Round 27: Renaissance CC is Full of Visual Trickery

November 17, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass, Golf

This place throws some serious haymakers. The front nine has a bunch of elevation changes and some holes play along interesting ridge lines, especially the 7th hole. At first glance the course seems like a challenge off the tee. Bunkers and water and natural growth areas. But it’s truly the green complexes that perplex and make the course difficult. With an iron in hand, it’s easy to feel good about your target. But then when you arrive at the green, no matter where your ball is, you realize what you saw from the fairway is not reality. Brian Silva loves messing around with a player’s perspective using bunkering and ridges. He succeeds here.

Round 26: Stow Acres South Has Some Hit and Miss Moments

November 17, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass, Golf

The Stow Acres South Course was the 26th new course in my quest to play them all.
This place was THE PLACE to play when I was growing up. It had 36 holes and gained notoriety in 1995 when the North course hosted the US Public Links Champ.
I even remember playing a college match here, but only lasting a hole or two before snow accumulation became a problem.

Round 25: Butterbrook Golf Course is an Old Reliable

November 17, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass, Golf

Butterbrook is a course I’ve played more than any other in the last 10 years. I ran a golf camp here. I’ve had golf gatherings with friends here. I’ve played pairing roulette here. I’ve played some of my best rounds here. It was fitting to officially check it off the list as my 25 course this summer with two guys I grew up playing golf with.

The course is really solid. Another gem out in Boston’s metro west region.

Round 23: Brookmeadow Golf Course has a Bright Future

October 08, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

Brookmeadow is in transition. A simple, straight forward golf course overall. The land is rather flat as you can see in the pictures, but they are in the middle of adding some intrigue with green side runoff areas, new bunkering, and added length.

Round 22: Waubkeeka CC is a Tale of Two Nines

September 29, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

Wabukeeka is ultimately a tale of two nines. The front winds through the flat, quieter part of the property. There’s a bit more length to the holes, but less intrigue. The highlight is the par 3 seventh, a hint of what lies ahead on the back nine.

Round 21: Winchester Country Club is highly underrated.

September 29, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

The walk around WCC felt familiar, that north East Donald Ross vibe. But what felt different was the openness. You could see a lot of the course from various spots. Greens perched and fairways carved all around. But it didn’t have the feeling that you were sharing holes, it still felt like every hole was its own experience.

Round 20: West Bridgewater CC is a Tricky Test

September 15, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

The 20th course in my quest to play every Mass course was West Bridgewater CC. It had been a couple weeks, and the wind and forced carries made some shots rather awkward.

The course is ultimately fine. It’s very flat with marshland and water on nearly every hole. The front nine highlights are the par 3 fourth hole, a cute little par 3. Holes 5,6,7 were three tough ones into the wind with water looming and a touch of visual tricky off the tee.

The back nine is probably the better side. Tree lined and a bit tougher overall. The par 3s are a bit “blah” but hole 11 was a good one from the back tees and 13 was a cool dogleg left among some big trees.

The price was right, we paid 52 bucks to walk. The pace was good, no long waits. We met two nice guys Jack and Jim (even though they were BC grads...).
This isn’t a place I’d push to return to. But I enjoyed the day and it got me excited to get back out and play more golf.

THE FACTS

Date: September 19

Tee TIme: 9:10am

Playing Partner: Eliot, Jim, John

Tees: Gold Tees (6659 yards)

Game: No Game

Score: 82

Birdie Count: 0 (25 total)

Round 18 Nahant Golf Club at Kelley Greens is The Dive Bar of Golf Courses

September 14, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

Nahant Golf Club at Kelley Greens is a 9 hole par 30 course.

This course will not be memorable for any of the holes, but instead will stand out because of the setting, which is odd; the wind, which was plentiful, and the people I ran into. As my friend Deacon explained it to me: It’s a dive bar kind of course. Rough around the edges but just right if you’re looking for that kind of thing.

Round 17: Brookline Golf Course and it's Small Bit of Charm

September 02, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

Brookline Golf Club aka Putterham aka Robert T. Lynch. A course of many names with some cool history and a rather well-known neighbor (who is hosting the 2022 US Open.) As a golf course, Putterham has some charm and interest, but it also has some rather drab spots that don’t hold up.

Round 16: Waverly Oaks

September 02, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

Waverly Oaks was almost turned into “Hollywood East” in 2008. The property nearly became soundstage and production for movies. I am glad it wasn’t.

The Brian Silva design is wacky and fun and big. The course has quite a bit of elevation change and massive escarpments that seem to bisect the property and get in the way of your golf ball.

Round 15: Mount Hood is More Than The Numbers on the Card

September 02, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

Had a late morning round with my buddy Paul out at Mt. Hood. Don’t let the scorecard fool you, this par 69 offers some challenge and interest. Rolling hills and big drops make this course trickier than the numbers on the card might make you think. There are plenty of holes to rip driver, but you could also bring a five iron, eighth, wedge, and putter and enjoy the round, too. I think that’s a good sign for a course.

Round 14: Taconic GC, Tucked in the Berkshires, is Charming, Challenging, and a Treat.

August 18, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

Taconic Golf Course is one of the best courses in the state. I fell in love with this course as I battled the challenging course and took in the great views. All on my own.

