Farm Neck

Martha’s Vineyard has long been a desirable destination for travel and summer living for the well-heeled, however championship golf has been a relatively recent development. Those with friends in high places might be able to secure a tee time at Vineyard Golf Club, but those there for the day will not be left short at Farm Neck Golf Club. Although location isn’t everything, Farm Neck is the one with oceanfront property on Nantucket Sound.

The front nine was laid out by Geoffrey Cornish and Bill Robinson, while the latter nine was designed by Patrick Mulligan. The first collective got a bit more sea coverage on their half of the property, with the reachable par five at No. 8 playing almost entirely along the water, with a trio of bunkers pushing the ambitious approacher inward and toward the wet hazard.

Perhaps the most scenic hole on Mulligan’s nine is No. 14, a short par four that plays down from inside the property to a green next to the water. Although just 350 yards, that day’s wind will make club choice essential upon approach...too little and you’ll drop in a large bunker at the front of the green, and too much and you’ll drop in something much more penal.

Both sets of architects meet at the clubhouse, with the No. 9 and 18 holes kissing around a horseshoe-shaped pond.