The Port course at Captains was the 48th course in my quest to play them all. This one had a little extra pressure, as I hit a few shots in front of one of my writing idols, Tom Coyne, who joined the group of 40 golfers as we chased the sunset and played 36.⠀ The Port Course was made most challenging by the blind tee shots and the wind, which wreaked havoc When I forgot to take it into account. The front nine dips and dives from tee to green - the third, fourth, and seventh holes were my standouts. ⠀ ⠀ The par 3 third hole is just a little downhiller, but the vicious crosswind and deep bunker in front added to the hole's intrigue. The fourth was a lovely, swinging dogleg left with trees guarding the corner and bunkers framing the right edge. The distance on your approach shot to the perched green depends on how much of the corner you want to take on. The seventh was a beastly par 4 where some knowledge is needed to avoid the cavernous drop-off in the left rough. ⠀ ⠀ The back is divided evenly between par 3s, 4s, and 5s. Although given the thirteenth hole is a 446 yard par five from the tips (408 from the whites), it seemed like a stubborn choice to reach a par of 72 ⠀ ⠀ The standouts on the back were the par 5 twelfth and the par 4 fourteenth. The twelfth was a three shotter, and I particularly liked the green which had a run off area on the left, unlike the other greens on the course. ⠀ ⠀ The fourteenth is a tough driving hole with water lurking on the right, an odd feeling when the first 13 holes didn't have any water trouble off the tee. ⠀ ⠀ The last three holes challenge some different clubs in the bag. The sixteenth is a short par 4 that dives right with a green protected by a pit in front. The seventeenth is a mid to long iron par 3 to a deep green that has a mini false-front and some tough bunkers. And eighteen is a rolling par 5 that can be reached in two by the brave and strong.⠀ ⠀ Overall, I'd say the Port course is, well, a good public Cape Cod option. The greens were in good shape, there's some variation in the holes, and golfers of every level can get it around and make a good number.
THE FACTS
Date: June 2021
Playing Partners: PJ, Patrick, and Ryan
Tees: Golf (combo)
Game: Stableford Quota
Birdie Count: 1 (51 total) ⠀