Hale's Location is a challenging nine hole course set beneath White Horse Ledge

By Sean Fitzpatrick

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us, giving many an extra day to enjoy the things they usually dont get enough time to enjoy. To others it marks the beginning of summer or that designated trip somewhere different. Im sure downtown North Conway will be busy with visitors ambling around shops, seeing the sights, and enjoying the local flavor of our fine dining establishments. But I also know that Memorial Day Weekend is a time when the leisurely lifestyle should be in full force. Why work on your lawn when you can enjoy somebody elses? Put down that bag of Scotts, grab your clubs, and squeeze in some extra holes this weekend. A great place to do it is just off West Side Road at Hale's Location Country Club. (603-356-2140, www.whitemountainhotel.com)Hale's Location is a challenging nine hole course set beneath White Horse Ledge at the base of the White Mountain Hotel. It has won numerous awards for its scenery combined with its playability as well as being named," One of the most unique and singularly beautiful golf developments in the country" by Golf Magazine. Personally, Ive found it to be in the best condition tee to green of any course Ive visited this year. That also goes for the sand, which a friend of mine managed to be in at least once on every hole, true story (hint: the Peta-rita at Horsefeathers is named after him). Its close proximity to downtown makes it easy to incorporate into any daily plans and gives a deceptive sense of seclusion once on its grounds. I also love its variety. Hale's boasts two par threes (Hole No. 3 includes water and a green flanked by bunkers that I swear are magnetic) and two par fives (The opening hole is fair, rewarding great drives with a scoring opportunity and punishing slices with an encroaching, heavily-wooded right side. The scenic No. 5 provides wide open, rolling hills of fairway that shrink as you approach the green and Cranmore Ski Resort as a backdrop.)Hale's rounds out the course with five par fours. The signature No. 8 is a true golf hole lined with bunkers down the left side and out-of-bounds on the right, its slight hourglass shape ends with a green tucked underneath Whitehorse Ledge and Cathedral Ledge as the backdrop. Its not uncommon to see climbers ascending their way up the rock face while throngs of golfers shake their heads below in disbelief. The course ends with a monster par four that is all uphill. If youre near the gazebo after your tee shot, dont worry, youre part of the majority. Hale's Location comes in at 3025 yards of elevated tees and greens along with a myriad of bunkers. It is a true test of golf, requiring accuracy off the tee, patience, and the ability to get up and down from any surface. It offers three sets of tees so the whole family can enjoy a round. Or, if the typical family golf outing starts with friendly advice and ends with World War III, Hale's is close enough where you can get in your holes and the rest of your party can enjoy the Valley. And who knows, maybe you can convince them to stay at the White Mountain Hotel on your next trip. That way you can truly enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend by letting someone else take care of it. Hale's Location Facts: Mens League begins Tuesday, June 3. Ladies League begins Monday June, 16. Public Invited. Call the Pro Shop for more info. Junior Golf 3-Week program starts Sunday, June 15 for all 3-7 year olds. Assistant teaching professional Homer Holmes offers group lessons every Mon/Tues 10-11:30 a.m. at the Driving Range in Intervale- Mount Washington Golf School for $15 no appointment needed. The Back 9 Pro Shop has a great selection of Men's and Ladies clothing and clubs (Titleist, Cobra, & more). Private lessons and semi-Private lessons available by Golf Professional Julie Rivers, call for appointments. Green Fees for Weekdays:$24/9, $32/18. Weekends: $26/9, $39/18. Carts: $10/9, $16/18.Also happening in the Mount Washington Valley world of golf: Congratulations to Indian Mound member Pam Barker who scored her first ever hole-in-one on May 20 on Indian Mounds No. 16 hole (104 yards, two bounces in the hole!) This is the first hole-in-one on the course this year!On Monday, May 26, Province Lake Golf Club will sponsor the third annual event to raise funds in appreciation of the fine services provided to our communities by our local volunteer fire departments, police departments, veterans and emergency service providers. All greens fees are being donated to the volunteer fire departments of Newfield, Kezar Falls, and Limerick, Maine, and