Grindstone Neck Golf Course (Winter Harbor, ME)

If you’re looking for a Golf in the Kingdom experience, then make your way to this nine hole course located between Frenchman’s Bay and Sand Cove on the Schoodic Peninsula. From the honor box on the back porch, to the wide fairways and small greens, to the spectacular views of the Maine coastline, you will believe that Shivas Irons works here, ready to assist you in your quest in golf and spirituality. 

In my mind, this is the way golf is meant to be played. The course plays whatever way nature decides; hard and firm when it’s dry; soft and yielding when it’s wet. The shots are wide ranging and the only limit is your imagination. The course was originally laid out by Alex Handy in 1891 and expanded by Alex Findlay in 1898. There’s one par three, one par five, and seven par fours of various lengths. 

(There’s a rugged appeal at Grindstone as the men’s tee attests on the 340 yard par four second…

…and the women’s tee concurs…
…the ground game is available but the movement might not take it where you want. The small green is not easily hit even with a short iron.)

(The tee box on the 317 yard par four third comes with tidal pools…
…the hole doglegs left ninety degrees and plays slightly downhill to a green that is literally on the coastline. Note how close the rocky mound is fronting the green. Fly it; run it; bounce it; any shot you can imagine is available.) 

(The uphill 138 yard par three fourth with a right to left sloped green.) 

Grindstone is divided by a road and a cool twist allows patrons to choose between a five hole loop (1-5) or cross the street finish the nine hole loop. Holes 6-9 have beautiful long views of Sand Cove. Six and nine share a fairway which is nearly 100 yards wide. 

(The 457 yard uphill par five seventh has a steep false front and a pedestal green.) 

(The 407 yard par four ninth hole finishes with this daunting drive through a chute of trees…
…the green is pretty much at the end of a field. It’s slightly pushed up with an open front. It should be noted not a single bunker can be found on the entire course.) 

I know many golf aficionados speak about a Maine coastal trip that include Castine, Mount Kineo, Tarratine, and North Haven, but even they don’t play on the coastline like Grindstone. It truly is a one of a kind experience. I give it a 7 (great)(worth driving 3-4 hours to play). Acadia is only a couple miles down the road, and Bar Harbor is 50 minutes away so it easily fits into any itinerary that involves the crown jewel of the national park system. 

“To enjoy yourself, that is the thing, and beware the quicksands of perfection”

                                          - Shivas Irons