dbea8486-a471-58ec-8a7a-5e7830cf8ff5

NoonanSmails

Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
Lives
Groveland, MA
Handicap
10-14
Age
55-64
Gender
Male
Skill
Advanced
Plays
A few times a week

About

I am always ready for a round, be it with my crazy golf buddies or whenever I come upon a golf course out on the road. I have hit most every course in Eastern Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Southern Maine. I enjoy finding a new course and giving my opinion of it. I am always happy to recommend a course or to warn fellow golfers about a course that is not up to par. I have my handful of favorites that I play multiple times a year and I always make time for a new discovery. A golf course does not have to be a 5 star gem to be rated great in my book. If it has some unique design features, is in good condition and has some special charm, it can be fun to play. I have enjoyed many public courses off the beaten trail in New England that are well worth the trip. If you have a destination in mind, chances are I know of course nearby that would interest you. I also have spent quite a bit of time in Arizona and know the courses that are worth playing and which ones are overrated. My quest never seems to end and that is what makes it fun for me.

Review Statistics

Average Rating

3.6
3.6
Total 99 Reviews

Rating Breakdown

99 Reviews
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
45
3 Stars
35
2 Stars
8
1 Stars
1
Recommended Courses
79
Not Recommended Courses
20
Helpful Votes Count
45
Not Helpful Votes Count
29
First Review
10/17/2013
Last Review
02/03/2023

Reviews Map

Reviews

3.6
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Meadow Brook Golf Club

Played On 09/28/2016
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Walked

As Good As People Said It Was

I had heard quite a few good things said about MB, so I decided to give it a try after visiting my daughters in RI. When you pull up, you are immediately underwhelmed. It looks a bit old, but I am told the new entrance, parking lot and clubhouse is in the works. The threesome I was paired with cancelled due to the threat of rain, but about 50% of the tee sheet was playing. I got trapped in some foursome traffic, but one group of oldtimers quit after 9 and a recreational foursome let me go through on 11, and then it was clear sailing. All of the holes are well designed and cause you to hit strategically. To me there seemed to be more tough holes on the back, including a bear of a par 5. The conditons were very good, even on a damp morning when the cut grass was clumpy. The greens rolled very nciely with few bumps. I think this course will continue to improve and be a real first tier public course in central RI. I say play it if you can.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging

Manchester Country Club

Played On 09/07/2016
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
First Time Playing
Used cart

Great Old Time Donald Ross Layout

I had an invitation to play this Donald Ross course for the first time so I jumped on it. We played the tips, which at 6700+ on a wet track was a lot for me. The rough is very tough and it beat me up. The greens are the real treat with great undulations and false fronts, that when Stimping around 11 were a joy to putt on. The par 3's are all very long and there are par 4's that are tough to get to in 2. They have cut down hundreds of trees that were overgrowing the original layout and now there is a little more room to shoot through. The 19th hole was a comfortable outdoor setting with great beer and snack options. If you get an invitation to play MCC do not pass it up, it is a true gem that needs to be played.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging

Pembroke Pines Country Club

Played On 08/10/2016
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

Looks To Be On The Way Up

I had a great golfnow.com rate of $24 for 18 holes with a cart on a rainy Wednesday. Most of the mid-day golfers either cancelled or noshowed, so I had a wide open course for most of the day. It was wet and the grounds crew looked to be off except for one guy on a rough mower. I found the layout challenging from the back tees. The grass was a little high and the rough was thick, so there was very little bounce. The greens held very well and putted a little slowly. There are great elevation changes and hazards that make you think about your strategy. On the back nine things were a bit funky and I could surmise from all of the construction that they were going to fix existing holes or build some new holes. The 18th hole is the worst finishing hole I have ever seen. Its about 260 over a giant ravine to a thin green that is carved into the hillside. I pounded a driver and made it into the rough by 10 feet. I then hit a wedge that came up short and 3 putted on the curvy corner of the green. I am told this hole will be gone in 2017. Thank God! I think the course has great potential and the owners are going to get it right eventually. The clubhouse is a throwback that is friendly but in need of many updates. I would play this course again if I was near Manchester.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Response from on 01/04/2017:
Thank you for your review and feedback NoonanSmails. We hope you will be back again if you are in the area to see the course on a sunnier day!

