HARWICH, Mass – Geoffrey Cornish was a prolific golf course designer who created over 200 courses including Cranberry Valley Golf Course in the charming Cape Cod town of Harwich.
His courses are challenging but even high handicappers can enjoy playing a round at a Cornish-designed layout. Each hole has four sets of tees, so play the tees that are best suited to your game.
When you arrive at Cranberry Valley be sure to allow time to warm up a bit before the round. The range has plenty of room to groove your swing, and roll a few putts while you’re at it. The practice green is a full 10,000 square feet so you can practice your putts from every angle possible.
Cranberry Valley starts with a gentle dogleg right playing a modest 375-yards from the tips. A large bunker guards the corner so you can try and let it fly, or hit an iron or fairway metal and aim a bit left of the bunker. The Par 5 second hole plays 509-yards from the tips and there is a sneaky little bunker on the left side. If you can bash it like the big hitters you can fly the bunker and make an attempt at getting home in two.
The bunkers are few but strategically placed to catch an errant shot. It is the classic risk and reward scenario on every hole. Plenty of fairway for the high handicapper but there is always the option to smash a tee shot and possibly bag a few birdies along the way.
On number 10 you are confronted by a short par 4 playing only 369-yards from the gold tees, but a small pond squeezes the fairway about 100 yards from the green. But hey, you are warmed up by now so don’t let a little water bother you. Cranberry Valley is well conditioned and is a favorite of local golfers and visitors to Cape Cod.
One of the more interesting holes is No. 18 – a 575-yard par 5. It is a double dogleg right and there are six bunkers on the entire hole so grip it and rip it. Cranberry Valley Golf Course is owned and operated by the town of Harwich.
After your round you can enjoy some food and a beverage on a large deck that overlooks the tenth tee. The staff are very accommodating and make you feel welcome. Harwich is centrally located on the Cape so you are surrounded by pristine beaches and plenty of restaurants serving some of the best seafood you can buy.
