscot Valley Country Club is a semi-private, 18-hole championship golf course located in Orono. It was designed by the celebrated Donald Ross and built in 1924. The club has hosted golfers from Arnold Palmer to Tom Watson to Gene Sarazen and has established an impressive pedigree of competitive events. Since 1926, ten Maine Amateur Championships have taken place at Penobscot Valley. Members have special privileges at Penobscot Valley, but the public is always welcome. The nearby Maine Savings Amphitheater brings some of the nation’s largest music acts, and they often play at the course when they are in town. If you get lucky, you might be able to catch the next big star playing a round! Penobscot Valley Country Club is owned and operated by Resurrection Golf, Maine’s premier golf course management and ownership group.
THE HOLE
The 8th Hole at Boothbay Harbor Country Club is the signature hole of the course. This medium-length par 4 begins with a great view of the award-winning clubhouse, then tests players’ accuracy off the tee between deep bunkers on the right and a water hazard on the left. It then sets players up for a mid-short iron approach to a difficult, narrow green guarded by a flowing creek in front and flat-bottomed bunkers behind. The difficult approach is accompanied by a beautiful backdrop of local flowering bushes set along rock outcroppings.
Boothbay Harbor Country Club | | 207.633.3673 | boothbayharborcc.com
Boothbay Harbor Oceanside Golf Resort | 207.633.4455 | boothbayharboroceansideresort.com
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