Highfields Golf & Country Club

Played On 07/06/2016
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Took A Second Look

I played here in 2015, and came back a second time in 2016. My round in 2015 was thrown off by a single named John who joined us and caused us some angst. I am told he is a known, local character. This time I played with 2 juniors who were fine. The course can be very challenging if you go back to the tips. Most holes require precise placements, or you can be blocked out. There are a few quirky holes on the back, including a short par 5 that requires a big fade to hit the fairway or else you end up in a gulch through the fairway. I think with a few more design tweaks they could fix the quirks. The 19th hole is nice and the entire staff, especially the pro and starter are very friendly and helpful. I am not out this way that often, and there several good public course options, and this one is certainly in the mix near the top.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging

Cape Arundel Golf Club

Played On 11/05/2014
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
Previously Played
Good weather
Walked

Some Old School Golf

Cape Arundel looks like a pitch and putt course as you drive in. People chuckle when they see the yardages on the scorecard. These thoughts are quickly debunked as soon as you get to the first hole. You see this quaint little course has two great equalizers - the wind and it's greens. You are constantly recalculating your club selection in an attempt to figure in the wind. On top of that, so many greens have false fronts and steep drop offs on the sides, you may never get comfortable hitting a shot. That being said, it is a fun course to have a go at and a very walkable track. The 8th seems to be a typical short par 4, but it is usually into the wind and the green is a roller coaster of hills and breaks that make 2 putting from anywhere a challenge. The 17th is another short par 4, into the wind, to a blind green that sits at the bottom of a 30 foot hill. This green is like no other on the planet, and you could putt it off the back of the green and into the river. A 4 is a fine score on this gem. The conditions are always good and the course is very quiet in the fall after the summer beach crew has gone. The clubhouse is like an old log cabin and has very spartan amenities. You can feel and see the history everywhere,. CA might be most famous for being the summer golf club of President George H.W. Bush. I am not sure if he is still playing the course or not, but you surely should if you are on the southern coast of Maine

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate

Owl's Nest Golf Club

Played On 10/15/2014
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

A Variety of Golf Holes With Great Mountain Views

I try to get to Owl's Nest once a year, but I had not been for a few years following the Great Flood of 2012. The course is all the way back and looking better than ever. Sadly it is closing early this year, on October 20th, to prepare for a possible sale to new owners, so for most it will have to be wait until next year. ON has an incredible variety of holes, in and around numerous hillsides and riversides. No two holes are alike and you will likely use every club in your bag. Picking the correct tee is crucial. The whites seem to play short to me at 6100, so the blues at 6400 may be better for most. The longer holes are predominantly downhill and the shorter ones are uphill. There is a stretch of funky hill holes on the back (13 - 15), but the other holes are more legit. The 2nd is a massively downhill, dogleg right that allows you to see the pond and the waste area below. The 16th is an even bigger descent, that can produce a 300 yard drive if you hit the fairway and let it run out. ON is quite a drive up I-93 to the White Mountains. Its just over 2 hours from Boston and 1 hour from Manchester, but its not outrageous. It is very busy on summer weekends, but weekdays and the off-season are great opportunities. This is the best course in the Loon and Waterville Mountains area and I would urge you to give it a try and take in this great course with great views.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging

Eastman Golf Links

Played On 10/13/2014
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Head North to Eastman for a Great Golf Course

Eastman is a hidden gem way up north in the middle of nowhere right off Rt. 89. I cannot imagine what this remote area looked like 40+ years ago when this project was conceived. It is a spectacular layout, that uses all of the natural wooded, hillside and waterways on the property. It is always in great condition and has spectacular views in all directions. I am guessing the economy has slowed the flow of members and residents into this quaint secluded community, but that has made it more accessible to the public. I generally play it in the fall, after the summer season is over, and the conditions are still great. It is a short season at Eastman, usually ending by early November. The 9th is a great uphill par 4 that bends to the right and is hard to hit in 2 shots. The 12th is an amazing downhill, over a 100 foot drop, par 4 that you can soar a drive off of. You may have a downhill lie on your second shot if your drive does not roll out on the fairway. There are several holes at Eastman that will give you a wow factor. It is quite a hike up to this great course in the sticks. The 2 hour drive from Boston and 1 hour from Manchester will be worth it. If you can find good lodging, it can be part of a great "two for" with Owl's Nest. I certainly believe you will not be disappointed with Eastman.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging

Exeter Country Club

Played On 10/07/2014
2.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
First Time Playing
Good weather
Walked

The Best 9 on the Seacoast???

