The Ledges Golf Club

In the southeastern pocket of Maine not far from the New Hampshire border, there are many courses, classic and modern, that make up an exceptional golf scene. Names like Ross and Travis have put their stamp on this area, as well as modern giants like Brian Silva.

Among the very best of the modern courses in this tremendous golf area is the Ledges Golf Club. Built in the late 1990s and designed by the architect Brad Booth, the layout here has been expertly carved out of the rocky forested area of York. The environmental elements like rock outcroppings, lush trees, and diverse changes in elevation are on full display here, and it all adds up for a thrilling round of golf. The course can be as challenging as desired, with the ability to be stretched to nearly 7000 yards, and present some of the most demanding shots in Maine golf.

The round begins with a long par 4 that sweeps beautifully down the fill from the clubhouse. As far as opening holes go, this is not one to take lightly. Trees and mounds protect the left side of the hole for its entire length, and a water hazard cuts across the fairway before the green. The putting surface is well protected on the left by a large bunker, rough, and mounds. It is also quite large and flows nicely on the ground it occupies, a theme repeated throughout the course for the putting surfaces.

Hole 2 is a shorter par 4 that plays out to a significantly elevated green. Once again, the left side of the hole is protected by thick trees as well as two major fairway bunkers. The right side of the hole is also occupied by large mounds, putting a high value on finding the fairway. The green, elevated and pitched from back to front, is heavily guarded on both sides by a bunker and trees left and a steep mound on the right. Precision is certainly called for on this hole.

The third hole, which moves from left to right and then up to another raised green, is one of the most visually striking on the course. The entire left side is once again heavily guarded by the area’s thick forest, and a fascinating rock outcropping creeps in on the right side. The green features two tiers on the left and right, and there are times that there is not much room to work with behind the flag if it is on the left. The first three holes are wonderful examples of how on this course, finding the right portion of the green is paramount.

Hole 4 is the course’s first par 5 hole. Players tee off over a swamp area to the elevated fairway that moves to the right for much of the hole, then plunges down to the green around a bend to the left. The fairway of the sixth hole is nearby on the right and can be recovered from, but it will leave a shot over tall trees that guard this side of the hole. The green features three distinct sections that transition subtly from one to another, and three bunkers lurk short left to challenge approaches coming in from that angle.

The fifth hole is the first par 3 of this layout. Framed nicely by the rock outcroppings behind it, the hole requires a strong tee shot to the large and complex green that is also protected left and up front by a large bunker and hazard cutting across for much of the width of the putting surface. While this miss on this hole is out to the right, the green is heavily sloped on this section. Chipping and pitching back up to where the pins are placed on this green are certainly testing shots.

Hole 6 starts at a raised tee behind the fifth green. The fairway hole moves from right to left, starts out over a section of native hazard and rocks, and the elevated fourth hole can be seen through the cluster of trees on the right. Another hazard cuts across the hole short of the green with a short pitching area between it and the putting surface. The green is decently raised above this pitching area, so if an approach shot comes up short here, it will take a bit of creativity and focus to get up and down for par.

The seventh hole is the second par 5, playing quite a bit shorter than the fourth. The green cannot be seen from the tee, and the hole plays straight out in front of the tee. While the right side of the hole is significantly guarded by a bunker and trees, challenging it can present an ideal look at the green, which is found down the hill to and out to the left. Should a player wish to challenge the green on the second shot, a large bunker left, a runoff area to the right, and not much room behind the green are all factors to consider. Missing well to the left on the approach also brings trees and hazards into the equation, but play it right, and this hole could be a good birdie opportunity.

The next par 3 on the course is the magnificent eighth hole. The tee shot plays from a massively elevated position down to a green nearly surrounded by water, with the right side being the one to most certainly to miss on. Missing too far right can risk finding the rough or a bunker, and from this angle the green runs away from the player, making it an interesting task to hold the putting surface if the greens are running fast. Before departing the hole, it is worth taking a look back at the elevated tees to see the stunning rocky ridge they reside on.

Hole 9 plays from left to right around a bend protected by large bunker, heavy slopes and trees. The approach shot from here is up to an elevated green that is truly massive. While the hole plays relatively short, misjudging the club selection here can easily set up a tough two-putt. Getting up and down from the areas off the green is no easy task as well.