Round 13: Cedar Falls is a Shaggy 9-Holer in Saugus.

August 17, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

Cedar Glen in Saugus, Massachusetts was my 13th new course of the summer. A shaggy 9-holer for sure.

Round 12: Concord Country Club is a Beautifully Fair Challenge

August 10, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

Had an amazing two days competing in the Dawson Cup at Concord Country Club with Eliot. When Concord is all dressed up for a competition it’s just an absolute delight. However, because we were competing, I kept my phone away during the round and couldn't go out after to take pictures. Snapped a few from around the clubhouse and had one looking down 17 from last fall. I’ll be back soon I hope and can take some more pictures. CCC is the 12th course in my quest to play every course in the state.

Concord CC is a place I've played countless times growing up. I had some friends that were members, and I was lucky enough to have three years of high school golf there, too.⠀

The course is fabulous. It's difficult and fair from tee to cup, the tee shots are varied, the holes are all interesting with rolling hills, and Donald Ross' greens will make you think, no matter how long your putt (I four putted the 13th this weekend...).

My friend Matt believes the stretch of holes 2-6 is the toughest in the state (my friend Paul would add the 7th t that stretch). The four par fours punctuated by the downhill par 3 sixth are exceptional. 2, 3, and 4 are incredibly difficult but offer opportunities to make pars and (maaaaybe) a birdie. But bogeys and doubles lurk in the woods and rough. The approach shots into number 2 and 4 are two of the toughest around.⠀

On the back 9 the 13th green will take you for a ride if you hit the ball in the wrong spot, 14, 15, and 16 are so good and so tough. The 16th hole is a challenging dog leg left with a tree and water hazard protecting the corner. The walk down 17 and 18, a straight shot home, is a beautiful image made better by the removal of trees over the years.

I’ll always look forward to playing Concord and can’t wait to get back there again soon.

THE FACTS

Date: August 7 and 8

Tee TIme: 11:00am and 8:50am

Playing Partner: Eliot, Kurt, Amir and then Eliot, Frank, and Tom

Tees: Black Tees (6,679 yards)

Game: Two man best ball tournament and Skins…

Score: 78 and 78

Birdie Count: 1 each round (16 total)

Round 10: Bring Your Short Game to Boston Golf Club

July 27, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

Had a splendid day @bostongolfclub on Saturday. The place is photogenic, immaculate, and difficult. It is the tenth course in my quest to play every course in the state.Every hole feels like a special event, a work of art even.

Round 9: Franklin Park is a treasure in Jamaica Plain

July 27, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park is a wonderful public course on the edge of Boston. The course is old school, the second oldest public course in the country. Donald Ross designed it, and it shows. Tricky greens, some blind shots, table top greens. Had a blast checking it out for the first time.

Round 8: Black Swan and its Forced Carries

July 23, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

I travelled up to Georgetown, MA to play Black Swan. I've played Black Swan a handful of times because it's a great deal and a decent enough golf course. The price is right and I enjoy walking the course.
Overall, the course is a good challenge. It might have some of the most forced carries and cross-hazards of any course I have played (it has a bit of a Florida vibe to it).

Round 5: Quail Ridge's Nine Holes of Quirkiness

July 17, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

Went out this morning to @QuailRidgeGolf in Acton for 9 holes. It’s the fifth course in my quest to play every course in Massachusetts. @PlayMassGolf. It's a quirky little track with some good holes, forced carries, and a par 3 finisher.

Round 4: Ponkapoag Course 2 has been forgotten.

July 10, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

Went out to play Ponkapoag Course 2 on Thursday in the scorching weather. In this quest to play every course, I’m going to have to play every course. The great, good, bad, and ugly.

The course opened for the 2020 season on June 25. It was obviously ignored completely. The greens were shaggy or burnt out, the tee boxes were overgrown, and there was not much fairway to be found (that's not a judgement on my driving accuracy...).⠀
However, I did see bright spots.

The green complexes and approaches into the greens were interesting. A lot of Donald Ross features with slopes from back to front and the infinity type visual like the green just falls off at the back. I was in spots that would have been tough if the greens were any bit fast. ⠀

Another thing I liked about the course were the reveals. A lot of blind tee shots turned the walk to my drive into a little treat as I turned a corner to see a drop off with the green tucked around a corner. ⠀

I'd be interested to return to Ponky Course 2 without any woods in the bag and try to get around. The course has a bunch of trees in spots that attempt to add length, but don't quite do the trick. ⠀

You can hit driver a bunch, but if you just brought your set of irons, it could be fun challenge.⠀

Best part was getting around in 3 hours.

THE FACTS

Date: July 10, 2020

Tee TIme: 7:48AM

Playing Partner: Eliot

Tees: Gold Tee (6,900 yards)

Game: Nassau ($15 total)

Score: 80

Birdie Count: 2(8 total)

Follow me on Instagram or Twitter.

Round 3: Ponkapoag's Great Bones

June 27, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass

There’s a saying in golf that courses can have “great bones.” It’s a back handed compliment in some respects, praising the layout of the course, while dissing the maintenance or change over time (overgrowth, tree, bunkering). Well, (here it comes…) Ponkapoag Course #1 has great bones. The DCR funded course was designed by world renowned architecture Donald Ross, who has his name on many Massachusetts courses.