EXPERIENCE WINDHAM GOLF COURSE
The Windham Golf Course opens with three of the original holes from 1922, starting with a pair of manageable par-4s where position is more important than length. Our new first tee makes No. 1 a slight dogleg right, with the pond in play. The second hole, a mere 300 yards, is all about the greenside tree on the right, protecting an undulating green — Stay farther left than you think! No. 3 has been renovated to to play as a wonderful long par-3 (255 yards from the back tees) to a tilted green designed to receive long shots.
Our fourth hole meanders for 500 yards around to the left, and again the tree lines require some precise placement to set up a wedge to an angular green at the top of the hill. No. 5 is a medium-length par-3 that plays to an elevated green protected by a deep bunker to the left. No. 6 is a straight and simple uphill par-4 until you get to one of the fastest and difficult greens on the golf course.
No. 7 is a very long par-4 running through the middle of our main parkland. Longer hitters will need to draw the ball to avoid the mounds and troubles on the right. From the everyday tees, Windham’s 8th hole is a medium-length par-5 running along the northern boundary, with lost ball trouble all along the right. From the black tees, it is a monster par-4 playing 465 yards. The front 9 ends with a long downhill sharp dogleg left around the tree line — length matters here, a lot. If you can’t hit it down the hill, then stay to the right for an unobstructed second shot.
The back 9 begins with our shortest hole (110 yards), another one of the 1922 originals, and one of the few holes where loft is required over the bunkers to an elevated green. No. 11 plays as a massive 440-470 yard par-4 from the back tees, but as a manageable par-5 from the everyday tees. Either way, new No. 11 will reward “long and straight”, and reward a good short game even more. No. 12 is a short par-4 gem, with the second shot over a large pond to a steeply elevated green, and lost ball trouble all along the right. The second shot on No. 12 is one of the few at Windham with a forced carry (over water) with a short iron, to one of Windham’s trickiest greens.
No. 13 is a beautiful parkland par-5, continuously bending around to the right throughout its length. Cut the corners as much as you dare, and fly it up or bump it up, your choice. No. 14 is another grand par-3, looking downhill for miles to the southern panorama. It plays to a big green cut into the hill and well-protected by sand. Long is completely dead as the ball bounds away down a 30 foot drop, leaving a ridiculously difficult flopshot to return into play — you can easily take 5 or more from there.
No. 15 is a very muscular par-4, with water in play to the right and a lot of ground to cover. Hit it hard and straight twice and you have a chance. Our golf course’s closing stretch begins with #16, a long par-3 which thankfully plays downhill with a helping slope that funnels shots toward a green that tilts hard to the left.
Our most significant renovation hole is No. 17 — a big par-5 (575 from the black tees) that plays around a ridge that protects the green even being seen until you are 400 yards into the hole. Hint: The “eyeball bunker” in the middle of the fairway is not much of a hazard, but it's a very useful aiming device for second shots. Windham closes with another of the classic 1922 par-4s, playing through a chute of pines, with water in play to the left of an otherwise accessible green.
Our golf course rewards straight and penalizes crooked without torturing the occasional errant shot by the mid-or high handicapper. The layout welcomes all styles of play, as long as they involve good clean contact and a plan.
