2020 Golfing Magazine New England Early Summer Digital Edition

New England’s #1 Golf Magazine www.GolfingMagazine.net

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• Barnstable Golf on Cape Cod • Golfers’ Warehouse • New England Resorts • Maine Beckons • Private Courses You Can Play With Golfing Magazine.

• Lots Going on in Rhode Island • The Latest in Golf Balls • Golfer’s Product Guide • Instruction from Local Pros • Must Play Courses New England Edition Early Summer 2020

Hyannis Golf Club www.GolfingMagazine.net

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free golf

GOLF MORE ... FOR LESS IN 2020 Our subscribers have called the Golfing Magazine Subscription program “THE BEST DEAL IN GOLF.”

TESTIMONIALS In case you think this program is too good to be true!

I only played 4 of the courses and still think this is the best deal in golf. I’m buying one for my 3 buddies I play with each Tuesday. I know I’ll be using it a lot more next year!

Dick R. Danbury, CT

Great magazine! The free golf deal is outrageous! I hope you do it again next year.

Brian K. Norton, MA I played more courses this summer than ever.

My Golfing Magazine subscription was the best investment I made. I’m definitely renewing.

THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE PROGRAM Step 1) Subscribe to Golfing Magazine Purchase a subscription to Golfing Magazine for $49.95 and you become part of the Golfing Magazine Ambassador Program entitling you to complimentary rounds of golf at over 65 courses by just paying a cart fee. You also receive deep discounts at 75 other courses and resorts in the area. Plus receive discount coupons at local retailers including Golfers’ Warehouse. Plus receive Golfing Magazine 4 times annually.

Step 2) We’ll mail you the Golf Magazine Ambassador program certificate. This is your ticket to complimentary or discounted rounds of golf at all the participating courses.

Step 3) Play lots of golf With over 120 courses to choose from, feel free to play a lot of golf. Call the course as you would normally to book a tee time within 72 hours of your requested tee time. Let them know you have a Golfing Magazine certificate.

At check-in, present your certificate and then head out to play golf!

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Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

George L. Middletown, CT When my daughter gave me a subscription to your magazine and I received the certificate I thought it meant I got a free round at any one of the listed courses. Then I found out I got a free round at EACH of the courses. I don’t know how you do it but I hope you keep it up. Thanks!

Steve C. Worcester, MA

I gave up my country club membership and ended up playing more golf last summer than ever. Playing a different course every week has me hooked all over again.

Roger W. Waterbury, CT

My subscription saved me over $600 in greens fees this year.

Brett P. Quincy, MA

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

New England Early Summer 2020 Volume 44

Issue 2

golfing m a g a z ine ™

EARLY SUMMER 2020

Publisher Tom Landers TLanders@GolfingMagazine.net Creative Director Heidi Dyer Production@GolfingMagazine.net Editor John Torsiello Editor@GolfingMagazine.net

The Club at River Oaks FROM THE PUBLISHER

6 Get Out And Golf

41

FEATURES

INSTRUCTION

Controlling Trajectory Greenside Shots

on

8 Barnstable Golf On Cape Cod

42 Hold The Finish on the Full Swing

10 Private Courses You Can Play with Golfing Magazine

42 The Four Point Power Move

12 Golfers’ Warehouse 14 The Club at New Seabury

43 You Can Handle Anything

Contributing Writers John DiCocco Claudio DeMarchi Mike May Mike Stinton George Connor, PGA Sue Kaffenburg, PGA Lucas Hitchcock, PGA Ron Beck, PGA Jimmy Damiano, PGA Contributing Photographer Mark William Paul

44 Hold Your Finish For Exceptional Distance Control on the Greens

16 Featured Resorts Omni Mount Washington Resort Mount Snow Resort Sugarbush Resort Bethel Inn Resort Killington Grand Resort Stratton Mountain Resort Wyndhurst Manor & Club Poland Spring Resort Point Sebago Resort

MUST PLAYS

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22 Maine Beckons This Summer 24 Lots Going On in Rhode Island 26 Nine Hole Gems 30 IAGTO EQUIPMENT

32 Golfer’s Product Guide 34 The Latest in Cart & Carry Bags

GET AWAY

52 Hidden Beauty in South Carolina

Golfing Magazine 449 Silas Deane Hwy Wethersfield, CT 06109 860-563-1633 www.GolfingMagazine.net

Editorial Contributions should be mailed to above address or emailed to the publisher. Material accepted is subject to revisions necessary to meet requirements of the publication. The act of delivering material shall express a warranty by contributor that material is original and does not infringe on the rights of others. Reproduction of the contents of this publication is prohibited with written permission of the publisher. Publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.

53 Rip Van Winkle Trail in New York

36 2020 Golf Balls 39 Profile: Wilson Staff 40 Profile: SeeMore Putters 4

Hertitage Country Club Wyckoff Country Club Whitney Farms Golf Course Crestbrook Park Golf Course Cold Spring Country Club Crystal Lake Golf Club Stanley Golf Course Hunter Golf Club Blackstone National Golf Club Blissful Meadows Golf Club Fox Hopyard Golf Club Crumpin-Fox Club

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

Golfing Magazine is published five times annually.

