Pros:
- An amazing variation of shots and scenarios
- Elevation used to full effect
- Breathtaking beauty
- Engaging and rewarding design that rewards players for professional caliber shots while still allowing less skilled players a reasonable path to the basket in par
Cons:
- Teepads are still dirt and in rough shape
- Fairways are a bit overgrown, especially on the back 9
- Bottles and other refuse litter many of the later teepads
- Signage is lacking in some spots, particularly hole 4 which is unmarked (though the spot is pretty intuitive)
Other Thoughts:
On my second trip to play the wonderful little course that is "sweetside", I decided to give the new course a try to avoid the crowds. Sweetside is fun, but challenging it is not, so I was hoping for something a bit more difficult in the North course. I was not disappointed. While the first hole looks a bit rough (it shoots over the back corner of the parking lot) it's still a really cool, two drive hole. Thinking the course would probably be a lot of fun, I stepped up to hole 2's teepad and knew I was in for one hell of a round. Foreshadowing what will become a recurring theme as the round goes on, hole 2 is a short but beautiful downhill shot through the woods that appears simple until you appraise the green. About 40ft short of the basket, the ground rises sharply, leaving you shooting downhill but still across a deep valley. This makes for an ace run that manages to be challenging without the old standby of sticking some OB behind the pin. The front 7 or 8 holes vary in length, but tend towards longer, technical par 4s. Every hole had at least two clear paths down the fairway, with some sporting at least 3 unique options. While heavily wooded, the fairways were always wide enough to allow a full power drive where necessary, and the rough, while prevalent, always seemed to have a few escape routes hidden in the most common landing zones. While I definitely lost a few strokes from going off of the beaten path, I never felt like I was trapped without a method of moving down the fairway at all.
The middle of the course, while still fun, is a little less epic than the first 7 or 8 holes. Going from long par 4s to a string of 200ish foot long ace runs was a bit of a letdown, but don't let the distance fool you! These holes are still demanding tests of accuracy and judgement, and the designer still managed to ensure that each one offered at least 2 unique paths to the basket.
Once you get out of birdie alley, the course enters an intense series of holes traveling up and down a steep crevasse. In addition to turning the distance back up, the trees remain in evidence and the multiple elevation changes per hole force precise aim and nose angle management to get through in the least throws. It was in the back 7 or 8 holes that my course management skills were most tested, as I had to make constant judgment calls as to whether I should take the safe path or try and push beyond my limits. I generally took the safer option and felt that it paid off, but better players than me with more confidence in their distance shots may feel otherwise.
Considering how close to a pitch and putt the sweetside course is, I can certainly see why there are a lot less players on this beast. The teepad situation was the only real disappointment, but even for dirt pads I've seen much worse. Even when the pad was a little rutted, there was still enough room for a drive if I was careful. My friend who has a much more space intensive shot than I do felt a bit cramped.
It was clear that the course isn't getting the upkeep that the sweetside is by the fact that there were many deposits of bottles and cans near the teepads. The litterers at least tried to keep them in piles, and it was clear that folks had taken the hike out there without realizing there would be no place to drop their refuse.
That brings me to another point. This course is not the quick round that the sweetside offers. A group of 4 enjoying a competitive round and not rushing would likely take about 3 hours to complete the course. There are intersections and areas where you come close to the clubhouse, but aside from hole 4 you never quite get back to the parking lot. Hole 4 by the way, is the only hole without a marked teepad. We found a packed, sandy spot on the edge of the parking lot that looked like a teepad, and the locals confirmed that it was, but we were definitely doubting ourselves for a second.
Overall, I fully believe that this will be one of the best courses in Maine for a serious player. The lack of teepads and some general maintenance issues are both big hits to the course currently, but they weren't enough of an issue to stop me from wanting to go back. Once those issues have been remedied, this will be a premier course and I will likely upgrade my review to a 4.5. The course is that good. So if you're in Gray, Maine but don't want to play another round of short, easy holes, don't despair! The North course understands and is more than happy to help.