The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel and Golf Course is located high in New Hampshire's White Mountains and deep in the Great North Woods. It is located not that far from the Canadian Border. This is a Donald Ross design dating back to 1912 to 1915. Although golf has been played there since 1897.
"First in the Nation
In 1952, New Hampshire first provided its residents with the opportunity to vote in Presidential primaries. In these early elections, many small towns around the state competed to get their votes in first. But ever since Dixville Notch was granted the privilege of being a voting community in 1960, it has continuously maintained the honor of being “First in the Nation” to report its results of the Presidential election.
In order to maintain this honorary status, every single registered voter in Dixville Notch must turn out and vote. Just before midnight the day before the election, these voters come to The BALSAMS and take a headcount to ensure everyone is present. When the polls officially open at the strike of midnight, each voter heads to a booth in the Ballot Room and casts his or her vote. The entire process takes about a minute."
The above taken from the Balsams website.
The course has majestic views and it is usually in great condition. I have played the course a handful of times and one thing you must learn is when putting you must know how the ball rolls on the green as it will roll towards the mountains. The course has generous sized fairways and small greens. Sand Bunkers are strategically placed so to challenge the average golfer.
The most interesting thing about playing this course is you just never know what the weather will do. I played here in 1989 around the end of September. It was a crisp fall day with the temps hovering about 50 degrees. We started off in sweaters and windbreakers and when walking to the third tee it started to rain with a spattering of sleet as the wind started to gust the temperature started to plummet and the snow started to fall as we were walking down the fourth fairway. Our umbrellas turning inside out as the wind picked up.
Within a few minutes the gray sky above opened up and the sun came out and we found ourselves pealing off our rain gear and heading to the fifth tee box. This weather fiasco rotated from sunny to windy, rainy, sleeting and snow all around the course. I have never experienced such a phenomenon while golfing. We got tired putting clothes on and taking it off. It was pretty funny.
The nice part about playing here is the views are breathtaking and when you hear people say they are in God's country they truly mean it.
It's a short course by most standards playing at 6097 yards but don't let the yardage fool you. This course is rolling through the foothills and can play havoc when the weather turns ugly. A few of the par three's are all uphill so you better take an extra club.
You can hit your driver a lot as the fairways are forgiving but watch out for some blind shots as the sloping hills will trick you and you'll find your ball nestled up against a tree after it rolled down a sideways slope from right to left. There is actually a periscope on one of the tee boxes so you can see the group in front of you clear the way.
For the long hitters there are a couple of par 4 holes that can be reachable from the tee with a nice drive by hitting it right on the screws.
The hole on the right is the 11th and you can see you drive from out of a chute and this is one of the holes that is reachable from the tee box. This past September our state REALTOR convention was here and we played in a scramble tournament and I was about 10 yards short of the green. So it is reachable.
When playing in a scramble here make sure you have a women playing in your group that can hit her drives a long way as the forward tees are a big advantage.
The time before this past year when we were here for another convention our female golfer Bonnie Guevin drove the par 4 10th green and we sank the putt for an eagle. That was a fun hole.
This resort is a must for all visitors to the Great North Woods of New Hampshire. You won't be disappointed playing golf here either.
Enjoy......
Serving Southern New Hampshire and Rockingham County
New Hampshire Real Estate with Jay McGillicuddy
Hampstead NH Real Estate
603-548-7685
 |
|
|
When buying or selling, don’t make a “move” without the help of Jay McGillicuddy your R. E. Professional. When looking for KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and EXPERIENCE plus SERVICE at its best, call Jay
Bar Harbor Maine Our Favorite East Coast Vacation Destination
Boothbay Harbor Region the Soul of the Coast of Maine
AFC Championship Game Patriots vs. Colts
New Hampshire Real Estate Market Trends II
Danville New Hampshire Market Sales Update
Salem New Hampshire Market Activity Update
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
Oh honey it sounds so nice even I want to play!!!
NH is a state I've not visited yet..it looks absolutely beautiful Jay .(love the changing of the leaves ) My son had golf practice here today and it was a bit windy but mild temp of about 67.
Ah Honey (I mean Jay!), this is just beautiful!! I LOVE the Balsams.....what a treat for the soul. Your pictures are beautiful!
I hope we go back there soon - I can never get enough of that beautiful location or the hotel. We're lucky we live in NH because we get to go to The Balsams every couple of years for our convention - we are lucky!!
Ann
Ann..I think you and I should take golf lessons so we can play pasture pool with the guys. Nice shot of the hotel!
I really disliked golf until I read this post and drooled over the beautiful pictures. I guess I need to sign up for lessons with Monika and Ann...
I may not like golf, but the views are breathtaking Jay. Hey! sign me up for those lessons too Monika, Ann and Mariana, count me in.
