| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 158.1 | | DICKNS::F_MCGOWAN | | Tue Oct 13 1987 14:47 | 17 |
| Probably the most convenient (certainly not the best) is Leo J.
Martin, just off the Mass Pike at the Weston exit. It's an MDC course
and not one of my favorites. But it's close and it's cheap, and
it's a full 18 holes.
There's a sporty little 9-holer in Lexington: Pine Meadows, also
within 30 minutes; and another 9-holer in Stoneham (Unicorn) that's
pretty decent. A bit beyond the 30-minute distance is Millwood in
Framingham (14 holes, believe it or not), but you can call ahead
for tee times, which cuts down on the waiting time quite a lot.
Phone - 877-1221.
There are two courses in Wayland, both public and 18: Sandy Burr
and Wayland CC. They are also beyond the 30-minute zone,
but not by much. Hope this helps.
Frank
|
| 158.2 | Better Late Than Never... | VIRGO::MURPHY | I want you to kill all the gophers... | Mon Oct 26 1987 21:15 | 39 |
| I realize that this is too late for you but I will go ahead anyway.
There is a Donald Ross course in the Hyde Park area of Boston that
is open to the public. It is called the George Wright Municipal
Golf Course.
I had heard some stories about 'all' of the MDC courses (and certainly
Leo J. Martin falls into the category) being in need of massive
overhauls if not just plain closing down and had expected the worst
when I finally found this course.
Apparantly the Mass. Golf Association had entered into some sort
of a leasing agreement with the City of Boston or the MDC that would
allow them to bring the course back to life. Although the course
is not back all the way yet it is a marvellous test of golf with
a great number of the old style golf holes. What was most impressive
about the course is the state of its fairways, greens, the massive
brick clubhouse and the huge oaks that line the fairways and attest
to its age and potential charm.
The design itself gives credence to the genius of Ross as an architect.
You have to start be realizing what Ross was given to work with
(I didn't know Boston had any hills like this!) and the age in which
it was built. This course plays its way over, around and through
what I believe is part of the Blue Hills and there obviously was
not a lot of earth moved except where absolutely essential.
Although there are many blind shots on the course and you can often
find yourself where you would least want to be following a drive
that splits the fairway it is a fair test of golf.
My recommendation is that the first time player find a caddy(?)
or tag along with some local knowledge (or simply play the course
twice) to help you appreciate the layout. It is still a public course
and obviously a call to the club might give you some idea on wait
times/tee times, etc.
I only get to play this course a couple of times a year and regardless
of how poorly I perform I have never left this course with anything
but admiration and desire for that next round, next year.
|
| 158.3 | WPA built.... | USWAV3::FAGERBERG | | Tue Oct 27 1987 22:36 | 4 |
| A bit of Trivia......
Did you know that George Wright is the only golf course to be
surrounded by a stone wall and chain link fence????
|
| 158.4 | Newton Commonwealth GC | NEDVAX::SNIDER | Larry | Wed Oct 28 1987 18:08 | 90 |
| Commonwealth Golf Course
Newton,MA
Kendrick Street
617-244-4763
Public/Private: Public
Greens Fees: 13.00 Weekends
Carts: 3.75/hr
Course rating: 67.0 men 69.4 women
Slope: 121 119
Hole Yds Par Hdcp Stoke
--------------------------------------------------
1 281 4 9
2 575 5 1
3 185 3 13
4 128 3 17
5 475 5 3
6 268 4 7
7 177 3 15
8 500 5 5
9 201 3 11
--------------------------------------------------
2790 35
10 302 4 12
11 506 5 2
12 145 3 18
13 385 4 6
14 407 4 4
15 290 4 10
16 320 4 8
17 167 3 16
18 278 4 14
--------------------------------------------------
2800 35
--------------------------------------------------
5590 70
Comments:
This is a new course, probably within the last 15 yrs. It is located
near Boston College which is within 30 min of downtown. It is not hard
to find, but it would help if someone in your foursome was familiar
with the area. We were fortunate in that we stopped at a phone booth
to ask for the address and we were just a few blocks away (off
Commonwealth Ave).
Tee times are a must on weekends and probably on the weekdays too.
Since the course is near the college community and public it gets a
lot of play, both male and female.