My friend persuaded me to try Exeter with him. He said it was a good deal via golfnow.com. With only 5 cars in the lot at mid-morning we had that "aha" moment. The course is good and green and mowed regularly. The rough is very tough and the greens had recently been aerated with very large tines. Putting was pot luck and with all of the dips and slopes, we were thankful they were not too fast. Some of the holes are a bit contrived and have blind shots. The first green is well below fairway level and results in a blind approach shot. There are 3 sharp doglegs (4, 5 and 9) and a hilltop par 3 (#8). It must take a few rounds to get the feel of where to be and where not to be on this quirky course. It is short for most golfers and very walkable. The regular $20. price for 9 holes seems a bit high to me, but they may be able to command that in the tourist season. The clubhouse looks like an old 1950's urban variety store that landed next to the 9th green and has never been updated. The much acclaimed grill was just getting opened as we finished our round and we did not stay to sample it. I can now say I have played Exeter, the self proclaimed "best 9 on the Seacoast," I can also say I see no need to return.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Fairly Easy

Marlborough Country Club

Played On 09/23/2014
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Greens With Speed

I have played MCC for many years in an annual tournament. The one thing that is always a sure thing is the speed of the greens. They are electric fast and roll true. If you get your putt on line at the right pace, it will roll out all the way to the hole. If you are above the hole, you are usually doomed. The course is always in great condition and the rough is legendary for its thick, penalizing nature. There are some holes that resemble each other (1+4, and 15 -17) and many holes parallel each other, but the design does use he natural hills and terrain there. The 9th is a tough driving hole with OB left and a pond on the right. You have to hit it 280 to clear the pond and failing that you may have to hit a long iron. That play leaves you with another long iron to a green carved into a hill that is unreceptive. The 10th is a drivable par 4, that may be better suited to a lay up to the left on, leaving a wedge to a green that runs away from you. MCC is a grand old course that has survived some tough times and is back on the rebound. Public play is offered only when there is a lull in demand by members. If you have the chance to play this timeless old gem, do not turn it down. Just be sure that you bring your A putting game.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate

Breakfast Hill Golf Club

Played On 09/11/2014
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
Previously Played
Fair weather
Walked

Breakfast is Good at Any Time of the Day

I have always enjoyed the layout at Breakfast Hill. It is varied and fairly imaginative and makes great use of the natural terrain. It is well kept and all of that bent grass is a joy to play on. It is usually quite busy and deservedly so, as it is the best of the public courses on the NH seacoast. They are very aware of this, and are commanding an aggressive market price for their green fees. For these reasons, I like to play it in the spring or fall, and on days where the weather is less than great. I found the course to be conditioned just as I suspected last week, but the staff was having a sub par day. On the positive side, I could see the grounds crew had been busy keeping the course up and removing a lot of trees and brush from some of the rocky areas and marshes bordering several holes. On the front the 8th is a unique hole. You hit less than driver up the hill to avoid the cross hazard. You then hit a short iron in to an awkwardly perched green with trouble all around it. On the back, the 11th is a great par 4 that requires 2 big and precise shots to reach in regulation. To many BH will seem too short to challenge them, but the trade off is that more high handicappers are playing a length more suited to them and that helps the pace of play. The Grill is better than most public golf course 19th holes. It is a nice place for a post round drink, but if you are a tourist, Portsmouth and all of it's offerings are just down the street. I recommend a round at BH in the quieter months and if you can find an internet special to save a few bucks.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate

Sagamore Hampton Golf Club

Played On 09/09/2014
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
Previously Played
Good weather
Walked

