New Durham, New Hampshire
Lake Winnipesaukee Golf Club delivers one of New Hampshire’s most visually impressive and challenging rounds, carved into rolling lakes-and-mountains land. Expect a private-club experience where dramatic elevation changes and shot variety meet outstanding scenery, but don’t expect to just show up—access is strictly for members and their guests.
Clive Clark’s routing at Lake Winnipesaukee Golf Club is all about celebrating the drama of New Hampshire’s lake and mountain landscape. Bold, elevated tees showcase long views, and the course’s eight significant elevation drops create exhilarating shot-making moments. The holes wind through dense woods, ridges, and open vistas, demanding aggressive lines on risk/reward par 5s and rewarding precision over power throughout the round. No stretch feels formulaic: par 3s, long and short par 4s, and reachable and heroic par 5s all feature, weaving memorable modern design with local sense of place.
Clive Clark, a British Open veteran and Sky Sports commentator turned modern architect, brought inventive routing and a distinctly European appreciation for shot variety to this New Hampshire landscape, making it his North American calling card.
A long, demanding par 3 that commands full commitment from the tee, set against a panorama of greenery with abrupt fronting hazards. Landing short courts real trouble, while long can make for a tricky up-and-down against the quick bentgrass.
Favor the safe side—center/right—allowing for a long-iron or hybrid miss; the green’s contour rewards a run-up but punishes a short-side miss.
Deep fronting bunkers and a steep drop-off short left mean any indecision can balloon your score.
Fast, pure bentgrass from tee to green; visually sharp bunkers with gleaming white sand.
Upscale, private-club exclusivity meets Adirondack-lodge luxury with a strong focus on the setting.
Long par 3s and second shots to bold, elevated greens mean you’ll need high, confident approaches.
Numerous elevation changes put a premium on control when attacking targets from variable stances.
Score is made by picking conservative targets and respecting Clive Clark's punishing risk/reward setups.
Course opened as Clive Clark’s American debut
Clubhouse by Zmistowski Design Group completed
Notable local/charity events (Bobcat Open, Genesis Challenge)
With more than 100 feet of elevation change on eight separate holes, each tee shot can feel like launching out over the treetops—especially on crisp New England fall mornings when the foliage and distant lake shimmer below.
Legend claims the property once sheltered freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad. The ruins of a stone cottage are respected and preserved among the trees—an echo of the land’s storied past blending into every round.
No expense was spared for the playing experience—bentgrass on every tee, fairway, and green, Kentucky bluegrass rough, and even white bunker sand imported from Virginia. The result is a playing surface that feels as pure as the lake views.
Eight holes feature elevation drops over 100 feet
The signature white bunker sand is ground marble trucked in from Virginia
Legend holds the site once helped shelter escaping slaves on the Underground Railroad
Clubhouse construction cost an estimated $9 million
Nearly 1,400 sprinklers keep the bentgrass in pristine condition
Classic Donald Ross pedigree on Lake Winnipesaukee
Esteemed state-ranking private venue
Highly regarded Golden Age design
Accessible, 27-hole option for all travelers
Wolfeboro (for lakeside convenience) or Portsmouth (for more dining and public-golf access)
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: If Lake Winnipesaukee Golf Club is your kind of course, The Homestead Resort - Cascades is worth a look because it makes the landscape part of the experience.
Why it matches: If Lake Winnipesaukee Golf Club is your kind of course, Coral Canyon Golf Course is worth a look because it makes the landscape part of the experience.
Why it matches: StoneCrest Golf Course is a natural next stop after Lake Winnipesaukee Golf Club: it shares a memorable sense of place.
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