Round 50: Fall River

I played my 50th new course in style this week. Fall River hosted a MassAm qualifier, so that means limited pictures as I was trying to shoot a score and hit 18 cups.

The course is a good one. The 18 holes are very compact, nestled in among hills and along the Taunton River. A collection of the holes have a lovely view of the river, on both the front and back nine.

There are some strong stretches of holes. I particularly liked holes 11-16. A nice mix of shots up and down elevation changes. The blind tee shot on 13 and the rollicking blind approach on 14 grab a players attention.

The uphill approach on 11 and the very claustrophobic par 3 12th challenge the short clubs in your bag. The pressure valve is released as you walk to the 15th green, which is set in the middle of the back nine in an open part of the property. 15 is a wonderful par 3 with the river in the background.

The other stretch I enjoyed was 1-3. I always like playing three different pars in a row, and this par 4, 5, and 3 are a good test. The second hole offers some Eastward Ho! vibes with winding land sending the tee shot downhill and then the approach to the green requiring a shot back uphill. The first is a challenging, long par 4 with a large ravine running down the left. The third is a picturesque par 3 with a massive two tiered green with the water all around providing more visual intimidation than strategic.

Holes 4 and 17 might have been my least favorite, both holes ended a stretch of enjoyable golf holes. 17 is the most awkward tee shot on the course with a small landing area framed by water hazards. The second shot is to a green tucked up between the trees, putting a premium on position off the tee.

The 4th is similar, with a bit more freedom off the tee, however, a small pond protects people from cutting off the dogleg. Another awkward tee shot upon playing it for the first time.

Fall River is a course I could play everyday. It would certainly provide various shots each time around and the greens were very good, with good slope and variation.
I look forward to playing it again in the future when my heart rate isn’t at 140 bpm as I grind for a score!

THE FACTS

Date: June 2021

Playing Partners: Ryan and Jake

Tees: Blacks

Game: Stroke play

Birdie Count: 2 (54 total)

Round 49: Captains Course Starboard

The Starboard course at Captain’s Course was my 49th new course. Playing two courses in a day is always a challenge, but I loved seeing two courses on the same property and doing a bit of comparing. However, I'm going to avoid comparing the two and just focus on Starboard.⠀
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The Starboard course had a nice variety of holes, with plenty of options off the tee. I hit some long irons, hybrids, and drivers. It's an attackable course, but golfers can also plot their way around safely. ⠀
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The par 3s were very solid at Starboard. The second hole was a charming downhill short iron shot to a big green with four big bunkers.

The par 3 fifth hole was the only "ohh" moment of the entire day. The hole requires a mid iron shot to a long, skinny green protected by bunkers and a penalty area in the front. The green rests at the base of a hill, so long isn't an ideal miss either. A really nice looking, tough par 3. ⠀
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The seventeenth is the other par 3 that sticks in my mind. A bunker protects the front of this massive green. From the tee, the green doesn't look as big because the front bunker hides the player's view of the green. ⠀
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Some other standout holes were the par 4 fourth, a long two shot hole that requires driver to reach a hill in order to see the green on the second shot. The par 4 ninth is a great way to finish the front side. Another well designed bunker sits in front of the green, making it look far smaller than it actually is. The pin was tucked right behind the bunker, making it rather difficult to get a shot close.⠀
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The back was an excellent way to end our day of golf. The bunkering on this particular nine really stood out (A lot of Brian Silva vibes... ). The tenth is a tough, L-shaped par 4 with an approach shot to a raised, large three tiered green. The 16th is an exceptional par 4. Three bunkers line the left side of the fairway and the green sits back in the trees. It was one of my favorite holes on the course. A great challenge.⠀

THE FACTS

Date: June 2021

Playing Partners: Hank, Victor, and Jack

Tees: Whites

Game: Stableford

Birdie Count: 2 (53 total)

Round 48: Captains Course Port

The Port course at Captains was the 48th course in my quest to play them all. This one had a little extra pressure, as I hit a few shots in front of one of my writing idols, Tom Coyne, who joined the group of 40 golfers as we chased the sunset and played 36.⠀
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The Port Course was made most challenging by the blind tee shots and the wind, which wreaked havoc When I forgot to take it into account. The front nine dips and dives from tee to green - the third, fourth, and seventh holes were my standouts. ⠀
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The par 3 third hole is just a little downhiller, but the vicious crosswind and deep bunker in front added to the hole's intrigue. The fourth was a lovely, swinging dogleg left with trees guarding the corner and bunkers framing the right edge. The distance on your approach shot to the perched green depends on how much of the corner you want to take on. The seventh was a beastly par 4 where some knowledge is needed to avoid the cavernous drop-off in the left rough. ⠀
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The back is divided evenly between par 3s, 4s, and 5s. Although given the thirteenth hole is a 446 yard par five from the tips (408 from the whites), it seemed like a stubborn choice to reach a par of 72 ⠀
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The standouts on the back were the par 5 twelfth and the par 4 fourteenth. The twelfth was a three shotter, and I particularly liked the green which had a run off area on the left, unlike the other greens on the course. ⠀
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The fourteenth is a tough driving hole with water lurking on the right, an odd feeling when the first 13 holes didn't have any water trouble off the tee. ⠀
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The last three holes challenge some different clubs in the bag. The sixteenth is a short par 4 that dives right with a green protected by a pit in front. The seventeenth is a mid to long iron par 3 to a deep green that has a mini false-front and some tough bunkers. And eighteen is a rolling par 5 that can be reached in two by the brave and strong.⠀
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Overall, I'd say the Port course is, well, a good public Cape Cod option. The greens were in good shape, there's some variation in the holes, and golfers of every level can get it around and make a good number.

