WAM Golf

Salem Golf Club Review (New York)

I had heard good things about Salem Golf Club in North Salem, NY so when the opportunity presented itself to play I had to take it. A private club, and no connections, I was able to access this beautiful course through and MGA Play Day as the season expired.

The 11th Green at Salem Golf Club.

One of the best things about being a golfer in the Northeast is playing in the Fall. I probably missed some of the outstanding views this course offers in October by a week but as you can see from picture above, it's a beautiful Fall golf course.

Carved out of the woods in Northern Westchester, North Salem Golf Club is a tale of two nines. The front nine is narrow and rewards accuracy over distance. It's more important to hit your spots than it is to get an extra 25 yards. This is target golf. Keep it in play, hit fairways and greens for the first seven holes, then it opens up for you.

The back nine allows golfers to swing more freely. A combination of tree-lined fairways and well placed water hazards and bunkers still create a challenge but I found it the "easier" of the two sides. Playing 6,760 from the tips and 6,484 from the white tees, the course is challenging. The 73.5/138 rating/slope (72.1/137 from the white) is a fair. You will be challenged here.

Salem Golf Club- The Course

I speak of the challenge above (possibly because of how poorly I played) but I think this course is a gem. It was in immaculate shape and offered a new challenge on each hole. Hit your spot and you're rewarded. Miss your spots and it's likely to cost you a stroke. There are some blind shots and if I didn't have a partner who had played here before, it may have been tough to navigate.

The 12th green at Salem GC

My 3 Favorite Holes

I could name several golf holes here that I enjoyed but as usual, I'll keep it three....

3. 13th Hole (407-Par 4): This makes the list because of the bunkers that guard the green. Almost identical to the 11th hole, this par 4 requires an accurate tee shot to a narrow fairway. The tree-lined left and the water hazard on the right offer very little room for error. If you manage to find the fairway you're left with an approach to an elevated green. Leaving your approach short and you'll find the three staircase like bunkers. If you do hit into the green, it's best to be below the hole.

2. 5th Hole (375-Par 4): It's not flashy but it's well designed and may offer the smallest green on the golf course. Left is better than right off this tee box. Anything right and you will need to re-tee, go left and you still have a shot at the green. If you find the fairway, you're hitting into a small green tucked in the corner and surrounded by hazards. Short is better than long on your approach and a par will leave you feeling good.

1. 11th hole (341-Par 4): No need to hit driver here even though I did. This narrow hole has trees on the left, trees on the right, and a water hazard that can come into play when hitting an iron. A well placed tee shot will leave you a short approach into an elevated green. A good chance to make birdie on the back side with two good shots. Enjoy the view from the tee box if you're playing in the fall.

 

A view of the 13th on Mobitee Golf App

 

Overall

I would add Salem Golf Club to my places to play if you're in the tri-state area. It offers a new challenge on each hole and some great views during the fall. It's in great shape and gives you a good feel for what playing golf in Westchester is really like.

Salem Golf Club Website

 

Cape Cod Country Club Review

Every year I take an annual golf trip with my usual group of family and close friends. This year we went to Cape Cod for our fall classic to take in some old New England charm. Our trip would take us to three different golf courses, one of my favorites being Cape Cod Country Club.

 

9th Hole- Signature hole at Cape Cod Country Club

Not be to be confused with Cape Cod National, Cape Cod Country Club is located in East Falmouth, Massachusetts and was less than 10 miles from the house we rented. There wasn't much info on the course other than what I could find on their website. If you play from the tips, the course extends more than 6,400 yards and offers a rating/slope of 71.7/129. A small proshop offers the bare necessities along with some apparel and the small grill and bar is reasonably priced with a friendly staff (the grilled hotdogs are some of the best I've had at a golf course). 

Cape Cod Country Club: The Golf Course

I arrived at Cape Cod Country Club with low expectations and was rewarded with a pleasant surprise. The golf course was in excellent shape from tee to green and was fairly open. If you like to score, this is a great golf course to play.

