The PANORAMA Golf Course at The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel was recently listed by Golfweek Magazine as one of the “Best Courses You Can Play” in its 2010 rankings. Golfweek named the best public-access courses in each state across the country, and The PANORAMA Golf Course ranked as one of the top three courses in New Hampshire.

The PANORAMA Golf Course is a classic 18-hole course that was designed in 1912 by legendary golf architect Donald Ross. It is aptly named, as it sits high on the western slope of Keazer Mountain and offers spectacular views in all directions, across mountaintops and as far away as Canada and Vermont. The last 18 holes before the Canadian border are on The PANORAMA Golf Course in Dixville Notch, where golf has been played since 1897. The original course was redesigned and expanded in 1912, with golf architect Donald Ross personally supervising the construction. Built on the side of Keazer Mountain, the Par 72 course runs slightly more than 6,800 yards and features Ross’ trademark sloping fairways and hilltop greens. And, as the name indicates, there are spectacular views stretching out into Canada, and Vermont. The wide-open spaces of Dixville Notch lend themselves to a course that blends in with the natural beauty around it, notes Rick Toland, the resort’s Director of Golf and Tennis.

“It’s built right into a natural area,” he says. “There are no housing developments. It’s beautiful for its lack of development, its lack of traffic.”

While most of the players are hotel guests, The PANORAMA is a public access course, located two miles from the hotel. The COASHAUKEE 9-hole course on the hotel grounds is “great for juniors and beginners,” says Toland.

Proper golf attire is required at The PANORAMA Golf Course.

Below is a copy of the plans for The PANORAMA Golf Course as designed by Donald Ross. The original plans are on display in The PANORAMA Golf Clubhouse. Ross is the acknowledged father of American golf course architecture. His courses are listed amongst the very best in the world. In the early part of the Twentieth century Ross had as many as 2,000 workers on staff at one time producing his course designs all over the country. Although he is credited with some 600 courses in all, only a small portion of these were personally supervised from start to finish by Ross. According to Ross historians at the USGA, The BALSAMS PANORAMA is one such course.

Donald James Ross (1872-1948)
Charter Member American Society of Golf Course Architects
Honorary President 1947-48

Born – Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland
Died – Pinehurst, North Carolina at age 76

The son of Murdo, a stonemason, Donald Ross started his working days as a carpenter, but living close to the Royal Dornoch Links Course, the young Donald was early on fired with an interest in golf.

John Sutherland, the secretary of Dornoch Golf Club, persuaded Donald to go to St Andrews, where he not only learned club-making at Forgan's Shop but also studied golf under the legendary "Old" Tom Morris.

Returning to Dornoch in 1893, he became greenskeeper and soon developed a considerable interest in the fundamental qualities of a good golf hole. Five years later, at the age of 26, he emigrated to Boston, Massachusetts, where he became pro-greenskeeper at Oakley.

Although his career as a player was impressive, it was his prolific career in course design which earned him the accolade "a giant in golf."

Persuaded by the Tufts family to become a course professional at Pinehurst, his redesign of the courses brought him national fame and demand for his services. Ross became widely regarded as America's best and most active course designer and his unique style set the standard for course architecture in America.

He designed over 500 courses including Pinehurst No 2, Seminole, Dunedin Inverness and Oak Hill to name just a few, and is remembered as the "patron saint" of the American Society of Golf Course Architects whose official jacket is the Ross plaid.

His philosophy was to make golf a pleasure not a penance, and to create a way for everyone to play the course – all the handicaps.

"The test should call for long and accurate tee shots, accurate iron play, precise handling of the short game and consistent putting. These activities should be called for in a proportion that will not permit excellence in any one department to largely offset deficiencies in any other."

Late in his life he wrote: "Golf has never failed me."
Donald Ross, in turn, did not fail golf.

Above photo is of Forgan's Golf Club workshop in St Andrews Scotland
(photo dates from the late 19th century)

Robert Forgan, the founder is seated. Donald Ross learned how to build golf clubs at Forgan. The photo is from the book titled "The Scottish Golf Book" by Malcolm Campbell

"Golf at The BALSAMS in New Hampshire is truly panoramic"

Article by Jeffrey White from worldgolf.com (click here to read article)

Photos of The PANORAMA Golf Course as it appears today:

The BALSAMS PANORAMA Country Club

Set high in the mountains above the hotel, The PANORAMA Country Club offers panoramic views of New Hampshire's White Mountains, and Vermont. Deep wooden walls run high into the cathedral ceiling, exposed beams tell their stories of true craftsmanship. The warmth of the grand stone fireplace instantly welcomes you to stay a while. Whether you are just finishing 18 holes on The PANORAMA, a Donald Ross designed championship course, or stopping by to see the view, The PANORAMA Country Club menus offer something for everyone. See below for the Lunch Menu.

Please call us at The PANORAMA Country Club at (603) 255-4900 for more information, or to make a reservation for lunch.

Click here for more information: thebalsams.com/panorama_grille

Historic postcard of The PANORAMA Country Club
from the early 20th century.

The BALSAMS Putting Green with the hotel in the background.