Golfers from all over the world should add a visit to the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, NH to their bucket list. The white-walled, red-roofed castle in the clouds, with the ominous Mt. Washington looking over its shoulder is an adult playground for golfers.
The 5-star resort, combined with the historic 18-hole championship course, provides a unique experience that combines sport, scenery, and amazing food. The resort was built in 1902 and the course was established in 1915. If you go there today you will enjoy a historical vacation that you will remember forever. The lodging is top class, the course is a vintage Donald Ross, and the food is superb.
GOLF
Consistently rated as one of the best courses in New Hampshire, the Omni Mount Washington Golf Course resides at the base of the Presidential Mountain Range in the White Mountains. There is also the Mount Pleasant course, which is a 9-hole par-35 located in front of the resort. These courses have scenic backgrounds of either epic mountain peaks or the majestic Omni Resort throughout. Every single hole offers a stunning view. The golf experience, combined with the breathtaking scenery, are what make this place so memorable.
The Mount Washington course was originally designed by legendary architect Donald Ross and later renovated by the modern master of design Brian Silva in 2008. Silva followed Ross’ lead and merely updated some of the holes instead of completely reshaping them. The result is a fusion of new and old golf course design that challenges but satisfies golfers of all ages and skill.
The layout of the course is surprisingly open, considering it is in a mountain range in New England. There are tall pines scattered throughout, but they do not make you feel stifled when hitting. There are typical Ross-style features like tall fescue clumps and thoughtfully placed bunkers on every hole to keep you honest. Some holes are very close together, only separated by thin lines of fescue or tree lines, so there is some crossover of golfers from wayward tee shots. But the good thing is that you don’t lose many balls, only some pride for having to wait for the group on the correct fairway to hit first.
The greens are what impressed me the most on the course. They were extremely soft on approach shots, leaving huge divots, but rolled very fast when putting. It was a unique feature, and I give credit to the grounds crew for keeping the conditions so perfect. They were large greens that had a lot of interesting designs. All of them had undulations, slopes, and/or tiers that made it difficult to gauge. I think if you play there multiple times you will have better approach shots because you know how the slopes break. I hit some shots that I thought were going to be in prime position to birdie, only to find out I had a double breaker or slippery left to right 10-footer. This only enhanced the experience though, because each green presented a different layout. Hole 4 has a ‘maiden green,’ which means there are two tiers separated by a very deep ravine between them. When I played, I had the honor of putting at the pin which was in the middle of the ravine! This made it extremely difficult to lag it close and of course I ended up with a 3-putt.
The signature hole for me was the 18th. It’s a 350 yard par4 but the design and setting made it memorable, and difficult. It is a dogleg left with the magnificent Omni Resort as your backdrop. From the tee you have to carry it over OB fescue about 160 yards. Then you have to hit an approach shot over fescue and a stream at 130 yards. The green is large enough to hit, but has a nice slope so it depends on where your ball stops. Once you get to the green you have the clubhouse and outdoor patio in the background as you hope to finish on a high note.
The Mount Washington Golf Course has everything to challenge and reward all types of golfers. The quality and the scenery would make anyone happy, and the veteran golfer will love the difficulty of the Ross-design. Plus you have the added benefit of being able to play the sister course while in the area.
The Mount Pleasant course sits on the front lawn of the Omni Mount Washington Resort and runs alongside the Ammonoosuc River. This 9-hole course offers a relaxed round that can be played quickly, and with the same breathtaking scenery as the big course. This course is actually older than the big course as it was opened in the 1890’s.
The challenge from this course is the fescue and heavy brush that line most of the fairways. If you hit a shot into these areas it is difficult to hit it back onto the fairway. You will also have trouble finding wayward tee shots because the bushes and trees are so dense you don’t have a chance to go in and look for your ball.
Hole 1’s tee box is practically at the check-in area for the resort. It is elevated and you have to hit over the road leading to the clubhouse. It’s a par5 but luckily the easiest hole on the course so you should be able to start your round on a good note. Hole 3 has a large pond up the whole right side so being left is crucial. Holes 4, 5, and 6 take you through some thick woods so there is little error allowed off the tee. Hole 7 is a funky dogleg right where you hit it over the Ammonoosuc River off the tee. You finish off the round with a beautiful view of the resort in the background as you head back towards the clubhouse.
The greens are a little slower than the big course, but the natural hazards throughout force you to play target golf at Mount Pleasant. If you are able to spend some time at the resort, then being able to play two historic golf courses while enjoying the scenery and accommodations is worth the trip.
OMNI MOUNT WASHINGTON RESORT
This is the premier destination for stay and play in New England because there is so much to do and enjoy. The resort is situated on a hill overlooking the two golf courses, the outdoor pool, tennis courts, and horse trails. The front of the resort faces the Bretton Woods ski resort while the back faces the Presidential Mountain range, with Mount Washington directly in the middle.
