Nineteenth-century Brewster was home to dozens of sea captains who sailed the ocean blue and established trade routes throughout the world. Twenty-first century Brewster pays homage to some of them by using their names to identify each of the 36 holes at the town’s two courses. That’s why the facility is called “Captains” and not “Captain’s,” as it is commonly misspelled.
The Captains comprises two 18-hole gems named Port and Starboard. Carved out of a pine forest that extends north to Nickerson State Park and west to a municipal watershed protection zone, Captains is nautical in name only. Fact is, there are only two holes with water, and both are little kettle ponds that guard greens.
With its tree-lined fairways, Captains is typical Cape Cod, with not much in the way of elevation changes but still susceptible to the winds and with a variety of pines and oaks lurking to grab errant shots.
It’s a toss-up as to which of the Captains two courses is the better. Some locals are partial to the Port, largely because 12 through 17 are newer holes and represent one of the finest stretches of golf around. They are visually appealing, long and hard without being aggravating, undulating and curvaceous in all the right places.
This stretch also features three of the facility’s signature strengths: Captains has some great one-shot holes, and this stretch features two of them; Captains played well is all about positioning off the tee, and nowhere is that more true than here on the backside of Port; Captains has a few of the Cape’s most alluring doglegs, and No. 16 is the best of the bunch. This 371-yard par-4 hole bends to the right from the landing area, and the tee shot needs to favor the left side to get around the corner. The second shot must avoid a kettle hole on the right side of the green.
The Starboard course has more of the original holes that were designed principally by Brian Silva of Cornish, Silva and Mungeam. It was this original design that has attracted an active membership and a loyal following of golfers. The Captains is on the circuit of tournaments sponsored by local organizations, both charitable and professional, and it is a favorite among the traveling public of golfers along the Massachusetts-Rhode Island corridor.
According to the firm’s statement of design philosophy, “the player is presented with alternate routes of play and hazards that are clearly visible… courses designed in harmony with their surroundings and with respect for the environment…visually interesting and strategically challenging.”
There are several examples of this design philosophy—most notably the par-3 fifth hole, a 213-yard challenge that provides a huge bail-out fairway on the right side. The seventh hole, a 533-yard par-5, requires two of the game’s most important attributes, length and accuracy. There is a chance to reach the green in two, but the second shot must be straight to avoid bunkers left and large oak trees guarding the right.
The tenth hole is a short 371-yard, sharp dogleg right where the skill is more about accuracy than length. The second shot demands attention as you must hit into an elevated three-tiered green. This is a good short hole that exemplifies the Silva design philosophy.
The fourteenth hole is as well a designed par four as you will find anywhere. It measures only 397 yards but plays a lot longer. The left-side landing area is guarded by two large oaks that creep into the fairway blocking the green. Keeping the drive right is essential to have a shot at par.
How challenging are these 18 holes? The third easiest hole with a handicap of 16 is the 218-yard uphill par-3 eleventh hole. Even the biggest hitters will find their challenge at the sixteenth hole on the Starboard course. This 468-yard par-4 demands four good shots. A par here may well close out the Nassau.
Both courses at the Captains offer a fine challenge for all levels of play, and the conditions are generally excellent.
