Newport National Golf Club

Looks to the Future

There are plans for one of the best daily

fee clubs in New England to become even better in the near future.

Newport National Golf Club is routed on 200 acres of a former orchard and designed by Arthur Hills and his associate Drew Rogers. The course, which has a wonderful Irish or Scottish links flavor to it, with wide open fairways, tall fescue that grows off the short grass, lots of bunkers and greens that allow for run up shots, offers sweeping vistas of The Sakonnet Passage, the Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay. When fall arrives and the trees surrounding the layout turn colors and the tall grass glistens with the slanting sunlight, Newport National stuns the senses.

As for the future, plans call for the construction of a new nine holes across a road from the existing 18-hole layout to be called “The Vineyard Course”, as well as a stately clubhouse. Plans, which have been submitted for review for the new nine holes and the clubhouse, which could open in 2022.

The Vineyard Course at Newport National will be set on a gently rolling terrain, and the new holes will be crafted to blend seamlessly with their natural surroundings and preserve historic stone walls and specimen oak trees. Much like the Orchard Course, the new nine will have a decided New England feel that is reminiscent of many classic old golf courses found in the Northeast.

The Vineyard Course, designed by the golf course architect firm Hills Forrest Smith, will also provide a new state-ofthe-art practice facility, which will include a double-ended driving range with over 70,000 square feet of practice tee area and multiple target greens. It also includes a one acre short game area with multiple bunkers and ample fairway surrounds so players can work on virtually any short shot they can imagine.

Set at the end of a tree-lined drive, the Newport National Golf Clubhouse, designed by Cordtsen Design Architecture, will welcome guests with a classical colonnade entry way, and will be a two-story shingle style building. The architectural design takes its cues from Aquidneck Island’s rich cultural heritage, blended with clubhouses from around the world. The lower level will feature a lounge connecting to locker rooms. A nearby pro shop will be located in the center of the action with commanding views of the Vineyard Course and practice facility. Two grand stairways will lead to a grill room and function hall, both set with wood trusses topped with soaring wood ceilings. These areas open south to outdoor dining overlooking the tees and greens of the Vineyard Course.

The Orchard Course became a must play the day it opened. The layout features greens, tees and fairways consisting of 100 percent seaside bent grass. The wind often blows off

the water, making Newport National play like a true seaside links course. The track plays 7,244 yards from the back markers and has a slope of 138, which tells you something about the challenge you will face here. There are four other sets of tees that make the course playable for golfers of all abilities.

Every hole is memorable. It starts right away with a 550-yard par-five that sweeps to the left around a large natural area. The third hole, a 198-yard par-three, is reminiscent of early 20th century designs, with a raised green surrounded by bunkers.

The fourth hole is the best short par-four on the layout. It plays just 327 yards from the tips and big hitters can cut off distance by taking the tee shot straight over bunkers and high grass that guard the left side of the fairway.

The eighth hole is a dogleg right, 567- yard par-five that finishes at a rectangular green that makes one think of the classic Scottish courses and their quirky shaped putting surfaces.

Number 17 is a beefy par-four, measuring 489 yards from the back markers. A long and deep snake bunker guards the left side of the fairway, and if the wind is in your face it’s almost impossible to get home in two.