High Efficiency

Pristine conditions and a welcoming atmosphere has helped Wenham Country Club make the most of its short, but challenging, layout

By Barry Scanlon

You pick up the scorecard. You see the course is only 4,567 yards long. Par 67? You grin from ear to ear. You lick your chops.

Problem is, three and a half hours after teeing off at Wenham Country Club – yes, a sub four-hour round is one of the joys of playing such a short course – you’re the one who’s been licked.

Wenham CC, the semi-private layout neatly framed by railroad tracks bound for Boston and the hustle and bustle of Route 1A, has been deceiving golfers since 1899. Some are humbled by the challenging set of par 3s, notably the headaches No. 10, 12 and 13 can produce. Most, however, have trouble hitting the postage-sized greens which dot the course, many of which feature more slope than some New England ski areas. “It’s in good shape,” says Mark Lacy of Beverly. “I like it. It’s not real long, but the greens make a lot of shots trick shots.”

“We’ll play in three and a half hours if it’s open,” adds Doug Wilkins of Marblehead, one of Lacy’s playing partners. “You can’t beat that.”

Wenham CC, owned and operated by Russell and Pat Tarr of Beverly, features more than 600 members and there’s a two-to-three year waiting list. The cost of a membership – $1,675 for one person, $2,465 for a couple – makes it attractive to North Shore residents, and there is no initiation fee.

“I feel very confident saying that it’s the best deal out there in the North Shore,” says the club’s head professional, Peter Collins. “We’ve tried to deliver a real quality product on a short track. It’s the best game in town, as far as I’m concerned.” Collins is also proud of Wenham CC’s thriving junior program, which boasts as many as 70 participants.

“My sense is the biggest reason a person may not have played Wenham Country Club is that they think it’s not open to the public. Most people don’t know we’re open to the public,” Collins says. “To play well here you need to be able to play good, solid shots and be able to maneuver around the green when you don’t hit a good shot.”

Last year, for the first time in five years, green fees for the public were increased, to $32 for weekdays and $37 for weekends. A couple of years ago, two holes were lengthened: the par-3 ninth was extended 30 yards to make it a 190-yard hole, and the par-4 17th now stands at 300 yards, 30 yards more than before. Due to space constraints, future modifications of this type are unlikely.

Wenham CC consists of one par 5, nine par 4s and eight par 3s. “It’s not a grip it and rip it golf course. You can’t overpower your way through,” Collins adds.

The course’s signature hole is No. 12, a downhill 186-yard test of nerve and skill.

“It’s picturesque from tee to green and it’s very well framed,” Collins added.

Picturesque, yes, until you have to tee off. A trap hangs to the left, but the big challenge – if you manage not to find the woods on the right, that is – is to keep the ball below the hole. The two-tiered green is small, but more challenging than trying to complete Bill Gates’ tax return. If the ball is over the hole, good luck. Try to accept the ribbing of your friends – and at least a three-putt – with dignity.

“It’s a challenging golf shot,” Collins warns of the approach shot to the green. “Don’t be above the hole.”

Diane Carter, the 11-time women’s club champion who has won four straight Wenham CC titles, has played courses throughout the state, most much longer than Wenham. But she says her home course prepares her well for the rigors of state competition since it puts a premium on strong iron play and solid short games. It must be working. The 46-year-old Danvers resident is coming off her best year yet on the links. She finished second in last year’s Keyes Cup standings and tied for 14th in the state’s women’s rankings.

“It definitely helps your short game,” she says. “It’s probably got some of the oldest greens in New England. You have to be careful. Even though it’s short, you can rack up some big numbers before you know it. It’s very much a second-shot course.”

Carter loves the challenge holes such as No. 12 present. (“You don’t mind a four there,” she adds.) She enjoys walking Wenham CC, noting that not all courses allow walkers these days. Most of all, however, Carter feels at home at Wenham CC because of its members.

“It’s a family-friendly atmosphere,” she says. “You can show up at any time and tag up with somebody and enjoy yourself.”

Not everyone enjoys the experience of playing No. 4, a seemingly harmless 279-yard par 4 – harmless, that is, until the second shot requires encountering a 25-foot tree positioned in front of the green.

“You ask 10 people about No. 4 and five love it, and five others say they hate it,” Collins admits. “I personally think it’s a terrific hole. It really does add character to the hole. You don’t see a lot of easy 4s there.”

There are few places you can pull out your driver with confidence. One, however, occurs when you stand next to the railroad tracks on the No. 15 tee box. A thick band of trees lies to the left, but for those anxious to let it fly, here’s your chance. A heavy hitter can reach the green 246 yards away; a medium hitter, with a little roll, can do the same, if the conditions are right.

“It’s a par 4 out of necessity,” Collins said. “You see a lot of birdies and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I would call that a confidence-building hole coming down to the end.”

The amount of bunkers at Wenham CC makes the course play much tougher than it appears.

Barry Scanlon is the assistant sports editor of The Lowell Sun.