Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 8
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Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 8
Designed by Roger Rulewich over a period of more than a decade, Crumpin-Fox Club is a favorite in northwestern Massachusetts Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 1
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Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 1
The dogleg-right, par-4 first is a tough opening hole at Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston, Massachusetts. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 4
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Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 4
The fourth at Crumpin-Fox Club is a short, downhill par 4. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 5
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Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 5
The first par 5 at Crumpin-Fox Club, plays down one hill and back up another hill to the fifth green. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 6
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Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 6
The long, par-4 sixth is the no. 3 handicap hole at Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston, Massachusetts. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 7
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Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 7
Here's a side view of the green on the par-4 seventh hole at Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston, Massachusetts. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 8
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Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 8
With water left and trees right, the tee shot is just the start of the difficulty of the par-5 eighth hole at Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston, Massachusetts. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 9
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Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 9
The front nine at Crumpin-Fox Club ends with a picturesque par 3. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 10
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Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 10
The par-4 10th at Crumpin-Fox Club begins a back nine full of interesting holes. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 12
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Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 12
A good tee shot on the par-4 12th at Crumpin-Fox Club leaves a short approach. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 13
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Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 13
The par-4 13th at Crumpin-Fox Club requires a precise approach. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 14
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Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 14
The par-5 14th at Crumpin-Fox Club plays from an elevated tee toward a green that plays over a lake. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 16
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Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 16
The 16th at Crumpin-Fox Club is a difficult dogleg right par 4 that plays back up the hill. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 17
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Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 17
There's a tree in the middle of the fairway on the approach of the par-5 17th at Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston, Massachusetts. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 18
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Crumpin-Fox Club golf course - no. 18
The approach on the par-4 finishing hole at Crumpin-Fox Club plays over water to a very wide green. Mike Bailey/Golf Advisor
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More than 20 years in the making, Crumpin-Fox Club remains a favorite in northwest Massachusetts

BERNARDSTON, Mass. -- Conceived in 1969 by original owner David Berelson, Crumpin-Fox Club was some two decades in the making before it became 18 holes and a popular golf destination in northwestern Massachusetts.

Designed by Roger Rulewich, who was with Robert Trent Jones Sr. Inc., at the time, the first nine holes weren't built until 1977, when Andy St. Hillaire bought the project, completed was is now the back nine holes and built the present clubhouse. St. Hillaire then sold the course in 1987 to his good friend William Sandri, who brought Rulewich back to complete the other nine holes (which were originally routed with the first nine) in 1990.

While both nines are scenic, memorable and challenging, the original nine is considered one of the best back nines of any course in New England. With elevated tees, lakes, streams, ponds and a variety of doglegs, it never gets boring. And much of the same could be said for the front nine, which among its holes features a pair of very challenging par 5s.

The course's name, by the way, was was derived from the Bernardston-based Crump Soda Company that was sold in 1853 to Eli Fox; thus becoming the Crump & Fox Soda Co.

Mike Bailey is a former Golf Advisor senior staff writer based in Houston. Focusing primarily on golf in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America with an occasional trip to Europe and beyond, he contributes course reviews, travel stories and features as well as the occasional equipment review. An award-winning writer and past president of Texas Golf Writers Association, he has more than 25 years in the golf industry. He has also been on staff at PGA Magazine, The Golfweek Group and AvidGolfer Magazine. Follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeBaileyGA and Instagram at @MikeStefanBailey.
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More than 20 years in the making, Crumpin-Fox Club remains a favorite in northwest Massachusetts