Yeah, so today I decided to finally tackle photographing the whole Aroostook Golf Course, every single hole. Heard it’s pretty scenic and figured my followers might dig seeing it all laid out.
Grabbing Gear & Hitting the Road
First things first, rolled out of bed kinda early, poured myself a massive mug of coffee – essential fuel, you know? Dug around for my trusty DSLR camera, made sure the battery was charged. Tossed a spare lens, a polarizing filter ’cause that sky needed some popping, and my slightly worn tripod into the bag. Packed a couple granola bars too, knew I’d be out a while. Jumped in the car around 8 AM, aiming to beat any crowds. Drive was peaceful, just me and the open roads heading towards the course.
Starting Off & Finding the Groove
Got there, paid the greens fee at the clubhouse – manager was cool when I explained the photo project, just asked me not to hold up play. No problem. Started right at Hole 1. Sun was still low, nice soft light. Framed up the tee shot looking towards the green, snapped a bunch. Wanted to capture the fairway shape and the bunkers. Tricky part was finding angles where the path looked inviting but still showed the challenge. Walked the whole hole, shot from the back of the green back towards the tee box too. Did the same basic plan for Holes 2 and 3. Was starting to get into a rhythm.
The Real Work Begins
Middle holes, man, that’s where you see the character. Hole 5, I think? Had this amazing elevated tee. You look down this chute of pine trees onto a fairway curling around a pond. Gorgeous, but a little bit tricky lighting-wise with the shadows and bright sun on the water. Used the polarizer heavy here. Took time to compose carefully. Another hole, maybe 7, was super narrow through thick trees. Focused on making the shot look tight and demanding. Had to wait a couple of minutes for a twosome to clear the fairway once or twice – didn’t wanna be that guy in their photos!
Dealing With Surprises
A few hiccups, always are. Wind picked up around Hole 11, a long par 4. Made the long grass waving look cool, but holding the camera steady for crisp shots was a pain in the butt. Tripod was essential. Also swapped to my zoom lens a couple of times for those par 3s, trying to capture the intimacy and the precise distance feel. Saw a fox dart across near Hole 14! Missed getting a shot, sadly. Light changed constantly; cloud cover rolled in and out, meant I was fiddling with settings non-stop.
Nailing the Back Nine & The Finish
Kept pushing through. The back nine had some really memorable spots. One green was perched up high, framed by distant hills – waited for a moment when a cloud cast this huge shadow pattern on the hills for extra drama. Last couple of holes, the 18th especially coming back towards the clubhouse, I wanted that “finale” feel. Sun was getting lower, golden hour starting. Took shots emphasizing the path back home. Felt a real sense of accomplishment snapping that last pic.
Wrapping Up & What’s Next
By the time I walked back to the parking lot, legs were jelly. Dumped the gear bag into the car trunk. Sat there for a minute just sipping water, letting it all sink in. Took hundreds of photos. Got a real mix – wide angles showing the sweep of the land, tighter shots highlighting the hazards and greens.
Here’s what went in the bag:
- My DSLR body
- Wide-angle & zoom lenses
- Sturdy Tripod
- Circular Polarizer Filter
- Extra Batteries
Biggest lessons? Man, be patient with the weather and light changes. And good walking shoes are non-negotiable! Need to sift through everything now, pick the best shots that really show off each hole’s character. Might take a day or two to edit – those pond reflections need a tiny tweak. Stoked to share the whole visual tour with you guys soon. Worth every sore muscle.