Very Dependable Public Golf

We have all whizzed by Sagamore Hampton hundreds of times of Rt 95 in NH. From the highway you can see a wide open group of holes that are always green and teeming with golfers. Getting off the highway and over to the course is a bit of an adventure. Once there you know you are at a course that has public golf course pretty well figured out. The course is well laid out over several rolling hills and wooded areas. Half the holes are wide open and fairly attackable. The other half have tree lined fairways that although they are not terribly tight, by contrast to the aforementioned open holes, they seem rail thin. Then there are the hills. The 8th hole is almost all hill, first going up and then down and then up again to a severely pitched green. This is not a cinch par 5. The 17th is a long downhill par 3, through a chute to a green that seems elusive. There are drivable par 4's and sneaky little creeks that come into play. The course is well maintained and considering the massive amounts of play it gets, is in remarkable shape. The rough and native grasses are tough and you may wonder how you lost a ball just 20 feet off the fairway, but it can happen. The course will not be hosting any major tournaments or topping any best of lists, but that is not its purpose. None of these foibles keep the hordes of loyal golfers from coming out. Some day you should veer off I-95 and see for yourself why Sagamore Hampton keeps packing them in year after year.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate

Brunswick Golf Club

Played On 09/03/2014
2.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Walked

Being Suspicious Does Not Always Pay Off

I was a bit suspicious back in March when Brunswick was handing out coupons for public play at the Portland Golf Expo. I wondered why this once busy private club was actively looking for public golfers. I gave it a shot after Labor Day and paid $30. to walk 18 holes ($40 - $10 coupon.) The bearded fellow in the sunglasses running the pro shop was a bit uncertain who I should follow on the first tee on what was called a "quiet afternoon" on the phone. I soon found out members come and go with little concern about tee times and all players move at whatever pace they choose. After playing through a young couple learning the game and 2 women just out for a relaxing I nine, I caught up and paired up with a threesome that had teed off 40 minutes before me. I soon realized I was now in the group setting what would be a sad 5 hour pace. For me the course did not live up to all of the hype about 1898 and 9 holes of Stiles design. The front 9, the Cornish design was fairly vanilla. The 7th is an interesting par 4 where you have to drive under or over power lines and then hit into a feisty green. The 9th is a curious par 5. From the whites it plays either driver-wedge-wedge or driver- precise 3 wood due to the wide creek in front of the green. The back is the Stiles side and has many shorter holes with tee boxes very close to greens. Most of the greens had severe slopes and false fronts. The 18th green is a prime example. The pin was on a perch on the left front, where it is impossible to stop a putt. We had a 2 putt, 2 three putts and 1 four putt (via a generous gimme). That part of the green belongs on a mini golf course at Old Orchard Beach. I was not impressed with the course conditions either. The greens have come back from the winter kill and were fairly speedy at times. There was too much crabgrass and dandelions for my tastes. The tee boxes were all starting to slope and sag, giving few flat teeing areas. It all left me wondering what the goals were this self vaunted course. It is not a $40. public course despite all of their historic and grand claims. It is a fairly good $30. course, but still needs some direction in management. I am not sure they feel as they are misdirected, but the market will sort all of that out. I cannot recommend Brunswick as a top choice in the North of Portland area.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate

Springbrook Golf Club

Played On 08/28/2014
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Walked

Good, Basic Public Golf With No Pretense

Springbrook has always been your basic public golf course that does the best it can given its location in the golf world. The staff is very friendly and hard working, and they do the best they can with what they have. The layout is a great example of do-it--yourself course design from 50 years ago. It makes excellent use of the rolling hills, streams and wetlands and beautiful vistas that were already there. It is rough around the edges and there is a lot of crabgrass and weeds creeping into play, but everything is well mowed and maintained. The rough is not tough, it is more like long fairway. There are chronic wet spots that are not drainable, but they can be easily avoided. But for a public golfer this course, given what it charges, is golfing heaven. The 7th is a great, uphill, 3 shot par 5 that will challenge any golfer. The 15th is a 200 yard par 3 up a small mountain. This type of hole is no longer being built, but I enjoy it. In fact I enjoy everything about Springbrook. I first played it when I was in college in the late '70's and my Dad's friend Shirley Hamel owned it. Every time I return I have fond memories. Where else is the clubhouse is an old barn that can seat 100's of golfers or partiers at once? Yes it still smells and feels like a barn, but that can be called "nostalgic ambiance." Where else is the spring system run by a fire engine pumping from a pond? You may have to go out of your way to find Springbrook, nestled in between Lewiston and Augusta, but if you appreciate genuine, caring people offering a good golf experience in an unpretentious manner, you will have a great day there.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate

