Martha’s Vineyard in the fall feels like an unexpected gift. Crowds are gone, beaches are empty and a couple of great golf courses are open for play.
Farm Neck Golf Course in Oaks Bluff is an 18-hole course that is considered one of the best in the northeast. Playing 6,800 yards from the back tees, it provides a challenge for most players.
It also provides stunning water views of Vineyard Sound and Sengekontacket Pond from almost every hole. A bonus for “Jaws” fans is a glimpse of the famous Jaws Bridge and the beach where many of the crowd shots were filmed.
Golfers can play 18 holes in November for $110 during the week and $150 on the weekend. Considering greens fees are $330 for 18 holes from May through mid-September, the shoulder season rate is a bargain. The course closes at the end of November and opens in May.
Farm Neck was designed to save a corner of Martha’s Vineyard from over-development. The course was carved into a peninsula or “neck” of farmland on the eastern edge of the Island and named accordingly.
“During the offseason, the course (and the island) are far less busy, the fall weather is often spectacular and all the rates are discounted,” says Tim Sweet, Farm Neck general manager. “We work hard to maintain excellent course conditions throughout the year- in-season and off. That said, fall golf is many players’ favorite time of year. We believe we provide … a true test of golf in an idyllic setting.”
Mink Meadows is another course open in the offseason. Located in West Chop, the nine-hole course is open year-round, unlike Farm Neck. Greens fees in the offseason are $64 for 18 holes and $42 for nine holes.
The Mink Meadows property was acquired about 95 years ago by a New York City banker, Robert Bigelow. As he walked the land, Bigelow noticed fire lanes that resembled fairways and the idea for developing a course began. Respect for the land and being a welcoming club were two of the key principles upon which the golf course was founded and remain today.
Says Mike Roan, Mink Meadows’ PGA Head Golf Professional: “Playing in the offseason is a unique experience on the Vineyard. There is nobody around, the course is always in good shape and you get to play with a mix of other hearty golfers.”
Getting to the island is also easier in the offseason. Reservations on the island’s car ferry, the Steamship Authority, are wide open or there are flights in from Boston or New York on Cape Air.
Hotels in Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown — the three largest towns — are open with reduced rates and plenty of availability. Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce is an ideal resource for hotels, restaurants and other things to do in the offseason.
November is a cozy month on the Vineyard with cooler weather, colorful landscapes and bargain green fees. If you don’t mind wearing a couple of layers, November is the perfect time to experience golf on the island.