GolfWRX Crowdsourced Top 20 You Can Play - MA

[rcain1us]

I like Easton, but I am a member so I may be biased

 

I always enjoyed New England CC, quirky yes but some nice holes.

 

Yes on Atlantic

Definite no on Maple Gate

 

Norton used to be fun but it has been a few years

 

Brookmeadow is OK but not worth what they charge now

 

For a muni D.W. has made great strides as far as conditions but it is an easy 5 hour round

 

Braintree Country Club is a hidden sometimes maddening little gem

Olde Scotland Links can be fun on the right day

[Jcard]

So we pulled brookside? Played there Sunday $57 for 18 with cart? Place was in unreal shape, greens were phenomenal. It's a hidden gem.

[cbbaron]

I really like Atlantic kept my HC there from 95-04 wish they would put some money back into it I think its a great layout. Braintree was mentioned earlier its a muni greens are you usually solid

[sofc]

Shaker Hills was the first course I ever played. Going back this year four years later. Back then it was in fantastic shape.

 

Highfields is a nice track.

Kettlebrook is good.

I like Cold Springs also, near Belchertown. Was in great condition last year when I played it.

[eacsgolferdad]

I played Red Tail today. The course is in very good shape, maybe the best I've ever seen it. I've played there many times through the years and the greens are always the biggest question mark. I thought the greens were in very good shape too although I wish they were a bit faster.

[Pearson10M]

I'll throw in a few worth considering.

 

South Shore CC (Hingham). Generally in good/great shape. Get a GolfNow deal and is absurdly inexpensive. ($30 for 18 w/cart on w/e).

 

I like Gannon, (Lynn). Lot's of elevation. A little more on the $$ side, but challenging.

 

I play in a Monday night league at Leo J. Martin. It's a challenging course (at least the F9) for me. Holes 3, 5, 6, and 7 have some nice (tough) undulating greens. Fairways for 2 and 4 need some grass. I really enjoy playing it though and it is very inexpensive.

[youngun87]

Next step, I'm going to rank only those courses that I have played, leaving the others on the bottom. For those who have played them, insert them in what you believe to be the appropriate place. If you don't agree with my rankings, post your own.

 

1. Taconic

2. Farm Neck

3. Crumpin Fox (note for those who have not played it in 2017 - they did a bunch of tree work over the winter that improved the course a bit)

4. Red Tail (I've heard - but not seen personally - that conditioning can get dicey here)

5. Shaker Hills

6. Blackstone National

7. Highland Links

8. The Ranch

9. Pinehills (Jones)

10. Waverly Oaks

11. Cranberry Valley

12. George Wright

13. Kettle Brook

14. Pinehills (Nicklaus)

 

Remainder that I have not played:

Acushnet River Valley

Butter Brook

Highfields

Miacomet

Old Barnstable Fairgrounds

Wachusett

 

 

Great work on this thread!

After various cuts, we're down to:

 

Byes

Crumpin Fox

Farm Neck

Miacomet

Pinehills (Jones)

Pinehills (Nicklaus)

Red Tail

Taconic

 

 

Remainder - Strikethroughs are Cuts This Round

Acushnet River Valley

Atlantic CC

Bass River

Bayberry Hills

Blackstone National

Blissfull Meadows

Butter Brook

Butternut Farm - Conditioning is decent, but the layout is so tight and quirky; better than average course, but not among the best.

The Cape Club

Captains (Port)

Captains (Starboard) - The Captains courses are nice for a warm day in January...but top 10% in MA at their best? No.

Cranberry Valley

Crosswinds

Cyprian Keyes Typically in good shape, but quirky layout (with a ton of ESAs to lose your ball in...).

George Wright

Granite Links

Highfields

Highland Links

Hyannis

Kettle Brook

Maplegate

Old Barnstable Fairgrounds

Pembroke

Poquoy Brook

Presidents Everything a muni should be...but not in the conversation for the best courses.

The Ranch

Sandy Burr

Shaker Hills

Shining Rock

Stowe Acres (North)

Stowe Acres (South) There may have been a time for the Stowe Acres courses, but that time is not 2017

Wachusett

Waverly Oaks

 

 

Great work on this thread! I have my work cut out to play all of these in the next few months.

[Chef23]

I just played Acushnet River Valley today and enjoyed it. I thought it was an interesting fu course but not that tough. Conditions were good. While it wasn’t crowded it was very slow but this was primarily due to one group who was really slow. Not my favorite but I would definitely go back again.

[eacsgolferdad]

I played Crumpin Fox today. It had been many years since I last played it but I quickly remembered why it is one of the top public courses in Massachusetts. Tee to green, the course is in very good shape. The greens are firm and quick. The foliage was a bit past peak but there were still good views on several holes. Today they dropped to their late season rates; $65 for golf, cart, and range was a great deal.

 

I will go back again next year for sure.

[thewral]

Had the chance to play Butter Brook in early November - it's an interesting layout with the front 9 being typical NE tree-lined course and the back 9 being pretty open links style sans wind. Guessing the back 9 used to be some sort of farm. For late Fall the conditions were in good shape.

[mmckee02]

George Wright is one of the best Ross layouts in MA and is not to be missed. If only they had the private club budget, it would get a lot more attention.

