Trip to Vermont and Maine

[bbslurp413]

Posted this in the New Englad Subforum but thought it may get more hits out here

 

Going with the wife on a east coast roadtrip through Mass, Vermont and Maine in the middle of September. Got the approval to play twice, maybe three times if I am really lucky in Vermont and Maine. Have been reading alot on here and have gotten my list done to the following courses:

 

Vermont:

Okemor Valley

Green Mountain National

 

Maine:

Sunday River

Ledges

Belgrade Lakes

Samoset

 

Need recommendations for two of the courses with a possible third. A recent conditions report would also be great.

 

Thanks!

[dbrew23]

i can only speak for the maine courses but i would add sugarloaf, old marsh, the links at outlook and boothbay is nice also

[Chris_NH]

[quote name='bbslurp413' timestamp='1342643959' post='5301764']
[i]Posted this in the New Englad Subforum but thought it may get more hits out here[/i]

Going with the wife on a east coast roadtrip through Mass, Vermont and Maine in the middle of September. Got the approval to play twice, maybe three times if I am really lucky in Vermont and Maine. Have been reading alot on here and have gotten my list done to the following courses:

Vermont:
Okemor Valley
Green Mountain National

Maine:
Sunday River
Ledges
Belgrade Lakes
Samoset

Need recommendations for two of the courses with a possible third. A recent conditions report would also be great.

Thanks!
[/quote]

On your list, I've only played The Ledges. It's a fantastic course and one I highly recommend. I haven't played it this year, but they were one of the three courses that hosted the Seacoast Amateur Tournament about 2 weeks ago and one of my friends, who used to be a member there, said the Ledges is in the best condition he's seen. That's high praise, because it's always one of the best-conditioned courses around.

I echo someone else's comment about Old Marsh in Wells, ME. Great links layout - one of my favorites. The other course, just down into NH, that's worth a look is Portsmouth Country Club. A links-style semi-private Robert Trent Jones course set along the Great Bay on the Portsmouth/Greenland line - literally about 8 minutes from the bridge that connects NH and ME on Rt. 95.

The Oaks in Somersworth, NH is another strong contender (my home course).

[Bandy1080]

Sunday River is a must play. A tad better than Sugarloaf in my opinion. The course gets a lot of traffic but is kept in fantastic condition and is a great round. That said, it is extremely tough considering it is build into the side of a mountain, and if you get certain people in front of you, can make for a very slow round. My advice would be to tee off early in the morning. I think members get first dibs on the early times, but try to be out right behind them.

Belgrade lakes is like an hour and a half away from Sunday River towards Augusta. It is just epic. Top notch facility all around and one of the nicest public courses in the state, if not New England.

[MikeMcM]

Maybe Sagamore or the Balsams

[Chris_NH]

[quote name='MikeMcM' timestamp='1342822707' post='5318364']
Maybe Sagamore or the Balsams
[/quote]

Sagamore in North Hampton, NH?

That's a 3rd-rate course - I would not recommend it to the original poster.

[MadGolfer76]

[quote name='bbslurp413' timestamp='1342643959' post='5301764']
[i]Posted this in the New Englad Subforum but thought it may get more hits out here[/i]

Going with the wife on a east coast roadtrip through Mass, Vermont and Maine in the middle of September. Got the approval to play twice, maybe three times if I am really lucky in Vermont and Maine. Have been reading alot on here and have gotten my list done to the following courses:

Vermont:
Okemor Valley
Green Mountain National

Maine:
Sunday River
Ledges
Belgrade Lakes
Samoset

Need recommendations for two of the courses with a possible third. A recent conditions report would also be great.

Thanks!
[/quote]

The Ledges is in [i]great[/i] condition. Very fast greens for a daily fee course. Definitely should play there. Belgrade Lakes is about 40 minutes south of me. Played it a few years ago and it was in pristine condition. Couldn't tell you right now. Maybe Vindog has played there this year?

You may or may not get the full-on Maine foliage until late in September, unless you go way north to the Mt. Katahdin area.

[Shemp]

All 4 of the Maine courses are great. You won't be disappointed in any of them.

[Titleist 670]

[quote name='dbrew23' timestamp='1342655568' post='5303680']
i can only speak for the maine courses but i would add sugarloaf, old marsh, the links at outlook and boothbay is nice also
[/quote]

Avoid the links at outlook - the front 9 is okay, back nine is on a hill & a terrible layout.

You can't miss with Sunday River and Sugarloaf. Both are slightly overrated IMO, but #10 and 11 at Sugarloaf are worth the price of admission and Sunday River is slightly better overall, even though it lacks holes that are as good as 10 and 11 at the Loaf. One downside with these is I believe you have to take a cart, so if you prefer walking it takes a bit of fun out of the round.

The problem with the courses you listed is that The Ledges is in York (southern Maine), Samoset is in Rockport I believe, which is way up the coast eastern maine, and Sunday River is northwest in the mountains. I'd just play Sugarloaf and Sunday River if I were you (both western part of the state), rather than driving all over the place, though I guess coming into the state Ledges would be right there. But if you plan to do Samoset in addition, be prepared for some driving...