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GET OUT AND PLAY GOLF service to “growing the game” by offering this invaluable program. There’s a lot of talk about getting more people out to play the game, we do something about it!

To take advantage of this tremendous offer, call 860-563-1633, or visit www.FreeGolf.net. Remember, you get four issues of our digital magazine in addition to discounted rounds of golf when you subscribe.

Bayberry Hills Golf Course in Yarmouth, MA and New England PGA Teacher of the Year gives thoughts on how You Can Handle Anything. George Connor of Farmington Woods Country Club and 2-Time CT PGA Teacher of the Year tells us why Holding The Finish is so valuable. Ron Beck, PGA Director of Golf Coaching at Northeast Performance Institute gives guidelines for Controlling Trajectory on Greenside Approach Shots. And Jimmy Damiano, Director of Instruction at The Club at New Seabury explains how to have Expectional Distance Control on the greens.

Here at Golfing Magazine, we are certainly looking forward to the summer golf season, as it seems to be starting. To that end, this digital issue of the year is worth exploring for information, profiles, instructional tips, and more that can be found in the pages that follow.

It’s been a unsettling and challenging first half of 2020 for many of us. Golf courses have proved to be oases where we have been able to reconnect with friends while playing the game we love and enjoy the great outdoors in a safe fashion.

More and more people are turning to golf as a way to keep fit and get out of their homes during the long days of summer.

What better way to do this than to take advantage of Golfing Magazine New England’s Course Play Stimulus Program and play all the golf you desire.

Golfing Magazine is making it easier for readers to “Play Golf for Less” this year with our celebrated “Free Golf ” program that entitles an individual signing up for an annual subscription to the magazine the opportunity to play free or reduced rate golf at over 150 of the top daily fee courses and private tracks in the region.

We have worked tirelessly to enhance our course list for 2020 and your subscription promises to be worth more than ever.

We believe we are going beyond giving lip

Also in this issue, you will find some of our “Must Play” New England courses that you can access at a discount with the Golfing Magazine subscription program.

Enjoy our Early Summer Issue, sign up for a subscription and get the sticks sizzling. Summer has finally arrived and we’ve got a ton of great courses for you to play.

We thank you so very much for staying with us, and promise to stay with you so that as we put our clubs in the trunk, we can hit the fairway running.

We thank you for your enduring love of golf; good times will return.

In this digital issue of Golfing Magazine highlight some of the golf resorts in the New England States, we take you on road trips through the states of Maine and Rhode Island and tell you about the best nine-hole layouts in New England. We check out what’s happening at the New Seabury resort on Cape Cod, where we find the newlyrenovated Ocean Course, one of the grandest tracks in the region. We also give you the lowdown on Golfers’ Warehouse stores and the great deals and professional club fitting you can access at New England outlets.

Stay well.

All That Is Good,

You also will find out about the newest golf balls, putters and wedges, as well as comprehensive information on new Wilson and SeeMore products.

Tom Landers, Publisher

golfing

We also have a line-up of some of our favorite instructors in the area to get you ready for golf this season. Lucas Hitchcock of the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy at Gillette Ridge in Bloomfield, CT explains the Four Point Power Move. Sue Kaffenburg of

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getaway

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Barnstable Golf on Cape Cod

ape Cod, Massachusetts is one of the sweetest places in New England to enjoy the game of golf in a relaxed, picturesque setting, perhaps during no other time of the year than the summer months.

It’s not just the golf that is to be enjoyed on Cape Cod, but pretty much everything about this narrow piece of precious land that stretches into the Atlantic Ocean like a flexed arm. When not nailing seven-irons to the green, you can get away from it all on the beaches, hiking trails and shopping in cozy villages. Check out the numerous seafood restaurants and lobster shanties, where you can sample fresh caught seafood and enjoy a beverage while sitting on a picnic table and gazing out into a harbor or the rolling ocean waves.

The National Seashore and its remodeled visitor’s center, as well as a number of other wildlife sanctuaries, feature miles of walking and biking trails and strolls along the beach.

And it’s easy to find suitable accommodations, whether it be on the ocean or bay side of the Cape, a fine hotel in Chatham or a cottage in the dunes in Wellfleet.

Because of the proximity to the breezes off the always nearby ocean, Cape Cod usually avoids the heat experienced inland during summer, making golf at any time of

Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds

Hyannis Golf Club 8

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

Hyannis Golf Course is open year round. Our facility is perfect for outings and special events with a full service banquet facility for large groups, parties and wedding receptions. Plus you can’t beat the outside atmosphere on our new deck!

BARNSTABLE GOLF THE MID-CAPE’S PREMEIR PUBLIC GOLFING DESTINATION OFERING AFFORDABLE ANNUAL PASSES AND A WIDE VARIETY OF RATES AND PLAYING TIMES FIND THE ONE THAT’S BEST FOR YOU!

OBF * 508-420-1141 HGC * 508-362-2606

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day pleasurable.

Barnstable Golf features 36 holes on two great courses. Located in the charming town are two of the best layouts on the Cape, Hyannis Golf Course in Hyannis and Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds, located in Marston Mills.

Both courses embody all the best qualities of Cape Cod golf.