The resort drips nostalgia but has high end modern amenities. It is on the National Registry so you feel like you have stepped back in time when you learn more about its history. There are plaques and pictures that highlight the history of the resort, including the Monetary Conference of 1944. This meeting of world leaders took place at the resort and helped decide the future of banking and money as we know it today. The wide hallways are covered in art that represents the evolution of the resort, and pays homage to those who helped pave the way. And I mention the wide hallways because they were designed that way to allow ladies with their hoop skirts to easily fit down the halls. It’s these unique facts that add a special layer of charm to the resort.
There are over 200 rooms in the original structure of the resort that opened in the early 1900’s. This includes a room with the original bed of the matriarch of the family, that is available to be booked by anyone. The spacious outdoor veranda has plenty of seating to accommodate guests who want to sip wine and enjoy hors d’oeuvres while soaking up the mountain views. My wife and I chose to have mixed cocktails on the veranda after golf and savored the stunning mountain views. The whole experience felt like a throwback to a bygone era.
The resort recently renovated a part of the building that is now known as the Presidential Wing. From the soft bedding to the plus robes, everything in these rooms are luxurious and lavish. The bathroom was exquisite, with marble floors, a rainfall showerhead and complimentary bath salts for the giant soaking tub. The expansive views during the day and at sunset were unreal, and the private patio gave us a great spot to enjoy them.
Another perk of the Presidential Wing is exclusive access to the Presidential Club Lounge. The lounge had an extensive drink menu along with a spread of heavy appetizers to hold you over until dinner. It’s the perfect spot to watch a game on the large flat screens, or play some cards after dinner. It also had daily continental breakfast that included tasty classics and a variety of juices and coffees to enjoy.
The amenities at the resort include outdoor excursions, not just golf, to keep everyone entertained. The great part about staying here is that once you park your car you can leave the keys on the table because you won’t need to drive anywhere. Most of the activities they offer are either on site or you can get a shuttle to reach them. This includes horseback riding, zip lines, a spa, hiking trails, fishing, mountain biking, rock climbing, tennis, and gondola ride up to the peak of Bretton Woods. We took the gondola ride and had lunch at the Rosebrook Lodge, which was slightly chilly for August, but had amazing food and magnificent views of both the hotel and mountain range.
The bottom floor of the resort is designed to be ‘MainStreet’ and it is all-encompassing. There is a fitness center, post office, arcade, shops, ice cream, coffee, and restaurants running along the length of the resort that give guests everything they need. The resort also has conference rooms, a wedding venue, and full service spa, in case you thought they were missing anything.
FOOD
Along with the golf, first class accommodations, plethora of activities, and on-site services, there are several places to eat and drink while living the good life. The resort has three restaurants and two bars to keep you full and happy. The bars have huge selections of beer, wine, and cocktails that will keep you hydrated. The restaurants have amazing food that utilizes fresh, local ingredients and has plenty of variety to choose from.
The Rosebrook Bar has charcuterie, flatbreads, dips, and snacks to enjoy on the veranda. If you want stunning views with your cocktails, I’d suggest the Observatory Bar on the rooftop Jewell Terrace. Located on the patio level, Stickney’s Restaurant has hearty meals that will finish off your busy day. They have tremendous portions and high quality classic steakhouse meals. Mouth-watering ribeye, filet, tri-tip, or NY strip are cooked to order and have delicious sides to go with them.
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And you cannot visit the Omni Mount Washington Resort and not visit The Cave. Directly across from Stickney’s, The Cave is prohibition-era speakeasy with live music and flat-screen TV’s. Lined with cobblestones and bricks, The Cave is the place to be for late-night drinks and fun. It can get crowded so be sure to grab a seat when it opens at 9pm.
If you want to experience the highest level of dining at the Omni, you should dine at the 1902 Main Dining Room. The restaurant is elegant but not stuffy. The dining room has vaulted ceilings, huge windows overlooking the resort and mountains, and handcrafted designs built into the walls and columns. The food was exceptional and drinks were always full even before we asked. We had the Burrata salad and Short Rib sliders for appetizers. For dinner I had the Seared Scallops with a bacon/leek risotto that was amazing. My wife had the Gulf of Maine Cod that was baked and served with a clam chowder sauce and succotash. We finished the night with two delicious desserts, the Creme Brulee and the Chocolate Lava Cake. Everything was fresh, flavorful and cooked perfectly. The rest of the menu includes classic recipes, but with a fancy spin on them. It is worth splurging on your trip to go to the 1902 for an elegant dining experience.
PREMIER GOLF DESTINATION
The Omni Resort at Mount Washington is the place to go for fun, relaxation, golf, and incredible food. You can add unlimited golf to your stay for a flat fee so you can play as much as you want. It’s the perfect spot for a golf trip, family vacation or bachelor party. With everything at your fingertips, you don’t have to worry about finding things to do, or coordinating transportation. The onsite activities will help fill your time in between golf, or you can always sit on the veranda and take in the mountain views. Be sure to put this place on your golf bucket list.
https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/bretton-woods-mount-washington
