The Course

One of Palmer’s Greatest Designs

Explore GCNE’s Championship Design Hole by Hole

Hole #1

Par 4 / Handicap 15/13

469

429

400

379

355

272

The first hole tests your driving ability from the championship tees, playing 469 yards. A good tee shot requires the player to fit their drive between fairway bunkers guarding both sides of the fairway. A good drive from the championship tees will leave you with nearly 200 yards into a kidney shaped green with a deep bunker guarding the left. A right to left shot shape is ideal for reaching back left pin placements.

Hole #2

Par 4 / Handicap 13/7

386

362

337

312

285

197

This hole, although not long, requires an accurate tee shot to fit the ball between the bunker up the left and a lone tree on the right. Driver is not required to put a short club in your hands, but hit on a proper line can leave the player with a short pitch for an approach shot. Avoid going right off the tee as your approach will be blocked out by trees. The smallest green on the course is well guarded by three bunkers along the front and right side. Coming up short is not an option. An accurate approach shot is needed as bail outs on any side will leave the player with a challenging up and down.

Hole #3

Par 5 / Handicap 11/3

549

513

491

461

404

Playing the shortest of the par 5’s on the course, this one can be reached in two, but finding the right side of the fairway is essential. The drive must fit between fairway bunkers on both sides off the tee. A player finding the left side of the fairway will be blocked out by a large oak tree that guards the front of the green. A right to left shot shape will be the only shot that will find you on the green in two. Avoid the deep greenside bunker and birdie is within range. Long and left of the green are no good.

Hole #4

Par 4 / Handicap 3/11

480

427

393

355

295

This tight tree lined par 4 asks for a player’s precision and accuracy off the tee. A right to left shot is ideal as the ball works off the slope of the fairway, giving the player a great angle into the green. The right to left slope in the green can make for difficult pin locations, but utilizing the slope can work to the players advantage as the ball will funnel to the hole.

Hole #5

Par 5 / Handicap 1/1

600

572

546

530

517

423

The toughest test on the course comes at this signature hole. Playing 600 yards from the championship tees, the fairway is lined with two long, threatening fairway bunkers. Avoid these two bunkers if you have any hopes of getting home in two. A hazard splits the fairway in half so choosing the correct lay-up yardage is imperative. Taking it over the penalty area in two can leave a player with just a sand wedge in for their third shot. Make sure you have an exact yardage to the pin as the green is guarded on both front and back by deep bunkers. Most are thrilled to leave this hole with a par.

Hole #6

Par 3 / Handicap 17/9

223

206

176

160

156

131

The sixth is the first par 3 on the course. A tee shot over water to a wide green angling from left to right demands accuracy. Find the wrong side of the green and the player will be left with a difficult lag putt that tests a player’s feel. Miss the green completely and a player will find themselves in one of the deep greenside bunkers scrambling to save par. Pay attention to the wind, it tends to swirl in this part of the course.

Hole #7

Par 4 / Handicap 9/5

447

412

384

340

334

262

To find the fairway on this hole, a player will need to fit their drive between the fairway bunkers. Longer players can utilize the slope in the fairway by carrying the right side bunker. The green is perched above the fairway and is guarded by a deep bunker in front. An extra club may be needed to reach this green. A ball landing on the false front on the left side of the green will find its way 20 yards off the green for their next shot. The green itself has a front to back ridge in the middle, so be sure to find yourself on the correct side of the slope, or else par may not be certain.

Hole #8

Par 3 / Handicap 7/15

250

214

202

178

120

On this long par 3 over a penalty area, a player must carry their shot all the way to the green. A bail out left will allow the player a chance to get up and down for par, but a bail out right is danger. Clearing the penalty area is top priority. After that, the back to front slope of the green can make for a great test of feel and ability to get the ball close to the hole.

Hole #9

Par 4 / Handicap 5/17

457

419

380

342

296

217

This downhill, dogleg right par 4 tests a player’s ability to place their drive between the fairway bunkers. A tee shot must find the left side of the fairway to have the best angle into the green and avoid being blocked out by two large pines known as “The Sisters”. The green is guarded by bunkers on both sides and has movement in all directions. A careful read is priority on this green.

