When Legends Played the Fairways
In its earliest days, the Mount Washington course attracted celebrities and icons such as Babe Ruth, Bobby Jones, and Thomas Edison. Their stay brought cachet and lasting lore to the grand resort.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Mount Washington Golf Resort
Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
Established
1915
Architect
Donald Ross (1915), restoration by Brian Silva (2008), earlier work by Geoffrey Cornish & Brian Silva (1989)
Access
Resort
Par
Par 72
Length
5,246 – 7,004 yds
Green Fees
$$$
The verdict
Historic New England Resort Standout
Mount Washington is a beautifully restored Donald Ross course offering grand hotel ambiance and spectacular mountain views. While not a national top-100 draw, it's a regionally elite destination loaded with classic charm and strategic shot values.
Course DNA
Difficulty
74
Scenery87
Conditioning76
Shot Variety82
Walkability70
Green Complexity79
Wow Factor80
Design Quality84
At a glance
Quick facts
Restoration Architect
Brian Silva (2008, Ross restoration)
Historic Guests
Babe Ruth, Bobby Jones, Thomas Edison
Opening Year of Resort
1915 (Mount Washington Course)
Highest Point On Course
Sweeping views of Mount Washington and Presidential Range
Most Famous Bunker Feature
‘Principal’s Nose’ bunker on hole 4
On-Property Alternative
Mount Pleasant 9-hole course (1895)
Course Architect
Donald Ross
Longest Par 3
14th, 242 yards from Gold
The design
The architecture
Mount Washington’s layout is Ross through and through: thoughtfully routed to maximize mountain panoramas, strategic risk-reward choices, and angles into the storied greens. Brian Silva’s acclaimed 2008 restoration painstakingly revived Ross’s original intent—replacing lost bunkers, widening fairways, and restoring tightly mown runoffs. The result is both a living museum of classic design and a spirited challenge for the modern game, with the grandeur of the White Mountains always in view.
Brian Silva’s restoration was guided by Ross’s 1915 plans, returning lost shot values and visual drama.
Defining features
- Historic 'Principal’s Nose' bunkering on hole 4
- Elevated opening tee shot with mountain vistas
- Firm, closely mown run-off areas around greens
- Multiple strong, varied par 3s including a daunting 242-yarder
- Ross-style angled greens and directional bunkers
- Restored strategic fairway width and bold lines of play
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 1
Highland Gateway
PAR
4
YARDAGE
407
An elevated tee shot over the river opens the round with panoramic views of the Presidential Range. The fairway tempts with width but punishes short/right bails, demanding confidence from the start.
Play it smart
Aim boldly center-left off the tee for best angle into the green; a conservative line courts hazard and blocks the approach.
Where it bites
Mis-hit tee shots right risk finding fescue or riverbank trouble, making par tough from the start.
Course management
Shots to think about
Opening tee shot on 1
Trust your line and avoid bailing right—the fairway is generous but first-tee nerves lead to trouble by the river.
Tee shot on the 4th
Decide on strategy: lay back for angle, or attack over the Principal’s Nose bunker for a wedge and a birdie look.
Approach into par 5s (10th, 11th)
Elevation adds hidden yards—club up and favor controlled lays over forced carries if you’re in doubt.
Playing the long 14th par 3
Commit to center-green, bring enough club, and avoid hunting pins unless you are pinpoint with hybrids or long irons.
Recovering around greens
Use run-offs to your advantage: a bump-and-run is as viable as a lofted shot when Ross surrounds are tightly mown.
Navigating Ross bunkers
Treat bunkers as directional hazards and avoid short-siding at all costs; smart aiming trumps heroics.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Generally firm greens with strategic mowing patterns; good to excellent resort fairway conditions seasonally maintained.
Pace
Moderate resort pace (expect 4:10–4:30 rounds during busy days).
Vibe
Classic grand hotel ambiance—historic, scenic, and welcoming but not stuffy.
Dress code
Collared shirt, proper shorts or slacks, and soft-spike shoes required.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Ready the Long Irons
Long par 3s and approach shots demand confident, high-trajectory long iron or hybrid play.
02
Practice Bump-and-Runs
Be comfortable with ground-game recoveries; Ross’s run-offs reward deft touch.
03
Condition Yourself for Walks
Prepare for some elevation and moderate hill climbing if walking—especially on Mount Washington’s back nine.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1895
Mount Pleasant 9-hole course opens, designed by Alexander Findlay
- 1915
Mount Washington 18-hole course designed by Donald Ross opens
- 1989
Cornish & Silva complete course renovations to both Mount Washington & Mount Pleasant
- 2008
Brian Silva restores Mount Washington course to Ross’s original design
- 2010
Hosts the New England Open Championship
- 2025
Ranked No. 138 on Golfweek’s Top 200 Best Resort Courses
Stories & legends
What makes it special
The Principal’s Nose Bunker Returns
Golfers now face a cunning Ross touch returned to glory: the 'Principal’s Nose' bunker on the short 4th, resurrected in Brian Silva’s 2008 restoration. If you dare tempt the green, you’ll need to thread the sand and claim your reward.
Restoration with a View
When Brian Silva peeled back decades of changes, the course’s strategic bunkers and original green contours re-emerged, all set against the crisp panorama of New Hampshire’s highest peak. It’s a timeless Ross experience with modern conditions.
A Tale of Two Courses
The Mount Washington Resort boasts not just one, but two historic gems: Ross’s championship 18-hole course and the Mount Pleasant 9-hole layout by Alexander Findlay, giving traveling golfers a unique two-course stay-and-play package.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The Mount Washington course’s opening five holes are routed in clear sight of New Hampshire’s tallest peak.
2
The 4th hole’s restored ‘Principal’s Nose’ bunker is a rare Ross tribute to a classic St Andrews hazard.
3
In the early 20th century, the course was a mountain retreat for celebrities and golf legends alike.
4
Brian Silva’s 2008 restoration discovered and revived several original Ross green pads and bunker sites.
5
Mount Pleasant, the neighboring course, is one of the oldest in New England.
Build the trip
If you’re making a White Mountains golf trip out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Mount Pleasant at Omni Mount Washington Resort
Resort
Historic 9-holer on property—essential for the full resort experience.
Waumbek Golf Club
Public
Classic mountain setting; regarded as a top local public option.
Mountain View Grand Golf Course
Resort
Charming layout near the resort, excellent mountain views.
Country Club of New Hampshire
Private
Perennially ranked among the state’s best—seek access if possible.
Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods for optimal stay-and-play access.
Course DNA
If You Like Mount Washington Golf Resort
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.7
Bandon Dunes
Bandon, OregonScenery
Why it matches: If Mount Washington Golf Resort is your kind of course, Bandon Dunes is worth a look because it makes the landscape part of the experience.
Strong DNA Match8.3
Dismal River Club Red Course
Mullen, NebraskaWhy it matches: There is real overlap here. Dismal River Club Red Course a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Mount Washington Golf Resort.
Strong DNA Match9.0
Pacific Dunes at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
Bandon, OregonScenery
Why it matches: What links these two? Makes the landscape part of the experience — a familiar feeling, expressed in Pacific Dunes at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort's own setting.
Community Sentiment
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