A Weekend At The Balsams
by Mary E. Porter
Photography by Karen J. Christoforo
“Where is the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel?” I asked.
“Dixville Notch, New Hampshire.” I was told, “About 20 miles from the Canadian border and a mere four-hour jaunt from Boston.” .
“That sounds good” I thought. “Okay, let’s go and see what they offer golfers in the summertime.”
I was told by friends who had visited The Balsams for golf that I was in for a real treat. The photographs I found on their web site heightened my eagerness to play a course designed by the legendary Donald Ross. The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel and 18-hole Panorama Championship mountain course have been popular golf and resort destination for over a century.
The drive there on a blue-sky, puffy-clouded day was simply beautiful as we wove our way through the White Mountains and the great north woods of New Hampshire to Dixville Notch. More than once, we heard ourselves saying aloud how lucky we are to live in such a picturesque part of the world. Our eyes scanned the landscape as roadside signs alerted us to be on alert for moose. Estimates show an increase from a few dozen moose living in New Hampshire in the 1930’s to over 6,000 moose living there today. Why there was such an increase in the population was hard to comprehend, but we hoped to catch sight from afar, as we followed the winding road to our destination.
The Balsams Grand Hotel Resort occupies over15,000 private acres of some of the most awe-inspiring landscape in the northeast. After an enjoyable ride, we caught our first glimpse of The Balsams Hotel. (See photo top of page. )
This historic four-star hotel, which is included in the National Register of Historic Places, is on the far side of Lake Gloriette. We stopped the car to capture this spectacular sight with a photograph. After checking in with Allen at the front desk, the bell-hop escorted us down the winding hallways to our two-room suite on the fourth floor. The hotel encompasses 200 attractively-decorated guestrooms and suites, and ours was no exception.
Before dinner, we decided to stroll around the grounds. An outdoor heated pool alongside the lake was very tempting. We continued our walk around the beautifully decorated gardens, thinking we might have time for a swim later.
After our walk, we prepared for dinner in the main dining room, which is famous for exquisite culinary presentations. The professionalism and unsurpassed service of the staff made us feel special. The fantastic variety in the menu and the presentation of each entrée was picture-perfect. Needless to say, the taste was scrump-delli-icious. The Balsam’s dining venue was 5-star quality by my book.
The following morning, we set off to play the legendary Panorama Championship Golf Course built by famous golf architect Donald Ross. Located just a mile up from the hotel on the west side of Keazer Mountain, the course exceeded our expectations. We played our first 18 holes with Doug Ruttle, PGA and the Director of Golf. Named accordingly, the Panorama Course was simply spectaculas.
You could see for miles from atop the mountain overlooking the beautifully-manicured golf course that laid beneath the summit, where the original clubhouse stood tall and distinguished.
As we drove in our golf cart from tee to green, our foursome couldn’t help discussing the days of years gone by when Hickory Sticks golf clubs were used, and golfers walked the steep terrain on the course. From the first hole to the eighteenth hole, it was an enjoyable round of golf. Level lies were rare, but no one seemed to care.
Enjoyment was the only requirement of the day, and everyone reached that goal. Also available at the resort is a 9-hole executive course called Coashaukee. Play both courses and expect nothing less than great New England golf in a lush setting with breathtaking mountain views.
For the non-golfer, The Balsams offers many options for a busy or a relaxing day. Inside the hotel, daily movies are shown in the Theatre. There are hundreds of books in the Library for reading. Guests can play pool or ping-pong or pass the time in the television room. Outside activities include canoe and kayaks for a paddle in the lake. Events change according to the season. Snow lovers have an on-site alpine ski area that features sparse crowds, virtually no lift lines, and we are told it is like skiing your own private mountain. Cross-country skiing and other fun winter activities are a favorite at the Balsams.
Check out their “$99 Golfers Specials” on their web page or call them for a brochure and don’t forget to tell them Tee Time Magazine tickled your interest in the resort.
www.TheBalsams.com
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