Maine conjures up images of the frigid, gray waters of the North Atlantic, lighthouses and scenic fishing villages. This is a true fact about Maine but like a lot of other places, one can tee off at an excellent golf course in the state. Founded in 1895, The Portland Country Club has been played on several properties across Maine before settling at its current location in 1914.

Originally, at the time of its founding, the name of the course was the Portland Golf Club. In the intervening century, more amenities were added for the guests to enjoy such as tennis, swimming, and fitness courses, necessitating the change in name to the Portland Country Club.

The course is of modest size and keeps up with the original tradition of the club. The current eighteen holes were designed by Donald Ross in 1920 and to this day, trappings of his style are prevalent throughout the course. All of the holes are integrated with the natural surroundings and sport a risk/reward motif that makes the course more memorable. Two holes in particular, the 609-yard seventh and the 200-yard seventeenth stand out for they are right next to the water hazard creating especially lovely holes that are considered the signature tees at Portland Country Club. Don’t think those are the only challenging greens at Portland, the 15th Par-4 hole, sports a daring right dogleg, and the whole course is smaller than average considering the property, only going so far as 6440 yards and a maximum par of 70. So long shots may not be the ideal strategy at Portland.

While your walking to your next tee, be sure to take a moment and try to feel the cool sea air from the nearby ocean.

11 Foreside Rd

Faimouth

Maine

04105

http://portlandcountryclub.org