Mention the word muni to many golfers and the first picture that comes to mind is one of worn out tee boxes, coarse greens that run about five on the stimp meter, fairways where a good lie is only an occasional occurrence, and snacks and drinks come from vending machines. While that image may be correct in places where communities operate courses almost by default, Cape Cod’s municipal golf clubs and courses destroy the image with a line up that includes a number of first class layouts and club houses with all the amenities. A dozen community clubs offer a total of 14 courses, plenty for a two week tour of the Cape from beginning to end with an island trip thrown in.
Start the tour just off Rte. 6, the highway that splits the Cape from the Sagamore Bridge to Provincetown at the tip. One of the first towns is Sandwich and the local muni, Sandwich Hollows, belies the image of Cape Cod as a flat place of sandy beaches. Those sandy beaches certainly exist, and in fact abound, but there are also plenty of gullies and ravines providing dramatic elevation changes and Sandwich Hollows is a prime example.
If it were not for the way Cape Cod Bay comes into view on several holes this layout would seem more at home in the mountains of Northern New England. The holes traverse and climb the Sandwich Hills making the course play much longer than its 5927 yards from the White tees. Golfers not in shape to do a little climbing would be advised to take a cart. This is a challenging but fair layout for all level of golfers, a great place to start a tour of the Cape’s munis.
Sandwich Hollows Men Blue tees 6307, 70.4/122, White tees 5927 68.8/120 Par 71
Ladies White tees 5927, 73.8, Red tees 5124, 68.4/114
508-888-3384 www.sandwichhollows.com
A few exits along Rte. 6 golfers can find another fine muni, Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds, one of two courses operated by the town. Opened in 1992, on land that was previously home of the Barnstable County Fair, this relatively new layout was designed by Mark Mungeam of Cornish, Silva and Mungeam. The course features large undulating greens, deceptive approaches and large chipping areas. Testimony to its championship caliber is the list of major tournaments hosted including the US Amateur and US Open Qualifiers, along with numerous local and state championships.
Olde Barnstable Fairgounds Men Blue Tees 6479 71.4/128. White tees 6113 69.7/124 par 71
Ladies White tees 6113 75.1/1218 Red tees 5081 69.1/119
508-420-1141 www.obfgolf.com
Take the next exit and find Barnstable’s other muni, Hyannis Golf Course. This course is just off exit 6, but once off the busy highway, it seems almost remote, with fairways up and down rolling hills, lined with tall hardwood trees. Opened in 1972, this Geoffrey Cornish design is open year round and plays host to numerous tournaments, and is known for its immaculate greens. Men Blue tees, 6621, 72.7/128, White 6002, 70.1/124, Red 5149,70.4/121
503-362-2606 www.hyannisgc.com
Before leaving Hyannis for the next stop on the Cape, head for the Ocean Street Dock and catch a ride on Hy-Line Cruises to Nantucket and a another great muni. Miacomet Golf Club offers 18 holes lined with tall fescues and plenty of sand. Ralph P. Marble bought 400 acrres in 1956 planning on a dairy farm and four years later began building a golf course. In 1963 he opened nine holes as a year round course. The course operated until 1980 when Marble sold his land to the Natucket Islands Land Trust that in 2003 built an additional nine across the road to give the island its only 18 hole public facility.
While elevation changes are slight, the layout offers plenty of challenge and the high point of land it occupies gives the players an abundance of ocean views. The cozy restaurant and lounge provide the perfect atmosphere for relaxing after a round. Miacomet is well worth the trip over to the island and wandering the shops and pubs in town is also a nice benefit of the trip.
Miacomet GC Par 72 Gold tees 6890 73.6/128, Blue 6393 71.5/125, White 5928 69.0/123, Red 5145 70.6/121
508-325-0339 www.miacometgolf.com
Next stop on the Cape Cod Muni Tour is the town of Yarmouth with a pair of distinct layouts, a 27 and an 18. Bayberry Hills is a relatively new, Cornish, Silva and Mungeam design with 18 holes of bent grass created in 1988. Stretching over 7000 yards from the back tees this is a true championship challenge, but three more sets of tees bring it within range of higher handicappers. The nine hole Links Course was added in 1999 and although it has four short par fours and starts and finishes with par threes, don’t be fooled. Each hole calls for careful shot selection. The score card shows the three nines as Red, White and Blue(The Links Course) and slope and course ratings are listed by nine as well. Red Course, Gold tees 74.3/127, Blue 71.7/125, White 69.6/119, Red 69.7/119.
