Located in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard, Farm Neck Golf Club is an 18 hole semi-private golf course. It’s a special track, referred to by some as the “ Pebble Beach of the East,” that will undoubtedly provide you with a memorable round. Having played several golf courses in Massachusetts , and more specifically, Cape Cod , I can say without hesitation that Farm Neck deserves to be at the top of the list. Farm Neck is not just a golf course. It has several unique features including a restaurant and bar, a large practice facility, a proshop, the most welcoming staff you will find anywhere, and an outstanding 18 hole course layout, which all contribute to the total golf experience.

To say the least, the Farm Neck Café is better than your average 19^th hole. For golfer’s just making the turn, there is a nice take out area with snacks, beverages, etc, however, it also has a full bar as well as menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and the food is excellent. The restaurant is also very classy and can be a destination for a date, nice family dinner, or other special occasion. From experience, the “Farm Neck Burger” is incredible and might just be the best on the Vineyard.

The practice facility at Farm Neck Golf Club is excellent. Equipped with three large putting greens as well as a practice green for chipping, protected by two bunkers, it is the perfect place for mastering the short game. This practice green allows you the opportunity to work on basically any greenside shot from 50 yards and in, that you may encounter during your round. If utilized, it can be a true game improvement tool. The driving range is one of the best I’ve ever seen. There are several grass hitting stations and target greens from 70 to 240 yards out. Many driving ranges have target greens, I understand, but they’re typically useless flags or yardage signs on flat land. These greens are well maintained and give you a real feel of what your shot does once it hits the green. Bunkers protect these target greens, giving you the feel of an authentic shot.

If you’re looking to shop or buy something for your wife or girlfriend since you just spent 4-5 hours, or maybe even a whole day playing golf (believe me I know how it is), you can do so in the proshop. It’s displayed and merchandised beautifully and a variety of big name golf apparel and headwear brands such as Adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo, Ping, Under Armour, American Needle and AHEAD can be found here. There is also a great mix of men’s and women’s apparel and accessories, ensuring you can find a gift for anyone.

Perhaps the best aspect of Farm Neck Golf Club, besides the actual golf course, is the staff. Being semi-private, meaning there is a membership and restrictions on when public players can play, Farm Neck could easily be thought of as a place where only members are welcome. In my experience, in fact, I have been to several golf courses - private, semi-private, and public, where, for one reason or another, I didn’t feel welcome or that I belonged. A large contributing factor to this feeling of unwelcomeness is due to the actions/attitudes of golf course staff. Farm Neck’s staff is both friendly and genuine, however, and from the minute you step foot on the property, you will feel welcome. You’ll be greeted by a couple of nice young gentleman with a smile on their face and probably a few kind words. They’ll take your bag off your shoulders and load it onto a cart for you, which is a nice greeting and something missing from many golf courses. From here, you’ll move into the shop to pay for your round and meet the Head Pro, Assistants, Merchandise Buyer, or any combination of the three. I can assure you, since I know these people, that it doesn’t matter if you’re “Joe Six Pack” or President Barack Obama, they want you to enjoy your round and your experience at their golf course equally.

Designed by Geoffrey Cornish and Bill Robinson, Farm Neck is a masterfully crafted 18 piece puzzle with the perfect combination of ocean views and inland holes, none of which are forgettable. Measuring 6,800 + yards from the tips, with a course rating of 72.1 and slope of 129, Farm Neck is no walk in the park and can be even more difficult given the weather conditions. Mother Nature can be thought of as the 19^th piece of the Farm Neck puzzle or an actress in the Farm Neck Film. In the latter, if she’s playing a starring role, she’ll influence club selection in a way that most average golfers have never experienced, making for a memorable, frustrating, and fun round of golf. It pains me not to describe the entire golf course, in both length and detail, because I feel it is worthy of such writing. Instead, however, I’ve selected six holes to briefly summarize. These are not necessarily the best holes, my favorite holes, or the most scenic holes on the course. They are simply the six holes the Golf Gods instructed me to write about, so that’s what I’m doing.

