State tour help

[Imp]

 

and the food in the 'clubhouse' is pretty good, great local characters in there...a couple of years ago there was a pushing fist fight in there, among the women's weekend group...

I don't want to go play golf and run into that in the club house.

 

And which is the reason I suggest people look elsewhere THAN Triggs, especially if from out of town. You never know what you may run into and it ruins it... people form an impression of the place, and in association, the community and people that live here, when they're typical (indigenous?) only to that one small area of the state. Even on the course, the regulars of this muni feel more entitled than if it was some super private.

 

 

[jdl]

I love the layout and the course @ Triggs but my group won't go back there. Last 2 times we've played going out around 9 am and they had outings booked for an afternoon shotgun start. Each time the pace of play was so slow that we had someone from the course drive out to our group on the 12/13th holes and tell us we needed to skip ahead to 15/16 because of the outing. The first time it happened we just ignored the request and ended up being able to get through those holes before the outing started. The second time our last group got caught up in the outing and it took them over 3 hours to finish the back 9.

 

Great course but it is a muni and you have to deal with the folks that run it, unfortunately.

[Imp]

And you can call them (Triggs) up and ask them if they punched the greens yet when making a tee time, and they WILL lie to get you to go there. Happened not once, but twice. One time in the spring and a year and a half later in the fall. They don't care. I haven't gone back.

 

--kC

 

 

[Skeeter]

So I'm torn on a MA course.

 

Crumpin Fox

Granite Ridge

Red Tail

Farm Neck

Something else?

 

Only playing 1 and can't decide.

 

[jut111]

Do you mean Granite links? Can you narrow down your route? I mean Crumpin and Farm Neck are basically extreme opposite sides of the state..

[raynorfan1]

So I'm torn on a MA course.

 

Crumpin Fox

Granite Ridge

Red Tail

Farm Neck

Something else?

 

Only playing 1 and can't decide.

 

If those are the choices, it's Crumpin Fox or Farm Neck.

 

Farm Neck is only doable if you were planning to go to MV for a few days anyway. It is a tough (but possible) day trip.

[edresnick]

Red Tail is easy right outside of a Boston. Nice track usually in very good shape. I would go there or Pines Hills.

[chippa13]

Thanks for this, guys. I'd never considered the Portsmouth area for a golf trip. But looking at some of the courses, maybe I should!

 

Coming from NY, I could see a great 4 or 5 day trip including hitting up a course in Rhode Island on the way, staying in Providence, then making my way up there.

 

My GF and I "found" Portsmouth last summer on our way back from Maine. Neither of us had spent any time there and immediately fell in love with it. The Market Street area is just a cool fun place to hang out for lunch/dinner and checking out the shops.

 

Portsmouth is a favorite spot of our's. We like to grease the skids with a Redhook brewery "tour" and then head to Portsmouth proper to wander for apps, beverages and finally dinner. So many good options in Portsmouth.

[chippa13]

for Vermont I would play Okemo (Ludlow) and Green Mountain National (Outside Killington) Two beauty's.

 

I'd toss Stowe Mountain as another Vermont option.

[OrangeCrush]

Thanks for this, guys. I'd never considered the Portsmouth area for a golf trip. But looking at some of the courses, maybe I should!

 

Coming from NY, I could see a great 4 or 5 day trip including hitting up a course in Rhode Island on the way, staying in Providence, then making my way up there.

 

My GF and I "found" Portsmouth last summer on our way back from Maine. Neither of us had spent any time there and immediately fell in love with it. The Market Street area is just a cool fun place to hang out for lunch/dinner and checking out the shops.

 

Portsmouth is a favorite spot of our's. We like to grease the skids with a Redhook brewery "tour" and then head to Portsmouth proper to wander for apps, beverages and finally dinner. So many good options in Portsmouth.

 

We have become addicted to the pizza at GasLight Grille! I am heading up to Wentworth by the Sea next week for work. Looking forward to playing there.

