Above: view of the 10th tee shot at Cape Cod National Golf Club
The drive into Cape Cod National Golf Club in Brewster, MA is very modest. I actually drove right by the entrance on my first pass as there is no grand signage or anything signaling you are about to enter one of the finer designed golf courses in Massachusetts. But don’t let the modesty fool you – the course is a true test for all golfers, with meaty par 4s, challenging par 3s and difficult to navigate par 5s within this Brian Silva designed track. Making matters even treacherous was the vicious wind we dealt with all day, as it was swirling throughout, making club selection a difficult task on this chilly mid-April day down the Cape.
The course:
With the conditions as they were, it made for a difficult day scoring. However, this course plays very well and will reward you with good shots, which is something any golfer can appreciate. The course offers a nice variety of holes with some risk/reward on the par 5s and shorter par 4s. One thing was for certain – you will need to hit your driver and hit it well, otherwise it could make for a long day trying to save par.
Notable holes:
3: 521 yard par 5. After hitting a good drive, the safe play here is keeping your layup shot to the left side of the fairway, leaving you with a wedge in to the elevated green. The fairway funnels down to the water so make sure you were far enough to the left to take the drink out of play. Going for it in 2 is a risky proposition with water all down the right side and several bunkers guarding the green.
6: The par 3 178 yard 6th hole leaves little room for error on the left side. The green is sloped right to left – being short of the green is a good miss, otherwise you will have a difficult chip shot from the hill on the right side. The green moves quick so poorly played shots will not hold and funnel in the bunkers on the left side.
159 yard par 3 8th hole is pictured below.
Par 5 15th, measuring 501 yards from the member tees. This hole has the potential to ruin your round if you are not accurate with your tee shot. Seen below is the approach from about 100 yards in.
Approach shot on the 377 yard par 18th. In the background is the clubhouse with the deck overlooking the 18th green, a great spot to watch your fellow members coming in to finish up their round.
Favorite Hole: 10 – 483 yard par 5. My favorite hole on the course starts you off on your back 9. With an elevated tee shot, you must carry the water and land to the left of the bunker guarding the right side of the fairway. It is tough to go for it in 2 as there are bunkers protecting the green, and there is a drop off if you fly it. Smart play is to layup on the right side of the fairway, stick a wedge on the green and play for birdie or 2 putt for par.
Course specs:
Course: Cape Cod National Golf Club
Location: Brewster, MA
Par: 72
Yards: 6,375 (Member white tees)
Rating: 131
Slope: 71.2
Architect: Brian Silva (1998)
Date of review: April 18, 2018
Player feedback on CCN:
“Need to hit driver and hit it well as there is some meat to the par 4s here”
“First 3 holes will test you right off the bat, but there is definitely scoring opportunities there with 2 par 5s on 1 and 3”
“Great staff”
“Deck overlooking the 18th looks like a great place to get a drink after the round”
“Errant shots will be penalized, for sure. Good shots are rewarded”
“Great layout, the course is very aesthetically pleasing”
“Tee shot on 10 over the water is a great way to start your back 9”
The New England Golfer 