Central Mass - Blackstone vs Shaker Hills, etc.

ScratchHack · November 29, 2017

Getting out for a round on Sunday and am looking to try a new course in the vicinity of Nashua, NH. Seems like the options are limited as most places that I've seen have closed up shop for the season.

Can anyone comment on these two courses, especially recent conditions, or any other recommendations in the area?

jdl · November 29, 2017

Both are decent courses, played Blackstone in early Oct and it was in good shape. I have a love/hate relationship with that course, I really like the layout but seems like I rarely play well there. It would be quite a haul from Nashua. Didn't play Shaker this year because IMO it's overpriced at their regular rates. Now that it's off season might not be too bad. It's a pretty good layout, not too many tricky holes. What about Red Tail? Best layout around here and down to only $79 now.

ScratchHack · November 30, 2017

Blackstone is about an hour from my house, not too bad for a round of golf. I had thought Red Tail was closed for the season. Just checked again and that's not the case... $60 with cart. Not too shabby.

You're correct about Red Tail. Love that course. Only been out there once but it was a memorable round.

jimb6golf · December 4, 2017

I would agree that Blackstone is a bit quirky and very hilly with some great views from the top of the course. Hard course to walk too. Shaker was a great course years ago but I haven't played it since the new owners took over, but it was always a pretty nice course. Red Tail is a really nice course and the off season rates are pretty enticing too (I might have to try it myself). You could also try Wachusett as well (an old Donald Ross course).

raynorfan1 · December 4, 2017

I played shaker hills earlier this year (probably May/June) and it was in a very good place. On par with the other “top” public facilities.

jdl · December 5, 2017

Shaker was a great course years ago but I haven't played it since the new owners took over, but it was always a pretty nice course.

It's mostly the same course except they got rid of the awful par 4 18th and changed it to a short par 5 that doglegs right and finishes in front of the clubhouse. They also have a camera set up so you can watch people finish the hole from the bar area. As I said above, a good track but there are many others I'd rather play given what they charge for a round.

xjohnx · January 4, 2018

I know this is an old thread but, in case someone is looking for advice later one I'll chime in. I'll never pass up a chance to talk about how much I love Blackstone National. I'm admittedly a big Rees Jones fan so maybe I'm a little bias on my judgement but I think it's a fantastic course. I really like "big" golf courses. I enjoy seclusion and courses where every hole is "it's own hole" if that makes sense. Very few holes on that course run along, or even have a view, of the hole before or after it. That's heaven in my book and I'd make the trip any chance I got. LOVE that course.

seslwr1 · January 23, 2018

I know this is an old thread but, in case someone is looking for advice later one I'll chime in. I'll never pass up a chance to talk about how much I love Blackstone National. I'm admittedly a big Rees Jones fan so maybe I'm a little bias on my judgement but I think it's a fantastic course. I really like "big" golf courses. I enjoy seclusion and courses where every hole is "it's own hole" if that makes sense. Very few holes on that course run along, or even have a view, of the hole before or after it. That's heaven in my book and I'd make the trip any chance I got. LOVE that course.

I've always enjoyed Blackstone National the several times that I've played it. It's a very fair course.

wkndhack · January 23, 2018

I know this is an old thread but, in case someone is looking for advice later one I'll chime in. I'll never pass up a chance to talk about how much I love Blackstone National. I'm admittedly a big Rees Jones fan so maybe I'm a little bias on my judgement but I think it's a fantastic course. I really like "big" golf courses. I enjoy seclusion and courses where every hole is "it's own hole" if that makes sense. Very few holes on that course run along, or even have a view, of the hole before or after it. That's heaven in my book and I'd make the trip any chance I got. LOVE that course.

You should play Four Oaks in Dracut then. Just about every hole is cut out of the woods on its own once you get past number 4 or so.

xjohnx · February 15, 2018

I know this is an old thread but, in case someone is looking for advice later one I'll chime in. I'll never pass up a chance to talk about how much I love Blackstone National. I'm admittedly a big Rees Jones fan so maybe I'm a little bias on my judgement but I think it's a fantastic course. I really like "big" golf courses. I enjoy seclusion and courses where every hole is "it's own hole" if that makes sense. Very few holes on that course run along, or even have a view, of the hole before or after it. That's heaven in my book and I'd make the trip any chance I got. LOVE that course.
You should play Four Oaks in Dracut then. Just about every hole is cut out of the woods on its own once you get past number 4 or so.