Course conditions.....greens are wicked fast (check the slope rating)
and the fairways are tight. I don't know the total acreage the course
occupies but I don't believe you could squeeze 18 holes in a tighter
area (sometimes it might be wise to bring a helmet). This obviously
was zoned wet land suitable for golf course and the Commonwealth put a
course there. It's hilly with holes running up hill, down hill,
across the hill, etc. Don't let the distance fool you, this is not an
easy course. There is plenty of bunkers, undulating greens and tight,
tree lined fairways. Example the 12th, hdcp 18, 145 yds, up hill with
OB on the right and beyond cart path just on the far side of the
green, bunkers all over the place, and a two tier green with a slope
rating of 121. And lets not forget the water. A stream meanders down
through the course and collects in a couple of ponds that want to
reach out and grab ya ball right out'the'air.
Refreshments: No liquor license, no resturant but they do serve mean
hot dogs depending if they have ketsup that day or not.
Seriously, I would play the course again. I shot a 48 for the front
and 18 (for the 1st 4 hole on the back, had to quit because of time
limitations) which I felt I could shoot better but have not played but
once since Labor Day. Normally I'm a 6 hdcp in the Westfield Golf
League.
That's my synopsis of the course. You folks coming into the Puzzle
Palace from the hinterlands would do well to check it out. It's close
to downtown Beantown and the greens will kill you.
|
| 158.5 | More on George Wright... | VIRGO::MURPHY | I want you to kill all the gophers... | Wed Oct 28 1987 22:00 | 27 |
| re. .3
Yes, and its a *^$(&! trying to play back through the fence.
Not only that but this George Wright was some kind of philanthropist
or benefactor to the city back at the turn of the century. I believe
that he was associated with baseball in the city (maybe they named
the course after him because he had something to do with the only
Boston baseball team not to choke in the World Series?) He was also
associated with a sporting goods firm called Wright and Dittson
that manufactured baseball bats, gloves, as well as golf clubs.
Another interesting note about the course is that there was a 'giant'
toboggan run constructed of wood and maintained by the city for
use by the residents. Supposedly the remnants of the run are somewhere
on the course (my guess is that it resides on the same hill that
the 17th tee is located).
If you stray from the fairways you need be cautioned about just
one more thing - the acorns! No lie - those oaks have been there
probably for close to 100 years and their fruit (acorn) is massive
and can make a respectable 'thonk' when they hit you on top of the
head.
Have fun.
|
| 158.6 | more.... | USWAV3::FAGERBERG | | Thu Oct 29 1987 20:48 | 13 |
|
My brothers grew up caddying at G.W. and I remember the tobbogan
run well, also I remember when one brother got out of the army
he bought me a baseball glove to shag balls for him. Do you know
how far you can run under a long iron before you catch up to the
ball??? My father damn near killed him for running a seven year
old kid half to death....
I played there this spring and it has come back quite a bit, but
it is far from the course it used to be. I found rosary beads on
the tenth fairway when I was about to hit my second shot...I wonder
if that's an indication of how tough a course it really is????
|
| 158.7 | Old courses | ADVAX::CLOSE | | Mon Nov 02 1987 20:28 | 41 |
| I second and third the comments on Geo. Wright. It's not all the
way back, but the greens are very impressive for a heavily played
public course, there's a starter (!) a roving marshall, and some
control, unlike many publics. It's soooooo tough, for me, anyway.
I played there in September and was thrilled to shoot a 92. That's
still 3 or 4 over what I've been hitting lately, buit in four outings
there I had never broken 100! Try six to ten penalty strokes per
round, 'cause if you're off the middle, it's reload and add two!
Word of warning -- my car, and two friends' cars were broken into
in the parking lot, stereos stolen, doors broken, etc. I went in
to report it in the pro shop, and the owner topped me -- his new
car had just been stolen. This place is a notorious feeding ground
for thieves. Take a cab.
Re: Newton Commonwealth. Another little nasty. My best is 89 there,
and I felt like I'd won the Open doing it. Very fast greens for
such steeply pitched terrain. The history lesson isn't quite right.
It's actually a very old course, designed as the Commonwealth Country
Club in the teens. Donald Ross, of course. The expensive condos
at the top of the hill are where the clubhouse used to be. It was
a long course. The Kendrick st. condos were also part of the layout.
My father in law played it 40 years ago, said it was very long and
terribly difficult. For instance, if you've been there you'll
understand this: the tee to the 17th, was once the tee to the first.
It played around the hill, and the current 6th hole was the rest
of that original first. I can't image how a slicer or fader would
ever finish that hole! It's been sliced up for condos now, buit
it's still a wonderful challenge.
Don't overlook Putterham Meadows, the 18 hole public course in
Brookline. It used to be the second course at The Country Club.
Now it's a not-well-maintained public, but it's still a gorgeous
layout. Very crowded on weekends, but tee off at 12-1 on a weekday
and you'll be alright. It's only about 5 miles out Rt. 9 from downtown.
