Known for being the ski capital of New England, Sunday River in Newry, Maine also has an outstanding golf course that makes a trip up North mandatory each season. The 18-hole championship course is in the middle of the Mahoosuc Mountain Range, near the ski slopes and hotels that are part of the resort.
The course winds through dense trees in the mountains, and features elevation changes on every hole. Being 1500 feet above sea level, you have an amazing backdrop on every hole as you can see multiple mountain peaks everywhere you look. The course was designed by famous golf architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. and he used the natural layout of the mountainside to carve out a masterpiece. The course is challenging for all skill levels, but also designed to engage all golfers with a unique layout that rewards accuracy more than power.
I played there in August and the course was in phenomenal shape. The only issue was a huge rain storm the day before made it cart-path-only, but the conditions were still mint. The landing areas were super soft, but the greens still had nice speed for being soggy. The course caters to all golfers because Jones Jr. put in wide and extremely playable fairways. There are sand bunkers scattered throughout, including some huge sand complexes on holes 6, 14, and 15. They look like BMX race tracks with sand and boulders. Luckily I did not hit one of them, but I bet the shots out of those are very interesting. When you play here I suggest taking a minute on each tee box to enjoy your surroundings. Some of the elevated tee boxes offer views of ponds, forest, and mountains that you just don’t get to see at other courses. The use of the beautiful natural landscape makes the golf even more enjoyable.
Hole 14
The most intense part of the course is the elevation changes. There is not one flat, basic hole anywhere to be found. Hole 1 has a flat tee shot, but then the green is 50’ below you. Hole 7 is a STEEP par 5 uphill that resembles a ski slope. You have to add 20 yards to your club selection because the hill is that big. Somehow I managed to get my only birdie of the round on this one. There are also tricky holes that have downhill fairways but the green is back up a hill. The not-so-subtle changes in elevation really factor into the challenge and beauty of the course. If you are playing the course for the first time I highly recommend having scope on your GPS/rangefinder. The slope factors in any elevation changes and gives you a yardage based on that. This saved me a lot of headaches because every hole has a point when you have to either club up or down to be at the right distance.
With all of the elevation changes it would be impossible to walk the course. In fact, the golf carts have governors on the engines to prevent them from going too fast. That is because some of the cart paths are straight up or down, like a black diamond on the ski slope, and you do not want to be out of control. The 10th tee is next to the clubhouse and you hit over the tops of trees that are 150’ below you. The cart ride down to the fairway takes a few minutes and you feel like you are riding down a mountain. The elevation changes also affect your tee shots because some fairways have severe slopes that will carry your ball 10-20 yards left or right. This also creates uneven lies with approach shots in the middle of the fairways.
Ist Hole
Sunday River Golf Club is a truly unique golfing experience. The key to success is playing smart off the tees, trying to be accurate, and minimizing the risks you take. You need to look at the layout of each hole and try to find the path to the green that Jones Jr. designed. I loved the playability and scenery of the course, and the food afterwards was outstanding.
FOOD
Connected to the Pro Shop is the course restaurant called The Clubhouse. The inside of the whole clubhouse is built like a log cabin with knotted pine throughout, and there is plenty of seating indoors and outside. The bar has seats to enjoy the food or to have a cold drink on a hot summer day.
The food menu is full of appetizers, salads, and sandwiches that use only the freshest, highest quality ingredients. The menu is small, but the flavor is big. We got to the course early and had the Beer Cheese dip that comes with fried pretzels rolls and bratwurst. They also have shrimp cocktail, wings, and lobster salad lettuce cups. They offer a grab and go menu so you can take something with you on the course. Your quick choices are deli sandwiches, protein cups, fries, or hot dogs.
If you have a bigger appetite after your round then try one of their hearty sandwiches. My wife enjoyed the Maine Lobster roll on a buttered brioche bun which was a huge portion. I had the Clubhouse Burger which was made with beef from Maine’s Pineland Farm. It was cooked perfectly, and sitting on the patio overlooking the 1st tee with the mountains in the background was a great way to end the day.
The bar has specialty cocktails along with a huge selection of beers and wines. We both had the ‘Spa Water’ which was made with cucumber vodka, soda water, and lemonade. The restaurant has online ordering so you can put in an order to pick up after the 9th hole of your round. It is also for people who aren’t golfing and want a nice meal to take home, including alcoholic drinks.
Besides the championship golf course and amazing restaurant, Sunday River offers lodging on the mountain to make it a premier destination in New England. My wife and I took advantage of their stay-and-play package, and enjoyed a night at the Jordan Hotel. You can also book a room at the Grand Summit Hotel, and as a bonus you can buy golf packages that include rounds at two other Maine gems, Sugarloaf Golf Club or Belgrade Lakes. Next time we go, we are going to do this package because those courses are also spectacular.
JORDAN HOTEL
The Jordan Hotel is located 5 minutes up the street from the golf course. It has a variety of amenities and added bonuses that make it a great place to stay for a golf trip. They have a heated pool, hot tub, and also will store your golf bag overnight.
The hotel has a modern ski lodge feel when you walk into the main lobby. There are breathtaking chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, which extends all the way up to the third floor. There is a fireplace and lounge area with free coffee and tea to enjoy pre or post round. They also have a fully stocked shop at reception for snacks and drinks, or essential items you forgot.
The Northern Lights Cafe, located on the second floor, serves food and has a full bar. What we appreciated was the number of to-go options offered. We were able to order breakfast sandwiches before we set out for our day and they were delicious. They also have Irish Coffee and spiked hot chocolate that I can imagine would be great after a day on the slopes.
Another perk of all the food options at Sunday River, including the golf clubhouse, is that you can charge your food to your room. This makes staying at Sunday River, especially for families, even easier.
The Jordan has a large amount of rooms for corporate events or conferences on the first floor. When we stayed at the hotel there was a conference going on, and I saw a group of them at the course so that is a nice bonus if your company chooses Sunday River for an outing. The hotel also has a full service spa to help you unwind and get out the kinks after playing your round of golf.
 |
 |
The part of the hotel that impressed us the most was our room. The Jordan is designed for long term stays as most rooms have kitchens or kitchenettes. We decided to spoil ourselves and booked a suite. We had a full kitchen, complete with all utensils, cookware, glassware, and other essentials to prepare full course meals. This can be helpful for groups or families that want to travel but save a little money by not going out to eat every night.
Our suite had a living room with two couches and also a Murphy bed so in total you could sleep 6 adults comfortably. The best parts of the room were the loft bedroom and the deck with amazing mountain views. We had two full bathrooms and plenty of space to feel at home.
Playing the championship course at Sunday River is a bucket list item for any golfer. Staying at the Jordan is a high quality trip for anyone. But when you combine them with their stay-and-play package it is a golfer’s dream. The whole experience was filled with incredible golf, mountain views, and fun. If you need a golf trip with beautiful scenery and great food options then this is the way to go.