[chippa13]

Always a good choice. If you venture just a hair outside the main square then Massimo is really good italian food.

[AndrewS]

Thanks for this, guys. I'd never considered the Portsmouth area for a golf trip. But looking at some of the courses, maybe I should!

 

Coming from NY, I could see a great 4 or 5 day trip including hitting up a course in Rhode Island on the way, staying in Providence, then making my way up there.

 

My GF and I "found" Portsmouth last summer on our way back from Maine. Neither of us had spent any time there and immediately fell in love with it. The Market Street area is just a cool fun place to hang out for lunch/dinner and checking out the shops.

 

Portsmouth is a favorite spot of our's. We like to grease the skids with a Redhook brewery "tour" and then head to Portsmouth proper to wander for apps, beverages and finally dinner. So many good options in Portsmouth.

 

We have become addicted to the pizza at GasLight Grille! I am heading up to Wentworth by the Sea next week for work. Looking forward to playing there.

 

Nice! Love Gas Light. They make a white pizza called "Old North Church" with carmelized onions on it, may not on the menu anymore, but it's a very old favorite, and worth a try in my book.

[Chris_NH]

Always a good choice. If you venture just a hair outside the main square then Massimo is really good italian food.

 

Haven't tried that one. Another great (but expensive) choice is a tapas place called Cava. One of the best meals I've had, and it's nice to have the series of small portions served over a 1.5-2 hour period - makes for an enjoyable dinner.

[AllstateMaine]

So I'm torn on a MA course.

 

Crumpin Fox

Granite Ridge

Red Tail

Farm Neck

Something else?

 

Only playing 1 and can't decide.

 

Farm Neck if it's shoulder season. Absolutely amazing experience.

[AndrewS]

Portsmouth - Also try The Library for a high end steakhouse feel & Agave for some of the best Mexican food I've ever had.

[Skeeter]

So we're going first week of June but I'm not seeing any tee times that far out.

 

Do these courses not offer times a bit over a month out?

[jut111]

Online most courses around here don't. I'd call and explain your coming from out of town. Kiss there butt and tell them about your tour and they are the chosen course. They may accommodate you.

[raynorfan1]

So we're going first week of June but I'm not seeing any tee times that far out.

 

Do these courses not offer times a bit over a month out?

 

Keep in mind, these courses are all public and one of the 'benefits' to membership / season pass holders is preferential tee times. Members usually get to book times ~2 weeks in advance while non members can't until 7 or often as few as 3 days out.

[RobYakes]

Wanted to bump this thread. Besides Portsmouth and Portland, what other towns would you guys recommend? Lady and I are planning a 1-2 week road trip thru NE (she doesn't golf). Thinking head up the coast (from DC) and come back down on 93, 91 or 7. Thanks

[medicoreMAgolfer]

Wanted to bump this thread. Besides Portsmouth and Portland, what other towns would you guys recommend? Lady and I are planning a 1-2 week road trip thru NE (she doesn't golf). Thinking head up the coast (from DC) and come back down on 93, 91 or 7. Thanks

 

As far as a vacation is concerned for a two week NE road trip in the summer, here is what I might do (I'll admit, this is probably a 3 week trip, but you can cut stuff out

 

1. Starting in New York City - do a day drive out to the Long Island and check out the Hamptons. The towns are pretty cool, there is stuff the wife will enjoy (shops, wineries, etc.) and the beaches are fantastic. You can even maybe sneak in 18 holes at Bethpage. I might stay over night as far out as possible and then then take early Long Island Ferry off the tip of LI to New London, CT

 

2. Do a quick trip through Mystic / Groton - check out the Sub base and other touristy stuff in that area and plan on getting to Newport, RI around dinner time

 

3. Spend evening in Newport and next day. Newport is a great town, do the mansion tour, try and find a way onto Newport CC and just enjoy that town. Maybe spend a second night here

 

