Course Tour

347 Yards (335 for red tees, 274 for gold tees), Par 4, Handicap: 6

A magnificent view from the elevated tee for the opening shot, looking down on the fairway and green, the latter bordering Main Street (Route 1A). Not as easy a first drive as it appears. Wenham Cemetery (and out of bounds) runs the entire left side, and white OB stakes on the right protect players coming up the third. Three bunkers (left, center and right) at the green, which slopes slightly front to back.

115 Yards (110), Par 3

This cute one-shotter parallels Main Street, so the player hitting often receives unsolicited advice from passing motorists, as is the case on hole #3, since the two tees join to form an “L” shape. Postage stamp green demands pinpoint accuracy. Out of bounds left (Main Street) and back (stone wall protecting the driveway). Three bunkers: one left at green, one right, and one center front. This is the shortest hole on the course, and one of only two relatively flat holes, along with hole #3.

187 Yards (181, 126), Par 3

This is a terrific par-three; it is one of our largest and widest greens, but one that slopes sharply from back to front. The best play is usually the right front portion of the green or a little short of the right bunker, setting up a relatively easy pitch. The up tee was introduced to play in 2009, but just because it is shorter does not mean that it plays easier. A stone wall protecting the driveway runs along the left side and veers in tightly at the green. Out of bounds right, protecting players coming down hole #1.

279 Yards (264, 235), Par 4

Drive off the elevated tee (often with a gallery, since you are back at the clubhouse and adjacent to the practice green) across the driveway to a wide, uphill fairway. The green was moved 30 yards back in 1997 and the cedar tree that was for many years behind the green is now 15 yards in front and poses an intriguing distraction for approaches. This hole is now one of the best short fours on the course. Four bunkers, one left greenside, one rear, one short left of the old green, one right of the old green.

200 Yards (206), Par 3 (4)

Its all downhill to another relatively new, but somewhat small, green. A good chipper comes in handy here. No bunkers at the green; one bunker on the right, 50 yards off the tee. Three is a super score.

309 Yards (300, 280), Par 4

You hit from an elevated tee toward an elevated green, with the valley in between. Fairway bunkers left and right. The two fairway bunkers are 250 yards out from the tee.

153 Yards (142, 106) Par 3

Another rock solid par 3, downhill to a new, medium sized green protected with bunkers left and right. A ball hit just short left of green will usually kick on.

278 Yards (268), Par 4, Handicap 8

A sharp dogleg left, with the smart play 175 yards straightaway to the uphill slope of the bend, then a semi-blind approach to the small green that sits slightly below the fairway. Greenside bunkers left and right. The bold player tries to drive over the corner of the trees at the dogleg, cutting as much as 50 yards off the hole and leaving only a pitch in.

170 Yards (160), Par 3

All uphill to a small target bunkered short left and off the front right corner. Hit too much club and you may land in a shallow pond situated behind the green.

216 Yards (209), Par 3

A brute, combining with holes 9, 11 and 12 for the toughest stretch on the course, all uphill to a good sized green, guarded by two bunkers right, one left.

413 Yards (408, 317), Par 5

The longest hole on the course, featuring elevated tee and green and a steep valley in between. The last 125 yards are uphill to a green with long, narrow bunkers left and right.

186 Yards (179), Par 3

A superb downhill one-shotter in which the tee ball must be threaded between two maple trees, then carry a stone wall to a two-tiered green made slightly easier by mounding that closes off the putting surface in back and to the right. The best miss is in front of the green. One bunker, front left.

136 Yards (130, 110), Par 3

A short but deceptively difficult shot with a frightfully sloping green, the most talked about surface on the course, a back-to-front tilt and a green-wide bunker in front.

357 Yards (347, 237), Par 4

Tee off next to the Newburyport-Boston rail line to a fairway punctuated by a bunker 170 yards out on the right. The second shot for most is blind over a hill to the green below, using a shagbark history tree for the line of flight. Overclubbing can land you on the #15 ladies’ tee or in the pond. One bunker, front left.

246 Yards (165), Par 4 (3)

A slight uphill shot with the green tucked over a rise. One bunker, back left. Out of bounds runs down the entire left side. Most players miss to the right, but it does not always leave an easy pitch shot.

382 Yards (320), Par 4 (5)

Uphill tee shot to a right bending dogleg protected by four bunkers. The small green slopes sharply left to right, with one bunker short left. A first rate test.

300 Yards (290), Par 4

It’s all uphill until the last 90 yards, then it’s downhill to a small green. One bunker left at the green catches approaches headed for the utility road and OB.

272 Yards (266), Par 4

A blind tee shot for the home hole over a ridge that slopes top to bottom, right to left. Aim the drive at the middle of the pine trees. Only trouble is left over the hill into the parking lot. Best play for the downhill second, if you can’t drive the green, is to the right front. One bunker, short right of the green. A hole that can provide plenty of dramatics when the stakes are high.