Eastman Golf Links

Eastman Golf Links is a challenging layout, tough enough to have hosted recent State Amateur Championships by both Men and Women, along with the 2020 Boy’s State Junior Championship. From the back tees (6711 yards) it’s course rating is 73.6 against a par of 71. For me, this sternness stems from its woodland backdrops on all of the holes. Combine this with some slopes that may often lead your ball into those woods if you’re not careful, and the penalty or recovery strokes you incur may add significantly to your score. The course is fair, however, as my friend told me before we played it today, because landing zones are wide enough and generally contoured in ways to keep the ball on the course, provided you drive it solidly. Eastman’s best feature may be its adventurous and varied series of holes, no two alike and each one setting forth different obstacles to par. What puts everything over the top, however, is the attractive setting here: the holes flow smoothly through the trees, and often up and down dramatically over hilly terrain.

The outstanding architect of this layout, Geoffrey Cornish, was influenced by Robert Trent Jones in several respects. And it is the Jones-styled tees, along with big greens affording multiple pin positions, large bunkers, and, on some holes, risk-reward choices, that are prominent at Eastman.

Several memorable holes appear throughout this routing. On the front side, a pair of downhill, moderate par-4’s (4 and 6) were impressive, both requiring careful drives--a 3-wood may be enough instead of driver at the fourth--and both having well-defended green complexes. The two closing holes on the front side also put up solid defenses. Eight, a dog-leg right, uphill five-par, demands an accurate drive that must skirt a tall right-side pine tree at the dogleg’s corner. Nine also travels uphill and may pester the tee shot with a huge boulder just beyond the landing zone. A further challenge will be hitting its slightly pitched green, blind on the approach.

The twelfth’s jaw-dropping scenery begins from a high tee, its fairway dropping the equivalent of nine or ten stories. The hole is also 466 yards from the tips with a tight-ish driving zone: go a bit too far right the trees will nix a clear shot to the green (as I found out). The par-3 15th, quite short at 121, nonetheless plays straight uphill to a green set on a knoll. It also features a tall, eye-catching stone-wall 15 yards off its right flank. The following 16th, a par-5, starts with a dramatic, downhill that will test your nerve, with woods and a large bunker guarding its landing zone. And it’s especially impressive around the plateau green. We found that putting from from the green’s right side to its left can be murderous, primarily because a ridge acts as a divider that shunts putts off-line either left or right (choose your poison). Eighteen, a nice closer highlighted by a pitched, bunker-guarded green, caps off a stirring back nine.

Three of the holes on the back--the 11th, 14th, and 17th--take the form segments having two pieces of fairway: first a fairway ‘piece’ before a pond, then a stretch leading to the green. Most golfers will choose to lay-up on the first segment with something less than a driver, which will force a longer-than-normal approach, usually with a midiron, than would the ‘same’ hole without the cross-hazard. This clever feature makes each hole play longer. But in the case of 17, another problem is added: an ultra tight, 20-yard-wide fairway.

My friend and I (we grew up in the same small Connecticut town) had a great time playing Eastman Golf Links together on a hot but still pleasant summer afternoon. He himself has played here several times and finds the course and its conditions excellent. I agree about both. Eastman has to be the best conditioned course I’ve played over this 2021 season, edging out even the finest of twenty-one others. One novel feature here is Eastman’s set of electronic warning signs (they’re player-activated) designed to make blind shots safe on several holes. The course also offers seven sets of tees, a driving range, a large putting green, great service, and a beautiful, new clubhouse from 2016. Pace of play times are noted on the scorecard.

Some Conclusions: One of my dependable course guides ranks Eastman in the upper echelon of New Hampshire public access tracks. Today’s experience confirmed this club’s quality without question. The layout, above all, provides balance and challenge without too much punishment. This, along with six sets of tees, means that these Links suit a wide range of golfers.

It was great to see Mark. I knew him from 25 years ago.
Very friendly and helpful staff. The ranger/starter, Skip, was awesome too. Beautiful clubhouse. Good practice facilities. Every hole was a good challenge. Excellent layout/design. very good conditions. Whoever wrote that the greens were bad was way off. The greens were in great condition, except for one hole, - #14 - had a couple a couple of rough spots. Bunkers are very good. No complaints!. Great day.

I dunno. I play a lot of golf. The greens are all messed up. We played behind a 4 some that didn't let us through. No big deal...but you can't get a beer here before 1130...no bev cart either...so if I'm going to play a 4 hour round, I'd like a beer or two. Hope the greens come back soon. I'd pay $30 max to play before 11 AM here. Really cool track though, especially if you're a strong golfer!

This course in Eastman (Grantham) is suited to golfers of all ages and abilities with a wide choice of mens tees (5600 to 6700). Conditions are excellent and the layout is picturesque and challenging, but fair. You'll have trouble finding a better course or a better value in New England. I'm a senior and I played from the Gold Tees at just over 5600 yards. The fairways are all reachable and there's still plenty of challenge to keep things interesting. Two golfers in our foursome (lower handicappers) played from the white tees at just over 6300 yards and loved it. The greens can be hard to read, but they roll true. This is a course to played again and again.

Eastman is a hidden gem way up north in the middle of nowhere right off Rt. 89. I cannot imagine what this remote area looked like 40+ years ago when this project was conceived. It is a spectacular layout, that uses all of the natural wooded, hillside and waterways on the property. It is always in great condition and has spectacular views in all directions. I am guessing the economy has slowed the flow of members and residents into this quaint secluded community, but that has made it more accessible to the public. I generally play it in the fall, after the summer season is over, and the conditions are still great. It is a short season at Eastman, usually ending by early November. The 9th is a great uphill par 4 that bends to the right and is hard to hit in 2 shots. The 12th is an amazing downhill, over a 100 foot drop, par 4 that you can soar a drive off of. You may have a downhill lie on your second shot if your drive does not roll out on the fairway. There are several holes at Eastman that will give you a wow factor. It is quite a hike up to this great course in the sticks. The 2 hour drive from Boston and 1 hour from Manchester will be worth it. If you can find good lodging, it can be part of a great "two for" with Owl's Nest. I certainly believe you will not be disappointed with Eastman.