4. Take the two hour drive and go to Cape Cod from newport. The downside of the Cape is that it is a peninsula and there is no ferry back, so I might stay on Upper Cape. Stay in Falmouth and do a day trip to Martha's Vineyard. Many say Nantucket is "nicer", but MV is more easily accessible and Edgartown has the same feel of Nantucket anyway. There is a passenger-only ferry out of Falmouth Harbor called the Pied Piper. You park your car right there - is perfect way to spend a day on the Island. I would just do day trip. (note - if you want to spend more than 1 - 2 days on Cape Cod, can give you lots more advice, including golf)

 

5. I would leave the Cape, drive through Boston (you can do most of the stuff you want to see in Boston in the summer in 1.5 days - but that's an easy city to access from DC for a weekend, so I would just drive through). Right after you leave the Cape, in Plymouth, MA - there are about 4 very good daily fee private courses. The Pinehills is considered the nicest (has two tracks), but across the road are two less expensive and equally good options in Waverly Oaks and Crosswinds. You can drop your wife at a great spa affiliated with Pinehills while you play 18. If you can find a way on, Old Sandwich is there - fantastic C&C private course.

 

6. I am a big fan of the North Shore of Boston. Marblehead, Salem, Manchester-by-the-Sea are all Boston suburbs, but cool little towns to check out. Gloucester and Cape Ann are definitely worth a visit as well, particularly if you've ever watched the show "Wicked Tuna"

 

7. After leaving Mass, Portsmouth is a cool little town. Worth 1/2 day - maybe for lunch and then I would head to Portland. It is a great little city. Tremendous restaurants, great beer scene, artsy vibe. That being said, it's probably worth 1.5 days max. You could even do 1/2 portsmouth, 1/2 day portland, dinner, and then leave first thing in the morning

 

8. After Portland, I think the ride up the Maine coast from Kennebunkport, through Portland, hit Bath, Boothbay, Camden, and end up in Bar Harbor / Acadia (and all parts in between) is a fantastic trip. This trip in of itself could be a 5-7 day trip.

 

9. Now you're all the way in Maine - you can drive your self straight back, or if you have more time, take a more in-land route home. I'd head directly west from Acadia and hit up Mount Washington and the Omni Hotel there (feels like you stepped back 60 years ago). Worth checking that out particularly if you need some more outdoorsy activities (hiking, biking, etc. - Acadia is also great for a bike ride)

 

10. Head southwest to Hanover, NH and home town of Darmouth College. Cool little town, beautiful part of NH. I'd then leave Hanover, and head to the Woodstock Inn in Woodstock, VT. Your wife will enjoy the stop at Simon Pearce glassblowing factory on the way (great restaurant there too.) Woodstock is a great town to visit in VT in the summer (or winter for that matter)

 

11. You can then leave woodstock and head to Williams College area (down route 7) and play Taconic. One of the best spots (public or private) in all of Mass. Probably the one place I would make sure I play on your trip

 

(Note - if you're going in Mid-July to late August, I would actually skip 11 and go to Saratoga Springs and go to the horse track. One of the best things to do for any road trip. Saratoga is another step back in time. GREAT town and a horse track that is an incredible experience - you could still double back to Taconic)

 

12. After playing golf, head to Lenox, MA. Great hotels / inns in the Berkshires. Depending upon time of summer, lots of artsy things to do in the area

 

13. Work you way back to Litchfield CT and stay at the Winvian Farm. Your wife will love you, but you'll have to take out a mortgage! In all seriousness, LItchfield is a cool town if on your way

 

14. Head back to DC

 

I'll let others chime in on courses in Maine, NH, and VT

[jmck]

You mean like small towns that have shopping/entertainment for your lady while you're out playing? Or big cities with good courses nearby? Are you talking a long weekend? A week? Two weeks? A trip coming back on 7 is going to be a lot different than 91 which is a lot different than 93 (which is basically not at all different from 95). And if you're considering coming back on 7 you could also consider coming down on 87 (or the Taconic) and then picking up 95 in NYC, or cutting over to 81 via 287 and coming back into DC on 66. All sorts of very different options. Kind tough to give a good answer to such a broad question.

