Sugarloaf Golf Course, Carrabassett Valley, Maine - A Spectacular Golf Course in the Rugged Backwoods and Mountains of Maine

For golfers who like trees and more trees, such as those found in the heart of Maine's backwoods, punctuated by numerous sand traps and the sort of rugged terrain that is the hallmark of mountain golf, then Sugarloaf Golf Course in Carrabassett Valley, Maine will rank high on the list.

Long known for being a winter haven in the heart of ski country, the Sugarloaf Course opened in 1986 and added golf to the area's soaring mountains and what has been described as one of the prettiest areas in the northeast. Course designer Robert Trent Jones, Jr. had this to say, calling Sugarloaf "One of the most spectacular courses I've ever been associated with.''

The 18-hole, par-72 course plays to 6,956 yards from the longest tees, with a USGA rating of 74.4 and a hefty slope rating of 151. That's because, along with the beauty of such rugged, stunning scenery comes the "beast,'' as mountains jut from the ground in jagged patterns and account for the severe elevation changes found on the course. Golfers will experience the challenge of "dreadful uphill approach shots'' to blind greens, as well as fairways tight with trees on every hole.

In addition, there's a six-hole stretch called the "String of Pearls'' that runs alongside the Carrabassett River, bringing the added challenge of water into play. This stretch is particularly scenic and is said to "get camera shutters popping.''

The String of Pearls begins with hole No. 10, a 334-yard par-4 that plummets from the tee box to a fairway that's guarded by five bunkers. Hole No. 11 follows and plays to 190 yards from an elevated tee and a stunning view of the valley below. Hole No. 14 is a 370-yard par-4, and Hole No. 15 a 178-yard par-4 from the Blue tees, and both 14 and 15 feature intimidating approach shots over the rocky shoreline of the river.

Since opening, Sugarloaf has been given a number of awards and accolades, including being rated by Golf Digest as the #1 layout in Maine for seventeen straight years. Similarly, the New England Journal of Golf has crowned Sugarloaf as the best course in all of New England several years running.

Practice facilities at Sugarloaf Golf Course include a practice putting green and an expansive chipping area located in the middle of the surrounding course. Lessons are available, including the Sugarloaf Golf School, which has been hailed as one of the best in New England.

The course also features a new clubhouse completed in 2005. While tiny at only 5,500 square feet, the facility includes a spacious pro shop, Strokes Bar and Grille for dining and drinks, and a dining room that can seat up to 60 people. It also offers a patio and porch where visitors can view the geologic marvel known as Crocker Cirque - a glacial cirque (hollow excavation on the side of a mountain) that contains a pond and is reachable via the Appalachian Trail.