"Pasture pool"?? I LOVE that expression - can't wait to use it with a couple of our other tall friends!!! For pasture pool with the guys we know, I'd take lessons.........wonder if we could get personal lessons? Then we could bring Ines and Mariana along in the cart with us. Coolers and carts, that could be fun!
I bet we could get a discount with the 4 of us taking lessons! Those carts are kinda fun to ride around in. Cooler and carts...sounds like fun, we could pull a wheely on the greens and freak the tall ones out!
Hi Michele, I am jealous of your son practicing. We still have about 6-7 inches of snow on the ground. Our golf league starts in April. NH is beautiful and I hear the parts of NC are just as pretty. Thanks for stopping by.
What's in the cooler?
Ann, we enjoyed this past trip being in the motorhome was fun. It's a pretty long ride but it's worth it.
Marianna, it may not be as majestic as the Rockies but it truly is pretty and very peaceful up there. A lot of Moose sightings. Monika and I have yet to see one though.
Ines, Beer is what is usually hidden. It refreshes the soul.
I have to say that is breathtaking and almost (almost) makes me want to take up golf lol. I was really impressed with the history. Oh, and 1952 is a very good year :-) Great post Jay, hope you are well!
Carole '52 must have been a great year if you say so. History in New England is pretty cool a lot of heritage in this neck of the woods. Homes dating back to the 1600's. Pretty cool.
Jay,
Thanks for posting this and letting me know. I will add this to the 2VJG contest and website. I will also check into why the email got bounced back to you. As soon as I get a logo, your hat will be in the mail. Do you have a preferrence in hat style? (visor, form fitting, or do you want a Greg Norman style hat?) Let me know.
Greg Norman Style would be cool, I don't have one just yet.
Thanks Jay
Greg Norman style it is then... what size hat would you say that you are, so I can make sure that it will fit?
Very nice Jay.
That would be a great destination for a nice long vacation :)
Eddy
Jason What sizes do they come in? I'll have to check to see what size I am.
Eddy thanks for stopping by. yes it would be a long vacation for you, especially if you are coming from California. My goal is to play Pebble Beach someday soon.
I just did a quick search and it does not look like sizes are an option. I will let you know once I get closer to purchasing them... can't do anything until a logo has been created. If you can, email a short bio and pic of yourself (does not have to be a professional shot). Also, if your wife played along side you on this course, a quick bio and photo of her as well. You can email the to jason@knightlinesmtg.com I know that works. :)
Jason, ok I'll be working on it this weekend. Thanks Jay
Jay,
Your post has been uploaded to the site... go to http://2averagejoesgolf.com. Click on course reviews and follow the links to your post. I will post your bio(s) and photo(s) under the post. Link back to your website has been attached to your name. (Let me know if the NH shows up green on the map. Marc said it does not show up his, but it is showing green on mine).
Ahaaaaa! now I know why so many people like golfing!! Beer...can we do Martinis for those of us that don't do ale?
Ines we can do anything your heart desires.
Jason, the green is there for NH. Your site looks really good, I like it. You did a nice job. I'll get the bio to you in the morning.
Ines - once in a GREAT while, some food of some sort MIGHT, maybe, show up in the cooler, too. It's much better if there's a separate cooler for food though, don't want to waste any space in the beer cooler. Martoonis are a bit difficult to store in coolers..........aren't they? ;-)
Ann
That's a good looking tract. I miss a lot of the east coast courses but I am a West Coat golfer, now; much more forgiving out here. This one looks open and would accomodate my, uh...unusually un-straight drives.
Looks like a wonderful course. And the name brings Rigas Melnais Balzams to mind. A fine beverage of choice on any course. Keep up the good work.
Brian this course is open but the climate and wind shifts can play havoc. There are a couple of doglegs that may help your slice wheter you are right or left handed. LOL
Imants thanks for stopping by and I will have to try and find your beverage of choice.
The pictures look so warm and nice.......brrr......it's FIVE DEGREES here in Hampton, NH.
Maybe we should post the Arctic Plunge pictures??
Sue Argue
Hi Sue, it was zero out when I got up this morning and I can't wait until this weekend when it will be in the high 40's.
The pictures were taken at last years NHAR state convention. We had a great time and we are going to the Mount Washington this year. Another great place to visit. Thanks for stopping by. Jay
Jay-The contrasting colors are beautiful in the pictures. Just another reason to enjoy a round of golf! New Hampshire looks like the courses I used to play in Colorado.....mountains and trees. Hit em straight!
Hi Dave, Fall can be absolutley gorgeous up here. I was in Denver once back in the early 80's and I wished I had been able to spend more time there. I couldn't get over the majestic views of the mountains in the background.
Someday we'll get out there. We'd like to get back out to Hawaii someday too.
Thanks Jay