 

Anyway, the first thing that popped into my mind was the Stockbridge and Great Barrington area. Beautiful, uncrowded, first rate accommodations, galleries, museums, restaurants. Stockbridge Golf Club is private, but if you have your pro arrange a weekday tee time a few months out I'm sure they'd be accommodating. One of my favorite courses up there, routed right along the Housatonic River, and one of the oldest in the country. The course at Cranwell Mansion isn't quite as good, but if your lady is into luxe spas that could be a really good option for accommodations.

 

If your lady is into casinos instead of small towns you could come down 395 in CT and play CT National and Isle of the Lakes and stay at Foxwoods and/or Mohegan Sun. I really like the golf course at Mohegan sun, though it's kind of gotten overshadowed by the newer, shinier Isle of the Lakes. Not a huge amount of arts and culture in that sleepy part of CT, but lots of antiquing to be done if your lady is into that.

 

There are a bunch of great courses around Boston--many private though--where you could drop you lady off in downtown Boston and then go play. On the North Shore Kernwood, Salem, and Essex are all great courses, all private.

 

If you've never been to Cape Cod that could be a good option to keep both of you entertained, though I'd only recommend that in the shoulder season. Height of the summer gets a little nutty on the Cape. Same for Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

 

There's lots to do in Amherst and Northampton, though I don't know the courses in that area well enough to make recommendations but I can tell you there are plenty of choices.

 

Keene, NH is another college town that you might like, a lot smaller (so less to do) than Amherst/Northampton though. Shattuck and Bretwood (36 holes) are both pretty good tracks right outside of Keene. Both public too.

 

Anyway, lots of options, depending on where you want to go, how long you want to take, and what your lady is into.

[jmck]

lol, I love it when two people are writing book length posts at the same time. I almost put Saratoga on my list, but thought it might be a little too far afield from what he had in mind. I lived there for a bunch of years. Such a great town. Crazy in the summertime, especially if you like to drink. If you like to drink it's really a must see. Nothing else like it--you try to explain it to people who've never been there and it sounds literally unbelievable, it sounds like you're making all these crazy exaggerations but it's all true. After a few years though I have to say I much preferred it in the winter.

 

I almost put Taconic on my list too. Probably should've, just thought he'd maybe want to be heading south by then, but you're absolutely right--it's worth the detour.

[ShortStick]

I love the Farm Neck idea for you. I was trying to think what would be special for a golfing couple from Nashville. I was thinking of any course on the ocean or classic New England style Donald Ross or Wayne Stiles tracks.

 

By all means book an overnight on Martha's Vineyard, reserve ferry passage for your car, and have a blast exploring Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and some of the best public golf on Farm Neck you will ever find.

 

There are public courses with ocean play in (Highlands in Truro, MA on the cape and Samoset, ME) but I do not consider them to be destinations you should go out of your way for.

 

I was also thinking of spoiling yourselves with a night at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, NH. The course is a very fun Ross layout. But the real attraction is hanging on the veranda or Adirondack chairs with a glass of wine and a view to die for. Golf and date nights - super combination! Along the same lines, two thumbs up for Portsmouth and/or Portland. Both charming towns with things to do off the course.

 

Finally, I live in RI. While I adore the Triggs layout, it is a muni that got 65,000 rounds last year so you will find 6 hour rounds for sure with so-so conditions. Not sure, but would expect running into golf leagues after 4:00 at any of the publics which is something to factor in. Meadowbrook and Newport National are close to each other golf experience-wise. Meadowbrook is about 35 min from Providence down Rt 95 - less money than Newport but some shuttling involved; Newport National is about 20 min from Providence but greens fees will be over $100 - it is not on the water, but checking out the town of Newport (cliff walk, mansions!) after your round makes for a nice day.