Is that the one that used to be called something else? With the big weird downhill par 5 that isn’t a par 5 anymore?

wkndhack · February 16, 2018

I know this is an old thread but, in case someone is looking for advice later one I'll chime in. I'll never pass up a chance to talk about how much I love Blackstone National. I'm admittedly a big Rees Jones fan so maybe I'm a little bias on my judgement but I think it's a fantastic course. I really like "big" golf courses. I enjoy seclusion and courses where every hole is "it's own hole" if that makes sense. Very few holes on that course run along, or even have a view, of the hole before or after it. That's heaven in my book and I'd make the trip any chance I got. LOVE that course.
You should play Four Oaks in Dracut then. Just about every hole is cut out of the woods on its own once you get past number 4 or so.

Is that the one that used to be called something else? With the big weird downhill par 5 that isnt a par 5 anymore?

Possibly but I don't know. I've only played it within the last two years.

jdl · February 16, 2018

I know this is an old thread but, in case someone is looking for advice later one I'll chime in. I'll never pass up a chance to talk about how much I love Blackstone National. I'm admittedly a big Rees Jones fan so maybe I'm a little bias on my judgement but I think it's a fantastic course. I really like "big" golf courses. I enjoy seclusion and courses where every hole is "it's own hole" if that makes sense. Very few holes on that course run along, or even have a view, of the hole before or after it. That's heaven in my book and I'd make the trip any chance I got. LOVE that course.
You should play Four Oaks in Dracut then. Just about every hole is cut out of the woods on its own once you get past number 4 or so.

Is that the one that used to be called something else? With the big weird downhill par 5 that isn't a par 5 anymore?

Used to be Meadow Creek. And I think maybe something else prior to that.

Played it once on a very windy day, didn't have any desire to give it a second try after that.

outofboundz · February 16, 2018

I know this is an old thread but, in case someone is looking for advice later one I'll chime in. I'll never pass up a chance to talk about how much I love Blackstone National. I'm admittedly a big Rees Jones fan so maybe I'm a little bias on my judgement but I think it's a fantastic course. I really like "big" golf courses. I enjoy seclusion and courses where every hole is "it's own hole" if that makes sense. Very few holes on that course run along, or even have a view, of the hole before or after it. That's heaven in my book and I'd make the trip any chance I got. LOVE that course.
You should play Four Oaks in Dracut then. Just about every hole is cut out of the woods on its own once you get past number 4 or so.

Is that the one that used to be called something else? With the big weird downhill par 5 that isn't a par 5 anymore?

Used to be Meadow Creek. And I think maybe something else prior to that.

Played it once on a very windy day, didn't have any desire to give it a second try after that.

Yes, it was Meadow Creek. I think there were some money problems (maybe with the restaraunt attached to the course) a few years ago and now it is Four Oaks. And yes, the old par 5 (16th?) is now a par 4. Much better hole.

xjohnx · February 16, 2018

I know this is an old thread but, in case someone is looking for advice later one I'll chime in. I'll never pass up a chance to talk about how much I love Blackstone National. I'm admittedly a big Rees Jones fan so maybe I'm a little bias on my judgement but I think it's a fantastic course. I really like "big" golf courses. I enjoy seclusion and courses where every hole is "it's own hole" if that makes sense. Very few holes on that course run along, or even have a view, of the hole before or after it. That's heaven in my book and I'd make the trip any chance I got. LOVE that course.
You should play Four Oaks in Dracut then. Just about every hole is cut out of the woods on its own once you get past number 4 or so.

Is that the one that used to be called something else? With the big weird downhill par 5 that isn't a par 5 anymore?

Used to be Meadow Creek. And I think maybe something else prior to that.

Played it once on a very windy day, didn't have any desire to give it a second try after that.

Yes, it was Meadow Creek. I think there were some money problems (maybe with the restaraunt attached to the course) a few years ago and now it is Four Oaks. And yes, the old par 5 (16th?) is now a par 4. Much better hole.

I remember really liking those couple holes out by the house on the back nine. I remember that 90 degree dogleg over the water. Fun hole.