GolfWRX Crowdsourced Top 20 You CAN'T Play - MA

[medicoreMAgolfer]

I so enjoyed reviewing the thread about places you can play, I thought I might start one on places you can't play (unless you are invited). I've been fortunate enough to play nearly 30 private courses in Boston (that I can remember) and so here is my list of rankings. All of these courses are very much worth playing, so I feel a bit guilty having someone "last", but I ranked them based on if I was invited to all 30 tomorrow, which one would I want to play the most and this is based on entire experience (course, range, club house, experience.) Some are ranked lower because I get to play them more frequently and it's less of a big deal to get an invite. Others are ranked higher because I get to play them so frequently I've grown to love them more over time. I also left a list of 10ish places I haven't played that are on my really want to play list.

 

Myopia

Charles River

Old Sandwhich

The Country Club

Salem

Boston Golf

Oyster Harbors

Winchester

Wianno

Kernwood

Concord

Winchester

Pocasset

Wellesley

Belmont

Black Rock

Weston

Dedham

Naushatuc

Pinebrook

Wollaston

International - Oaks

International - Pines

TPC - Boston

Wedgewood Pines

Grante Links

Nehoiden

 

Places I really want to play and have yet to be invited

Kittansett

Essex

Eastward Ho!

Hyannisport

Cummaquid

Vesper

Worcester

Brae Burn

Woodland

[raynorfan1]

I find it really difficult to publicly (and anonymously) rank the private courses...it just feels ungrateful to my host(s) to have anything negative to say.

 

Others that you should add to your list are The Orchards, Sankaty Head, Cape Cod National, and Tedesco.

 

The other one that intrigues me is Pine Brook - which I drive by all the time, and always appears to be both empty and in immaculate shape.

[medicoreMAgolfer]

Agree with you on publicly ranking them - I would frankly play ANY of the above and have an absolute blast - we are blessed with great privates in this area. The last on the list is still fantastic - I would play nehoiden every day if I could, just like idea of getting some debate up... also hope to get some other recommendations on places I should try to wiggle my way into an invite!

 

RE: Pine Brook - a very good friend is a member there and he has been kind enough to host me many times. Your description is 100% spot on - course is always in immaculate shape and does not get a ton of play. Membership is small-ish and many folks don't live in the area full time. Friday's in May and June can be fairly crowded, though.

 

I love the course, fun holes, good mix of long and short 4's, good greens, etc. it's similar to a Wellesley and Dedham in that it is fairly hilly and some gaps between a couple of greens to tees when it crosses the road, but otherwise is very walkable. I've played this year and the course is in primo condition right now

[raynorfan1]

Yeah, there were really only two things on your list that I didn't agree with, and putting Nehoiden last was one of them. It's the perfect course for its niche. Objectively rated against the others, it probably is last on many metrics. But it's perfect for what it is and needs to be.

[hockeyplayer19]

What's the consensus on Vesper CC? I see some posts that it is good, others that it is great, still others that it is average, plus a comment about "Odd" membership,... As a private, old, Donald Ross course, I assume it is in great shape. I read that they re-did the greens and bunkers a few years ago.

 

I'm a big fan of Donald Ross courses but this one seems to be all over the map with comments. I really like Charles River but some of the same comments about Vesper are noted for Charles River, too.

 

GD has it in their recent top 20 rankings but that may simply be due to its age, architect, connections, access to raters, etc. Has anyone played it this year? What can you say about the course, range, membership, etc.?

[raynorfan1]

What's the consensus on Vesper CC? I see some posts that it is good, others that it is great, still others that it is average, plus a comment about "Odd" membership,... As a private, old, Donald Ross course, I assume it is in great shape. I read that they re-did the greens and bunkers a few years ago.

 

I'm a big fan of Donald Ross courses but this one seems to be all over the map with comments. I really like Charles River but some of the same comments about Vesper are noted for Charles River, too.

 

GD has it in their recent top 20 rankings but that may simply be due to its age, architect, connections, access to raters, etc. Has anyone played it this year? What can you say about the course, range, membership, etc.?

 

I've never played it, but it has been consistently well rated, for whatever that's worth. I don't think that raters would have any particular reason to "over rate" the course.

 

It was built by Donald Ross in the 'golden age' of course construction; which also coincided with Lowell's economic peak, so presumably they had the resources to do it right. I'm pretty sure they've also done pretty extensive renovations/restorations over the past 10 years or so.

[medicoreMAgolfer]

I recently played with a very good golfer (played in college) who is a young-ish member there. He was from out of town, moved to the area and fell in love with the course. Said the combo of value and course was second to none in the area, as long as location works.

 

He suggested Vesper's ranking actually suffers from its current location as there is less "money" in Lowell area today and therefore it does not get the hype courses ranked higher on the list receive. Kind of makes sense to me...

 

(It's very much on my list of places I really want to play - think this might be one where I have to buy a foursome in a charity auction at some point...)

[hockeyplayer19]

I recently played with a very good golfer (played in college) who is a young-ish member there. He was from out of town, moved to the area and fell in love with the course. Said the combo of value and course was second to none in the area, as long as location works.

 

He suggested Vesper's ranking actually suffers from its current location as there is less "money" in Lowell area today and therefore it does not get the hype courses ranked higher on the list receive. Kind of makes sense to me...

