From Ross to Fazio: The top 5 public golf courses in the Boston area

Boston is a regular host to the PGA Tour's Deutschebank Championship, part of the FedEx Cup Playoffs and staged at TPC Boston.

While this particular TPC facility is private, there is no shortage of great golf accessible to the public around Beantown.

Matt Ginella's top 5 courses include both high-end public courses as well as affordable municipal layouts.

Located 47 minutes from downtown Boston, this Tom Fazio design opened in 2001 and features five par 5s and par 3s respectively. Golf Digest rates it No. 1 in the state. (Green fees: $129)

About an hour's drive from downtown Boston, Red Tail is a Brian Silva design that hosted the 2009 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship. Boston Magazine calls it the area's best. (Green fees: $89-99)

Video: Matt Ginella and Damon Hack discuss top golf courses in Boston

It's location, set on high elevation just 20 minutes south of downtown Boston makes for great views of the city skyline, plus the Harbor Islands to the south and east. In 2013, Sports Illustrated named the Tavern Restaurant among the best 19th holes in the world. (Green fees: $125-150)

30 minutes from downtown, this is a 1929 Donald Ross design that was built in 1938 by Walter Irving Johnson, one of Ross’ associates. A lot of men spent a lot of money moving a lot of earth, which was not done at that time. (Green fees: $35 - $45)

The original 1896 design, 20 minutes from downtown, makes it the second oldest municipal course in America (Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx was built in 1895). The course was later redesigned by Donald Ross. After a recent investment into course conditions, some golfers now say it has closed the gap on George Wright. (Green fees: $35 - $45)

Matt Ginella is Golf Advisor's Editor-at-Large and host of Golf Advisor Round Trip travel series on Golf Channel. Matt serves as resident buddy trip expert and captains a collection of VIP trips called Golf Advisor Getaways.
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As far as publics go in the Boston area, I would spend a day at PineHills 10 times out of 10 before going to The International. Not a fan of that place and think the course is just okay. Granite Links is convenient to downtown with a nice bar but the course is just not that fun to play.

Just off the top of my head, I prefer Butter Brook, Waverly Oaks, Shaker Hills,and Atlantic to those courses. Plymouth is the sweet spot of Massachusetts golf IMO. I do really like Red Tail and think George Wright is a special place. If someone like Gil Hanse renovated that course and trimmed some trees, it would be unbelievable.

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you really need to hang south of boston... all good courses listed.. but the best in Boston?? not even close.

Which courses are better on the south side? 

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From Ross to Fazio: The top 5 public golf courses in the Boston area