Keene Country Club

I was fortunate enough to obtain playing privileges as a perk of my sister's 50th anniversary celebration being catered at the country club. When I use the term "privileged", I really mean it. What a beautiful golf course. All the finely manicured details you would expect from a private country club apply here in a distinctly New England setting. The greens were smooth as silk, with few unrepaired pitch marks. The fairways had nary a blemish and were cut to just the right length. There was quite a bit of elevation change particularly on the back nine. I was impressed with how even the tall trees lining the fairways lacked the ugly rogue branches that give already difficult chutes that claustrophobic feel. Keene C.C. also contains some of those features that you would probably only see in New England. The chainsaw bear that greets golfers as they come off the 9th green used to be a tree on the course before it was hit by lightning. The stone bridge over the creek separating the 7th fairway from the 11th looks almost Roman. The most impressive little extra, however, is the 18th Century cemetery behind the 8th green, which truly enhances the colonial experience. Just when I thought my day couldn't have gotten any better, the view of Mount Monadnock through the trees from the elevated 17th green was one of the best I have seen in the area. I am not sure what the public play policy is, but it might be worth checking this jewel out. Additionally, the staff treated me with courtesy and respect as if I were a member myself. I appreciated that. The members should be very proud of their club.