Getting There and First Look
Okay, so I remember deciding to check out that Dune Grass course over in Old Orchard Beach. Wasn’t really a big plan, more like, “Hey, it’s a decent day, let’s get out.” I drove over there, you know how Old Orchard can be, kinda busy sometimes near the pier area, but finding the course itself, just off the main drag, wasn’t too difficult at all.
Pulled into the parking lot. It didn’t immediately strike me as one of those super polished, high-end country clubs, you know? It felt more grounded, more accessible, which honestly, I kind of preferred. I walked up towards the main building, the pro shop I guess, just wanting to get the lay of the land. My idea was maybe hit a few balls, maybe play a quick nine if it felt right. Wasn’t looking for anything too intense.
Hitting the Green (Sort Of)
First thing, I grabbed a small bucket of balls for the driving range. Always like to get a few swings in, just to loosen up, see if I can even hit the ball straight that day. Standing there on the mat, whacking a few out into the field, it felt pretty good. You could definitely smell the salt air blowing in from the beach nearby, which is one of the nice things about being in OOB. The range itself? It was perfectly fine. Did the job, had targets, mats were decent. Nothing fancy, but functional.
After finishing the bucket, I thought, why not try their little course? They have that par 3 executive course, looked like a quick and easy loop. Seemed like the right speed for the afternoon.
The Course Experience
So, I paid the fee and went over to the first tee of the short course. Let’s be real, it’s not Pebble Beach or anything. It’s a straightforward par 3 layout. Some holes felt pretty short, perfect for wedge practice, others maybe needed a mid-iron if you hit it clean.
The condition? Well, the name “Dune Grass” kinda fits. Around the edges, things could get a little wild, a bit sandy, definitely had that beach-adjacent feel. If you sprayed your shot, good luck finding it sometimes. But the main fairways, or what passed for them on a par 3, were okay, and the greens themselves were actually puttable. They rolled decently true, maybe a little slow, but fine for a casual round.
- The vibe was super relaxed. Nobody seemed in a hurry.
- Saw a mix of people – some older guys, some couples, even a dad teaching his kid.
- It just felt very low-key, no pressure, which was exactly what I was in the mood for.
Funny thing, being out there, it kinda took me back. Reminded me of this little muni course my grandpa used to take me to when I was just starting out. It wasn’t about pristine conditions or breaking course records back then either. It was just about being outside, spending time together, him patiently showing me how to hold the club without whiffing it every time. Standing on one of those tees at Dune Grass, looking out, I had this sudden, clear memory of that. Strange how a simple place can just trigger something like that out of the blue. Made the whole afternoon feel a bit more special than just hitting a golf ball around.
Wrapping Up
I didn’t end up playing a full round, maybe just six or seven holes. Plunked one ball into a particularly thick patch of that dune grass and decided not to wage a war trying to find it. Happens, right? Felt like I’d gotten what I came for – some fresh air, swung the clubs a bit, had that nice little memory pop up. It wasn’t the most challenging golf I’ve ever played, far from it. But it was an enjoyable, easy-going couple of hours near the ocean. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need. Packed up my clubs and headed back, feeling pretty good.