[collins923]

Did this list ever get finished? I'm very curious to see how it turned out. Also maybe I'm crazy but absolutely love Braintree's layout and it's always in excellent shape for a muni. George Wright is nice if you get out by 7:30, otherwise plan for a 5-6 hour day.

 

I like treating myself usually 2 or 3 times a season, but most of my time is spent on cheaper courses. Would love to see a sub category of best courses in MA under $XX.

[Sean2]

Did this list ever get finished? I'm very curious to see how it turned out. Also maybe I'm crazy but absolutely love Braintree's layout and it's always in excellent shape for a muni. George Wright is nice if you get out by 7:30, otherwise plan for a 5-6 hour day.

 

I like treating myself usually 2 or 3 times a season, but most of my time is spent on cheaper courses. Would love to see a sub category of best courses in MA under $XX.

 

The problem I have had with Braintree is the pace is a bit slow...at least in my experience.

 

DW is a nice course. $25 to walk if you are a senior. The superintendent has done a great job bringing back the fairways and greens. Got rid of a lot of trees and the old fencing. It's also tough to lose a golf ball there. :-)

[Imabadgolfer]

This is a bit off topic, but DW Fields in Brockton is in great shape. The superintendent has done a fantastic job cleaning up the course, from removing old fencing and some trees, to rebunkering a couple of holes, to putting together some great greens. And the price is right too: as a senior it costs me $25 to walk.

That's where my group plays 90% of our golf these days, the Greens are awesome, teeboxes are good, and FW and bunkers are getting better and better every year.

They are spending $ here every year, the Supt. knows what he's doing.

It's short, but we like it.

$58 with a cart prime slots on the weekend ($5 less for Brockton residents), drops after 1:30pm I think.

It's not going to be confused with PH(I've played Jones), but we have fun.

Played Maplegate last summer, it's ok, nothing great.

Used to play Pembroke many years ago, it was decent, but went downhill, not sure what JR did to fix it enough to make this list.

Atlantic and Poquoy were always decent courses, I think Atlantic charges too much..these won't be confused with PH either.

[Imabadgolfer]

No love for Cape Cod Country Club? New England Country Club? Two of my public favorites - more fun than OBF and Hyannis

 

Top 5 I've played....

 

Taconic

Crumpin - Fox

Red Tail

Wachusett

Cranberry Valley

I haven't played it in like 5 years, but I just thought CCCC was OK.

Ballymeade at that time was nowhere near it's heyday either.

[Imabadgolfer]

Few courses to add that have not been mentioned... Norton CC, Foxboro CC and Green Hill GC in Worcester. Always in great shape and all three are good layouts IMO.

 

Any of those three certainly need to make it onto the list before Poquoy Brook, Maplegate or Acushnet River Valley. These three are real hit or miss with course condition, and lately have been all miss.

 

Also would advocate keeping Cyprian Keyes on the list. Agree that its tough, but I still would put it in my top 20.

Norton used to always be in great shape, but I haven't been there in like 4 years...I actually considered a membership there back then.

[Imabadgolfer]

Did this list ever get finished? I'm very curious to see how it turned out. Also maybe I'm crazy but absolutely love Braintree's layout and it's always in excellent shape for a muni. George Wright is nice if you get out by 7:30, otherwise plan for a 5-6 hour day.

 

I like treating myself usually 2 or 3 times a season, but most of my time is spent on cheaper courses. Would love to see a sub category of best courses in MA under $XX.

Haven't played Braintree in 20+ years, but I liked it back then.

[Pearson10M]

I have played a lot of different courses over the last few years, following mostly GolfNow deals. The ones I really like are, in no particular order, Acushnet River, Dennis Pines, Pinehills, and Allendale. Also, DW Field in Brockton is good, especially after 3 PM in the summer. I don't get the fascination with Crosswinds and Butterbrook. Crosswinds has 27 holes, but most have a lot of elevation change, hitting down or up to a green. Course is well maintained, but not my cup of tea. Butterbrook is okay for the first 9, but the back 9 is uninspiring. Played BB once, but never again, especially at $95 for 18 w/cart on w/e.

 

Brookside in Bourne is a good course. Poquoy Brook is a decent play too.

[jdl]

Agree Butter Brook is priced higher than it should be, I'm guessing proximity to Boston plays a part there. I don't mind the back 9, I like that you have 2 different types of course in the same 18 holes. And it has some good holes, both par 3s, the drive-able short par 4 over the pig barn. OTOH, #17 is one of my least favorite holes on the planet.

[jut111]

Agree Butter Brook is priced higher than it should be, I'm guessing proximity to Boston plays a part there. I don't mind the back 9, I like that you have 2 different types of course in the same 18 holes. And it has some good holes, both par 3s, the drive-able short par 4 over the pig barn. OTOH, #17 is one of my least favorite holes on the planet.

 

17 is a mutha$&@. Good course but not at peak season rates. It’s an early season/end of season stop for me.

[nandy]

What's up y'all! Love to see my beloved Taconic getting the respect that I believe it deserves. Anyone want to play a round there? My guest fee isn't too bad... :smile:

[Imp]

$70 this year, right? Hmmm. :)

[Ri_Redneck]

Any chance we could add a description with course characteristics? As we all know, course difficulty can greatly influence the experience of players of different capabilities. Just a short summary would help a ton.

 

BT