Baker Hill - New Hampshire - USA

Baker Hill is one of a number of upscale private courses built in New Hampshire in the 21st century in the wake of Golf Club of New England’s 1990 debut. Baker Hill, however doesn’t measure up to the original. The founders gave Rees Jones a challenge with the ledgy, hilly property they selected, contributing to a couple problems. Conditioning is one. Many fairways had casual water when I played in late June of 2015, despite there having been no rain during the prior 24 hours. The second is that the course is very difficult to walk, with long, hilly distances from green to tee. As he’s aged, Rees has gained new appreciation for providing approach options beside the aerial one. But in 2002, he was still focused on placing hazards across the fronts of his greens. The first hole, for example, requires an aerial approach to a green bisected by a ridge. Which seems fine……….until you discover that this description also applies to numbers 5, 10, 13, 14, and 16. The fourth green is attractive, with a valley separating two plateaux…….until you discover that this description also applies to numbers 6 and 7. Despite the problems of repetition, there are some fine holes (the drivable par 4 7th is my favorite), and the greens at numbers 2 and 11 are outstanding. The 11th boasts a three-level green that falls away from the fairway. The 2nd has a ridge dividing the front of the green in two and a plateau in the back. Only at the 18th at Donald Ross’s Weston Golf Club have I seen this imaginative configuration before.