If you had one public course in New England to play?

[Kevinmcfl]

I have a one year old at home and for the first time in years will not be taking a famiy vacation this summer. My wife has given me a one night pass to play golf. I was thinking of driving up to New England. Might be able to play 3 or 4 rounds in two days. Where do you suggest? Could p,lay the same course or 3 or 4 different ones if they are close!

[magicmatt]

[url="http://www.granitelinksgolfclub.com/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp"]http://www.granitelinksgolfclub.com/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp[/url]

[DCSerafin]

Head to Plymouth and hit three courses very close by. Pinehills Jones; Pineshills Nicklaus; across route 3; Waverly Oaks and Crosswinds. (All four courses are within 5 miles of each other)

[Kevinmcfl]

Both sound interesting. How do the Pinehills courses compare to Taconic or Sunday River and Belgrade Lakes?

[Bandy1080]

[quote name='Kevinmcfl' timestamp='1366474085' post='6883323']
Both sound interesting. How do the Pinehills courses compare to Taconic or Sunday River and Belgrade Lakes?
[/quote]

You are comparing apples and oranges. Belgrade and Sunday river are amazing but are up in Maine and generally are more mountain courses. In plymouth you are going to find wood lined courses with some slight elevation changes.

100% agree with the poster above. Just drive up to plymouth and play Pinehills one day (2 courses so you can do 36 holes) and then definitely play Waverly the next morning followed by maybe finishing up again at Pinehills. Crosswinds is a good track and cheap but does not compare to PH or Waverly.

[sdonoghue]

Or you could play Taconic, Crumpin Fox and the Ranch. Taconic is a must play and on a different level than the Plymouth courses. In my opinion, the Ranch and Crump are superior to Pine Hills as well. If you can sneak down route 2, Red Tail is very nice also.

[pingfool]

cant beat the Plymouth package mentioned above - would substitute crosswinds w/ atlantic cc (10min from waverly)

[Kevinmcfl]

I have played The ranch and Crumpin Fox. Loved both! Is Taconic the best in the state? It seems everyone is in favor of avoiding Maine. I don't mind the drive if the golf is better. If I was to choose between Taconic and Red Tail or Plymouth which way would you go?

[Bandy1080]

Don't get me wrong, Sunday River and Belgrade are two of my favorite courses in all of New England (public courses). Sunday River is unlike any other course I have even played. It is literally built into the side of a mountain. that said, if you can play midweek you will have a fantastic time. On the weekends, I would tend to stay away as they pump a lot of people through there and because it is so tough, it can make for a 5+ hr round. And then about an hour north of SR is Belgrade which is also a fantastic track, usually voted the best course in the state.

Taconic is great, but there really is not much around it. Pinehills is better than Red Tail lately. If you had asked me four years ago, I would have said Red Tail, but it has fallen off a bit since.

[allparz]

Cape Cod has some great reasonable price options...

Captains
Cape Cod Country Club
Cranberry Valley
Dennis Pines
Olde Barnestable Fairgrounds

1st nine at New Seabury is spectacular - probably pricey compared to the others

Those are my public favorites -- of course if you can get on Oyster Harbors, Eastward Ho!, WillowBend, CC National...

[dgould91]

Taconic and Crumpin Fox are the two best courses in New England in my opinion...I would absolutely try to get onto them

[Judge Smails]

Places like Taconic, Crumpin, Okemo, Sunday River, Sugarloaf, etc all have great reputations.

Several people have chimed in on Boston area course. I agree that Plymouth is a great area for golf. Pinehills is great, Waverly is very good and Crosswinds is fantastic for the price (its great period, actually). Never played Atlantic but I have heard good things about it as well. Red Tail north of the city is a very good course too. Granite Links no so much, overpriced and lousy lay out. Great views and nice conditions though.

For me Newport National is the best public option. It's a little more than an hour from Boston but a very easy drive.

Obviously, Newport is a nice place to be in the summer and you could coordinate playing there with playing the Plymouth course since they aren't too far away.

[magicmatt]

newport is an easy drive? which way you going? if you play there i recommend the afternoon, the one time i played there it was extremely foggy and i've heard that from others. it sucked til the fog burned off around the 13th

[Judge Smails]

I live in South Boston too.

I don't think its any harder to get to Newport Nat than it is to get to Plymouth. I'll take a wide open Route 24 over Route 3 any day.

Plus, it's just a better course than anything else in the area.

[marshvegas]

Both Pinehills, Waverley Oaks, Crosswinds and Atlantic are overhyped. Pinehills is not worth the money.

If you want long rounds, so-so conditions and pay a lot of money go to any of those four courses.

I would recommend:
Red Tail, Newport National, Montaup, The International, The Ranch, Blackstone, Wachusset.

[M910]

My order ...International ...Ranch...Red Tail...I hear foxwoods has a nice course and technically New England

[geoangus]

Having only played southern New England courses, I'd opt for Lake of Isles, but if I couldn't get on I'd go to Fox Hopyard. Honorable mention to The Ranch, Newport National.