Natanis Golf Course - Tomahawk

Played On 08/21/2014
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Monotonous Golf at Natanis

My friend and I had both heard good things about this 36 hole course. We found it on a day the Tomahawk, considered the better of the 2 tracks, had a shotgun event, so we gave the Arrowhead a go. The woman in the pro shop had an uncharacteristic to Maine, unfriendly personality, but we made it to the first tee otherwise unscathed. We found a series of do-it-yourself designed holes on what must have been an old farm. Most of the holes had no real interesting or challenging design features and seemed to resemble each other. There were a few exceptions. The 6th is a downhill, drivable par 4, with a beautiful pond view. Then you go up the same hill for the par 3 7th. The back 9 is carved out of a hillier, wooded parcel and is very low and wet. The short par 5 17th is a mind bender. You cannot fathom where to hit to from the tee and once the new trees grow in, it will be even crazier. Take a ride up to assess the possibilities before teeing off. The 18th tee crisscrosses with another hole from the Tomahawk, so beware on this final tee shot or else it may truly be your final tee shot. The course is fairly well kept, but has far too much clover and weeds in play. Most able golfers will find it too short and unchallenging. It has a good local following, but travelling golfers may do better elsewhere. The 19th hole was very sad, featuring pre made sandwiches, pizza and chicken nuggets that all would be better suited for a middle school cafeteria. I may go back someday to try the Tomahawk course. I will keep an open mind and see if it rises over this little brother.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy

Sunday River Golf Club

Played On 08/20/2014
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Top Golf on Top of the Mountain

It took me a few years but I finally made it to Sunday River. This is an amazing location in the mountains of Maine. I played Sugarloaf several years ago and this is on the same level and perhaps just a hair better layout. The course had suffered severe winter damage like many Maine courses, but was starting to come out of it nicely. The greens were back to 100%, but the fairways were still not fully back. Nevertheless, it was a great day of golf. Most holes seem to be downhill, with a few short par 5's and par 4's going uphill. You must account for the hills and run off on all shots. Going over any hill will result in a lost ball and lost shots. The first hole is an immediate example, as balls can disappear on the left side very easily and over the green as well. The 15th has a major ravine bunker running through the center of it and is reachable from the white tees. Lay up and then safely reach this hole in 3 shots. The 18th is a great downhill hole that you can see your tee shot soar and then fall back to earth. It plays well short of its yardage. We loved this remote course and plan to return someday. The 19th hole is well above average and the sandwiches are very good. There are plenty of small motels in the Bethel/Newry area to stay at and the restaurants, especially the Suds Pub are fun and feature good food. Sunday River is a top golf destination and well worth the trip. Make plans to combine it with another course in the area and you will have a top notch getaway to remember.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging

York Golf & Tennis Club

Played On 08/18/2014
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

A Ross Course on the Smaller Side

I had heard a lot about York for years and finally got to play it. You immediately upon arrival have a feeling about everything being a bit small and cramped. The course design features all of the usual elevation extremes, false fronts and depth perception illusions that Ross is known for. There are a few too many blind shots, the primary example being the 3rd hole, and unusual doglegs by today's standards. The greens were freshly aerated, so we missed out on some of the speed that would have made being above the hole impossible. The rest of the conditions were excellent and the natural beauty along the York River was captivating. Some of the better holes include the short, uphill par 5 8th, with its tee built out into the river. There is a hidden hazard about 300 yards out and the approach shot is straight up a severe hill. The 12th hole, a dogleg right, mandates a layup off the tee and then your second shot is over water, to a sloped green carved out of a hill with a large gully in front of it. You cannot be even a foot short on this approach. This course clearly requires several rounds to start to gain the requisite local knowledge as to where you need to hit certain shots and more importantly where you CANNOT hit a ball. I was in the wrong place seemingly most of the round and faced impossible recovery shots due to severe slopes and agitating angles. I would guess many first timers have this same experience. The loyal, long standing members love this lesser known and less acclaimed Ross course. It will never host the major tournaments that his other courses do, but that does not diminish his fine work at this seaside location. If you ever get invited to play York, do not pass it up, as those opportunities are quite rare.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging

