My 2020 Massachusetts Golf Rankings: Course 24-15
This past June I decided, maybe in some quarantine haze, that I wanted to try to play every single course in Massachusetts. Public, Private, 9-hole, 18-hole, executive/par 3. If it has a tee and a hole with a flag in it, I want to play it. There are roughly 365 courses in the state, so this is going to take some time to complete.
I managed to get to 35 different courses from June-December and now that 2020 is over, I thought I’d rank the courses I’ve played thus far to mark the year.
Every time I play, I snap some pictures on my phone and do a little write-up in Instagram. I tried to make this list feel a bit different, so I have a couple categories to keep me on topic (kind of). I also tried very hard to not allow score to ruin or sweeten my view of a course and experience.
Now, some of these 35 courses I had played before, but starting June 16 when I played Thorny Lea my ticker sat at “zero.” I wanted to document each round. So some of these courses I have played before, some I didn’t know existed until I poked around on the internet.
Finally, the count starts at 34 because I am lumping in Crosswinds, which has 27 holes, as one golf course. I played all 27 in one day (it’s great, go play them all) and depending on the day, they’ll send you out to two different nines.
Anyway, below are courses 24-15. Thanks for reading and check back next week when courses 14-5 are revealed!
If you’d like to read about courses 34-25, click here…
#24 Brookmeadow CC
Canton, MA
Context: Played Brookmeadow with a small group the day before a buddy’s wedding. Wedding golf is always fun. The course is doing a bunch of work around the green complexes, so we had to step over ropes to reach some greens. But it’s going to be worth it. Some cool additions, like the bunker in the picture above.
How many previous rounds here? Zero
Why you should play here: Brookmeadow has a solid range and clubhouse to welcome you. The second half of the front nine is solid. 6 is a good par three over water. 7 is a tricky par four and then 8 and 9 are back to back par fives divided by some bunkering with trees growing among them. The land is rather flat, but the holes aren’t boring. They’re trying to do good work here, and I’d imagine in the next year or so, it will be even better.
How far I would drive to play here: 20 minutes. A range to warm up. A decent set of holes once you get past the first five (the second hole might be the worst hole in the entire state).
#23 Ponkapoag Course 1
Canton, MA
Context: A summer round with my buddy Eliot. The course was in okay shape. We’ve played countless rounds together and for the first time in my memory, we got lost twice between greens and tees. Not sure if that says something about the routing or about us. Also, everyone at Ponkapoag is extremely nice and welcoming.
How many previous rounds here? Zero.
Why you should play here: Ponkapoag is a classic muni. It’s got the bones of a solid course. There are some really good holes. I enjoyed 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16, 17. The employees are welcoming, which isn’t always the case, especially around the Boston area.
How far I would drive to play here: 20 minutes.
#22 Brookline GC
Brookline, MA
Context: A Monday evening round on a whim. Teed off on my own but joined up with two guys that caught me on the second tee box because it was painfully slow. So much so that my partners bailed after 15 holes. The course was in pretty good condition and the greens were just fine.
How many previous rounds here? One.
Why you should play here: Another muni in the Boston area. There’s a bunch of history at Brookline Golf Club, the home course of Francis Ouimet. It’s another course with some good holes and some bad ones. The bad ones aren’t as bad as Ponky though, which is why it is a slot higher. The back nine is solid, although the 14th hole (mainly the tee shot) is kind of a disaster. Holes 4, 7, 12, 13, 16, and 17 are solid and offer different challenges.
How far I would drive to play here: 20 minutes. The golf roulette with the courses that fall in this window of the rankings is the condition of the course (Brookline can get real soggy) and the pace of play. Brookline’s driving range is excellent, too.
#21 Black Swan CC
Georgetown, MA
Context: A summer morning round with two former colleagues of mine, Doug and Pat. North Shore golf means golf with friends. The course was in alright shape, nothing spectacular.
How many previous rounds here? Between 5-10.
Why you should play here: Black Swan is great value and a wonderful course to walk. Some hills, but nothing crazy. It’s also typically quiet and easy to a tee time and you can play quickly. The back nine is the superior nine, in my opinion. Holes 11 and 18 are the only bad ones of the bunch. 12 is an excellent par 3 and 15 is the best hole on the course. Black Swan also has a great bar.
How far I would drive to play here: 20 minutes. The biggest issue I have with this course is the set of par 5s. Potentially the worst group on this list. Driver is really only in play once on the four long holes, and long irons are the typical play so you can avoid cross hazards, which is nonsense. The 18th hole is a horrendous finishing par 5.
#20 West Bridgewater CC
West Bridgewater, MA
Context: A blustery fall day spent trying our best to avoid hitting our balls in the wetlands that dot the fairways at West Bridgewater CC. For a course with wetlands, it was dry and in good shape. I played with Eliot and two other guys who were a pleasure to play with.
How many previous rounds here? Zero.
Why you should play here: If you’re a fan of target golf, this is a good option. There’s a lot of fairways lined with hazards and with the wind up, it felt very tricky. The course is fair though - it’s all in front of you. No blind shots or marshy spots hiding around corners. Keep the ball in front of you, and you’ll have a good day. The par 3 8th (above), is a tough hole. The 13th is another really solid one.
How far I would drive to play here: 12 minutes. As far as a golf course I would enjoy playing, this one shouldn’t be as high on the list. I’d rather drive a bit farther and play some other courses. BUT as a golf course, taking my personal taste out of it, it’s better than courses 21-34 on my list.
