Forgive me, but I am still mesmerized by the beauty that is the Sunday River Golf Club.

My wallet is a bit lighter and my handicap took bit of a hit, but it doesn’t really matter.

I can brag that I have played Sunday River.

This course isn’t for the faint of heart, as it is tough, but fair.

And, Sunday River is a little on the expensive side ($95 weekdays, includes cart), so this isn’t a course that you can play weekly, unless you win Powerball.

But, if you can convince your spouse to pick up the tab for a birthday or anniversary, it will be well worth your time.

Here are a few tips to help you navigate the course:

Tip #1: Use your irons, early and often. Control your tee shots and put them in the center of the fairway. For a bogey golfer, like myself, control will keep your score lower. Lay up in front of these greens and pitch on, it will give you more control on very tough greens.

Tip #2: The greens can be fast, so don’t punish the ball when putting. There is no shame in two-putting these greens, so don’t go for the gusto if you are sitting more than 10 feet away.

Tip #3: There’s no water, but don’t be fooled, the traps are just as infuriating. Every hole is lined with inconvenient bunkers that seem to jump up and find your ball. Practice your trap shots before coming to Sunday River, because you’ll find a couple, at the very least.

Tip #4: If your score starts to balloon, just take a deep breath and look around you. There aren’t many courses this beautiful and it would be a pity to miss most of it by cussing at the golf ball. Unless you are playing in a tournament, this course is about challenging golf and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Tip #5: Be careful on No. 10. You’ll need at least 180 yards of distance off the tee, and you’ll need to be pretty straight. Take your time on this shot, as hitting it into the trees in front of you will give you a horrible start on the back side. I know, I hit into twice. Ugh.

Tip from a pro

For the average player, this is a Point A to Point B course, but you need to know your yardages. You need to pick up a yardage book or pay close attention to the scorecard to make sure you are playing the proper shot, because you can get into trouble quickly by coming up short or going too long.

The greens are good size, and they have plenty of undulations. Get a book and study the shapes of the greens so that you use the right shot to get to them…if you get into the wrong spot on the green, you may be putting from two humps away.

Just remember, the course is beautiful and in great condition, so just have a good time.

David Grygiel is an assistant PGA Club Professional at Purpoodock Country Club in Cape Elizabeth. Grygiel played the round with Nick Masuda and offered his advice a few days later.