York Golf & Tennis Club – Played July 2023
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 62 Organug Road, York, Maine
- Year: 1923
- Original Architect: Donald Ross
- Additional Work By: Bruce Hepner
- Course Access: Private
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Blue: 6,333 yards, Par 70, 71.3 Rating/126 Slope
- White: 6,113 yards, Par 70, 70.3 Rating/124 Slope
- Green: 5,551 yards, Par 70, 67.7 Rating/120 Slope
- Gold: 5,193 yards, Par 71, 65.8 Rating/117 Slope (Men’s), 71.0 Rating/131 Slope (Women’s)
- Red: 4,279 yards, Par 71, 62.1 Rating/102 Slope (Men’s), 64.6 Rating/114 Slope (Women’s)
York Golf & Tennis Club is a place I’d passed by a few times on my drives around New England. Because of that, it was always a place I was interested in checking out. Thankfully, there was a willing member on Thousand Greens and I was able to get a round set up.
Donald Ross is the original architect of record here and his brother, Alex, was the club’s first professional. The course is named for William Wilson though. Wilson was a Scotsman as well who taught at the club for decades.
Now let’s get into the tour.
Hole 1 – 195 yards – Par 3
If you’re running late and have to tee off without a warm-up, this is a tough way to start. You’ll have a long iron into a very small green with OB directly to the left. It’s no surprise that I missed right here.
Pitches from the rough-covered mounds make for a difficult par here.
Hole 2 – 376 yards – Par 4
This blind tee shot looks tighter than it plays. A good drive plays up the right side for the best angle into the green.
Hole 3 – 340 yards – Par 4
York Golf really picks up steam on this hole. Accuracy over distance is the game for the tee shot unless you have 300+ in the bag.
The approach is blind with a directional flag guiding the way. Heather covers the mounds between you and the green.
Hole 4 – 364 yards – Par 4
The hazard is in play on the tee shot here, so the driver might not be the play for you, especially from the elevated tee.
After the drop in elevation, the approach plays slightly uphill to a green guarded by slopes and a bunker.
Hole 5 – 303 yards – Par 4
The course plays along the York River for a few holes starting here. A tee shot just left of the tallest tree with your 200-yard club will set up a short approach shot.
I don’t recommend blading your second over the green!
Hole 6 – 396 yards – Par 4
The sixth is one of the longer par fours at York Golf. Thankfully, the fairway is wide enough to unleash the driver. You can see everything you’ll face on this hole from the tee.
Hole 7 – 196 yards – Par 3
This is a cool tee shot playing to an infinity green in front of the river. The green has some interesting sections and slopes.
Hole 8 – 436 yards – Par 5
This is your best birdie opportunity on the front side. A good drive will certainly put you in a position to go for the green in two. The approach plays uphill to a green that is open in front.
Stay away from the left side of this green with its sharp drop off and trees.
Hole 9 – 376 yards – Par 4
The trees on the left side make this tee shot more difficult. They were right in my landing area and blocked my path on the approach.
The green is quite sloped making downhill putts adventurous.
Hole 10 – 391 yards – Par 4
A good drive goes a long way here towards making this hole easier.
As you can tell, the approach plays straight uphill to a green that has a bit of a false front. Getting deep enough into the green is crucial.
Hole 11 – 416 yards – Par 4
This dogleg left is a tough hole. You start with one of the narrower tee shots that ideally curves to the left. After that, your approach can be semi-blind.
The green is interestingly contoured, so your second shot needs to be precise.
Hole 12 – 347 yards – Par 4
Summon whatever you can to generate a straight tee shot here. If you can do that, a short iron approach to the green can put you in position for a birdie.
You can see the slopes in the green below that aren’t evident from the fairway.
Hole 13 – 557 yards – Par 5
This is a three-shotter for most golfers. The hazard is nearly impossible to carry so less than driver is the play on this slight dogleg left.
You’ll need to control your spin with the approach to this green. Anything short will be coming back at you.
Hole 14 – 178 yards – Par 3
This hole didn’t seem to play as downhill as you might think. A bunker guards the right side of an otherwise open green.
Hole 15 – 355 yards – Par 4
Trees on the right side can block out your second shot if you stray too far in that direction. The hole bends a little right before rising to a visually obscured green.
At first glance this green can look nondescript, but there is enough slope to keep your attention.
Hole 16 – 384 yards – Par 4
This is one of the standout and more difficult holes here. We got to play it into the wind as well. The big trees straightaway are a good aiming point.
The approach is an absolute rollercoaster of a shot. A big dropoff awaits long and the steep hill in the front will repel any short shots.
Hole 17 – 133 yards – Par 3
A short iron tee shot plays to a green with a lot of slope in the back sections. Hitting this green is a priority.
Hole 18 – 370 yards – Par 4
The final hole at York Golf has a creek up the left side that will sneak up on you. Bunkers down the right pinch the fairway and force an accurate drive.
A good drive should leave a short approach into a heavily pitched green.
My host shared a great story about the approach shot to this green. In a club event, he bladed one from the fairway bunker into the clubhouse just as someone opened the corner door and the ball made its way all the way into the dining room. Everyone got a good laugh out of that.
York Golf & Tennis Club was just what I picture when I think of New England golf. It’s not long but can still provide a challenge. Rolling fairways and good greens provide for a nice walk and experience. I really enjoyed the round here!