Home to the Cape Cod Open and the 2015 Cape Cod PGA Championship, Hyannis Golf Course sits at the geographical center of Cape Cod, just minutes from downtown Hyannis, the Barnstable Airport and the Ferries to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The course plays to a par of 71 and features the area’s best practice facility, including a 55-station practice range and two practice greens.

Hyannis Golf Course is just minutes from historic and chic downtown Hyannis, the Barnstable Airport, and the ferries to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The course is a par-71 with 18 holes and the area’s best practice facility, which includes a 55-station practice range and two practice greens.

In addition to being a wonderfully fun layout, Hyannis Golf Course is well known for having greens as nice as you’ll find anywhere—including those at private facilities. The putting surfaces are consistent, fast, and smooth and are a big reason HGC is one of the finest golf experiences Cape Cod has to offer.

Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds was formerly home to the Barnstable County Fair, hence its name. The course first opened in 1992 and quickly became one of the most popular in the area.

The Mark Mungeam-designed gem continues to be on the “must play” list of avid golfers each year. The walkable layout in the country features four sets of tees, ample landing areas, and large receptive, well bunkered greens. There is a large spacious clubhouse with a wellstocked golf shop and restaurant that has a deck overlooking the course and neighboring grass airport.

Barnstable Golf is running a $59 golf with cart summer special at Hyannis Golf Club only, Monday through Thursday all day.

Visit, www.Barnstable.golf.

Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds Golf Course, a perennial favorite and must play Cape Cod course that needs to be on your 2020 golf bucket list. Come play a course ranked in the Top 10 public courses in Massachusetts for 7 years in a row!

Check Out Our New Late Morning & Early Afternoon Rates at Both Golf Courses at Barnstable.golf www.GolfingMagazine.net

9

Private Eyes

Enjoy These Private Courses

With a Subcription to Golfing Magazine

G

olfing Magazine New England has lined up some great private layouts that can be assessed by those individuals who take part in our Course Play Stimulus Program.

Let’s take a look at these private courses that are part of our overall comprehensive list.

Set in the bucolic hills of Sherman, Connecticut is The Club at River Oaks, a private 18-hole course which opened in 2003. The challenging but fair layout plays to a par of 71 and has some of the most visually stunning holes that the state has to offer.

The course is not a “grip and rip” design.

It is a track that requires a golfer to use all of the clubs in the bag and think one shot ahead. The opening hole would be a perfect example. A short dogleg right par-four greets your first swing of the day. Typically not a driver hole (except from the tips), the correct play would be to lay a long iron or utility wood down the left side of the fairway. From there, a mid-iron to the green allows the player to be putting for a birdie. Hit your tee shot long left or miss the green with your approach and a bogey, or worse, will be your first number on the scorecard.

Hole six has always been one of my favorites. A long-iron or five-wood off of the tee leaves you with a wedge into a sloped, undulating green. A ravine will swallow up all golf balls that travel too far off line. For those feeling lucky, take out the driver and hit a cut shot around the large tree that sits

on the right side of the fairway and go for the green. A perfect risk/reward hole!

The 9th is arguably one of the most visually appealing holes you’ll find anywhere in New England. A downhill dogleg left, bunkers await your tee shot at around 260 yards off of the box. A slight draw will leave you with a 7-or 8-iron into the green. Miss short or right and you put yourself in danger of putting a “number” on your card.

If you think the back nine is going to get easier for you, think again. You won’t find a better assortment of par-three-fours and fives in the northeast. For the long hitters, eagle/ birdie opportunities await on 13 and 16. In our opinion the signature hole is the parthree 17th. Playing 185 from the tips, the player is required to carry the ball 150 yards over a large pond. Well placed bunkers to the right and back of the green will gobble up errant shots. Walking away with a three on your scorecard will bring a sigh of relief for most players.

The last hole is a double dogleg par-five.

The best play is to hit a soft fade off of the left side tree line, leaving you with a long iron or wood as a layup for your approach.

A short-iron into the ample sized green with leave you with another birdie opportunity to finish out your round.

A fully stocked pro shop, led by head pro Glenn Fanara, allows the player to purchase golf accessories and apparel prior to and after the round. Individual and on course lessons are available as well as video analysis and club fitting. Outings and events are welcome.

Contact Glenn at glenn@clubriveroaks.com for more information.

Tumble Brook Country Club in Bloomfield, Ct. was named for a brook that flows through the property. It was incorporated and organized in October of 1922 and features 27 holes.

Willie Park, one of the foremost golf course architects of the time, was commissioned to design the first nine. A second nine, designed by Orrin E. Smith, was opened to play in the spring of 1949.

The third nine, designed by George Fazio, opened for limited play in the fall of 1970, and was eventually integrated with the rest of the golf course in 1971.

In 2002 the club began a renovation program for the golf course. Mark McCumber and Associates was the architects for the renovations, and in 2005 the course work was completed.

The seventh hole on the “Green Course,” a combination of two of the three nines, is a 440-yard beast where par is an accomplishment for any level of player.

Farmington Woods Country Club in Farmington, Ct. was designed by renowned American designer Desmond Muirhead, who also crafted the famed Jack Nicklaus Muirfield Village course in Ohio.