 

Have fun!

[RobYakes]

Much appreciated medicoreMAgolfer, jmck, and ShortStick. Basically going to show the lady your guys' itinerary (edit it a bit to make it "look" like I'm only going to play 2-3 times) and see what she says.

[jmck]

If you end up on Martha's Vineyard you might want to see about hopping over to Nantucket and playing Sankaty. It's private, so you'd have to figure out how to swing it, but it's crazy good. Has a lighthouse just like National Golf Links of America has a windmill. Really a spectacular place. It's like a shorter, easier version of Shinnecock. Farm Neck is good, but Sankaty is really good.

 

The Bretton Woods suggestion is a solid one too. That's a really neat place. Kind of like a New England version of the Greenbriar if you've ever been there. It's this spectacular old school resort in middle of nowhere up in the mountains that just oozes history.

 

If you've told your lady you're only going to play 2-3 times (haha), I'd make the effort to play the most spectacular places you can.

 

One last off topic thought. If either of you are at all baseball fans, try to work a game at Fenway into your trip if you haven't been there before. It's a unique experience, and should be a bucket list item for any baseball fan.

[medicoreMAgolfer]

Add to jmck's post

 

1. Sankaty is a BEAUTIFUL course, just tremendous views and always in fantastic shape. Feels to me like a slightly lesser version of Newport Country Club (sans the OLD impressive clubhouse.) That being said, I personally wouldn't take the extra time to go to Nantucket just for that. If you could find a way onto Sankaty, you'd save a lot of time getting there, by just trying to get onto one of the cape courses ala Oyster Harbors, Hyannisport, Woods Hole, Wianno, etc. and not having the ferry time!

 

2. If you're a baseball fan, agree 100% Fenway is a blast - but also add a Cape Cod Summer League game... Plus the price is right for the Cape League (free) and is a very unique experience

[jmck]

Add to jmck's post

 

1. Sankaty is a BEAUTIFUL course, just tremendous views and always in fantastic shape. Feels to me like a slightly lesser version of Newport Country Club (sans the OLD impressive clubhouse.) That being said, I personally wouldn't take the extra time to go to Nantucket just for that. If you could find a way onto Sankaty, you'd save a lot of time getting there, by just trying to get onto one of the cape courses ala Oyster Harbors, Hyannisport, Woods Hole, Wianno, etc. and not having the ferry time!

 

2. If you're a baseball fan, agree 100% Fenway is a blast - but also add a Cape Cod Summer League game... Plus the price is right for the Cape League (free) and is a very unique experience

 

I guess I was thinking that if they end up spending an overnight on the Islands it'd be easier for her to entertain herself on MV than Nantucket, but it'd be worth him trying to sneak over to Nantucket for Sankaty? Staying on the mainland would save a lot of travel time, but I'm not sure there's much to entertain her in that part of the world besides outlet stores. My sister actually did a few years in Woods Hole at the Oceanographic Institute and it always struck me as a very sleepy place. This was like 15-20 years ago though, so maybe it's changed? Maybe another way to approach it is she does a day trip out to MV, while he gets to play 36 on the mainland?

 

Your suggestion about the Cape Cod Summer League is a great one. I'll also stick a plug in here for the drive-in in Wellfleet. That makes for a pretty cool date night after you've ditched your lady to play golf all day.

[RobYakes]

So here's the tentative 2-week itinerary, let me know what courses or towns I should swap out. Lady will probably be cool with me playing 4-5 times tops. Right now it's Newport National, Pinehills, The Ledges, Mt. Washington, Taconic. Might be worth it to drop 2 rounds and play Farm Neck (if we stayed in Falmouth longer), or spend 2 days on Cape Cod and play out there (need recommendation for golf on the Cape).

 

1a) DC to Newport, RI.

 

1b) DC thru Long Island, ferry to New London (New London to Newport next morning).