Those are your choices close to town. I'd forget Fresh Pond in
Cambridge. Oh yes, Pine Meadow in Lexington is a delightful little
9 holer, and that's not too far out to drive to.
DC
|
| 158.8 | On our own...? | VIRGO::MURPHY | I want you to kill all the gophers... | Fri Dec 04 1987 18:34 | 16 |
| re .6
I think the discovery of the rosary beads is perfect. It only serves
as a reminder that we golfers are on our own out there - especially
on the back nine at George Wright. (The tenth hole has to be played
to be believed - You hit out to a flag in the middle of the fairway,
find your ball in the left rough and then try to geuss just where
the green might be. I haven't hit it yet in six tries: not even
close!)
This Newton Commonwealth Course sounds like fun. I will have to
give it a try.
Thanks for the info.
By the way, where was the toboggan run?
|
| 158.9 | | CURIE::RESKER | | Tue Dec 08 1987 17:38 | 10 |
| I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Ponkapoag in Canton, MA (the
other side of Blue Hills near 128). There are 2 18 hole coures
which are laid out nicely. The number 1 course is a Donald Ross.
The course is in decent shape except for a some greens and the
tees (most of which are dirt). On weekdays, the greens fees are
$3. This is cheaper than going to the range.
Ditto on Wright. It's a toughie.
tim
|
| 158.10 | You jest! | OBRIEN::KEVIN | Kevin O'Brien | Wed Dec 09 1987 19:17 | 8 |
| Ponkapoag! I used to play there when I first took up the game.
The best addition to my bag that summer was a 16 oz hammer so I
could get a tee into the ground. Unless that place has changed
alot in the past 12 or so years, I have to call it a rock garden
and not a golf course.
KO
|
| 158.11 | Directions to George Wright please... | MSEE::KELLEY | Custom clubs/club repair | Thu Jan 19 1989 11:07 | 7 |
|
Can somebody post directions to the George Wright course
and also tell me about how long it would take to get there
from Salem, NH...?
Thanks
Gene
|
| 158.12 | a white cane and a little luck.. | USWAV3::FAGERBERG | | Fri Jan 20 1989 08:22 | 16 |
|
Here is the least confusing way I can think of.
South on 128 to Rte 1 Dedham. Take Rte 1 north to the Dedham circle.
Bear right at the circle going towards West Roxbury (believe its
Washington Street). Continue for about five miles until you come
to the Birch Street Projects on your right. Take a right at this
light onto Poplar Street and continue about two miles to West Street,
turn right onto West Street and George Wright will be on your right
about a mile down the street.
By the way...it is a difficult walking course, especially the back
nine.
Good luck. Also...don't leave anything of value showing in
your car while parked in the lot!!!!
|
| 158.13 | Andover CC | HARLEY::DAVE | | Wed Sep 06 1989 13:19 | 10 |
|
I've signed up for the united Way outing that Ron Purdy is running
here in Andover. It will be at Andover Country Club. Have any of
you played the course? If so, would you mind telling me a little
about the course? Are there practice facilities, driving range ect...
Thank you.
Dave
|
| 158.14 | | DINSCO::BURKE | I'll play rain or shine | Wed Sep 06 1989 17:33 | 9 |
| Dave,
Andover CC is a nice course -- I think you'll enjoy it. The course
is private, so the conditioning is what you'd expect. The rough can be
treacherous and the greens are fast. The course rating is 70.0 and the
slope is 119. They have a nice practice range which includes sand traps
and flags for targets.
Jeff
|
| 158.15 | where to go? | MJOSWS::FAGLEY | beat the resident | Thu Sep 07 1989 13:22 | 5 |
| I'm going to be in staying in Burlington Mass all next week. I'm not
bringing my clubs but would still like to play some evening. Any
possibilities??
Rick
|
| 158.16 | There are a few... | XANADU::CAMPBELL | It's only a CRIME if you get caught! | Fri Sep 08 1989 12:27 | 12 |
| Well I know of two in the area of Burlington. One is called Unicorn
which is in Stoneham. Nice course. Weekends get crouded and there
are no tee times, so you can end up waiting a while in the mornings.
There is also the Woburn Country Club. Never played that one, but it
looks nice. That's located off of Rte 3A in Woburn, 5-10 minutes from
the Marriot in Burlington.
There's also one in Billerica, just north of Burlington, but I don't
know too much about it.
Shawn
|
| 158.17 | | HARLEY::DAVE | | Mon Sep 11 1989 12:23 | 8 |
| There a lot of courses within a short drive...
Look in the phone book...
most can handle a single on short notice...
dave
|