Lake Winnipesaukee area courses

[sjpaster]

I'm heading up to Moultonborough for the 4th of July week, and was curious if anyone has courses in the area that they recommend. I've always had trouble finding a good public track up there. I appreciate the help.

[Bigbigrdg]

I played Lochmere in Tilton on Monday and it was a decent course although some of the greens were in tough shape.... Its a short course but has a nice layout. They have a special on mondays and its only $39 to ride for 18.... Great deal. I also played Kingswood Golf Club in Wolfeboro last year and that was a decent old Donald Ross course.... Dont know what the conditions are this year though. Another course up there that Ive heard was awesome but never played it is Owls Nest in Campton..... Good Luck! Let us know where you end up playing and how the courses were.

[ChrisNH]

Owl's Nest in Campton is a great course. Lochmere is always worth a play. Loudon Country Club is a great designed shorter course that I like a lot. Mojalaki in Franklin is a cheap, quick, fun play that's usually in pretty good shape. Kingswood is okay. Indian Mound up in Ossippee is a pretty good layout also.

[sjpaster]

Thanks for the feedback. Lochmere was on my radar, but not Owl's Nest. I think I will try for both, but make Owl's nest my first choice. Now I hope the grandparents are fine with babysitting!

[Imp]

Played Owls Nest on Friday. Great condition and you won't be disappointed.

Just don't play Mt Washington Resort/Bretton Woods. Deplorable condition. I wouldn't play it if it was $40, never mind the $100 we paid. (However, I did shoot my lowest round there, but everyone else was higher than average due to putting).

And then we played Canterbury Woods on Sunday on the way home. Another excellent, yet tough, course.

--kC

[the dentman]

Gonna play owls next Labor Day weekend . I hear its a great course.. I can get a reciprocal for winnipesaukee country club not sure if that's better course then owls next. Haven't met anyone who plays there. Although Labor Day weekend might be tough for the reciprocal.

[Imp]

Photos from Friday at Owls Nest.

[Imp]

Hmm, not happy that it resized the file on the upload for the panorama. Will have to host it on my site and just link to it.

[sjpaster]

I played Owl's Nest on Tuesday 7/1. I got in 20 holes, since the layout is confusing. They had us starting on 10, we played 11 and missed the sign for 12, instead playing 2 and 3 before realizing our mistake. I thought going driver, 8 iron to a 500 yd par 5 was fishy. I also thought my Bushnell watch just couldn't get a signal because I was in the hills of NH. Anyhow, we got back on track after a laugh.

For a Tuesday, there were more people out than I would've thought. Probably it's the $65 play as much as you want fees. I got paired with a guy who said he's played once in the past two years, and his 10 year old daughter. I anticipated the worst and hoped for the best. Come to find out, he used to be a low single digit. I haven't seen someone strike the ball so consistently, especially after such a layoff. And his daughter would play par 3s from the forward tees and everything else from the 150 marker. She could hit the ball and chip. Having a daughter myself, it was fun to watch. They were the best random playing partners I might have ever had.

As for the course, I think it was ok. Some interesting and challenging holes, that I think would be batter if you have someone with you who knows the course. The fairways had some dead spots, but the rest of the grass was nice. Rough was a good height. The greens were really quick, but had a ton of ball marks on them. Some pin placements were diabolical. Again, knowing the course would make a world of difference. Our round took almost 5 hours, but that's for 20 holes, getting lost, and taking our time. I don't think $65 is fair, unless you play 27+. I also doubt you'll find faster greens or better scenery anywhere else.

Overall, I would go back. But I think I'd try some other places too. My only advice is to book through their website, as it saves you $20+, and to follow the signs once you get there.

[sjpaster]

And play Winnipesaukee CC if you can. It's a top course in New England, let alone NH. Plus, private is a whole different world from public. Owl's Nest would be considered a premier public course, but it still doesn't hold a candle to the private experience.

[Imp]

Agreed on the hole routing being a little tricky. I had no complaints on the greens when I was there last weekend, so maybe due to the holiday week (and it being one of the only courses in as good condition it is where others are almost all dead) it's getting much more play?

That said, I do think the $65 is fair for that course, because it includes cart and it's one of the few courses up there that is actually in better/best condition than most of the others (due to a harsh winter). Really, there are very few dead areas... but if you want a comparison, go look at the Mt Washington Resort courses (which we played the day after Owls Nest). They were deplorable.

--kC

[sjpaster]

You're right. $65 is fair. $65 to play 36 is a ridiculous deal. I've just always had bad experiences with NH golf, that I expect more. I'm curious to try Lochmere and Ridgewood as comparisons.