Cape Cod Country Club can be a dream for golfers who love risk reward. How much risk reward? I played twice and shot a 78 followed up by a 92 a couple of days later. There are plenty of chances to "go for it" but miss your mark and plan on punching out before your next shot.

Although very fair to first timers, Cape Cod Country Club has its share of blind shots. Some of these shots are off the tee while others are to an elevated green. The rough isn't overly thick but the fairways are usually lined with tree so a wild tee shot can cost you a stroke or two.

Three Favorite Holes at Cape Cod CC

It was a challenge to select my three favorite holes at Cape Cod Country Club. It's a fun layout that keeps you interested the entire round. Some holes were easy, some were hard. All were fair to every golfer in the group. I could name 5-7 holes I really liked but I'll narrow it down to these three (plus one):

3. The 17th Hole- 315 yard, Par 4: Want to reach the green in one, here is your chance! It's a reachable par 4 that is open on the left side and trouble on the right. If you want to play it safe, hit an iron shot then a wedge into a flat green and make your birdie. It's a scoring hole.

2. The 3rd Hole- 495 yard, Par 5: I love par 5's because they usually provide me the best opportunity to make a birdie. This short par 5 gives golfers a great chance for a birdie and for most golfers, a chance at Eagle. A large fairway is a guarded by a few bunkers. Plenty of room right while the left is lined by the woods. A good drive will leave you about 200 yards in.

1. 9th & 15th Holes- Par 3's: I couldn't decide between the two so I picked both of them. The 9th requires a 145 yard tee shot to a long green. Short and you're in the bunkers or worse, in the water. The 15th is a 190 yard, par 3, that's all carry. An extra club might be the play or you'll likely have to take a drop.

 

14th hole at Cape Cod CC

Overall

If you're looking for a resort style or championship golf course, Cape Cod Country Club isn't the place for you. That being said, I would recommend this golf course to anyone who's looking for a reasonably priced round at a course with good people and great conditions. If you're on a golf trip or just looking to get a round in on The Cape, it's worth adding Cape Cod Country Club to your list for an enjoyable round.

Info

Cost: $43-$70

Location: East Falmouth, MA

Driving Range: No

Food/Drink: Yes

Cape Cod Country Club Website

 

 

Top Public Golf Courses in the U.S.

When it comes to ranking golf courses their is no greater list than Golf Magazine's Top 100. Whether it's the Top 100 in the World, U.S. or Top 100 You Can Play, it grabs the attention of every golfer. My personal favorite, the Top 100 Courses You Can Play, was announced in the September 2012 issue of Golf Magazine (p. 76) and I went through to see how many I have played.

The 18th at Atunyote- Ranked #60 in 2012

The first thing I noticed about the Top 10 is geographically, it's spread out. It gives golfers on both the East and West coasts an opportunity to play some of the best golf courses without having to go across country. No surprises to see Pacific Dunes (Oregon) and Pebble Beach (California) as #1 & #2 but golfers can go to North Carolina to play #3, which is Pinehurst #2. The #4 ranked course Whistling Straits covers the Midwest before we head back to the East coast for 5-7, The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort, Bethpage State Park (Black), and TPC Sawgrass. Rounding out the Top 10 we move back to Bandon with Bandon Dunes in 8th, Old Macdonald (9th) and Spyglass Hill in 10th.

Where Has WAM Been?

#47 Dunes Golf & Beach Club (Myrtle Beach, SC)

#60 Atunyote Golf Club at Turning Stone (Verona, NY)

#61 Shenendoah Golf Club at Turning Stone (Verona, NY)

#82 The Links at Lighthouse Sound (Bishopville, MD)

#85 Lake of Isle (North) (North Stonington, CT)

#86 Barefoot Resort- Love Course (North Myrtle Beach, SC)

The Full List of the Top 100 You Can Play

What courses have you played on this list? Leave a comment!

