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4.1
13 Reviews (13)
5 Stars
6
4 Stars
4
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.6
Value
4.2
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.1
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.8
92.3%
Recommend this course
12 out of 13 reviews
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0
Value
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Layout
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Friendliness
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About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6912 yards
Slope 125
Rating 73.1

Located just outside of Worcester, Kettle Brook Golf Club is surrounded by the reservoir from which it got its name. It is one of the area's most popular public courses. The golf course sprawls across gently rolling terrain laced with mature trees and marshland. The greens are large, making accurate pin placement essential, and there are also subtle breaks that can be difficult to read. Water hazards and strategically placed bunkers also come into play but the more challenging elements are balanced by the player-friendly fairways are wide and forgiving. There are five sets of tees on the golf course, allowing golfers to play to their own abilities. Much of Kettle Brook Golf Club's challenges will depend on which tee box you choose but most golfers will find that they have to employ the use of every club in their bag.

Course Details

Year Built 1999
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Brian Silva (1999)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts No

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range No
Caddies No
Teaching Pro Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Yes
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Reviews

4.1
13 Reviews (13)
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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 171
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 50 Contributor
First Time Playing

Not as good as last year

We played Kettle Brook last year for the first time ever and after that round it vaulted into our Top 10 Public Courses in the state. Upon our return in 2020 we found a course that had burnt out fairways, grass growing in several bunkers as well as rocks in some bunkers. I will say that the course is a fun layout and the scenery is excellent. Several holes have forced carries or water hazards that come into play. Two of the most scenic holes are 12 and 13, a par three that is all carry to the green and a short par four flanked by a red barn and silo. I would still recommendation course to anyone looking for a round in central Massachusetts but I was a little let down by the upkeep.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Fun, casual and worth the drive!

Fun layout, challenging at times but not intimidating. Multiple tee boxes equals out the distance requirement for big hitters or seniors. Fairways are wide and there is not much water or sand but is challenging enough. Staff is great, no stuffiness here. The post-golf bar and grill are great during non-Covid times, will play here again.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 85
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

A+ Course

Spectacular conditions from tee to greens. Lots of dog legs and plenty of variety with some drivable par 4s. Not much water on the course. Fairways are generous so you can grip it and rip it. Well worth the drive to Paxton.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

It is not just par, its and eagle

I love the course and the layout. They have done a great job with the course. GPS would help the first timers, but you would want to play it again. It is playable suites even my wife even as a new golfer.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 171
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 50 Contributor
First Time Playing

A scenic hidden gem

Amazingly I had never heard of this course until two weeks ago when it was recommended to me on Twitter. A little north of Worcester this course is worth the drive from anywhere in the state. The layout is fantastic and varied. With elevation changes, forced carries and even a silo on the course this is truly a hidden gem. They had just punched the greens but that did it matter as the rest of the course was in amazing condition. Go play it, we will certainly be going back.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

great course and value

Course is always great friendly staff. Challenging but fair and a good value as well. I play all over and Kettle Brook is by far the best public course in the area. Don't know what the last reviewers problem was but obviously he knows nothing. Courses have to do maintenance like aeration to maintain their conditions thru the year and people who actually know a thing or two about the game realize and accept this.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

horrible shape

paid $50 for this course. terrible shape, greens bumpy, aerated all around greens, was told prior to play course is in great shape. total lie. will never play here again.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Average weather
Used cart

Fun course...

Some holes it makes a big difference whether you are playing from the Green or Silver tees (White or Blue), so decide early and be fair to yourself. I love this course layout, most holes are forgiving, fairways are pretty well kept. There is some maintenance that seems to be constant on #2, but don't miss left on your approach there and you'll be fine.
Overall, it's a fun course, well balanced New England style play. The 19th hole is nothing special, great hot dog stand a few minutes away to hit afterwards. Fair price, no driving range though and some hazards aren't marked well (red/white stakes).

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 99
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Walked

Challenging But Not Overly Demanding

I discovered Kettle Brook a few years ago when my daughters were going to school in Worcester. It is a long trek for me now, but I really enjoy this course. It is a great layout with a perfect mixture of hills, hazard and obstacles, combined with excellent conditioning. The multiple sets of tees give you options and increase the demands on your game as you move back. The 9th is a great par 4 that is first uphill and then downhill. On the left is a dramatic rock outcropping and on the right are trees and OB. The 13th is that "trick or treat" par 4. You could pull out the driver and attempt to drive it, but you will likely end up in brutal bunker on the right. A long iron out to the left leaves you with a wedge to the tricky green. The front 9 (or 12) are carved out an old hilly and rocky woodlot. The back looks like it was once farmland and is more innocuous. It is a fun course and can be walked despite the legendary hills. The last big hill on the 17th does drain the last energy from your legs. This course does get chronic wet spots after a decent rainfall. I was a little put off that they did not tell me on the phone the greens had recently been aerated and sanded. Putting was subpar and will be back to normal in a few more days. I know most people have no idea where Paxton is. I will tell you it is worth the trip to this small town north of Worcester to enjoy a first class golf experience, even if you do not have kids attending college in Worcester.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 39
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

A comfortable round

This course is great. It has a nice layout, the conditions are usually very good, the staff is friendly, the pace is pretty good, and it is not too tight or too tough. And it is walkable! Too many courses around here are no more than paths cut through the woods and up rocky hills. This course has a few blind shots, a few quirky holes, but it is a fair test of golf and not just target shooting. It is becoming my "go to" course for a fun round.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Like the course but the pace is terrible

We waited at least 5-10 min on each tee box after the 4th hole. The course is good but no rangers and for a Friday afternoon at 3 did not expect it to be that tight. At several holes on the back nine there were three groups on the tee box, waiting. Other than the pace the course is in nice shape, will have to try another time.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Best value you can find!

I've played this course multiple times during the week .. easily the best $42 you can spend on a green fee. Every time, the course has been in great shape ... smooth fairways, soft but quick greens .. your putts hold their true line! It's a bit of a challenge for the first time player, but one you've made a couple laps around the track the course is very score-able.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Too early in the season to give a fair evaluation

Course is very wet, no carts on about 5 holes. Greens are in good shape, should be better once things dry out, IF they cut a bit shorter and roll. Nice layout, worth trying. We have played here in past years and will again.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 03/27/2016

Try to play once a week usually Sat. Or Sun. afternoon throughout the season. Played a couple weeks ago when we had that 70* day.The course is usually the same every time except when there is a lot of rain then it gets pretty soggy. Biggest thing is the time frame it can be super slow on weekends and we have had rounds of 5 to 5-1/2 hrs on many occasions. A lot has to do with the people who play from the back tees and do not belong there. They need to bring back the rangers to keep play moving. Have sworn off the course on many occasion but keep coming back still the best value around for a great course.

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