Causeway Club (Southwest Harbor, ME)

The Causeway Club is more of a social membership than golf. The people here are extremely nice and everyone is in good spirits. The course plays just over 2400 yards par 33. It has a great location on Norwood Cove and is a lovely stop while visiting Acadia National Park. 

One of the cool things about Maine are the tucked away nine hole courses. In fact, two of the top 50 nine hole course in the world are here. Causeway Club isn’t at that level, but it’s a fun place full of characters and character. I’d sure love to play in their member/guest. The golf course is pushing 100 years old, designed by Alonso Yates in 1923. 

(The par four fourth plays along the cove. There’s plenty of room to go right but the brave shot down the left opens up the best angle to the green…
…it’s a driveable for some players. Not seen in picture are a couple mounds topped with high grass. These are the real hazards unless one snaps it left into the water.) 

There are two features that I thought were unusual. The first is the seventh which plays as a short part four from the back tee but is a long par three from the forward tee. Both versions are strong. Then the eighth is a par three that is blind due to the large hill in front of the tee. A periscope is the solution. I haven’t seen one of these in a long time. It’s good fun. 

(The seventh is a beautiful short par four over the inlet to a sloping fairway. The forward tee is visible where the hole becomes a 232 yard par three…
…the green has a high slope to the right which can be used to funnel the ball on. It’s an atttactive setting.) 

(Look at the large hill between the green and the tee! A blind par three is nothing new…
…however a periscope is a unique solution. Note the steps to help shorter golfers get up high enough to see through it.) 

Birdie opportunities are abundant at Causeway Club. There’s only a couple holes where getting a par is work. The first and the fifth are both 400 ish par fours. The fifth gets the most attention because the green is directly below the clubhouse veranda. It has one of the few bunkers guarding it too. 

(The fifth is both long and uphill. The barn structure on the right is the logo for the club. Good luck making a four.) 

There’s been a big push to play nine and/or move it forward. Causeway Club fits perfectly to those themes. Nine holes is only going to take 90 minutes. Maybe even less. I’m sure its one of the reasons the course has been around for a century. It also helps to be in one of the most amazing places in the country. Acadia, just on the other side of the cove, is referred to as the crowned jewel of the Atlantic. 

(The final two holes are par threes. The ninth has a pronounced back left to front right slope.)

I’m refraining from giving a rating because if one makes the trek to Acadia, then one is limited on where to golf. Northeast Harbor is private during the summer months, although a great option in the shoulder season, and Kebo Valley is the only eighteen hole public course on the island. Causeway is a nice amenity to add to your selection of options when not exploring the park, and considering the short amount of time to play it, is worth the 20-30 minutes to drive over.