Effingham, Ossipee and Wakefield. Community organizations and businesses are invited to sponsor holes for the event. Please call Wayne Grenier at Province Lake Golf for details. Local residents are encouraged to participate, whether by joining with us at the barbeque starting at 1pm ($8 per person, $6 per person under 12 years of age). If you are planning to golf, please sign up for a Tee time, which will begin at Noon ($34 green fee plus $16 cart fee per person). Firefighters, police officers, veterans and emergency service providers are invited to eat and play for free. Sign up for golf must be made through our pro shop at (207) 793-4040. Tuesday night clinics are underway at Indian Mound. Women's Short Game Clinics begins at 5pm and will provide tips sure to shave strokes, including improving chipping and pitching, plus basics like grip, stance and ball position. Women's Sand Trap and Bunker Clinics follow at 6pm. Here golfers can learn how to get out of a greenside bunker, sand saves, wedge shots and more. Both clinics are only $20 per person, with a maximum of 6 students per clinic providing a low student to instructor ratio. Indian Mound also offers juniors a fun and affordable 6-week golf program beginning June 30. Sessions are scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays running at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. each day. Each 1-hour session is set up as a foursome format, with players being placed into foursomes based on age and ability. Age categories are 4-6 years; 7-9 years; 10-12 years and 13-18 years. Players may choose their foursome, or individuals will be paired up. The program costs just $100 per person for the 6 lessons. Indian Mound also gives adult group clinics, which started May 17. Short Game Clinics run every Saturday at 9am and Sand Trap and Bunker Clinics follow at 11am. Clinics are $20 per person and are limited to 6 people per session.The Eagle Mountain House is participating in the American Express Womens Golf Month June 1-30. Ladies play for $10 for 9 holes midweek and $15 on weekends. Free Ladies Only Golf Clinic on Sunday June 1 from 10 until 11:30 a.m. followed by optional Brunch ($15.95 adults) and/or nine holes of free golf.The Wentworth Golf Club will hold its Spring 4-Ball on June 8.Golf League Notes:In Don Ho results this week, Dexter's Duffers brought the course to its knees with an outstanding score of -8. They are currently in first place with a two week total of -12. In second place their is a two way tie at -10 between Greg's Bunch and the Jackson Six. Greg's Bunch came in this week at -7. The big hitters this week were Jessica Ross, Evy Butler, Seth Reidy and Tom McDonough (Tom showed that along with his power he is also very accurate as he won closest to the pin honors!)On the Links travel league will play the Mt. Washington Resort Golf Course this upcoming Tuesday, May 27. Please arrive by 5:15 p.m.This Weeks Pro Tip (From PGA Pro Bob McGraw of the Eagle Mountain House):The last few weeks we talked about the pre-shot fundamentals of grip, aim, stance and posture. When all of these are correct, then you have given yourself the best chance to make a powerful, on-plane swing. The next few weeks I would like to take you through the golf swing piece by piece, trying to give you a picture of what a model swing would look like. Ultimately, you are looking for a swing that is smooth and fluid from start to finish, but to accomplish this, I believe it is necessary to focus on one part at a time. This week we will discuss the takeaway.I encourage my students take the club back low and slow in what is called a one-piece takeaway. Basically the arms and shoulders initiate the club going back as opposed to breaking the wrists right away. This will help to take the club back straight for the first few inches and create a wider arc, which in turn will create more club head speed on the downswing. The first check point is at about waist high or half-way back, I like to see the toe of the club pointing straight up or still slightly closed. Also, the club shaft should be parallel to the target line by now and the wrists should have started to hinge. If you can get the club in this position you are well on your way to an on-plane swing. Next week we will talk about the top of the swing position.Bob conducts private and group lessons throughout the summer months at The Eagle Mountain House & Golf Club. He can be reached at (383-9090) or bobmcgrawpga.com. Sean Fitzpatrick has been hacking up golf courses from Florida to Maine for as long as he can remember. He may be reached via cell phone at (508) 737-3730 or by email at s.tobinfitzpatrick@gmail.com