Baker Hill Golf Club

Baker Hill Golf Club is a Rees Jones design built on 260 acres of former farmland overlooking Lake Sunapee in the New Hampshire hills, with dramatic granite outcroppings, stone walls, and views of Mount Sunapee woven throughout the layout. The course follows a strategic rather than target philosophy, with no blind shots, deep fescue-lined bunkers, and an excellent mix of right-to-left and left-to-right holes that demand golfers work the ball both directions.

Baker Hill Golf Club is located on 260 acres of former farmland in Newbury, New Hampshire, on a hillside overlooking Lake Sunapee and the surrounding mountains. The club takes its name from the Benjamin Baker Farm that once operated on the property, and three of the farm's original barns have been restored and incorporated into the club's facilities — serving as the pro shop, an equipment store, and a halfway house. The property was purchased in 1998 by a group of avid golfers who were interested in developing a private equity golf club in the Sunapee/New London area of west-central New Hampshire. The group selected Rees Jones to design the course, drawn by his reputation as an accomplished golf course architect of his generation. Jones, the son of Robert Trent Jones Sr. and brother of Robert Trent Jones Jr., had earned the nickname "The Open Doctor" for his extensive work preparing venues for the U.S. Open and other major championships. His design portfolio includes Nantucket Golf Club, Atlantic Golf Club in Bridgehampton, and the renovation of Bethpage Black prior to the 2002 U.S. Open. Nine holes at Baker Hill opened for play in 2001, and the full 18-hole course was completed in June 2002. Jones designed the course to incorporate the natural contours of the land with careful attention to environmental protection. The property's defining geological feature is a series of dramatic granite outcroppings — massive rock formations that emerge from the hillside and frame several holes. A stone wall dating to the farm's agricultural era runs along holes 1, 4, 8 through 13, 16, and 18, adding both historical character and strategic interest to the routing. Jones followed a "strategic" rather than "target" design philosophy at Baker Hill. He believes in allowing golfers to see their intended target and visualize each shot clearly, so the course has no blind shots and no hidden obstacles.

Every hazard is visible from the appropriate playing position, and the challenge comes from the golfer's ability to execute rather than their knowledge of where trouble lurks. The course requires golfers to work the ball in both directions off the tee. Jones provided an excellent mix of right-to-left and left-to-right holes, meaning that players who can only hit one shape will find themselves at a disadvantage on roughly half the holes. The greens are tucked into the trees, demanding accuracy on approach shots. Bunkers are among the most difficult in the region — some reaching nearly six feet in depth — and all are lined with fescue that adds visual distinction and penalizes poor bunker play. From the Gold tees, Baker Hill measures 7,171 yards with a course rating of 75.5 and a slope of 147, making it a formidable test for even the most accomplished golfers. The club offers eight sets of tees, with playing yardages ranging from approximately 4,357 to 7,171 yards.

This extensive range of tee options reflects the club's commitment to providing a playable and enjoyable experience for members and guests at every skill level. The membership at Baker Hill is limited to 225, ensuring a low-volume golf environment where members enjoy tee-time-free access to the course. The limited membership creates uncrowded conditions and the ability to play at one's own pace, which the club considers central to the experience it offers. Views of Lake Sunapee, Mount Sunapee, and the surrounding New Hampshire hills are visible from multiple points on the course. The property's elevation provides long sight lines across the region, and the combination of the natural landscape, the granite outcroppings, and the stone walls gives Baker Hill a strong sense of place that distinguishes it from other private clubs in northern New England. Baker Hill has earned consistent recognition from Golf Digest, which has ranked it among the top courses in New Hampshire. The combination of Rees Jones's strategic design, the dramatic natural setting, and the club's commitment to low-volume private golf makes it a sought-after membership in the Lake Sunapee region.