Conference 7.286::golf

    
    
    If you want to play an incredible course, play Samoset...Extrodinary
    views and a extremely nice course...I can't wait to get back there.
    
    
    Jim

        Being a Maniac and a golf addict, you have many courses to choose
    from:
    
        Samoset is a must....a little expensive but worth it especially if
    you haven't played it before.
    
        Rockland Golf Course is also nice.....long with quick greens.
    
        Northport Golf Course is a nice 9 holer. It's between Rockport and
    Belfast.
    
        Kebo is a favorite of mine, never broken 90 there but love it. It
    is the oldest course in Maine and the 17th hole is one you won't
    forget. This one is also long with quick greens. Might even see a deer
    or two.
    
        Bar Harbor Golf Course in Trenton is an 18 holer but not one of my
    favorites. They don't take care of it very well and the ground is hard.
    Can't land on the greens, they won't hold.
    
        There are 9 holers in Camden/Rockport and Bucksport. Goose River is
    in Camden/Rockport but not very good. Bucksport Golf Course is the
    longest 9 hole course in the state and plays every bit of it. My
    reommendations are Kebo Valley, Samoset, Rockland and the then the
    others leaving Bar Harbor for last resort. Have fun and hit them
    straight.
    
    Gordi
    

    Samoset is gorgeous...don't know if they've revamped the last 3 holes,
    but even if they haven't it's worth every cent of the greens fees.
    
    Will second the notion of Northport also; used to play it when I had a
    summer place in Bayside. Coming north on Rt 1, a few miles north of
    Lincolnville, keep your eyes peeled for the Blue Goose dance hall on
    the right. Take the very next right, go to the end, take another right
    and then watch for the course on your right (the second green and the
    third tee). Bear right up the hill into the parking lot. As they say,
    a "sporty little layout"!
    
    Also, south of Rockport/Camden a ways is Wawoneck CC in Walpole. Get
    off Rt 1 at Damarsicotta, and ask someone how to get there (I know, but
    I'm afraid my directions might get you lost). Another tough 9-holer.
    
    	Frank

    
>>        Kebo is a favorite of mine, never broken 90 there but love it. It
>>    is the oldest course in Maine and the 17th hole is one you won't
>>    forget. This one is also long with quick greens. Might even see a deer
>>    or two.
    
    
    I just played Kebo for the first time on the 5th. It's rated as one of
    the top 50 public golf courses in the US by Golf Digest. I shot a 91,
    but I would have done much better if I knew the course. There are
    several blind holes where you don't know what's lying up ahead. Hole 17
    is hole I've never seen before (and hope I never do again). I got a 7
    on the last 2 holes for my 91. My wife and I were camping for the hole
    week, and so save space in the truck we didn't take my wifes pull cart.
    Well when we got there for our 8:30 tee times they didn't have any pull
    carts. So I ended up carrying 2 bags half the time. My wife just
    couldn't carry her bag for all 18. The next time we play there I'm
    going to make sure we bring her pull cart.
    
    Do you think I put enough excuses in that paragraph for not shooting
    under 90???? 8*) 8*) 8*)
    
    Mike

Well, thanks for the pointers.  I did play both Kebo and Samoset while up in 
the area last week.

Kebo was "interesting" but a bit of a disappointment.  It's tough and longish,
but didn't seem to rate it's ranking in the top 50.  Maybe there was something
I missed?  (Oh yeah, as reported earlier, the 17th does give you pause to think
but,...)

Samoset, on the other hand, was gorgeous, in great shape, a bit short, but
worth every penny ($35 vs $28 at Kebo).  You may not be able to afford to stay
at the resort (July "special" is $119/person/night, but includes golf), but if
you're in the area, you can't afford to miss it (if you appreciate the
beauty of a course as much as it's technical challenge).

Thanks again,
John

    Can someone tell me how long (miles & hours) it will take to drive up
    to the Samoset Resort from the Lowell area?  
    
    Thanks much.
    
    -Dotti.

    
    re .6
    
    5+ hours, depending upon traffic and how fast you drive. Comming home
    to Manchester NH on the 7th it took us almost 7 hours of driving with
    all the holiday traffic.
    
    Mike

Dotti,

Take 495 north to 95 North.  Get off at exit 6A of I95(South Portland)(Exit 7
for Sable Oaks).  Take 295 through Portland and then rejoin/merge with I95
(save 35 cents 8^). Take the US Rte 1 exit in Brunswick.  Follow route one to
Rockland (about 55 miles from Brunswick).  At the first stop light in Rockland
take a left onto rte 1A (bypass city).  Go through 2 stop lights (non blinking
type) and then the road will take a 90 degree turn at what I believe is a
blinking light.  Go through the next non blinking lights until you are at
another non blinking light with Macdonalds on your left.  Take the left here
and go to the next non blinking lights and turn right there.  You will be on
the road to the Resort and its about 1/4 mile down this road with the harbor
to your right.  All in all its about an two hours and 30 minutes from the
Maine border, and since I travel to Acton every other weekend or so its about
50 minutes I'd say from Lowell to Portsmouth, total = 3 1/2 - 4 as the Freebie
fly's 8^)

Kevin,

Ps. Let me know if you're in need of a 3rd or 4th.

re: .6

I can confirm .8.

Took us about 3.5 hours from Samoset to Carlisle with light traffic (8:00-11:30
on July 3rd eve) travelin' about the speed limit.  Many parts of route 1 are
55 MPH and the Interstates in Maine and N.H. are set at 65 MPH.  (Of course, the
de facto speed limit on 495 in Mass is 75, but I only travelled at 60-65 ";^) .)

John