Though short, the nine-hole course offers many challenges, with more to come when a back nine is added.
LEWISTON – “It is what it is.”
Apple Valley owner Gard Craw, an Edward Little alum, relaxed a bit and shrugged his shoulders.
“It wasn’t designed the best, but we work with what we have, and we work to give golfers the best experience possible with what we have.”
Apple Valley Golf Club, on Pinewoods Road in Lewiston, is a short, nine-hole track carved out of a square of land. Bordering two streets and with out-of-bounds and property boundaries to the right of three different holes, the course is not set up well for those that slice the ball severely.
But, like Craw said, it is what it is.
The course is a perfect place for beginners to take their hacks. It is a great short track for older players who want to continue playing for an affordable price, without having to walk 200 yards between a green and the next tee, and it is a nice course for families looking to enjoy their time together playing golf.
Perhaps the biggest change since Craw took over a few years ago is yet to come – the addition of nine holes across the street. Craw owns the land, and this fall will have a wetlands study completed to see how the construction should proceed. Craw hinted that significant changes to the front nine could happen after the back nine is opened, but also said that any major changes on the current nine are still a long way off.
For now, the course is a challenge, because of its short length. Most above-average golfers will not need to hit a driver at all here, and even average to just below average, would be better suited clubbing down off the tee in most cases.
The trees have grown tall in some places, and a few well-placed bunkers still challenge even the best golfers.
Apple Valley is what it is, and soon it will be better. For now, it is still fun. It is still a tricky track for any golfer, and it is a great golf course for those looking to learn, relax and enjoy.
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