#19 Wentworth Hills CC
Context: A Labor Day weekend round. In typical years, this round might have marked the end of the season. I played with Mike, Dan, and (another) Sean. Nice to have a full group of people that know each other, I think it makes a difference in the round. The course was in solid shape, but wet and soggy in a few spots; it had some quirky holes with patches of wetlands and hazards (or unpruned trees) to add to the challenge.
How many previous rounds here? Zero
Why you should play here: It seems silly, but it was kind of cool to cross into Rhode Island for a four hole stretch on the back nine. There’s a good variation of holes, some drivable par 4s, some long par fours, a couple good par threes, especially 8 and 17 which run parallel to each other, using the same pond to add to the drama.
How far I would drive to play here: 22 minutes. I enjoyed this round and the course overall. If I lived down in that section of the state, it would be a place I would visit a few times a year.
#18 Mt. Hood
Melrose, MA
Context: A summer Friday with my buddy Paul and two complete strangers, one of whom had been playing Mt. Hood for 40+ years. There are zero frills as far as golf amenities, it was even challenging to find a practice putting green. It’s a par 69 with lots of short par 4s. Mt. Hood is a tight piece of property and uses as much of it as possible to squeeze in 18 holes. You even walk through a parking lot and past a semi-abandoned playground on the walk from 17 to 18.
How many previous rounds here? Zero
Why you should play here: It’s fun! I don’t particularly like using the word “fun” to describe NBA basketball and golf courses. It’s overused and has lost all meaning. The elements that make Mt. Hood “fun” were on display during my round with Paul. We played a match, and he hit driver on most holes, chasing birdies. I played the course differently, hitting a combo of irons and driver off the tee. There were options and the course had some humps and bumps. The 11th hole, a short par 4, had a big dune-like feature in the middle of the fairway, making it a blind tee shot. The views of Boston and the harbor from monument on the front nine and from the 12th tee are also great. The price was right, and the course was… entertaining.
How far I would drive to play here: 25 minutes. I was ashamed to pull into the parking lot after such a short drive from Boston. The price is right. It’s a good walk. And you’re likely to meet some characters.
#17 Southers Marsh
Plymouth, MA
Context: This was the scene of my first Boston Social Golf outing (follow them on IG). The idea is that they get together and play golf. Everyone is welcome to their outings and I met some good folks, particularly on the patio after for a beer before heading home. Thanks to Dave for the invite. As I walked to my car, some guys were scrambling to their trunks to grab a club for a one club challenge. The weather was delightful for a late fall round and the course was in good shape (albeit, it’s mainly tees and greens on this par 61).
How many previous rounds here? Zero
Why you should play here: The novelty of a place like this struck me as I pulled down the driveway. A cranberry bog and golf course living in harmony. The nice part about Southers Marsh is it doesn’t stop there. The course is solid, a plethora of par 3s that don’t all feel the same. The last four holes bring you back to the bogs, hitting each tee shot over the bogs and hoping you judged the wind properly.
How far I would drive to play here: 30 minutes. I really enjoyed Southers Marsh. The par 61 makes it a place worth driving to and it’s a GREAT add-on to another round in Plymouth. Waverley and Southers Marsh sounds like a splendid summer day.
#16 Waubeeka GC
Williamstown, MA
Context: A birthday round with a random couple in the Berkshires! Late fall foliage and golf go together like lamb and tuna fish… This early round started off dewy and wet on a truncated opening hole: a 115 yard par 3 (instead of the usual par 4 due to course construction). It was a lovely walk and for late September the greens and overall condition of the course was solid. They have a great range and practice green, and when this pandemic passes, the post-round hang seems solid.
How many previous rounds here? 2-3 back in middle school during golf camp.
Why you should play here: I probably played Waubeeka at a perfect point in the year. The weather was great and the scenery was peak New England. The people are extremely nice in the pro shop, and the laid back attitude is appealing. The course is okay. You kind of get through the first four holes and then I think 5 and 6 are very good. The fifth is a mid-length par four with a challenging, tiled, tiny green. The sixth is a mid-length par 3 downhill into a little amphitheater. You come to Waubeeka for the back 9 though. It’s when you realize you’re in the mountains. Excellent views and vistas and the holes play through some big elevation changes. 11-14 is the strongest stretch, and 16 is a heck of a par 3, too.
How far I would drive to play here: 25 minutes. I enjoyed Waubeeka, and when my wife and I return to the Williamstown area (which we will because we love it) I’ll play here again. However, it’s not a spot I would drive too far to play on a regular basis.
#15 Atlantic CC
Plymouth, MA
Context: An insane November day in short sleeves as we gripped the golf season with white-knuckles. Another fun foursome with Dan, Eliot, and Matt. Atlantic usually has a range and their practice putting green will prepare you for putts of hundreds of feet if you’d like. Another course with a promising 19th hole set-up, a long porch with a view of the 9th and 18th greens.
How many previous rounds here? Zero (I had heard of most of the courses I played this year. This one and Southers Marsh were way off my radar.)
Why you should play here: It’s off the beaten Plymouth golf path, which I liked. If you take the things you like about Waverley and Pine Hills and Crosswinds and turn them down just a touch, you’ll have Atlantic. You’ll tee off from high points and hit to low points, you’ll have some greens propped up on hillocks. Atlantic isn’t going to blow you away (except for the 8th hole), but it’s a good set of golf holes from 1-18.
How far I would drive to play here: 30 minutes. If you’re calling up the other Plymouth joints, don’t forget this one. You’re not going to feel like a “Member for the Day” and you’re not going to have the dramatics of Waverley, or the options of 27 holes like Crosswinds. However, Atlantic has a middle child vibe - forgotten but quite content with where it falls in the pecking order.