The late Muirhead is remembered for his fully integrated course communities like McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale; the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills near Palm Springs, and his six-year partnership with Jack Nicklaus, which produced the

Tumble Brook Country Club 10 10

Golfing GolfingMagazine Magazine• •New NewEngland EnglandEdition Edition

aforementioned Muirfield Village.

The layout is unique to the Farmington River Valley area in that there are some dramatic elevation changes in what is usually a rather flat section of Connecticut.

The course features ample woods that line many of the fairways and wetlands that, of course, must be cleared or avoided.

Hop Meadow Country Club in Simsbury, Ct. was designed by Geoffrey Cornish and the architect used the terrain available to him to create some dramatic elevation changes, especially on the par-three ninth and 16th holes, which begin from elevated tees and finish at greens that are fronted by a pond (the ninth) and a small stream (the 16th).

One of the best holes in the course is the finisher, a 521-yard par-five that has water hiding on the right side and a stream and water to the left and cutting into the right side about 30 yards out from the putting surface.

Cohasse Country Club is located less than two miles south from the center of Southbridge, Ma. The track was designed by Donald Ross in 1916 and plays 3,061 yards with a par of 35. Known for outstanding conditions and greens that roll true, the course is challenging and at the same time fair and rewarding of good shots. The first hole is a tough, 410-

Hop Meadow Country Club yard par-four and the fifth is a great, short par-four that plays 327 yards and doglegs sharply to the left.

Suffield Country Club in Suffield, Ct. is an historic, finely manicured track that is set in a beautiful area. The routing was created by Ian Smyth and is a classic, traditional New England-style course that

ambles over the rolling land, and plays only around 3,000 yards for nine holes.

The short distance of the course is offset by tight fairways and small, fast undulating greens.

Out-of-bounds borders holes three through six, heavy rough and tall oak trees off the fairways.

Only two holes, three and seven, have fairway bunkers.

Holes five and eight do not have any greenside bunkers. No par-five is over 500 yards, and no par-four is over 400 yards. The club’s second hole has been rated as the fourth toughest par-three in the state. It can play as far back as 230 yards.

The course at Chippanee Country Club in Bristol Ct. plays to a par-70 from the blue tees (a modest 6,310 yards), but has small, challenging greens and tight narrow fairways.

There are 33 sand traps throughout the course with water coming into play on the par-five fourth hole, the par-four 10th hole, and the par-three eleventh hole. The course is eminently fair and not overly tough, and a track that players of all abilities can approach without too much trouble, even higher handicap golfers.

To have access to these premier private courses, call 860-563-1633, or visit www.

FreeGolf.net.

The Club at River Oaks, 9th Hole www.GolfingMagazine.net

11

PROFILE

Golfers’ Warehouse

Meets the Needs of Today’s Players

L

ike other businesses, Golfers’ Warehouse outlets were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting shutdowns.

“We closed all WorldWide Golf Shops locations on March 20, all 85 stores,” said Michael Britt, eastern regional manager for The Golfers’ Warehouse/World Wide Golf Shops.

“We then started opening where we could based on the local restrictions on April 20, such as in Little Rock, Arkansas and Ridgeland, Mississippi.

Over the next eight weeks the remainder of WWG opened the doors. We did do curbside business in areas that we could, but golf retail is not designed to be `picked up.’”

In New England the Cranston, Rhode Island Golfers’ Warehouse was the first store to open on May 9, followed by the Hartford store on May 20, then the Massachusetts stores on June 8.

Said Britt, “We have taken every step from a safety and cleanliness standpoint to provide a very safe and confident shopping experience. Business has been very good since we reopened...thank goodness! We are seeing a lot of new golfers and also some that left the game and came back to it, which is very exciting.”

Britt reported that popular items since the re-openings have been push carts (“Good luck finding one right now.”), shoes (“So many golfers are walking now and realized their shoes were uncomfortable.”), lightweight bags, pre-

12

owned equipment, and beginner/intermediate sets. All of this is likely because golf is one of the few sports that individuals are allowed to take part in and feel relatively safe and overencumbered by regulations and guidelines.

Said Britt, “There are also many outstanding new clubs on the market this year from TaylorMade, Callaway, Ping, Titleist, Cleveland/Srixon, Cobra, Wilson, and Mizuno to name a few. There are a lot of great values right now throughout the store.....many because of the circumstances that happened with the shutdown in the spring. Let’s hope the manufacturers can ramp up production and fill orders quicker and quicker as we move forward.”

A strong suit of Golfers’ Warehouse stores is their club fitting capacity and expertise. “Club fitting is vital nowadays to find the right club for a player’s game,” said Britt. “There are so many shaft options and shaft/head combinations

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

out there that it makes club fitting a must. This is something that we always do free of charge at Golfers’ Warehouse and suggest customers never purchase a club or set without consulting an experienced club fitter first.”

Golfers’ Warehouse is under the “World Wide Golf Shops” umbrella, which includes Roger Dunn, Golfers’ Warehouse, Golf Mart, Uinta Golf, Edwin Watts Golf shops and Vans Golf shops.

