Architect: Skip Wogan, 1931.
Yardage: 3050 (blue)
Weekend Rates (9-holes): $20. Cart +$15.
The tee shot at the 4th
Cape Ann Golf Course is the site of one of the most scenic holes in all of Massachusetts, the par five 4th. After the course opens with three parallel holes of increasing merit, you climb to the 4th tee, perched atop a ridge blessed with an incredible vista: a hint of blue Atlantic Ocean in the distance, golden salt marshes extending to the left, and the green of the curved fairway well below. The 4th hole measures 465 yards, and the tee shot is a bit of the "cape" variety: should you challenge carrying part of the marsh on the left to lessen the distance for the approach and set up a possible eagle? Or are you content to drive down the safer right side and play the hole as a three-shotter? Either way, the drive is thrilling against the ocean backdrop, and the approach is testing to a small green guarded tightly front left by a bunker and along its left side by unplayable marsh. After back to back short but interesting par fours at the 5th and 6th, Cape Ann's second great hole is found at the par three 7th.
The 256-yard tips at the 7th
The par three 7th hole stretches to a maniacal 256 yards from the far back tee, where I ripped a driver only to one-hop into the right front bunker. From the normal back tee, the length is more manageable, but still about 200 yards. The green is miniscule, surrounded on three sides by marsh, and heavily sloped from the edges to the middle like a bowl. With the majority of golfers inevitably missing the green, recovery shots are plenty, and plenty delicate to deal with the green's significant mounded shoulders! A par here should be celebrated. Cape Ann closes with two medium length par fours, with the 9th green located in a pocket beyond a wide crossbunker. More importantly, the 9th green is but a few yards from the clubhouse and 1st tee - a teasing invitation to play another quick nine.
Cape Ann is truly a wonderful short 9-holer that is well worth the drive north from Boston. The spectacular 4th and 7th are supported by seven other solid holes featuring tiny yet interesting greens. The course has clearly not changed much in the past 80 years - the fairways curve simply with the land, greens are located on high spots and canted with the land, and the length of the holes haven't been modernized to keep up with current technology. There's no wonder Cape Ann was the favorite course of famed novelist John Updike; the varied texture and vistas seen from Cape Ann's tees are inspirational untouched sights of an America left behind many years ago.
Course Rating: 6 stars out of 10
Bang for your $20 Bucks: 9 stars out of 10
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