Played Old Marsh Golf Club in Wells, ME, today. In many ways, the course is a combination of classic and modern touches. The plentiful fairway sand bunkers are festooned with long, thick grasses giving any shot toward them the double trouble potential (I preferred the hacks from the sand to those from the thick grass). The second-longest set of tees play to only 6,000 yards (the longest break 6,500), but the chesty slope of 130 was more than justified by the hidden swales beyond bunkers that kicked wayward shots even more wayward. And most fairway bunkers were not in place just for aiming purposes or eye candy. They were places in the 210 yard to 240 yard ranges, to cover golfers like me on both weak and strong days.
The mostly huge greens were fiercely guarded by sand bunkers that nestled right up to the edge of the putting surfaces. I found some compensation in the large green complexes, many of which featured slopes that kicked a short shot right toward a few rear pin positions. My overall impression was of a layout that was visually stimulating and challenging; in other words, one most of us could play a few times a week without getting bored. You are not likely to see the same pin position repreated for at least a few weeks.
I’ll have more to say about the achievement by Brian Silva, one of New England's top designers, in the coming week or so, as well as some comments about the golf community that is emerging around it. In the meantime, enjoy the few photos below.
The par 4 2nd hole steals a bit from classic designer Seth Raynor, with a totally blind second shot to a green that is shaped something like a punchbowl.
The short par 4 4th hole at Old Marsh will tempt the big hitters to work a power fade toward the green. A big kick right could get home for an eagle putt -- or leave any one of a few hazardous conditions.
The par 3s at Old Marsh, like the 15th, are all easily reachable because you can choose any of three clubs to land on the putting surface, depending on pin position. Choose unwisely and you will have a putt from front to back of 100 feet or more.