Golfers’ Warehouse locations have become famous for the scope of their inventory, their staff ’s helpful and knowledgeable service, and interactive displays, where customers can feel at ease trying out equipment or browsing through the newest apparel and other golf-related items.

Golfers’ Warehouse 90-Day Satisfaction Guarantee exchange policy remains in place, and as a major factor in continued consumer approval ratings. It’s pretty simply: If for any reason the buyer is not completely satisfied with a product that is purchased from Golfers’ Warehouse within a 90-day time period, the customer can return the equipment for a replacement or full store credit. The store used to allow people to demo equipment before they purchased, but felt the 90-day Satisfaction Guarantee is much more helpful to the customer.

For more information about Golfers’ Warehouse, visit www.GolfersWarehouse.com.

www.GolfingMagazine.net

12

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13

Featured Resort

A Sparkling New Luster for

T

The Club at New Seabury

he Club at New Seabury has completed renovations of its renowned Ocean Course and restored the 7,131-yard track to its original luster with aesthetic enhancements, design variety, new drainage and full bunker renovation for golfers of all levels to enjoy.

“We have improved the ambiance, playability and maintainability of the Ocean Course with this renovation, the final steps of our multi-year, multi-million dollar plan, all in an effort to enhance our Club offerings,” said The Club at New Seabury President Chris Card. “We’re thrilled to bring this storied course back to a level it deserves.”

The Ocean Course renovation, which spanned eight months, completes the Club’s 36-hole renovation which included New Seabury’s Dunes Course in 2019. Architect Bruce Hepner of Hepner Golf Design, in collaboration with Agriscapes Golf Course Construction and Scott Nickerson, New Seabury’s Director of Agronomy and Project Manager, developed a plan for both courses.

With the Ocean Course, enhancements were made to the front nine setting which offers views of the Atlantic Ocean as well as redesigned rebuilt and repositioned bunkers;

expanded fairways, re-contoured multiple greens and the relocation of cart paths on designated holes.

Hepner who has renovated some of the world’s most renowned and top-ranked golf courses, said: “The renovation of the Ocean Course takes advantage of the ocean, pure and simple. Our goal was to make the golf better and interesting by changing grass lines and angles so people can subtly enjoy their round and surroundings. We infused classic architecture into the site to make it feel old, a classic style, where the golf course lays right on the land.”

Heppner’s renovation also included a re-grading of the first and ninth holes to enhance the ocean views from the entire first hole. He also approached the landscape and plantings so visually the course and the ocean could come together.

According to Scott Nickerson, Director of Agronomy and Project Manager, “Several approaches were also reshaped to give golfers an option and avenue to access the greens without forced carries, allowing the higher handicap player with lower shot trajectory a chance to get rewarded for their shot.

And with the same concept in mind, many

fairways were expanded.”

Added Jim Clay, Director of Golf at the Club at New Seabury: “The work completed on our property has enhanced each course while maintaining the unique characteristics each course in known for. The modifications made look like they’ve been here for years, they look natural and blend well with the course and its surroundings.”

The Club at New Seabury is a premier Private Golf Community, boasting resort amenities with spectacular views of the iconic Nantucket Sound. Membership at New Seabury provides a Cape Cod vacation lifestyle.

With two championship waterfront golf courses, full-service clubhouse, five restaurants, two beach clubs and beach bars, state-of-the-art fitness facility, sixteen tennis courts, pools, walking trails and more, your experiences with family and friends will provide visitors memories to last a lifetime.

Resort guests will enjoy a taste of the New Seabury lifestyle in our newly renovated guest accommodations, while future home owners will find unique neighborhoods set amidst the country club setting. www.NewSeabury.com, or 508-539-8322.

The Ocean Course 14 14

Golfing GolfingMagazine Magazine• •New NewEngland EnglandEdition Edition

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15

Featured RESORT

T

Omni Mount Washington Resort

he 18-hole Omni Mount Washington Golf Course was designed by legendary Scottish architect Donald Ross and was completed in 1915. Its backdrop features New Hampshire’s spectacular Presidential Mountain Range.

The par-72, 7,004-yard-course has hosted four New Hampshire Opens and the prestigious New England Open Championship in September 2010.

Reopened in August of 2008, the Omni Mount Washington Golf Course has been restored to Donald Ross’ original plans by noted golf course architect Brian Silva, including bunkers crafted in a classic flair and infinite varieties of recovery shots in the closely cropped areas around the putting greens. The par-five 11th hole and the par-three fifth hole feature stunning views of Omni Mount Washington Hotel and surrounding mountains.

The Omni Mount Washington Golf Course was voted Golfweek’s Best Course You Can Play

G

Vermont’s Mount Snow

eoffrey Cornish designed the18-hole, 6,943-yard (there are three other sets of tees) championship Mount Snow Golf Club has also been named one of the top 10 resort courses in the country by SKI Magazine. It has also been rated one of the top five courses in Vermont by Golf Digest.

The course meanders through stunning picturesque countryside and provides stunning views of the Green Mountains, including the peaks of Mount Snow and Haystack Mountain. Tamaracks, oaks, birches, and sugar maples line the fairways while the mountains provide a majestic backdrop. The front nine is spread over rather wide expanses and the back nine winds its way through wooded terrain.