Hole #10

Par 5 / Handicap 14/18

574

523

480

439

374

A long, uphill par 5 that plays as a dogleg right will begin the back nine. Although driver is in play off the tee, players may opt to hit less as they look to avoid the fairway bunker that comes into play on the right side. If played aggressively, the player may have an opportunity to go for the green in two, but must be careful of the large bunker that guards the entire front edge of the green. One of the largest putting surfaces on the course, this green may be easy to hit, but finding yourself left or right of the green will leave you with a touchy pitch shot off a tight lie. Be mindful of subtle breaks on this green.

Hole #11

Par 4 / Handicap 16/14

377

350

332

294

274

239

Using the natural landscape, Mr. Palmer designed the ultimate risk –reward par 4 that allows for the player to drive the green off the tee. A well struck tee shot may find the putting surface, while poor execution may find the penalty area that lay beneath. The player has the option to play down the fairway, but must not take this shot for granted as distance control and accuracy is extremely important. This play will leave a short iron in and a chance at birdie.

Hole #12

Par 4 / Handicap 2/4

437

428

413

380

343

322

This medium length par 4 features a blind tee shot over an expansive bunker covering the right half of the fairway. Playing left of the bunker allows for use of the generous landing area, however it will leave a longer approach shot off a downhill sidehill lie. A more daring route directly over the bunker will reward the player with a shorter more level second shot. An approach shot into the undulated green requires proper placement as the player looks to avoid two bunkers guarding the front edge of the green. There is no easy two-putt on this green. A large valley running through the center of the green makes matching speed and line vital in order to get close to any hole location. Avoid going over the green at all costs.

Hole #13

Par 4 / Handicap 8/12

394

385

376

318

270

A player’s decision making will certainly be tested on this tee shot. Playing short of the bunker complex on the right half of the hole gives a generous landing area, however if positioned on the right half of the fairway the approach shot will be blind. A more aggressive line splitting the bunkers will reward a player with a view of this large and relatively flat putting surface. Be careful on the green as subtle breaks tend to confuse even the best putters.

Hole #14

Par 3 / Handicap 18/16

216

175

151

140

130

101

Running along the Winnicutt River, this par 3 brings a large slope into play on the right side of the green that will funnel the ball towards front and middle hole locations, giving the player an exciting reward. An aggressive play to a back left hole over the riverside brings the lone bunker into play and may reward an excellent shot. Be careful of back center and right hole locations as this green runs off the back right into a collection area which is difficult to get up and down from.

Hole #15

Par 5 / Handicap 6/8

609

582

554

514

504

460

One of the most challenging final stretches of golf begins here. A proper line must be taken off the tee as this par 5 will challenge the player to pull off three great shots to make their way on to the green. With the fairway sloping right to left the player faces a difficult second shot as they must avoid trouble left and trees guarding the right side. The approach shot into the green is guarded by danger on all sides and accuracy is a must. An excellent par will leave the player relieved yet ready to challenge the tough final three holes to come.

Hole #16

Par 4 / Handicap 12/6

475

418

380

370

334

303

A wide fairway before the parallel fairway bunkers offers the player ample room to the right side but will leave a longer approach into a difficult green. An aggressive player may try to fit the ball between the bunkers giving them a short iron for their second shot. One of the most difficult approach shots on the course as the peninsula green is surrounded by the penalty area on all sides. Mind the wind on the approach.

Hole #17

Par 3 / Handicap 10/2

221

168

159

148

This final par 3 will challenge the player’s ability to execute the proper golf shot. The peninsula shaped green guarded by water along the front makes distance control a must. A good shot on this hole will give the player a chance to walk away with a par, but it takes an excellent golf shot under pressure to make a two. Long is better than short!

Hole #18

Par 4 / Handicap 4/10

509

441

407

370

336

The finishing hole is a challenging, picturesque, par 4 that sums up the experience of The Golf Club of New England. Playing from an elevated tee back towards the clubhouse, this demands a golfer’s utmost attention as trouble guards in all directions. A player must avoid a large bunker on the right off the tee while not missing the collection of pot bunkers on the left. The approach may be the most challenging on the course as the narrow green entrance is guarded by water on the right and a large bunker on the left. Making par here is always a relief and great way to end the round.

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