Western MA Courses - Private & Public

UnderPar18 · January 30

Took a new role where I am traveling to MA daily. Typically am all around the western part of the state.

What courses would you recommend playing? Would likely be playing on a weekday and either playing as an unaccompanied guest or through a public rate. I’m a 2 handicap and have never played golf in MA besides The Ranch.

Areas I typically travel:

West Springfield

Agawam

Long meadow

Worcester

Amherst

Lee

Pittsfield

South Hadley

Holyoke

Hampden

North Hampton

I appreciate everyone’s guidance and insights

goduke7 · January 30

Taconic, Crumpin Fox, GreatHorse, Worcester

jdl · February 1

Chicopee is a good muni to check out.

The Orchards is a classic Ross design, very challenging.

Kettle Brook in Paxton, just west of Worcester, fun track.

ingster1 · February 1

On 1/30/2025 at 2:07 PM, goduke7 said:

Taconic, Crumpin Fox, GreatHorse, Worcester

I don’t know much about Worcester but I would highly recommend the other three courses.

ShortStick · February 4

You pretty much got it. For public’s Taconic and Crump are surely the headliners.

in the Worcester area I also like Wachusett and Connecticut Nat’l (short hop down rt 395). In Williamstown area after Taconic there are a couple of good ones in Manchester, Vt in Ekwonuk and Dorsett Fields (tho that is not western mass and may be in the wrong direction for you … but still better than sitting in a hotel room ;).

UnderPar18 · February 6

I checked out Worcester CC because I was right down the street and I was impressed with the clubhouse and even though the course had some snow on it, the design looked very nice.

I went on the Mass golf website, but it looks like MA does not offer one day tournaments like CT does with the CSGA. I could potentially try some qualifiers, but you need 5 MA scores in order to be eligible so I will have to wait until next year.

crcraig · February 6

19 hours ago, UnderPar18 said:

I went on the Mass golf website, but it looks like MA does not offer one day tournaments like CT does with the CSGA.

https://www.massgolf.org/play/member-days/

You'll need a MassGolf handicap, you need to win the lottery, and there's only 1 west of Worcester (but it's a great way to get on Orchards).

UnderPar18 · February 7

2 hours ago, crcraig said:

https://www.massgolf.org/play/member-days/

You'll need a MassGolf handicap, you need to win the lottery, and there's only 1 west of Worcester (but it's a great way to get on Orchards).

Thanks! I’m in South Hadley quite often throughout the month so this would be a great course for me to play if I can get on it.

goduke7 · February 7

Check out the New England Series events.

Arsilon2 · March 23

On 2/6/2025 at 8:02 PM, UnderPar18 said:

Thanks! I’m in South Hadley quite often throughout the month so this would be a great course for me to play if I can get on it.

If you're in South Hadley, Ledges isn't a bad play. The Orchards has some flex memberships that allow for a few plays a month or week if you're looking to join somewhere casually. Westover wasn't mentioned and is always very dry so a good play early in the season and a solid golf course. Even a Franconia in Springfield is worth playing and a great deal.

If you're in Pittsfield, the Berkshires are rich with golf. Berkshire Hills is the only Tillinghast in Mass with some public play I believe. Stockbridge is a really good private. Taconic a gem as others have mentioned. You also have Wahconah, Waubeeka and Wyantenuck. All really good.

Just a bit down 91 you have Keney Park in Hartford, a true muni with a fantastic set of greens.

You guys really sold Worcester short. They held the first Ryder Cup, a US Open, a women's US Open etc. They just had a big reno by Gil Hanse too.

UnderPar18 · March 23

2 hours ago, Arsilon2 said:

If you're in South Hadley, Ledges isn't a bad play. The Orchards has some flex memberships that allow for a few plays a month or week if you're looking to join somewhere casually. Westover wasn't mentioned and is always very dry so a good play early in the season and a solid golf course. Even a Franconia in Springfield is worth playing and a great deal.

If you're in Pittsfield, the Berkshires are rich with golf. Berkshire Hills is the only Tillinghast in Mass with some public play I believe. Stockbridge is a really good private. Taconic a gem as others have mentioned. You also have Wahconah, Waubeeka and Wyantenuck. All really good.

Just a bit down 91 you have Keney Park in Hartford, a true muni with a fantastic set of greens.

You guys really sold Worcester short. They held the first Ryder Cup, a US Open, a women's US Open etc. They just had a big reno by Gil Hanse too.

Thanks for commenting. I am in CT so have played Keney a bunch.

I would love to experience some of the Berkshire courses so I will have to give those a look along with the Orchards. I will also check out Franconia just because I am in West Springfield often. And I agree Worcester seems to be on the top of my list with Taconic. Appreciate your perspective and I will check out all of the courses you listed.