I’m surprised by how much I’ve loved the nine hole courses we’ve played this year  –  so I was excited to check out Whip Poor Will Golf Club this week in Hudson,  NH.

The first thing I noticed when we drove in was the clubhouse.  It’s located in a beautiful New England farmhouse with a stone foundation  –  and is the backdrop for much of the course.  Inside,  there’s a nicely equipped pro-shop,  a large lounge area with a brick fireplace,  and delicious hot dogs,  salads,  and sandwiches in the dining area.

The course itself is compact and efficient.  It has a creative layout every golfer can appreciate.  There are several elevated tees,  some dog-legged fairways,  and a few hidden greens.   The way the eighth hole wraps around the pond and trees on the back side of  ‘The Whip’   – as this course is often called  –  was one of my favorite features.

This course was a challenge to play!  I was happy to be joined by Rick,  Jerry,  and Bunny.   Together we played a four person scramble.  Bunny got us off to a great start with a fantastic drive off the first tee.  Jerry followed that up with a nice putt  –   giving us a par on the first hole.  We were able to keep the momentum going throughout our round,  finishing 2 under for the day.

Ray Smith,  the head pro at Whip Poor Will,   stressed the importance of playing the second shot correctly.   “You don’t want to hit the driver out here all day long because you’re going to get in trouble.”  said Ray.   “You really want to make sure you place that second shot correctly.”

He was right!  This course encourages you to use a variety of clubs and be strategic about your shots.   Some of the fairways are tight and the greens are small,  so course management and strategic ball placement is the key to scoring well at The Whip.

Whip Poor Will is a golf club you definitely want to put on your list of  ‘must play’  New England courses.  It’s charming and challenging with an interesting layout and welcoming staff.   –  And it’s conveniently located between Boston and Manchester.

Give it a try!

A special thank you to Head Golf Professional Ray Smith and Whip Poor Will Golf Club for having us out on their course.  Also,  thank you Jerry,  Bunny,  and Rick for playing a fun round of golf. 

Check out our video here…