I’m a public course man – my golf “high” comes from playing different places every week. But when you’ve played as many as I have, they all tend to blend together – fairways, greens and traps meld with each other as if they were all part of some impressionist painting – only when I step back and take-in the big picture do courses’ most striking features reveal themselves.
But this time of year in the northeastern U.S., the golf season is winding down. Some of my golfing buddies have already stowed their clubs till spring. Even I find myself scaling back; playing 9-holes more frequently. And usually when I play 9-holes, it’s at one place that I never forget about: Sleeping Giant Golf Course.
I think every town or region has a Sleeping Giant Golf Course. If it doesn’t, it should. Sleeping Giant is the quintessential local 9-hole golf track: it’s short, but not an executive layout. It’s well-groomed but not Augusta. It’s a confidence booster but taking risks can hurt you. The price is nice, but not pathetically nice.
Perhaps one asset the course has over some of its 18-hole brethren is its scenery. The course is nestled in the shadows of, well…the Sleeping Giant – a formation of hills that “resemble” a person sleeping on their back. Native tribes of the area used to call the Giant “Hobbomock” and thought it to be an evil spirit. Coupled with the Native American folklore, the Giant sets a dramatic backdrop to the course – especially this time of year, when he is ablaze with oranges, reds and yellows (see photo at top).
Despite being pretty close to civilization, Sleeping Giant Golf Course gives you the feeling that you’re miles away from anywhere. Usually I’ll arrive with one other playing partner (many times my dad, who’s in his 70’s and still playing) and we’ll be paired up with other father/son or father/daughter combos. It seems no matter who you’re paired with, or if you run into a wait on a particular hole (typically the 7th – a short par-4 where everyone goes for the green but ends up in the left woods) you still find yourself completely enjoying the round.
I had my first eagle at Sleeping Giant (dropped a wedge-shot from 125 yards); played the last two holes in the dark multiple times; and almost parred the course…twice – only to miss the same 4-foot putt both damn times on the 9th (a brief aside – typically I don’t shoot anywhere near par, but I know this course so well, not-to-mention it’s a relatively easy track, that if I’m on my game, I have a chance).
Sleeping Giant Golf Course embodies so many great little tracks out there. The PGA Tour (or even the Hooters Tour) will laugh at the notion of playing there; the Golf Digest or Golf Magazine top course lists will never give it a second thought (or even an initial thought); but you know it exists. And you love it. And that’s all that matters.
If you reside where it’s about to get cold; get in the car and go play that course (you know the one I’m talking about). Oh, and forget about your score and just enjoy – take a step back and take it all in…remember, this is why we play golf.
Baymeadows CC in Jacksonville Florida, a victim of real estate nonsense, was a tough course that taught you that you really should not consider a career in golf.
My favorite 9 hole track up here in wayyyyyy NE NY decided to go to 18 holes. Disaster. The added maintenance and expense ruined what was the best 9 holes in the area, bar none. Now the original pristine 9 is suffering under the weight of it’s new cousin.
During these cold months I enjoy my little executive track – The Orchards right here in Milford, CT. We’ve got a few more weeks of golf left before we have to cut down the Christmas tree.