Water comes into play on no fewer than 11 holes, and 41 sand traps are strategically located around nearly every hole.

The resort also has a fully-stocked pro shop with the latest in equipment, accessories, and 16

in New Hampshire from 2009 through 2017.

The nine-hole Mount Pleasant Course first opened in 1895, and has been host to generations of golfing enthusiasts from New Hampshire and beyond. Greats like U.S. Pro Golfer Gilbert Nicholls, Golf Course Designer Alex Findlay, British Golf Champions Harry Vardon and J.W. Taylor, and U.S. Open Golf Champion Willie Anderson have all played the historic par-35 course.

In 1989, the course was restored and upgraded by Cornish & Silva Golf Course Architects, with advice from world-renowned golfers Gene Sarazen and Ken Venturi, and now offers players a more challenging round alongside New Hampshire’s scenic Ammonoosuc River.

Throughout its history, the Resort has been renowned for natural beauty and luxurious extras.

Indoor and outdoor pools, Jacuzzis and fireplaces are just a few of the amenities comforting year-round guests. From the Tiffany stained glass to the crystal chandeliers, you’ll find the interior is just as impressive as the exterior.

The hotel’s elegant Four Diamond Dining Room serves four-course dinners with orchestra accompaniment nightly. Every detail, from the serenading orchestra to the menu that changes daily, reminds you that this is a place unlike any other. www.OmniHotels.com

apparel. Mount Snow’s Original Golf School, founded in 1978, was one of the country’s first golf schools and continues to be a trusted program for those looking to improve their games.

There is a multi-day curriculum that includes instruction and evaluation on every aspect of play, with daily on-course instruction.

During your visit, stop by Fairways

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

Restaurant, where you can enjoy fresh food, cold beer, or your favorite cocktail on a large deck overlooking the course. Or relax inside watching the game on flat screen televisions. Fairways is open daily for lunch with frequent menu specials and to-go service, as well as Sunday brunch.

The area around Mount Snow has historic towns, antique shops, artisans, craft producers, farms open to visitation, performing arts venues, and outlet shopping centers. Extend a vacation with a few days of hiking, mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, and horseback riding, learn fly fishing, or go canoeing, sailing, and kayaking on any of the numerous pristine rivers and lakes. www.MountSnow.com, or 802-464-4254.

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17

Tournament Featured REsort must plays

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4

Sugarbush Resort Golf Club

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obert Trent Jones, Sr. designed the golf course at Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vt. with a natural feel, allowing his routing to unfold with subtle beauty that reflects this area of upper New England.

The course measures 6,464yards long from the tips and plays to a par of 72 layout. It opened in 1961, and flows along the hilltops of the Mad River Valley.

The course at Sugarbush Resort is challenging yet fair. A perfect example of this balance is the layout’s second hole, a 510-yard par-five from the tips. Big hitters can rip a driver and then go for the green in two shots. But the safer, and perhaps wiser, play may be a steady three shots to find the green.

Located in the Green Mountains, Sugarbush Resort and Golf Course provides an ideal setting for an all-inclusive sporting getaway. The resort is a spring, summer and autumn destination. That

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18

Sugarbush Resort

T

Bethel Inn Resort

he Bethel Inn Resort golf course in Bethel, Me. is a venerable layout, built over 100 years ago.

The course takes full advantage of mountain vistas and the natural beauty of the area. Large, well-trapped greens, treelined fairways and five tee positions make play challenging for golfers of every ability. There is a pleasant mix of short and long par-fours, tough par-threes and demanding par-fives that will test the ability of golfers of all abilities.

The course was just nine holes for a number years before an additional nine holes was added in 1988 to bring it to championship caliber.

The course was redesigned and expanded by the renowned New England architect Geoffrey Cornish. The existing layout has been recognized not only for its natural beauty but also as a very good test of playing ability.

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

means world-class fly fishing, hiking and biking trails, and, of course, the fabulous Trent Jones, Sr. golf course.

Visitors can choose to stay at several locations.

The 110-room Clay Brook Hotel and Residences offers luxury slope side accommodations that range from single rooms to multiple-bedroom suites with full kitchens. The charming 42-room Sugarbush Inn, located just off the hill, has been called a quintessential New England inn. www.Sugarbush.com

The 6,663-yard, par-72 layout was listed

by America’s Greatest Golf Resorts among the top 10 resort courses in the Northeast, and Golf Digest magazine awarded it 3 1/2 stars.

The Bethel Inn Resort offers complete and affordable stay, play and dine golf getaways and PGA golf school vacation packages.

There are 158 guest rooms at the Inn in both traditional accommodations and luxury townhomes. There’s a formal dining room or the more casual Millbrook Tavern and Grille to enjoy. The resort offers a health club with spa services, a lake house, tennis and other lawn games, and several state parks are located nearby for the adventurous.

The property offers a truly all-around, fun-packed experience for individuals, couples and families. www.BethelInn.com

Featured REsort

K

Killington Grand Resort

illington Grand Resort’s 18-hole golf course, designed by noted New England architect Geoffrey S. Cornish, was skillfully routed high in the lush Green Mountains of Vermont.

Here, you will find panoramic views and plenty of challenge.