Kettle Brook Golf Club

Played On 08/16/2014
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

Wachusett Country Club

Played On 08/09/2014
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Walked

A Fun, Public Donald Ross Course

I finally got out to Wachusett to see this acclaimed Donald Ross course. It was quiet at 4 PM on a Saturday and I thought it would be a good summer afternoon to play a stress free round. We cruised around the first 7 holes in 1:20. Then we hit a brick wall on the 8th tee. It took us 2:40 to play the last 11 holes. It was us catching the tee sheet that was chock full from 6 to 3. I cannot fault this course for being busy. It is fun to play and in very good condition. You can see where they have been upgrading several tee boxes and how careful all of the mowing is. The par 5's are somewhat short, but they have nuances. The 2 on the front both have blind water hazards that you have to be aware of. There are several great par 4's of over 400 yards. The 13th is the only long par 3 and it features a treacherous green. In fact most of the greens have classic Ross traits. Large sweeping curves, hidden slopes, false fronts and crowns, that make it imperative that you avoid certain sides of the greens. The greens were slow for us, but if they had been faster, people who have been 4 or 5 putting frequently. They were a lot of weekend hackers out as one might expect. They may have been over matched, but they were having fun. I think. They rerouted the holes a few years back and the only drawback is that you end, we in the dark, on a bland par 3, which had a 2 group backup on it. I think the Marrone family which owns Wachusett knows what they are doing and will not hesitate to keep improving this masterpiece. I will come back soon and take another shot at it, but probably not a weekend afternoon.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate

Townsend Ridge Country Club

Played On 08/06/2014
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Walked

Not on Everyone's Golf Radar

Townsend Ridge bills itself as the "friendliest course in Central Mass." That may be true, but like most eastern Mass golfers, I do not get this far west that often. It is a hike for most out either Rt. 119 or 113, but I am guessing golfers pour out of the Fitchburg area to play this very good public course. It is a challenging layout, carved out of dense woodlands, marshlands and numerous hills of varying grades. Its in very good shape this summer, very green and well maintained. The greens were slow, but it may have been a non-mowing day. I paid $27. to walk 18 holes at 1:15 with the caveat that I had to be done by 4:30 because 144 league golfers were going to shotgun at that time. I did that with a few minutes to spare ahead of this event. The 4th is a bear of a par 4. It long, uphill and narrow with dense woods and hazards on both sides. I made a typical 6. On the back the 13th is an odd, uphill 90 degree dogleg left over a rock pond. Its short, and depending on what tee you hit from it could be a 4 iron/wedge hole or a 3 wood/9 iron hole. Its quirky yet cute. The 14th is the top of the world hole, a long par 4 with a great view. The staff is very friendly at TR, especially the women in beverage service. I think they all understand that getting people out to Townsend and then getting them to return takes a total effort. TR is a good course to go check out and to test your game on. If you live in that area you know it is worth the trip, while those of us from far away may have to weigh the distance/value equation.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging

Passaconaway Country Club

Played On 08/02/2014
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
Massachusetts Advisor
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Walked

It May Be Flat But it Has Length

There are not many public courses built on flat farmland that can grow up to be fun, challenging tracks. Passaconaway has done all of that with plenty of yardage from the back two sets of tees. It is always in excellent condition due to a hard working crew and plenty of water for the sprinklers from the adjacent Merrimack River. The 3rd hole is a great par 4 that requires a precise, long drive to avoid the marsh straight ahead and on the right and the overhanging trees on the left. The second shot is to a raised green where errant shots to the right will kick into the marsh. The 3 parallel par 4's on the back, numbers 12, 15 and 16 are all well over 400 yards and demand 2 perfect shots to hit repelling greens. There are very few mature trees on this layout, which makes it tough on a hot summer day when shade is your friend, but it is a great course for the late fall because there are virtually no leaves to disrupt play! There are only 1 or 2 holes where you may want to hit less than driver off the tee. Passaconaway lets you swing for the fences with confidence. There were only 2 greens that I saw that still had remnants of winter damage on them. This course will never disappoint you in the conditioning department. Now it is a bit out of the way for most people, but with GPS it is easy to find from anywhere, just minutes from both Manchester and Nashua. I hope you enjoy playing Passaconaway as much as I have for the past 20 some years.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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