THE FACTS

Date: June 2021

Playing Partners: PJ, Patrick, and Ryan

Tees: Golf (combo)

Game: Stableford Quota

Birdie Count: 1 (51 total) ⠀

Round 47: Wachusett CC

Wachusett was my 47th course in my quest to play them all this weekend.
This lovely public course was designed by Donald Ross in 1927.

The course is on three distinct pieces of land.

The first three holes form a triangle, sending you out and back toward the clubhouse. The second hole is probably the best of the triad. A dogleg par 5 that is reachable with a good drive. But the layup is made difficult with a pond at the corner of the dogleg that players might have to hit over from a downhill, sidehill lie.

Holes 8,9,10,17, 18 are also on this same part of the property. Those five holes run parallel to each other along the top of the hill that the course sits on. The wind defends these holes and 8 and 9 are the standouts, both challenging par 4s.

Holes 4-7 are on the other side of the road. 4 is a “blah” par 3 that used to be a par 4. The 5th is a dropdown par 5 with a creek about 50 yards short of the two-level green. The mid-iron par 3 sixth and par 4 seventh send you back up the hill that hole 5 descends.

The third distinct piece of land are holes 11-16. It's very tight, with holes tucked next to each other, separated by rows of trees. In my mind, it's the best set of holes on the course. 11 and 12 are outstanding par 4s, with 12 being my favorite on the course. And 16 is a delightful uphill par four with a tiny green. This section feels quaint back in these woods, winding up and down hills and hollows.

The round falls a tad flat on 17 and 18 as both holes play dead straight back to the clubhouse after you emerge from the wonderful 11-16 stretch.

18 is mid-iron par 3, which takes the steam out of the round.

Personally, I'd love to play the opening three holes as the final three. The third hole finishes at the clubhouse with the green next to the outdoor balcony. A perfect setting, and it's a par 4.

Overall, Wachusett left me wanting to come back and play again. We walked for 40 bucks on a Saturday afternoon. Well worth the price.

THE FACTS

Date: June 2021

Playing Partners: Mike and Dan

Tees: Blacks

Game: None

Birdie Count: 0 (50 total)

Round 45: Reedy Meadow

The fourth at Reedy Meadow

This past weekend I played my 45th new course in my quest to play them all.
The plan was to play King Rail, but the fool making the tee time (me...) made a mistake and booked Reedy Meadow down the street.

Reedy Meadow is a low, flat golf course that is rough around, and inside, the edges. Astroturf tees are on most holes. It’s not the kind of fake grass that holds tees either, so you might be searching for a rocky spot to stick a tee. It’s not ideal.

This is not the type of course that you visit with any pretenses. It’s a short nine-holer with holes that run back and forth. You can almost see the entire course standing on the first tee.

The best holes are five and six. Five is a short par 5 with a wide open driving area as the fourth and seventh holes line each side of the hole, but the green is kind of tucked away and the second and third shots are somewhat interesting.

The sixth hole is a cute little par 3 that measures about 165 yards. The green sits out in the marsh land. It’s a two tiered green that pretty tough to hit.

There is a place for golf courses like this. Simple, cheap, low key. It’s a dive bar with sticky floors, loud music, bad mixed drinks, and worse food. But if you’re looking to hang out with friends, have a few domestics, and pop a few bucks in the juke box, this is a fine option. If you’re looking for more, this might not be your joint.

THE FACTS

Date: May 2021

Playing Partners: Pete, Matt,

Tees: Blues

Game: None

Birdie Count: 0 (49 total)

Round 46: Plymouth CC

Plymouth CC was my 46th course in my quest to play them all.

This course is another lesson in the golf chapter: “Don’t judge a course by the numbers on the scorecard.” Evan At par 69 it seems as if, as the members say, “Donald Ross always wins.”

I started my shotgun round on the fourth hole. This creates an exceptional front nine from 4-12. The rolling hills offer all sorts of tough lies and difficult approaches. There’s always somewhere to miss (unless you ask about the very tough 7th and 8th greens). I particularly love the punch bowl fifth hole and the 11th and 12th. All are tough par 4s.

My playing partner who has played in the Hornblower for 30+ years made an astute observation. The short holes have the small, undulating greens, while the longer holes have the larger, more subtle putting surfaces.

Even though the 16th hole is the only par 5, playing the 11th and 12th from the tips both feel like par 4.5.

The understated nature of this course makes this such an enjoyable place to play. The membership is proud of it and they are working to make changes to restore the course to its original design and aesthetic.

I particularly love seeing across wide swaths of the course. It’s refreshing and gives a glimpse of what’s to come or where you’ve already been. Kinda like life.

I highly recommend Plymouth CC. Find a member and go play it.

THE FACTS

Date: June 2021

Playing Partners: Hank, Victor, and Jack

Tees: Gold (combo)

Game: 4-man best ball

Birdie Count: 1 (50 total)