 

(It's very much on my list of places I really want to play - think this might be one where I have to buy a foursome in a charity auction at some point...)

 

Did your friend mention any challenges with getting access to the course? I've heard there are a lot of playing members, which makes it tough to play in prime time.

[MyShortGameSucks]

You missed some more modern, quality Privates up here on the North side of Boston.

 

- Renaissance

- Turner Hill

- Ipswich CC

 

It's really hard to order all the privates but I will think about it and try to put those I have played in some kind of order. The only ones I have not played are Olde Sandwich and Kitansett.

[hockeyplayer19]

You missed some more modern, quality Privates up here on the North side of Boston.

 

- Renaissance

- Turner Hill

- Ipswich CC

 

It's really hard to order all the privates but I will think about it and try to put those I have played in some kind of order. The only ones I have not played are Olde Sandwich and Kitansett.

 

Thanks but those are starting to stretch the "Geographically Desirable" limits. I'm trying to keep something in the 20-25 minute range to access.

 

I've heard differing opinions on how crowded Vesper is, so I was wondering if anyone knew. I'll call them up but how truthful will they GM be about tee time access? ;-)

[MyShortGameSucks]

You missed some more modern, quality Privates up here on the North side of Boston.

 

- Renaissance

- Turner Hill

- Ipswich CC

 

It's really hard to order all the privates but I will think about it and try to put those I have played in some kind of order. The only ones I have not played are Olde Sandwich and Kitansett.

 

Thanks but those are starting to stretch the "Geographically Desirable" limits. I'm trying to keep something in the 20-25 minute range to access.

 

I've heard differing opinions on how crowded Vesper is, so I was wondering if anyone knew. I'll call them up but how truthful will they GM be about tee time access? ;-)

 

Sorry for confusion. Was replying to the overall post about best privates in MA....

[BillyBaroo2002]

You missed some more modern, quality Privates up here on the North side of Boston.

 

- Renaissance

- Turner Hill

- Ipswich CC

 

It's really hard to order all the privates but I will think about it and try to put those I have played in some kind of order. The only ones I have not played are Olde Sandwich and Kitansett.

 

Thanks but those are starting to stretch the "Geographically Desirable" limits. I'm trying to keep something in the 20-25 minute range to access.

 

I've heard differing opinions on how crowded Vesper is, so I was wondering if anyone knew. I'll call them up but how truthful will they GM be about tee time access? ;-)

 

Sorry for confusion. Was replying to the overall post about best privates in MA....

 

Yeah I'm pretty sure this thread originated to discuss MA private courses... Not Vesper and it's location specifically.

[rblmp32]

I'd add Misquamicut Club. Played it once with a member and it was stupid nice. Watch Hill is one of my favorite places in the world too, so I'm a little biased.

[jdl]

Played the MGA Member's Day at Franklin CC Monday. Nice Donald Ross course and the greens were great. Wish I could putt on ones that nice more often. A little quirky on the layout, the 9th hole isn't near the clubhouse. They also have a new practice range that is very nice.

[medicoreMAgolfer]

Franklin went from one of the worst ranges in boston to arguably the best. That new practice area is awesome!

 

I also like the course - preference for back 9 over front, but a fun place to play. Also think they have one of the cooler, subtler logos out there.

[crcraig]

Played the MGA Member's Day at Franklin CC Monday. Nice Donald Ross course and the greens were great. Wish I could putt on ones that nice more often. A little quirky on the layout, the 9th hole isn't near the clubhouse. They also have a new practice range that is very nice.

 

Calling Franklin a Ross course is iffy at best. He may have originally designed 9 holes, but it has been remodeled and added on to multiple times since. My books say Wayne Stiles remodeled the existing nine, William Mitchell replaced 2 holes and remodeled the rest, and then Phil Wogan added 10 new holes. So its lineage is rather mixed and muddled.

 

That's not to say it isn't a good course though. It's been close to 20 years since I've played it, but I do recall some very good holes. The one thing I do remember that I didn't like was that all three par 5s had blind layups with water in the layup area. In those pre-GPS days, that was kind of aggravating for someone who was not that familiar with the course.

[jdl]

That's not to say it isn't a good course though. It's been close to 20 years since I've played it, but I do recall some very good holes. The one thing I do remember that I didn't like was that all three par 5s had blind layups with water in the layup area. In those pre-GPS days, that was kind of aggravating for someone who was not that familiar with the course.

 

Agree some of the blind tee shots were tough. Especially a few where you had to clear a hill and then there was a steep runoff down to a hazard. One of the guys I played with hit driver off a par 4 because the GPS said 290 to the hazard, but he almost ended up in it because the slope was so steep.

[Harve10]

Still a young course, but have to add The Golf Club of Cape Cod at Sacconnessett. Rees Jones design and held the MA Open this past summer.

[allparz]

Kittansett

Eastward Ho!

The Country Club

Winchester

Essex

Myopia

Salem

Hyannisport

Charles River

Longmeadow (most underrated in MA)

Worcester

Concord

Brae Burn

Oyster Harbors

Taconic

Vesper

Sakonett

Rhode Island CC

Front 9 at New Seabury twice

Kernwood (But they should blow up #4)

 

Have not played ....

Old Sandwich

Boston GC

[mlavallee23]

Going to add Pleasant Valley to this list. I get to play there at least once a year. Nice course. Good mix of fun and difficult holes.