Hudson Valley Golf Guide App

Living in Westchester County we're not short on golf courses but a lot of them are private. I was feeling somewhat of a disconnect to the public golf courses in the area and not really sure where to find an accurate list. So I did what any sane person would do, I built an app for Hudson Valley golf courses... and a little beyond. 

The app lists over 100 public golf courses in NY, CT, and NJ

The app is my first attempt to help golfers in our area locate new golf courses and make it easier to contact or travel to courses in the area.  Why didn't I promote it? I wasn't sure if I was going to keep the app live but recently there has been a spike in downloads so it inspired me to keep it going and continuously improve it.

HV Golf Guide App Features

Since it's my first attempt at a golf app I kept our services fairly simple:

• Golf Courses: This is the reason I built it. Over 100 golf courses in the Hudson Valley, Westchester, New York City, Connecticut, Long Island, and New Jersey. You can view them in a list or on a map and each offers information on the course along with 1-touch calling and directions.
• Other Golf Stuff: I've added some driving ranges and golf shops along the way. I'll add more as I discover them.
• Coupons: A big thank you to New York Golf Center and the guys at Photo Ball Marker for providing a couple of in app coupons. Download the app and have access to their coupons!
• Events: As we learn about events, we will update this section. If you have an event coming up in the area, send us an e-mail so we can add it! 
• Social Media Integration: Stay connected through Facebook, Twitter and our blog!
• Other Stuff: I want to add bars, restaurants and lodging for golfers so if you have any recommendations feel free to contact me!

The app is available on the iPhone, iPad and Droid devices. If you're an Apple user, it's free and for those of you on the droid OS, it's going to cost a whopping $.99 cents until I get around to making it free.

I will be developing apps for other golf regions so if you think you need one in your area, let me know. Even better if you want to manage the app for your region since you know it best... just contact me!

Hudson Valley Golf Guide App in iTunes

Hudson Valley Golf Guide App for Android

Red Mountain Golf Club in Phuket, Thailand

If you don't become lost in the beauty of the surrounding landscape, your golf ball surely will ! So is the danger and rewards that come with playing Red Mountain, winner of the 2011 'Platinum Golf Course of the Year' award handed out in Singapore this year.

 

(Sunshine through the Red Mountains)

 

Nothing is located very far from where you happen to be staying on Phuket. However if you're vacationing in the Patong Beach area this world class golf course is a short 20 minute drive away. So leave the family beachside and sneak off for a round of some of the best golf you play anywhere in the world.

Course:

- Par: 72,

- Yardage: 6900

- Designers: Jon Morrow.  Co-designer: Al Tikkanen

- Rate: $180 USD. Caddy fee: $10 USD

 

(Looking back at the clubhouse set among the forest and hillside.)

 

Layout:

Built on the site of a former tin mine, the course is carved through, up and around valleys and hills. The dirt from which the tin was mined is a crimson red, lending itself to the name 'Red Mountain'. As is the case with the majority of courses I've played in Asia, accuracy off the tee is vital. Lush tropical forest line every hole and a wayward drive will bring nothing but trouble. So be accurate with your driver or club down to a fairway wood or hybrid.

 

(Here you can really see the red colored hills that used to be part of a tin mine.)

 

A signiture trademark of Red Mountain is the elevation changes. On the par 3 17th for example, I hit pitching wedge from an elevated teebox. The hole was measured at 160 yards! The rest of the course rewards good club selection and strategy as well which is what I enjoy the most in a golf course

 The Staff:

The Thai people have great personalities and our group of caddies were no exception. Smiling all the time and making us laugh with some of the funniest conversations I've had, they truely added to the experiance. Once I missed a few puts and made some poor club selections, my caddy said, "I told you, you need to start listening to me" and then laughed. Sure enough my game began improving around the 4th hole. In addition to the caddies, the rest of the course staff was very helpful and talkative, making you feel welcomed while being 10,000 miles from home.

Visit the Red Mountain Website

This guest post was contributed by Ryan MacNeil of 999 Places Blog. (@999Places)