By far the most interesting thing about the golf course is the bunkering. There are some huge, deep ones on many holes. I’d love to see them built up and restored, because they could be really beautiful and interesting. The green, which were shaggy, were large and had some decent slope to them. They’d be a really solid set of 18 greens at their peak.
Read MoreI played Kettle Brook in Paxton on Saturday. It was cold and we chased the sun, finishing in the dark. It is the 31st course in my quest to play them all.
I really enjoyed the course. It has a bunch of interesting holes, the bunkering is great, and the greens were in excellent.
The course has three distinct sections.
Wayland CC is a small one. Short holes and a 6000 yard par 70. I played with a half set, which I recommend to everyone. Makes you think differently from tee to green. Nothing like trying to finesse a 5 iron because you don’t have a 6 iron.
Read MoreHad a great morning at Sandy Burr. It’s a delightful course and my 29th course in my quest to play every course in Massachusetts. The first of two rounds today. 36 on November 10. What a gift.
Sandy Burr course begins with two par 5s and only one par 4 in the opening 5 holes (but par can mean nothing on holes 1-5, too). Holes 6-8are quirky, working through some marshland and giving a bit of a target golf vibe.
This place throws some serious haymakers. The front nine has a bunch of elevation changes and some holes play along interesting ridge lines, especially the 7th hole. At first glance the course seems like a challenge off the tee. Bunkers and water and natural growth areas. But it’s truly the green complexes that perplex and make the course difficult. With an iron in hand, it’s easy to feel good about your target. But then when you arrive at the green, no matter where your ball is, you realize what you saw from the fairway is not reality. Brian Silva loves messing around with a player’s perspective using bunkering and ridges. He succeeds here.
Read MoreButterbrook is a course I’ve played more than any other in the last 10 years. I ran a golf camp here. I’ve had golf gatherings with friends here. I’ve played pairing roulette here. I’ve played some of my best rounds here. It was fitting to officially check it off the list as my 25 course this summer with two guys I grew up playing golf with.
The course is really solid. Another gem out in Boston’s metro west region.
Had a late morning round with my buddy Paul out at Mt. Hood. Don’t let the scorecard fool you, this par 69 offers some challenge and interest. Rolling hills and big drops make this course trickier than the numbers on the card might make you think. There are plenty of holes to rip driver, but you could also bring a five iron, eighth, wedge, and putter and enjoy the round, too. I think that’s a good sign for a course.
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There’s a saying in golf that courses can have “great bones.” It’s a back handed compliment in some respects, praising the layout of the course, while dissing the maintenance or change over time (overgrowth, tree, bunkering). Well, (here it comes…) Ponkapoag Course #1 has great bones. The DCR funded course was designed by world renowned architecture Donald Ross, who has his name on many Massachusetts courses.
Read MoreShaker Hills is tucked out in Harvard, Massachusetts. About a 45 minute ride from Boston. I’ve played here many times growing up, and really enjoy the course. It was a scorcher on Saturday when we teed it up. And the walk was challenging due to the hills on the course.
Read MoreToday I started on a long journey at Thorny Lea. I have wiped the slate clean and intend on playing every single golf course in Massachusetts. Thorny Lea is numero uno.
Perhaps it’s fitting my first round came in Brockton, the hometown of Rocky Marciano, the famous heavyweight champion of the world.
The round felt a bit like a boxing match. The course hit me with some body blows and right hooks early, but I landed some of my own haymakers, too.
Read MoreIn what might be a crazy idea, I am going to try to play every golf course in Massachusetts over the coming years (decade?). 400 courses in all. Join me on my journey here, as I write about the experience.
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