 

2) Newport for the day (play Newport National). Drive to Falmouth, MA.

 

3) Martha's Vineyard for the day.

 

4a) Falmouth to Plymouth (spend the day driving Cape Cod).

 

4b) Falmouth to Cape Cod. Stay a night on the Cape. Plymouth next day.

 

5) Plymouth for the day (play Pinehills).

 

6) Boston for 2 days.

 

7) Portsmouth for a day or two (play The Ledges).

 

8) Portsmouth to Portland for a day or two.

 

9) Portland to Mount Washington (play Mt. Washington course).

 

10) Mount Washington -- Montpelier -- stay in Hanover.

 

11) Hanover -- Woodstock -- Rutland -- stay in Williamstown (play Taconic).

 

12) Williamstown to Litchfield, CT.

 

13) Litchfield back to DC.

[jmck]

That sounds really good.

 

Drive 1a and 1b are both unpleasant, so not really sure how to recommend one or the other. Maybe 1b just because the ferry is nice?

 

Golf on the Cape isn't all that great. The nice places are all private, the public places are all crowded. There's a great nine hole track that's public way out towards Provincetown, Highlands. That's pretty much the only public place that's on the water--cool little ancient links course. I might just approach the Cape as a day to drive around checking things out until you find a beach you like, then park it on the beach all day and take a break from driving. Hard to do much on the Cape in a day or two. It really sets up for a week's vacation. If you're in DC you're probably familiar with the Outer Banks? The Cape is a lot like that. Takes a while to get there from the mainland, and then once you're there you don't want to leave for a week.

 

Portsmouth and Portland are really close together. You could just kind of play it by ear bounce back and forth between them for a few days depending on how much you're liking one or the other. No need to say we'll do 1.5 days here and 2.5 days there in advance.

 

Same for Montpelier and Hanover. Be flexible there. You might find yourself liking Montpelier enough to stay the night there and then just check out Hanover briefly the next day. Regardless of that, for the drive from Mt Washington I'd recommend skipping the highway and backtracking to rt. 112 (longer) or picking up rt. 116 (shorter). The highway's pretty in its own right in that part of the world, but the back roads there will really give you a feel for the area. Lots of great road side oddities in that part of the world too.

 

Litchfield? Start planning where you're going to eat dinner now. There are some very nice restaurants in that area. It's been too long since I lived there for me to make a recommendation, but have fun looking at menus! Litchfield proper is just fine, but you might want to consider staying and eating in one of the small surrounding towns. Kent, New Preston, Washington come to mind. Maybe someone who still lives there can give you a good recommendation.

 

If you end up with extra time, see my Stockbridge suggestion. It's right on the way from Williamstown to Litchfield, and it works for anything for a quick stop to an extra day (and/or round) or two.

[medicoreMAgolfer]

Just to be clear on 2-4 on your agenda

 

- Falmouth is on Cape Cod. You can easily ferry over to MV from Falmouth. There are a couple of ferries - I am partial to the Pied Piper as it goes right to Edgartown and is passenger only. The Woods Hole Ferries (Steamship Authority) are much larger operations and go to Vineyard Haven. You can stay on MV, but you can also do a very easy day trip from Falmouth as Falmouth has less expensive lodging options. You can also take ferry to MV from off the cape (shorter drive from Newport) if you're going to skip cape cod

 

- Did you mean on 4a) - Falmouth to Provincetown (drive cape cod)? I wouldn't personally add a day to play the courses on the Cape. There are many decent public options on Cape Cod (mostly Munis) that are a joy to play, but given a non-golfing ladyfriend, I wouldn't play any of them. The privates are a different story. PM me if you want more Cape advice (towns, restaurants, beaches, etc. - I spend a lot of time there)

 

- Two Hotels to consider on your trip that might move your NH - VT thing around 1) Mount Washington Omni (the greenbrier comparison is spot on on) and 2) the Woodstock Inn. My wife loves both of them and I suspect your lady would as well