Is The International public? I had a ball getting my butt whupped there last fall, and I'd love to give it another go someday.

[BrianL99]

[quote name='geoangus' timestamp='1368699090' post='7045630']
Having only played southern New England courses, I'd opt for Lake of Isles, but if I couldn't get on I'd go to Fox Hopyard. Honorable mention to The Ranch, Newport National.

Is The International public? I had a ball getting my butt whupped there last fall, and I'd love to give it another go someday.
[/quote]

Only The Oaks allows daily fee play ... although I'm sure I'll get some pressure for another WRX outing on The Pines this year.

[Imp]

[quote name='BrianL99' timestamp='1368699535' post='7045634']although I'm sure I'll get some pressure for another WRX outing on The Pines this year.
[/quote]*applies pressure*

--kC

[RhodyGolf]

If you're coming for an overnight "man" getaway....then hit Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun. You want some after golf action too, right? I mean if visiting the Mayflower or hanging out somewhere in the middle of Mass floats your boat, then by all means continue up 95.

Foxwoods has stay and play package at Lake of Isles, which include the private south course, so you can play both. There are some local courses nearby too that offer some variety like Elmridge in Pawcatuck, Shennecossett in Groton, and River Ridge in Griswold up the road.

Staying at Mohegan can get you on Mohegan Sun CC at Pautipaug which I heard is pretty nice, but a tough play. Norwich Golf Course is pretty much across the street from Mohegan too for another destination.

[Sean2]

I haven't played a lot of courses, but I like Pinehills and Crosswinds.

[TUGolfer06]

Taconic or The Course at Yale

[Golf and hockey]

I love quash net valley in mashpee ..grew up playing there with my grandfather and father

[Sean2]

[quote name='BrianL99' timestamp='1368699535' post='7045634']
[quote name='geoangus' timestamp='1368699090' post='7045630']
Having only played southern New England courses, I'd opt for Lake of Isles, but if I couldn't get on I'd go to Fox Hopyard. Honorable mention to The Ranch, Newport National.

Is The International public? I had a ball getting my butt whupped there last fall, and I'd love to give it another go someday.
[/quote]

Only The Oaks allows daily fee play ... although I'm sure I'll get some pressure for another WRX outing on The Pines this year.
[/quote]

Never heard of The Pines, so you won't get any pressure from me.

[geoangus]

[quote name='Sean2' timestamp='1369591347' post='7110398']
[quote name='BrianL99' timestamp='1368699535' post='7045634']
[quote name='geoangus' timestamp='1368699090' post='7045630']
Having only played southern New England courses, I'd opt for Lake of Isles, but if I couldn't get on I'd go to Fox Hopyard. Honorable mention to The Ranch, Newport National.

Is The International public? I had a ball getting my butt whupped there last fall, and I'd love to give it another go someday.
[/quote]

Only The Oaks allows daily fee play ... although I'm sure I'll get some pressure for another WRX outing on The Pines this year.
[/quote]

Never heard of The Pines, so you won't get any pressure from me.
[/quote]

It wasn't the intent of my post, but . . .

[MizunoPlayer68]

You can't go wrong with the 36 at Pinehills. I personally like the Nicklaus track better, but they are both fantastic. The Pinehills community is beautiful and is a must play if you're in the area. The public side of Lake of Isles @ Foxwoods is unbelievable, Newport National is amazing and Cranberry Valley on the Cape is beautiful.

If you want to hike up to Northern New England (where I'm from) then there are a few must plays:

1) Belgrade Lakes (ME) - Harold Alfond's gift to himself before he passed. It's unlike anything you'll play.
2) Lake Winnipesaukee (NH)
3) Sugarloaf (ME) - If you want to play here, wait until September and the foliage/best conditions
4) The Ledges (ME) - Newer track, lots of play from Mass/NH travelers

[M910]

[quote name='BrianL99' timestamp='1368699535' post='7045634']
[quote name='geoangus' timestamp='1368699090' post='7045630']
Having only played southern New England courses, I'd opt for Lake of Isles, but if I couldn't get on I'd go to Fox Hopyard. Honorable mention to The Ranch, Newport National.

Is The International public? I had a ball getting my butt whupped there last fall, and I'd love to give it another go someday.
[/quote]

Only The Oaks allows daily fee play ... although I'm sure I'll get some pressure for another WRX outing on The Pines this year.
[/quote]

And we thank you for last year's awesome event!

[rsj1360]

Newport National is great

[garcia51694]

Drive to MGM Grand and stay there in CT. Play Lake of Isles @ Foxwoods, Newport National, and Meadowbrook. NN and Meadowbrook are both within a quick drive over the CT line. Meadowbrook and Newport National are two of the nicest courses in RI, hands down. And Lake of Isles will not dissapoint.

[bruinsPATSirish]

Really depends what part of New England you want to hit. If you're staying towards Central/Western Mass then you have to hit Crumpin, The Ranch, Red Tail, and the International I you can get out there.