Historic golf at the Cape Arundel Golf Club

 Maine might not first jump off the page as a golf state, particularly due to it's cold winters which leads to a relatively short golf season. The days of warm but pleasantly crisp air in this state lead to perfect summer golf conditions. Prior to a recent visit, I would not be able to tell you one golf course in the state. This visit took us to Kennebunkport, Maine. Limited course research was needed for the area as there were really only two course options.  The obvious selection was the Cape Arundel Golf Club. 

Founded in 1896, Cape Arundel carries a rich history and unique course layout

Cape Arundel sits just outside the town of Kennebunkport. The course is filled with rich history. Founded in 1986, it is one of the oldest golf courses in Maine. When the courses was founded, it was only the 74th golf course in the United States and took up design from three time US Armature Champion Walter J. Travis. The list of names to play the course is quite distinguished and includes four Presidents; Nixon, Clinton, George H. and W. Bush. In 2011, the course dedicated it's clubhouse to longstanding honorary member George H. Bush, deemed the '41 House'. George W. Bush remains a member to this day.  

The clubhouse is dedicated to former honorary member George H. Bush

Take some time to stroll through the front room of the small clubhouse to get a deeper dive into the course history. Classic Pictures of Arnold Palmer and George H playing a round together, George. H taking a call on the course likely during his Presidency, and  Phil Mickelson smiling in a car during a round were a few standouts.  The course is semi private, so you may run into some regular members during your round, or maybe even a former President. 

George H. Bush and Arnold Palmer pictured during a round at The Cape Arundel Golf Club

Upon entry to the course, the road leading to the clubhouse takes you through  three different holes; yes you read that right. For a minute, it may feel like your passing through the 18th or 1st fairway at Saint Andrews Old Course. Keep your eyes peeled on the drive in for groups teeing up as you pass through the 11th and 18th fairway and also along a short par three. On our way out of the course, we had a drive sail right in front of us, thankfully missing the car. 

An errant tee shot to the left on number 6 may venture onto the road leading to the clubhouse 

 

The course has a driving range, but it is a members only facility. The driving range carries a similar theme to the main clubhouse in honoring the Bush's and is named '43'.  Warmup opportunities for non-members provides a small putting green just to the side of the clubhouse so you can at least get a feel for the greens before heading to the first tee. The putting green is quite peaceful with a boarding tidal pool and sizeable structured houses behind it.  The members only range is well regarded. This is a great course to walk and I would certainly recommend it over taking a cart. The course culture really was a pleasant experience. Everyone we ran into had a smile and fairly laid back attitude. If your playing golf in Kennebunkport in the summer there is probably not too many reasons not too smile.   The starter gave us great recommendations for how to approach shots on the course for a first time round and gave us some background on some of it's rich history. 

Limited chances to get loose or get the swing right prior to your tee time  if your not a member at Cape Arundel 

From the back tees, Cape Arundel plays a rather short 5,859 yards and is a par 69. There is only one par 5 on the course, a 476 dog leg left on 9 which brings you back towards the clubhouse.  All the par 4's from the back tees are less than 400 yards.  The course if filled with small rolling hills, tidal pools and ponds. Changing winds from the near by coast line and complex greens can throw havoc into even a low handicap golfers round.  The short yardage should not be overlooked or create the perception that this is an 'easy' golf course; in my experience, no golf course is easy. A great quote summarized  from the course ratchet Walter Travis speaks of the easy appearance of the course but the difficulty that lies ahead to Chace par.  A great quote summarized  from the course ratchet Walter Travis speaks of the easy appearance of the course but the difficulty that lies ahead to chase par.

Views from the first tee at Cape Arundel, anything too far left brings trouble into play

Keys to success at Cape Arundel follow similar stories to other courses and the game of golf in general; find the fairways and greens. You do not need to be a long hitter to find success on this course. Finding fairways and understanding the complexity of the greens will help you score.  The greens seemed to get more and more deceiving as our round went on. They were true in roll but had a number of false front's and small landing areas. I ran into big trouble on number 10, easily the most difficult green on the course in my option.  I left my approach shot in the front right bunker. I had an impossible bunker shot with a no error landing area that rolled off the back of the green.  What looked like a  salvage  bogey opportunity quickly turned into a triple and a rough start to the back nine. Even my chip back towards the hole is one that you lose sleep about at night. 

The 10th green pictured above has a small slightly elevated landing area anything short or long is big trouble. Shades of Pinehurt No. 2 here.  

The course character really comes out on the back nine. In addition to a higher level of green difficulty and complexity, you face four holes on the back with tee shots over hazards. Kennebunkport a the time had been in an extended drought, so many of our drives came over dried up body's of water. The winds for our round were relatively calm. The course is just a few miles from the coast, the next day their were gusts of 20 miles per hour at times from a day long of scattered storms. A tee shot turns into a different tail when your facing gusting winds throughout your round. 

One of the great tee shots on the course comes on the finishing hole

The 18th hole provides a very memorable tee shot over a large tidal pool with a slightly bending uphill fairway to the left.  It's a fitting end to this short, but strategically designed Walter Travis course.  If your in the state of Maine at a time of year when golf is an option, this is a course you should check out. Come walk the course of President's past while taking in a course that represents Maine's summer topography so well, all the while letting  and let your mind spin trying to walk away with two puts from these Walter Travis designed greens. 

Course Raiting/Slopes

Black Tees: 67.8/123
White Tees: 65,1/116
Green Tee (Women): 68.2/120