Old Cape Cod

by Parker Smith
former Senior Editor GOLF Magazine
Charter Member of the Golf Travel Writers Association

If you've traveled the golf world a bit, or maybe any world, you've probably had experiences that were less than hoped for, or pretty good, or even wonderful, but rarely do we get the ultimate - the experience that matches exceeds the anticipation.

Cape Cod delivered.

I've been writing about golf travel since 1971 at GOLF Magazine, and published probably 100+ travel "pieces" about everywhere from Bali, Indonesia (Bali Handara in the crater is the most magical course on earth) to the panhandle of Florida and the public courses of Queens, New York. Over the course of time, guys like Tom & Tee Martin, hosts of www.golfcapecod.com and publishers of "The Little Black Book of Golf" and Geoff Converse, who helped the Cape Cod Department of Tourism, had invited me to Cape Cod to see what they assured me was one of the "most beautiful spots on earth".

Sure, Cape Cod's got a great rep but how good can it be - it's a little spit in the ocean.

Guess what, it's better than anything anybody can describe. The whole experience is simply charming, visually stunning, and, in the case of Farm Neck (I know, sounds dorky) Golf Club on the island of Martha's Vineyard, truly awesome. I took a golfing companion along who loves to play, and I thought I was going to have to replace her jaw because it just locked open, along with her lips, which, like mine, were in a permanent smile.

Farm Neck G.C. located on Martha's Vineyard is right on the sea, and there are many holes that go to the water, run parallel to it, or head into gorgeous woods only to come out of the woods with another stunning picture of the water. We played it last October on one of the most beautiful days ever spent in heaven and warm, sparkling sunshine. Pebble Beach might have more grandeur, but Farm Neck has charm and grace and elegance and warmth....

Besides that, the boat ride over from the mainland on the Hy-Line Ferry Service is lovely and the roads on Cape Cod are story-book windy things that contain overhangs of all manner of trees... there are dunes lands and parks, marshes and woods, quaint shops, antiques...

And there is the Daniel Webster Inn in Sandwich. Oh my, talk about romantic. Large, high beds, fireplaces, sitting rooms, a couple of centuries of tradition made just modern enough to be delighted in...and the food and service in the restaurant are both five-star. Truly memorable, underline truly and memorable.

And for just hanging out and devouring lobster, head quickly to Season's Restaurant in Oak Bluffs and have at least two freshly steamed Maine lobsters and corn on the cob and apple pie, and just sit there glowing.

This is a trip you must make - and especially if you can wrangle an invite to the Hickory Heritage Media Golf Classic, Tom & Jan Martin's phenomenal two day media event, where everybody wears knickers and Cape Cod and the Islands are showcased. This experience was one of a well-traveled golfer's life highlights. Bring a lady.