The Shattuck Golf Course is tucked away in the rural mountainside town of Jaffrey, NH. Located at the base of Mt. Monadnock, a popular attraction for hikers in the area, The Shattuck offers stunning views along with its challenging course. The course is the definition of target golf, but it is a fun layout, and worth the drive.
When playing The Shattuck, it feels like you are in the middle of a nature preserve. It is heavily blanketed by a forest of tall trees with natural water hazards and plenty of wildlife. The real draw for me was how serene my round was. The course is so dense with trees that every hole is its own little world. You don’t see any roads or power lines, and the only thing you hear during the round is the sounds of nature. And on the back-9 you get to see Mt. Monadnock in the background on almost every hole. These holes are picture-perfect and represent what I think is quintessential New Hampshire golf.
Brian Silva designed the course, and he used the natural landscape to carve out the course. There are boulders, rock ledges, ponds, huge trees, and marshland throughout. Before playing I heard it was a course you only play once because it is so difficult. I envisioned pencil-thin fairways, huge water hazards, and trees overwhelming my sightlines. It does have some of those characteristics, but they aren’t as intimidating as I was led to believe.
The course is a par 72 and I played it from the white tees at 5454 yards. One thing that helped me was the course ‘cheat sheet’ that you can buy in the Pro Shop. It has a view of every hole, and it shows the ideal landing spots and distances off each tee. For example, Hole 1 is 339 yards but the ideal spot to land is 189, and Hole 3 is 320 yards, but the landing spot is 170. This useful guide helped me choose the club that I teed off with on every hole. Playing from the white tees I only used my driver seven times and used the guide to pick my iron/hybrid/wood for the others. If you are playing the blue tees, then you would use driver more because they are tipped out at 6532 yards.
Your success at The Shattuck is most likely correlated to how you hit it off the tee. The layout of the holes requires you to be accurate and to know your yardages. There are a lot of OB areas comprised of thick fescue or swampland in front of the tee boxes. Some holes you are forced to carry the ball over these hazards because there is no fairway to land on. Some holes are narrow, some are doglegs, but each one is scoreable if you have a plan. I birdied the 15th hole, which is the #2 handicap, by hitting smart shots instead of playing hero golf.
The toughest stretch of golf is holes 5 and 6. Hole 5 is a long, narrow par-5 with a water hazard protecting the front part of a small green. If you are on the fairway after your drive and second shot then par should be easy though. I think the hardest hole on the course is #6 because it requires accuracy and strategy. There are two pieces of fairway separated by thick swampland before you get to the green complex. Your tee shot should be 170 yards so that you don’t hit it into the OB stuff. From here it is about 250 to the green so you should hit another 150-yard shot to the next patch of fairway. This leaves you with a 150-yard approach shot to the green. It might sound simple but being able to execute these shots combined with the threat of swampland and tall trees can make you feel the pressure.
The coolest stretch of golf is their version of ‘Amen Corner’, but locals call it ‘the Bermuda Triangle.’ It is holes 12, 13, and 14, and they run around and over a large pond on the back-9. The water can get in your head, but it helps to take a break and enjoy your surroundings. When you play these holes you have a beautiful setting, and it feels so peaceful. Once you hit your tee shots you may not feel that way, but the experience is unmatched.
If you are thinking about playing The Shattuck my advice is: don’t hesitate and book a tee time now. Go there with an open mind, enjoy the natural beauty, and have fun on this epic golf course.
The property is equipped with a full range of amenities to help prepare you for your round or just to practice your game. It has a grass driving range, huge putting green, and a fully stocked pro shop. There is also a new mini-golf course near the clubhouse which adds a nice family-oriented side to a big-time golf course.
FOOD
Aside from the golf there is a fantastic restaurant above the clubhouse with stunning views, tasty food, and cold beers on tap.
The Dublin Road Taproom & Eatery is a destination spot whether you are playing golf or just looking for a place to eat. They have 24 local beers on tap plus cans, so they have something for everyone. I like to try new types of IPAs and ciders, so I ordered a flight of tiny servings to try a few different ones after my round. The menu is packed with flavor and includes appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and some full entrees. I had some crispy, delicious wings and the Philly cheese steak while my wife had a hearty grilled chicken salad. The main bar and dining area is an old church, so you have high vaulted ceilings and an open floor plan. There is a deck off the back with tables to eat and drink, and the course plus Mt. Monadnock sits in the background. It also provides a great spot for watching the sunset. If that wasn’t enough, they have happy hour deals on drinks and food, and have daily specials for burgers, wings, and drafts, plus you get to eat free on your birthday!
There are some other good options for food if you are in the area:
Kimball Farm Jaffrey is an old-school roadside dining stop located on Rt. 124 in Southern NH. Kimball Farms has several locations and is famous for their homemade ice cream. The stop in Jaffrey offers their delicious dessert that includes the most iconic flavor of the area, maple walnut. The grill also serves huge servings of fried seafood including fish, shrimp, scallops, and clams. They also have hot sandwiches like burgers, hot dogs, and grilled cheese. Or you can get a fresh deli sandwich or salad, like a roast beef club or chicken Caesar. It’s easy to stop in and fill up on some local classics at Kimball Farm.
Emma’s 321 Pub & Kitchen is just down the road in Rindge, NH. They serve up classic comfort food in a rustic, cabin-themed restaurant. The portions are large, and the taste is fresh. They have a variety of small plates to share like wings, potato skins, or nachos. They have filling salads and scratch-made soups like chowder and chili. The main menu features pub classics and pasta. The Mac & Cheese is available spicy or with bacon or chili and the chicken finger basket comes with crispy fries. The Chicken Parmesan and Shrimp Scampi are delicious choices that have a lot of soulful flavors. Emma’s is a great spot for food and service so consider stopping in when you are in the area.