Cornish designed the course to take full advantage of the mountain terrain, and Killington’s rushing snowmelt streams and elevation changes make for an exciting and strategic round.

Generous greens allow players to attack the flag with confidence. The 6,186-yard, par-72 layout presents an enjoyable round for any golfer, no matter what skill level or handicap. And at a 2,000-foot elevation, gentle breezes offer a soothing respite from the summer sun.

The longest hole on the course is number two, a par-five that plays 510 yards from the back markers. The shortest hole on the course is the sixth, a tricky par-three that plays to 147 yards from the championship tees. And, watch out for number

five, a beefy 473-yard par-four and the number one handicap hole on the course. Perhaps the most approachable hole on the track is the 17th, a 168yard par-three.

The course is open mid-May through midOctober.

The resort has a new practice facility, as well as a new fleet of golf carts. There is a fully-stocked pro shop and professionals offer golf lessons and clinics, as well as golf schools. There is a clubhouse bar and grill with indoor and outdoor seating.

Killington is an all-around family resort with an adventure center, a bike park, a spa, and a fitness center. There is shopping on and off-site, as well as several dining venues. www.Killington.com.

Stratton Mountain Resort There are three distinct nine-hole routings at the course at Stratton Mountain Resort in Stratton, Vt., the Forest, Lake, and Mountain. All three have their own charm and danger, and are designed to be playable for any level golfer.

The third hole on the Forest course is a wonderful, short par-four. It measures only 317 yards from the tips, but position off the tee is critical to avoid the right fairway bunkers, or being blocked by trees on the left. A blind, uphill second shot follows to a green with grass bunkers left and a bunker right.

The Lake Nine’s fourth, a 291-yard par-four, does not require driver because of its short overall length. Make sure you avoid the trees on the right.

A deep bunker protects the front of the elevated green, so take care with your short-iron approach.

On the Lake’s eighth, a very demanding 435yard par-four, aim your tee shot at the right side of the fairway to set up the approach. A medium- or long-iron approach to a slightly elevated green must carry a bunker in front. Avoid going long on your

approach because trees lurk very close to the green.

The Mountain Nine’s ninth hole is a good one.

It’s a monstrous, 621-yard par-five where the drive must thread the needle between trees on both sides.

A stream is on the right and small brooks cross the fairway in two locations. A well-bunkered green slopes front to back and concludes a challenging journey.

Stratton Mountain offers a number of golf programs and lessons and has wonderful stay and play packages. www.Stratton.com.

BREAK 100 Play Stratton Mountain’s Championship Golf Course and Stay the Night

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19

Featured REsort

Wyndhurst Manor & Club

T CRANBERRY VALLEY Golf Course OPEN TO THE PUBLIC • FULLY STOCKED PRO SHOP • Breakfast – Lunch • Golf Lessons • Club Rentals • 18 Holes of Championship Golf • Practice Green • Driving Range D

183 Oak Street, Harwich, MA www.CranberryGolfCourse.com

508-430-7560

he course at the historic Wyndhurst Manor & Club (formerly Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club), located in Lenox, Ma., is over 90 years old and was designed by two of the most noted architects of the early 20th century, Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek.

The classic New England layout rolls easily over the hills surrounding the Resort and through mature woodlands of the area, making for a relaxed, scenic day on the course. The track features tree-lined fairways and naturally contoured greens that have been carefully preserved and can make for some tricky putts if you aren’t on the proper side of the putting surface.

The first three holes are near a small clubhouse. The tee box on the third hole, a little 152-yarder that has a huge pine tree guarding the left side of the putting surface, is right by the resort’s roadway, so you may have to hold your swing until cars have passed.

Although short the eighth hole is one of the best on the course. You tee off right next to the resort’s hotel and can cut the distance to the green on the 347-yard par-four dramati-

cally if you take your drive over tall trees that hug the left side. It’s all downhill to a small green that is frustratingly easy to miss if you don’t concentrate on the pitch shot.

The course really starts to bit beginning at the ninth, a long par-four that plays to an elevated green.

And one of the coolest holes that doesn’t get enjoyed that often is 9A, a sweet par-four that plays up a hill then down to a green protected by numerous bunkers. Golfers wising to play just nine holes use 9A to head back to the clubhouse. www.WyndHurstManorAndClub.com

Poland Spring Resort

A

t the Poland Spring Resort in Poland Spring, Ma. you will find a superb golf course that was established in 1895 by Arthur Fenn and redesigned by the famed Donald Ross in 1912. The Links at Poland Spring in Maine claims to be the first golf course built at a resort in the United States.

To warm up for your round, Poland Spring Resort has a 330-yard-long driving range with natural grass, artificial tees, and a spectacular view of the rugged White Mountains.

After or après golf you can relax on the clubhouse porch overlooking the championship golf course at Mel’s Hilltop Restaurant, or grab a quick bite at the Pro Shop Café before you join your family for a swim in the large crystal clear swimming pool, all just a few yards from the 18th green. The Inn offers a number of options for dining.

