When you play Highland Links there are three words you need to remember as you work your way around this course – Tight, Windy and Natural. This Scottish-type links course is on the Lower Cape and part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. It was established in 1892 (though this has been questioned) and named to a list of the “First 100 Clubs in America”. The fairways are tight (make sure your iron game is in top shape) but your misses can be played from the natural rough.
How about the windy part? Well, the scenic 464 yard par 5 sixth hole starts on a cliff tee box 130 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. This is the signature hole and the longest on the course. It starts along the ocean and according to their website, “depending on the wind, it can be an easy birdie hole or a monster 5”. Ed and I picked a monster day – I hit three solid shots and was still short of the putting surface! Why is it that no matter which direction you are facing, it always seems as if you are hitting into the wind?
What makes this course very unusual is that Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse is located just off the seventh hole and worth a visit for its view from the top. Check it out after your round. We played the course in late May and were able to walk on. However, reservations are a must during the peak season.
Birdie: A wind-swept genuine links course that once hosted a round played by the 1913 U.S. Open champion, Francis Ouimet. If it’s good enough for a U.S. Open champion, it’s a must play for us.
Since you made it this far up (or is it down) the Cape, consider these two completely different activities to complete your trip. For those who want to shop or eat and drink the night away, make a beeline for Commercial Street in Provincetown. If you want to take a nice leisurely stroll along the ocean, enjoy the 1.5 mile beach walk to visit Race Point Lighthouse. Of course the lighthouse walk might be just the tonic you need after a night of eating and drinking on Commercial Street.
10 Highland Lighthouse Rd., Truro, MA 02666; 508-487-02666; www.trurolinks.com
[mappress mapid=”34″]
1 comment
I love seaside golf courses and I thought that this was a great one.
Ed
Comments are closed.