To begin the back nine, hole ten is one of the most challenging on the course. Like the first hole, it is a long par 4 that plays downhill, but this time, the green is raised up quite significantly and more heavily guarded on the right. Thick trees and large mounds loom on the left, and the fairway moves its way around a large fairway bunker. The green features a large ridge that allows for many interesting pin locations to be placed around it. Starting off the second half of the round here with a par is a fine accomplishment.

The 11^th hole is a long par 3 hole that features a pond protecting the right side of the hole and a large portion of the front of the green. Shots looking to challenge a right-side pin location must be of full confidence as the areas between the pond and the green are very steep. The green pitches from back to front, so if a well struck shot can remain below the pin, a decent look at birdie is possible here.

Hole 12 is the first par 5 hole on the back nine and moves out and around a bend to the right. A strong tee shot challenging the bunker on the right can open up a good look at the green, and the second half of the hole rolls and dips over many mounds and uneven areas. The green is protected by a large bunker on the right, and the putting surface also features a large ridge that might have to be navigated on the first putt.

The shorter par 4 13^th hole provides on the of the most daunting changes in elevation on the entire course. Moving gently from right to left, the hole climbs steeply uphill following a cluster of bunkers on the right and is framed also on the right by a rock outcropping. The approach shot is off a demanding uphill lie that tests both patience and balance and calculating the impact of the slope is paramount for the right club selection. The green is relatively benign at the top of the hill, and finding it on the approach can yield a well-earned low score.

Hole 14 is the final par 3 on the course. It is short but plays uphill with two bunkers guarding the left and right. The green is somewhat tricky at the front portion with a slight ridge to navigate with shots that come up short, but this is certainly a hole to try and take advantage of before the course’s demanding finishing stretch.

The course concludes with a series of challenging par 4 holes and a daunting par 5 hole. Hole 15 is a short par 4 situated just behind the 14^th green. The hole plays out straight away, but the primary fairway runs out of length quickly, and beyond it are dangers that include sharp slopes to the right and a pond to the left. Avoiding these areas of the hole is crucial, and with a shot of about 225 leaving likely just a wedge in, laying up is highly advised, and the green is somewhat generous.

The 16^th hole is a strong par 4 that can play upwards of 400 yards. This hole moves from right to left around a cluster of trees on the left, and finding the fairway here is as crucial as any hole on the golf course. The approach to the elevated green is very narrow, and while clearly missing to the right is extremely penal, a miss left can leave tricky situations to pitch or chip from. It is a hole that certainly provides a good test for each shot played.

Hole 17 is the last par 4 on the course, and it is one of the hardest. Both sides of the hole are lined with trees, but the right side is the one to miss on as the trees are far less dense and the hole moves from right to left. The approach shot to the green is stunning, as it plummets downhill to a diagonally oriented green protected by two significant bunkers. The view looking back up the fairway from the green is worth noting to see just how far down the hole drops in elevation.

Finally, on the 18^th hole, Ledges presents one of the most extraordinary par 5 holes in the state to finish the round. A true gauntlet, the hole from its back tee box can play a staggering 618 yards. From this elevated position, the drive must carry upwards of 250 yards to make it comfortably onto the fairway, which is guarded on the left by water as well and dense trees further up the right. As the hole progresses from left to right, the hole features an enormous cross hazard that bisects the fairway before the steep climb up the hill to the hole’s difficult two-tiered green. A strong tee shot is required to set up an attempt to clear the cross hazard, and if clearing it is not an option, a layup to around 175 yards from the center of the green is the best-case scenario. It is a true three-shot hole in every sense and provides a remarkable finish to a terrific round.

After just one round at the Ledges Golf Club, it is easy to see that there is truly something for everyone here. It has the ability to provide sensational views and thrills that can appeal to any amateur, and the length and boldness to test the best in the game, which it has as a qualifying site for the Live and Work in Maine Open, an event that was staged briefly in Maine for the Korn Ferry Tour. The course is a modern New England masterpiece and represents everything one would hope to experience in a round of golf in this part of the country. In an area of so many wonderful options, this is one that simply cannot be overlooked.