White Course, Gold 72.3/123, Blue 70.6/121, White 69.4/117, Red 68.6/115
Blue Course, Gold 72.2/123, Blue 70.5/121, White 69.4/117, Red 69.5/116
508-394-5597 www.capecodgolf.com/bayberryhills
Yarmouth also has a bit of historic golf, the Donald Ross designed Bass River. Like most Ross courses laid out nearly a century ago, this course at 6129 from the back tees is short by today’s standards. But don’t think it will be easy as the master architect worked his magic, creating deceptive images with false fronts, and strategically placed bunkers. With the river in view on many holes the spectacular scenery makes Bass River a must play on any Cape Cod tour. Par 72, Back tees 69.7/127, Middle 67.3/121, Forward 70.5/124
508-398-9079 www.golfyarmouthcapecod.com
A short distance along Rte. 28 from S. Yarmouth, is a nine hole layout that could easily be combined with a round at Bass River. Chatham Seaside Links has been described as a nice little course, fun but not very challenging. Built in 1914, the layout consists of wide, rolling fairways, no doglegs and only a small hill where the 7th green offers fine ocean views. It’s first come first serve with no tee times. It’s the kind of course where vacationers can grab a quick nine and still have time for the beach in this seaside town
Chatham Seaside Links 508-945-4774
From Yarmouth, head north to the town of Dennis where a pair of munis are both located on Rte. 6A. The first, Dennis Pines, was built in 1966 in order to provide local golfers with a place to play and attract tourists as well. More than 7000 yards from the tips, the Pines can demand a high level of play, but selecting the right set of tees brings it in line for a wide range of abilities. The front nine winds through the woods, while the back nine appears more open, but water lurks on four holes to keep the challenge.
In 1984, the town decided to build on the success of the Pines adding the Highlands. Wide open and 500 yards shorter this newer layout doesn’t require distance, but tricky greens make approach shots especially important to good scoring. Both courses offer outstanding conditions and enough tees to give every level of golfer an opportunity to score.
Dennis Pines Par 72, Gold tees, 7000 yards, 71.9/127, Blue 6509, 72.2/133, White 6157, 71.0 127, Red, Par 73 5567, 73.1/133
Dennis Highlands Par 71 Blue 6464, 70.9/120, White 6076, 68.5/117, Red, 4927 67.8/112
508-385-8347 www.dennisgolf.com
One of the best known municipal clubs on the Cape is found further along Rte. 6, in Brewster. Be sure of your directions because although the courses are south of the highway, you must head north on Rte. 137 off the exit and double back. The Captains takes its name from the seafaring history of the town where many of the captains had their homes and many of the holes carry the names of actual captains. The two courses also take their names from the tradition, Port and Starboard. Golfers familiar with the terms know that Port lies to the left of the starter shack and Starboard to the right, with the first holes on each running parallel.
While the theme is nautical, water is scarce with only two small ponds on the Port side and none on the starboard. Fairways on both layouts are lined with towering pines with only a few sizable elevation changes, mostly on the Port. The two ponds guard the 8th and 14th greens, with the 8th demanding a shot over the water. On 14 it’s possible to play around the pond, but on the par 5, 8th, the final resting place of the second shot may be a flat lie with 150 yards left to the green or inside 100 yards with a severe downhill lie.
This use of strategic doglegs and elevated tiered greens makes both Captains layouts appealing to the eye while challenging the player to use care in shot placement. Geoffrey Cornish and Brian Silva through design and redesign have made the Captains a place where both locals and traveling golfers find a pleasing challenge.
The Captains, Port Par 72 Blue tees 6724 73.5/130, White 6164 M 70.7/128, L 76.8/132, Gold 5799 M 68.8/122 L 74.6/128 Red 5282 71.1/119
Starboard Blue tees 6776 72.6/130, White 6198 M 69.4/123 L 76.3 Gold 5833 M 68.2/117, L 73.9/124 Red 5359 71.2/116
508-896-1716 www.captainsgolfcourse.com
Our final stop on this tour of Cape Cod’s munis, takes us almost to the end of the Cape. Truro is the next to last town and Highland Links has been called the closest thing to true links golf as it was played hundreds of years ago in Scotland. Follow the road to the light house. There you will find the Cape’s oldest golf course next to Cape Cod Light. This nine hole layout starts atop a wind swept bluff overlooking the Atlantic where it has been challenging golfers since 1892. Plan on playing from some uneven lies on these non irrigated fairways and don’t bother looking for shots that stray into the deep natural rough with Scotch broom and heath. By the numbers Highland Links doesn’t appear too tough, but the challenge is there so take the time to enjoy the feel of true links golf and don’t be distracted by the ocean views. Every golfer who visits Cape Cod should play this course at least once.
Highland Links Par 71, Blue tees, 6464, 70.9/120, White 6076 68.5/117, Red 4927 67.8/112
508-487-9201 www.truro-ma.gov
In Northern New England, cabin fever can easily infect golfers by late February and by mid March many head for Cape Cod. They have multiple choices, but they could play nothing but munis and still have a full golfing vacation. Spring comes early on the Cape, and many courses stay open all winter as the Atlantic breezes melt most of the snow that comes in short order. Some of the hotels and motels are closed in winter, but many stay open and stay and play packages are always available. There are plenty of places to stay mid Cape for a central location and several courses within a reasonable drive. The place to start the search for lodging is the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
888-33capecod www.capecodchamber.org
About David Irons
I have been writing about skiing for 35 plus years and golf for more than 15 years. This work has taken me to most of the major ski resorts in North America covering every aspect of the sport and I have returned to many in summer to try their golf. As a professional ski patrolman I was paid to ski. Unfortunately, my golf game doesn't rise to that level, but I am proof that you don't have to be a great golfer to enjoy the game.
Related posts:
- Best Of Fall Golf on Cape Cod
- Ken Raynor Cape Arundel Kennebunkport, Me
- Cape Cod & The Islands: The Golf Coast
- Try Cape Cod for great golf, value and knock-out luxuries.
- AJGA Brings National Junior Golf Tournament to The Golf Club of Cape Cod
