Brunswick Golf Club

This course has become one of the premier golf courses in the state of Maine. Over the last several years it has hosted some of the states most prestigious events and its clear to see why. The condition of the course and especially the greens have been meticulously maintained even when weather has rendered other courses unplayable. The layout can be as challenging as one cares to make it depending on the tee boxes chosen.

The staff are friendly and accommodating and all carts have the visage GPS system helping golfers of all abilities.

Fun course to play with some very interesting holes like the 9th. Course is funky with back to back par 5s, then back to back par 3s on the front. Some holes are a little too much up and down, but that's only for a couple holes. Fairways are the highlight of the course. They also mix in some fescue, which could be expanded out around bunkers and expanded closer to the fairway which would make the course even nicer than it is now. It is definitely worth a try.

I was a bit suspicious back in March when Brunswick was handing out coupons for public play at the Portland Golf Expo. I wondered why this once busy private club was actively looking for public golfers. I gave it a shot after Labor Day and paid $30. to walk 18 holes ($40 - $10 coupon.) The bearded fellow in the sunglasses running the pro shop was a bit uncertain who I should follow on the first tee on what was called a "quiet afternoon" on the phone. I soon found out members come and go with little concern about tee times and all players move at whatever pace they choose. After playing through a young couple learning the game and 2 women just out for a relaxing I nine, I caught up and paired up with a threesome that had teed off 40 minutes before me. I soon realized I was now in the group setting what would be a sad 5 hour pace. For me the course did not live up to all of the hype about 1898 and 9 holes of Stiles design. The front 9, the Cornish design was fairly vanilla. The 7th is an interesting par 4 where you have to drive under or over power lines and then hit into a feisty green. The 9th is a curious par 5. From the whites it plays either driver-wedge-wedge or driver- precise 3 wood due to the wide creek in front of the green. The back is the Stiles side and has many shorter holes with tee boxes very close to greens. Most of the greens had severe slopes and false fronts. The 18th green is a prime example. The pin was on a perch on the left front, where it is impossible to stop a putt. We had a 2 putt, 2 three putts and 1 four putt (via a generous gimme). That part of the green belongs on a mini golf course at Old Orchard Beach. I was not impressed with the course conditions either. The greens have come back from the winter kill and were fairly speedy at times. There was too much crabgrass and dandelions for my tastes. The tee boxes were all starting to slope and sag, giving few flat teeing areas. It all left me wondering what the goals were this self vaunted course. It is not a $40. public course despite all of their historic and grand claims. It is a fairly good $30. course, but still needs some direction in management. I am not sure they feel as they are misdirected, but the market will sort all of that out. I cannot recommend Brunswick as a top choice in the North of Portland area.