Point of No Return

“Gladys Point Resort and Recreation Area” was a thriving business during the roaring ‘20’s and despite prohibition, it continued to prosper. After WWII, it became the favorite vacation spot for many New England families. It had a four star rated hotel, boating and swimming areas, tennis courts, an indoor pool (for those who were afraid to get wet in the Atlantic Ocean) and a highly rated 9 hole golf course. There were two ways to get to the point: either over a land bridge or by boat.

In addition to the resort on the point; there was a small farm with a windmill used to grind grain, a residential area located near the land bridge and a Coast Guard operated lighthouse with a caretaker’s residence next to it. Two small fresh water ponds provided added swimming areas.

All of this began to change dramatically with the hurricane of ’52. That storm destroyed several of the houses on the point, eroded the land bridge, damaged the golf course, uprooted quite a few of the trees and caused considerable damage to the resort’s buildings. The owners of the houses decided not to continue residing on the point, so, after selling them to the resort owners, their dwellings were bulldozed under. The resort was repaired and ready for business within two years. However, that only lasted until a stronger storm hit the point in ’66. That storm almost completely wiped out the land bridge, damaged the resort’s boathouse and main hotel building. It completely devastated the lighthouse caretaker’s home; so, the Coast Guard built a hurricane proof building in its place and automated the light’s operation. The owners of “Gladys Point Resort and Recreation Area” decided to sell, but no buyers were found. The latest hurricane which roared through New England in ’74, finished off the resort’s main building, washed away the land bridge and uprooted all but the most hearty trees. The resort laid in ruins until a buyer bought all the land and buildings at an auction in 2001.

The new owners immediately began the process of rebuilding with the goal in mind to create a private 18-hole golf course. The course’s clubhouse became the old resort’s boathouse. The new owners expanded the building and added all the features needed to upgrade it. They built a large dock near the clubhouse and bought several ferrying vehicles to transport visitors. A one-lane bridge was constructed across the water that used to connect the point to the mainland, and this was designated as private (to be used by delivery vehicles, Coast Guard personnel and golf course employees only). The old farm and windmill were repaired and made into the golf course’s maintenance area.

After screening several architects, the new owners opted for one who had taken a course during his four-year stay in a minimum-security federal prison. Being the kind folks they are; it was considered favorable to give this guy a second chance. So, he set out to create the course. Three of the original holes were still in somewhat playable condition, so he decided to incorporate them in his course. In the new design, they are holes one through three. Each of these holes has a plaque near the tee denoting this fact. Other parts of the old course were transformed into the practice area. All the rest of the holes on the course are new.

The resulting course, dubbed “Point of No Return”, is 7,006 yards and a par 72. Following is a brief description of each hole:

1. Gladys One “Hourglass” (par 4--453 yards)-A rather simple tee shot, unless you hit it over 300 yards, then the fairway narrows and the right bunker comes into play. The second shot to the biggest green plays shorter than it looks.
2. Gladys Two—“Three Pines” (par 3—190 yards)-Not an easy green to hit in one shot from this elevated tee.
3. Gladys Three (par 4—388 yards)-Water comes into play if your tee shot is too long, but a solid 280-yard drive will carry the water. The second shot is all uphill to the green, which slopes down towards a bunker.
4. Par 5—567 yards-A dogleg right hole, which features a tee shot, which might go into the water below if you misplay it. With a helping hand from the wind, you can reach the green in two.
5. Par 4—390 yards-From the tee, you must hit your first shot straight or it will trickle into one of two bunkers. The green is guarded by two more bunkers and rough. This green is very fast and has two tiers.
6. Par 3—180 yards-A small green makes for a hard target to hit in one shot. Not an easy birdie hole.
7. Old McDonald’s Farm (Par 4—450 yards)-This is the course’s signature hole. The fairway is similar to hole 5 and requires a precision tee shot. The green is surrounded by rough and protected in front by a bunker and water. A par on this hole is considered excellent!
8. Par 4—460 yards-This hole has a bunker in the middle of the first section of this split fairway. There is more room to the left of this bunker than the right.
9. Par 4—314 yards-This green is reachable from the tee, but 5 bunkers guard it. The pond comes into play with the wind blowing from the green into the golfer’s face. There is fairway to the left of the tee for a lay-up shot.
10. Par 5—530 yards-This is a split fairway, dogleg left hole and birdies can be had.
11. Par 4—322 yards-A make-up hole for the long hitters, this hole has an elevated green guarded by a bunker in front and rough behind.
12. Par 3—228 yards-With a strong wind, this could require a driver off the tee shot, but other than that, it isn’t an easy birdie hole.
13. George’s Oak (Par 4—372 yards)-Tradition has it that George Washington camped out under the large oak tree in the center of the fairway because the initials, “GW”, are etched into it’s bark. But, as far as we know they could be the initials of George Wheeler! The distance on this dogleg left hole can be shortened by a long drive to the left of the trees.
14. Par 4—345 yards-Plenty of bunkers to land in if you hit an errant tee shot. The green is next to the shoreline and if you over hit your second shot, you might end up in the water.
15. Par 4—381 yards-Another split fairway and a rather difficult green to putt.
16. Par 5—554 yards-Your second shot can either be a lay-up or try to get it over the mound of scruff. Any way you look at it, it isn’t easy to hit this green in two.
17. Par 4—406 yards-Not a difficult hole, but the green is challenging.
18. Par 4—476 yards-The longest Par 4 of the course; you might need a fairway wood to reach this green in two.

A note from the course architect (written on jail stationary!): I’ve heard several people are having trouble with some of the sloped greens on this course. Have you ever heard of course management? It only makes sense that it is easier to putt uphill on a slope, then having to navigate a fast downhill putt. So, lay-up on your second shot!

Have a nice day!