From the top of the hill, a river snakes its way through a small town, splashing over rocks as it meanders between tree-covered hills. A short distance away, a chorus of bullfrogs echoes among the reeds of a small pond, and another vista, on a clear day, offers a panoramic view of the distant White Mountains.
And this on a golf course that is, aside from aesthetically beautiful, challenging for players of every level.
Such is life at Turner Highlands Golf Club.
“The views alone are incredible,” said course superintendent George Chiasson. “From the top of the hill on seven, on nine, on 17, it’s just beautiful.”
Particularly infatuating are the views from the final four holes, starting with a par three that has as much bite as it does beauty.
So what, some people say. It’s a nice course to look at, but what about the golf? At 6,033 yards, it’s hardly Augusta National.
Sometimes, though, tricky shots make a course that much more difficult. Take No.3, which is just 285 yards and a par 4. Try to reach the green, though, and you’ll be in the woods. Two well-placed shots are needed here.
No. 5, the course’s signature hole, is appealing to the eye, but treacherous to play. The drive from the tee needs to carry about 150 yards of marsh and pond for golfers to have a chance to reach the green in two, but the drive can’t go too far. From the back end of the pond to a severe drop-off over a rock wall is just 75 yards. From there, the second shot is downhill and difficult to judge.
“If you go over the green, you’re back in oblivion, though,” said Chiasson. “It’s a really tough hole.”
Under new ownership as of last season, Turner Highlands is consistently improving. A five-year plan in the works now will create several new tee boxes with a goal to establish championship-length tees on every hole, starting visibly with the first and 17th holes this season.
Scenic and difficult, if not long, Turner Highlands is a jewel in the hills of North Turner.
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