Links at Outlook Golf Course — Local services in South Berwick

THE SPIRIT OF SAINT ANDREWS & A SPECTACULAR AFTERNOON OF GOLF ON THE LINKS CAN BE YOURS FOR A SURPRISINGLY DRIVE. The last time I played on a Links golf course was at Saint Andrews in Scotland and this great course, destined to become a destination resort brought back fond memories.

The thing that makes this links course, in Berwick, Maine so great is it looks like its been a gift from God built into the natural landscape as if it was there for for a 100 years, not just another instant "me too" cookie cutter course on the pages of Golf Digest The grand vista of the gentle rolling hills, with green fairways that run through them like a river, is a sight to behold.

The truth of the matter is it was built by a Tim Flynn a pugnacious Irishman, who upon getting pushback from the town about whether he could build an 18 hole course in Berwick smiled and said the following. "Look I am the rightful landowner and I have a permit for a working farm, and I can either build a golf course here or I can exercise my rights and bring in 5000 odoriferous pigs to roam this spot of ground on Route 4, the towns main road." He got the go ahead!

In truth what I liked almost as much as the Links Course, is that it not only delivers a great golf course but a great experience with a Links Attitude. Its a family run operations and Jeff the Director or Golf Course Operations, and Nick the Assistant Director that made me feel like I was a member of the clan.

I always say that human connectivity is the ultimate strategic advantage for any business and these guys excel at it. They go out if their way to make everything right for you from giving you a genuinely warm smile when you walk in the door, giving you the best possible rate, to personally trudging out to the course and holding up a red or white Stop and Go sign on a blind "hilly hole" to keep everyone on a bust day moving along at a good pace

What a contrast to other courses I have been too in the region which feel like they are run by the Maine State Police, who greet you with a forced "Yes Sir, no Sir, friendliness," as they appear out of nowhere and scold you for some minor infraction "No Picking Up Balls on the Range, " "Cart Paths only," "Kids Cant Drive Golf Carts" even to speed up play when parents are 50 yards away.

The Links team has created a special atmosphere where you not only feel like a "customer," but like an "owner," so you go out of your way to do things right, even raking the sand from your errant ball in the sand trap in like a Japanese Garden In Kyoto.

I loved the restaurant & bar right adjacent to the Pro Shop, which serves not just the usual hot dogs and hamburgers, but dishes like Haddock Chowder, Prime Rib for $17.95 just after 5 pm, and Arrgula salad with goat cheese

There is a big building which was a former barn, now transformed into an "upscale," party and event center if you want to plan a wedding, graduation party, or other special event for a reasonable cost at a location whose natural beauty will make you feel like the Maine motto. "This is how life should be"

I'm told they will also be building an Inn in the Center of Berwick for those who want to make a weekend, or week out of it. I really felt refreshed and revitalized after my visit. Its an easy ride just up the road from Boston, Portland or other the Sea Coast beach areas.

Overall the staff provides you a great and end to end experiences that helps you forget about whatever is on your mind, savor spending a golf outing with with life long friends, and hopefully carve out some masterly golf shots that make you feel like Ben Hogan incarnate.

ps. The Links Outlook in Berwick is closer than you think, an easy ride from Boston, Portland, The Kittery Outlets and Seacoast...

Some co-workers and I wrere in Portsmouth for business, so we decided to come by and play a round here. The course was in good shape and the greens where very nice. The staff were also quite friendly and very professional. I would like to rate the experience higher, but unfortunately, I just did not like the course layout at all. The holes on the front 9 are just way too crammed together. There are literally times I was standing in the fairway or on the cart path and I was staring straight into the face of golfers teeing off on the adjacent holes. The holes on the back are also close together, but are at least separated by some trees, There are also too many blind shots and short par 4s that just grind the pace of play to an agonizingly slow crawl(almost a 6 hour round) I also had a couple of instances that I was almost nailed by errant tee shots from adjacent fairways because they are so tightly bunched together. I know land is at a premium, and the course designer had to make the most with the room available, but too me, Links style golf should have more of a spread out feel, where as each hole is more isolated from the others. Maybe this course would be more fun with a lot less golfers on it, but I know that is not a...

Came out to the range today with some friends and was welcomed at the range with an egotistical old insufferable man named Michael Corriveau. We were walking to the left side having a conversation and was rudely yelled at for going to the wrong side. He asked us if we’ve ever been to a range before and was reminded that he was a pro without me asking because I really needed to know that, my apologies for not bowing down at his feet. Never have I ever received this type of treatment at a golf course! keep in mind we hadn’t even set our stuff down, the guy flipped out for no valid reason. I highly recommend this place if you enjoy grown men crying over nothing while sitting in a cart in the middle of the range. I will never come back to this establishment it’s a shame the course is decent but this old timer had to make himself feel like a big man, all while giving a lesson. Have some class and treat your customers with an ounce of...