The Golf Club of New England – Played July 2023
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 167 Winnicutt Road, Stratham, New Hampshire
- Year: 2003
- Architect: Arnold Palmer
- Course Access: Private
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Black: 7,673 yards, Par 72, 79.0 Rating/155 Slope
- Green: 7,024 yards, Par 72, 75.1 Rating/144 Slope
- Blue: 6,561 yards, Par 72, 72.8 Rating/141 Slope
- Red: 6,139 yards, Par 72, 70.7 Rating/137 Slope
- White: 5,797 yards, Par 72, 68.3 Rating/130 Slope (Men’s), 74.3 Rating/139 Slope (Women’s)
- Gold: 4,861 yards, Par 72, 63.8 Rating/119 Slope (Men’s), 69.5 Rating/124 Slope (Women’s)
The Golf Club of New England is known as one of the toughest tests of golf in New Hampshire. Arnold Palmer put together this demanding layout just after the turn of the 21st century.
I couldn’t find much in the way of the club’s history, so this introduction will be light. This round was played solo during the week so I had the course basically to myself. Let’s get right into the tour.
Hole 1 – 400 yards – Par 4
There is no easing into the round here at The Golf Club of New England. The rough is thick and the small green makes for a difficult opener.
Hole 2 – 337 yards – Par 4
Player’s choice on the tee shot here. Most will need to lay up to avoid the bunkers and rough. The green sits off to the right and is quite elevated.
Hole 3 – 491 yards – Par 5
With the changing directions on this hole, getting home in two can be difficult. The green sits back amongst the trees to the left.
Hole 4 – 393 yards – Par 4
Straight shots are your only recourse on this one. Like the rest of the hole, the green is long and skinny.
Hole 5 – 546 yards – Par 5
You emerge from the trees to see the longest hole on the course. You need two good shots to put yourself in position to attack the green.
This green is a difficult target if you are trying to get home in two. Come to think of it, it’s hard to hit with a wedge!
Hole 6 – 176 yards – Par 3
The water catches your attention standing on this tee. A bailout area on the left allows you to avoid the hazard, but par is not a foregone conclusion from over there. If you manage to find the green, you must navigate a middle ridge that bisects the putting surface.
Hole 7 – 384 yards – Par 4
Long hitters can challenge the bunkers on the right. Everyone else will need to fit their drive between them and the sand on the left.
Approaches from the left side are easier since they don’t have to contend with the greenside bunker.
Hole 8 – 202 yards – Par 3
There’s no bailout for chunked tee shots on this heroic par three. Now is the time for one of your best shots.
The left side of the green is a larger target and lets you stay away from the trouble on the right.
Hole 9 – 380 yards – Par 4
From a slightly elevated tee, you need to favor the left side of this fairway. The hole doglegs to the right as it proceeds to a green sitting back in the trees.
The putting surface is narrow. Chipping around this green is difficult.
Hole 10 – 480 yards – Par 5
This can be an awkward tee shot if you miss left. Drives need to favor the left before fitting your second shot between the bunkers as you climb the hill.
You won’t see the putting surface until you are on it which makes approach shots tougher.
Hole 11 – 332 yards – Par 4
Most players won’t be able to reach this green and will play to the fairway on the right. Even if you do have the distance to go straight at the green, the massive hazard should give you pause.
An approach with a short club is still nervy with the bunkers and the hazard.
Hole 12 – 413 yards – Par 4
The fairway cants hard from left to right here. With a bunker on the right, it makes sense to hit your drive up the left side since the slope will kick it towards the middle.
Distance control on the approach is critical to this shallow green.
Hole 13 – 376 yards – Par 4
Your landing area is hidden from the tee. Use the right bunker as an aiming aid. Drives just inside it will work out well.
After a good drive, this should be a green light situation.
Hole 14 – 151 yards – Par 3
The Winnicut River runs alongside this hole and provides the danger to the left. The best strategy is to take advantage of the big kicker on the right side of the green.
Hole 15 – 554 yards – Par 5
Tee shots will kick to the left on this sloping fairway. A hazard runs up the entire left side to really ratchet up the difficulty.
As you get to the green, they add in another hazard on the right. Lay-ups here must be thoughtful and precise.
I’d imagine trying to hit this green with a wood is terrifying!
Hole 16 – 380 yards – Par 4
This hole bends slightly left. Challenging the bunkers on the right will give you the best angle into the green. With all the trouble though, anything in the fairway is a welcome sight.
Your approach absolutely cannot go long, left, or short. You need to favor the right side if you’re not hitting it well.
Hole 17 – 159 yards – Par 3
Another “all carry” par three here that is thankfully shorter than the eighth. Two tee boxes here allow options from each side of this tree.
Here is the other angle.
Here’s a look at the contoured putting surface.
Hole 18 – 407 yards – Par 4
A demanding round finishes with an equally tough challenge. The hazard on the right is the main issue but the fairway bunkers bordering each side of the hole must be considered as well.
The approach is straightforward but don’t get careless and let your shot leak to the right.
The green is quite large with a wider back section. Recovery shots from these bunkers have to face down the water lurking on the other side.
The Golf Club of New England is a stern test from start to finish. I cannot imagine playing it from the tips. Your game needs to be on if you want to score well. Members’ handicaps here travel quite well in my estimation.