#2 – Par 5 – 528 Yards

The second hole is a true three shot par 5 that plays longer than the yardage states. It’s slightly uphill, with bunkers on both sides of the fairway at the landing area. The second shot, for a hero looking to put the ball on the putting surface in two, is uphill to a difficult to putt, two-tiered green with large bunkers protecting the front, right, and left side of the green. If you’re laying up, make sure you aim up the left side of the fairway as terrain slopes to the right. I’ve hit many layup shots here that have ended up in poor spots because I didn’t factor in enough of the slope. If you’re long enough to hit this green, however, congratulations, you’ve done it once more than me. Now don’t three-putt for your par!

#4 – Par 3 – 173 Yards

The fourth is a slightly downhill par 3, that plays shorter than it’s yardage, and is pure beauty. Take a minute to look past the green at Sengenkontacket Pond, where Jaws made his way into back in the 70’s, and the Atlantic Ocean in the background. This hole makes me happy to be be a golfer, partly because I’ve aced it twice, and partly because it’s such a good hole. The green is very small in width, with two trees coming into play just a few feet off the green that can knock your tee ball into some serious trouble. If you miss this green, you’re faced with a tough up and down from the rough or one of three difficult bunkers. Just remember that looks aren’t everything, as this hole has attitude, and sometimes the number you write down on your scorecard is much uglier than the hole itself. Knock it on the green and two-putt so this hole is a pleasant memory. Goodluck!

# 8 – Par 5 – 504 Yards

The eighth is another very scenic hole. It runs along Sengenkontacket Pond. Tee shots to the right may very well end up on the actual beach. I’ve played from there more often than I’d like to admit, considering the fairway is very generous in size. Aim just left of the tree on the right side of the fairway with some distance and you can hit this green in two. There is marsh all the way up the right side of this hole to the green so better to miss left. This is a hole you can score on so grip it and rip it!

#12 – Par 4 – 396 Yards

The twelth is the #1 handicap hole and for good reason. It’s a dogleg to the right with a large pond straight out through the fairway. Good tee shots can end up in the drink so you want to hit a ball with some left to right action off the tee. If you don’t, you’re looking at a full shot from about 180 that is over water from the second it hits your clubface. There is, however, a strategically placed bunker up the right side of the fairway that intends to gobble up your soft cut so make sure you put a charge into it. This green is also two tiered and makes for some difficult short game shots. Two bunkers protect the right and left side of this green and are actually not horrible places to miss. If you make a bogey here, you’ve more than survived.

#14 – Par 4 – 339 Yards

The fourteenth is one of the only really good birdie holes on the course. The fairway is relatively straight and runs parallel to Beach Road . There are two large fairway bunkers on the right side that can save errant shots from finding the hazard, if you’re long enough to reach it. The left side of this hole consists of high grass and trees. Don’t hit it there or you’ll surely make an easy hole much more difficult than it has to be. So there is trouble right and left but there is also a lot of room in between. Hit it straight and you should have a wedge to the green. On you’re second shot, however, be sure to select the right club as going long is dead. Behind the green is the Sengy Pond. Again, Ms. Nature can turn this hole into a beast so hope for a still day.

#15 – Par 3 – 188 Yards

The fifteenth is a very challenging par 3 and my nemesis hole. I have blown several good rounds on this hole, where I was flirting with even par or better, because I double bogey this one more than any other on the course. There is water short and up the right side of the green and hard pan, bunkers, cart path, and trees up the left side. The wind blows hard from left to right 95% of the time, causing any ball with fade spin to end up in the hazard. Just hitting the green isn’t even safe all the time as it slopes relatively hard from left to right as well. I have hit many shots onto this green that ended up wet. Perhaps a good miss is in the left bunker as anything further left could bounce anywhere. When the wind is blowing, believe it or not, bogey is a pretty good score here.

Farm Neck Golf Club is my favorite golf course and I have played several in New England and across the country. If I was restricted to playing only there for the rest of my life, I still would not get sick of it. It’s everything I want in a golf course and anything but ordinary. It can play differently on consecutive days and on others be a completely different course. If you haven’t played Farm Neck, and are from the New England area, you should give it a try because you won’t be disappointed. If you have played it, I hope you love it as much as I do.