Den Brae Course Review

So today I had some free time and wanted to knock something off the NH Golfs list. It was hot and I was tired so I went for a 9 hole course just 25 minutes away. Den Brae in Sanbornton was $26 to walk 9 holes on Monday of Labor Day at 2:48pm.  

At 3,100 yards, Den Brae isn’t the longest course in NH, but it’s a full, par 36 course. One par 3 and one par 5, and seven par 4s. 

Hole by Hole

Hole 1 - 385 yard Par 4

Straight drive up the right side of the fairway left my 94 yards to a back pin up hill. I hit an easy 52 degree a few feet past the pin. I had a slippery ten feet for birdie down the hill which I lagged close and tapped in for par. 

Hole 2 - 245 yard par 4

A very short, blind par 4. 245 yards downhill from the back tees. You aim at a flag in the middle of the fairway and hope it runs down to the green. I hit 3 wood about 25 yards short then bladed my wedge over the green but got up and down for par. 

Hole 3 - 175 yard par 3

The only par three on the course plays 175 way up hill. I yanked a 6 iron left of the green pin high. My chip came up short, but I was able to putt from the fringe to about 5 feet and made the putt to save bogey. 

Hole 4 - 500 yard par 5

My worst hole today. 500 yards downhill with a wide open fairway, but the tee shot is a bit tight on the right side. Of course I flared my ball right, into the trees and was left with a tricky punch out. I tried to punch out but the ball hit a pile of pine needles and went a total of 10 yards. I had a clean next shot and hit a 5 iron which left me 145 yards in. I could potentially get up and down for par, but hopefully could just leave with a bogey. I hit a great 9 iron which landed on the green, took a massive bounce and rolled 10 yards off the back. My chip got me onto the green and I missed the bogey putt, tapping in for double. 

Hole 5 - 275 yard par 4

Another short par 4 where I felt like I could hopefully get a stroke back. About 270 to the pin, but well protected by trees and bunkers. I hit a low driver which flared a little too much right and caught some branches. I was 65 yards out and had to keep my next shot low and left of the green. I hit a good wedge to the left fringe but bladed my chip leaving me with 25 feet for par which I missed and tapped in for par. 

Hole 6 - 390 par 4

A longer par 4 where you play your first shot straight out, then go way up hill on the second ball. I hit a good drive and had about 150 yards up hill which again I hit long over the green. The chip rolled out past the pin and I missed the par putt, but tapped in for bogey. 

Walking up the hill to the 7th tee I was at the point of the round where you’re hot, sweaty, not playing well, waiting 15 minutes for the group in front of you to clear and you’re questioning the purpose of the whole endeavor. 

Hole 7 - 300 yard par 4

A short, downhill par 4 where three groups were backed up. I waited on this box for probably twenty minutes, after the pair in front of me left the course entirely, and I joined up with the threesome behind me. The pin was 290 but way downhill. After the long wait I pushed my drive right into the trees. 

Hole 8 - 390 yard par 4

A long, straight away par 4. Good drive left me with 93 yards. Hit my wedge way short, but made a good chip and and tapped in for par. 

Hole 9 - 370 yard par 4

Back up the hill and to the clubhouse I hooked my drive by it stayed in the left rough. I had 130 to the pin. I caught it heavy again and was short of the green. My chip was short, and I had 15 feet for par which I hit straight up the hill into the flag to save a four. 

Overall Den Brae Course Review

GHIN has the course rating at 67.2 and slope at 113 which I found to be a bit off. There are three short par 4s, but they’re well protected. The greens are all small, many of them have significant slopes or tiers. 

I’m an 8 handicap and I hit 0 fairways, and 1 GIR all day. It wasn’t my best driving day, and I went for every short par 4, but I think the course is tougher than it’s listed on the card for sure. It was very hard to hold greens, and the green complexes didn’t allow you to easily hit it short and roll the ball up. With all that said, it was a fun 9 hole course. Everyone that I talked to said it’s not usually very busy and you can play pretty quickly. 

We got held up behind a few groups of golfers playing a slower pace, and the abundance of drivable par 4s led to a lot of waiting around. It’s a course that’s close to a lot of the New Hampshire lakes region. An easy place to take family and friends while you’re on vacation.