Poland Spring Resort’s Lodge includes both an arcade and a general store. Fresh air adventures are to be found everywhere here, with 20

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

miles of hiking trails that line the golf course and wind through the woods, taking you past the calm waters of Lower Range Pond. Cyndi’s Dockside, a restaurant on the shores of Middle Range Pond, was recently renovated and provides another alternative for family dining by a large fieldstone fireplace or outside next to the lake.

Poland Spring Resort is part of the Maine Trifecta giving you the opportunity to play three golf courses in the area: Poland Spring Golf Course, Fox Ridge Golf Course and Spring Meadow Golf Course. Call 207-998-4351 for information, or visit www.MaineTrifecta.com. www.PolandSpringInns.com

Point Sebago Resort

P

oint Sebago Resort in Casco, Me. occupies 775 acres along the shores of Sebago Lake, two and a half hours north of Boston.

Point Sebago’s course has been ranked number one in southern Maine by Golf Digest and one of the top 20 golf courses in New England by the New England PGA Professionals.

Designed by renowned golf course architects George Sergeant and Philip Wolgan, this scenic par-72 course covers 7,002 yards and has a slope rating of 135. Point Sebago has two of the best finishing holes you’ll find anywhere.

The 17th hole at Point Sebago is a demanding, uphill 202-yard par-three has a green that sits in a grassy hollow with a bunker guarding the front of the green and pot bunkers to the left.

The finishing hole at the resort course is a classic par-five. It measures just 527 yards from the back markers and the putting surface can be attained in two lusty shots. The smart play is a lay-up second shot to set up a wedge into a wide green.

Point Sebago Resort offers a variety of accommodations to meet every taste and budget. All the comforts of home, space for everyone, all in a beautiful Maine setting-from backwoods to beachfront, overlooking the lake, lodging on the ninth hole, or nestled among towering pines.

Point Sebago Golf Resort has outstanding golf packages that include comfortable accommodations, meals, greens fees and many other vacation perks. www.PointSebago.com

GOLF PACKAGES STARTING AT $89*

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* Rates are per person, per night, based on double occupancy

www.pointsebago.com • (888) 735-7914

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21

Road Trip

Maine Beckons with Numerous Superb Golf Courses

By JOHN TORSIELLO

T

he state of Maine contains some of the finest resort and daily fee golf courses in New England..

And, there is so much to do in the Pine Tree State: charming hotels and bed and breakfast establishments, great seafood, and a plethora of outdoor activities, from kayaking and fishing to hiking and sailing.

Here is a sampling of the some of the best courses you can play in Maine, thanks to Golfing Magazine’s Course Play Stimulus Program.

To take advantage of Golfing Magazine’s Free Golf offer, call 860-563-1633, or visit www.FreeGolf.net. Remember, you get four issues of our magazine in addition to Free Golf when you subscribe.

New to our lineup this year is Lake Kezar Country Club (www.LakeKezarGolf.com) in Lovell, just a short drive to Mt. Washington Valley in New Hampshire. Lake Kezar is one of the oldest courses in Maine, built in 1923, when several summer camp owners recognized the need for a golf course to entertain summer visitors. The world renowned golf architect, Donald Ross, was chosen to design the course.

His trademark design was “naturalness”, which

is evident at Lake Kezar, with the course flowing through pines, stone walls, brooks and flowers.

The back nine was added in 1998. The course offers four sets of tees. The design invites you to bump and run it onto the green whenever you can to avoid trouble behind several of the greens.

Established in 1895 by Arthur Fenn and redesigned by Donald Ross in 1912, the Links at Poland Spring (www.PolandSpringInns.com) claims to be the first golf course built at a resort in the United States. Poland Spring Resort recently added a new 330-yard driving range with natural grass, artificial tees, and a spectacular view of the rugged White Mountains. After a round at Poland Spring you can relax on the clubhouse porch overlooking the championship golf course at Mel’s Hilltop Restaurant, or grab a quick bite at the Pro Shop Café before you join your family for a swim in the large crystal clear swimming pool, all just a few yards from the 18th green.

The Inn offers many options for dining, such as a home cooked breakfast and evening meals that are served daily, buffet style, in a comfortable dining room.

Spring Meadow Golf Club (www.SpringMeadowGolf.com) at Cole Farms in Gray is a delightful routing, with management taking great pride in the conditioning of their layout. The course measures 6,656 yards from the tips and plays to a par of 71. The par-fives here are very sturdy, including the 600-yard

Fox Ridge Golf Club 22

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

third that tests your ability early in the round.

Speaking of early, you can’t have a much more demanding start to a loop than the first at Spring Meadow. The par-four plays 430 yards from the tips and there is a pond to the right that must be avoided on the tee shot. If you play safe to the left you will have a longer approach that again must contend with the water and a bunker.

Fox Ridge Golf Club (www.foxridgegolfclub.com) in Auburn plays over 6,800 yards from the championship markers and has a par of 72. Again, the parfives are a strength, with two, the fourth and hole number 11, approaching 600 yards from the tips. It also has as good a par-three as you will encounter, the 202-yard fifth. The tee shot is from an elevated green to a putting surface that has water on three sides.

Spring Meadow Golf Club, the Links at Poland Spring, and Fox Ridge Golf Club are part of the Maine Trifecta (www.MaineTrifecta.com )golf offering, were you can golf all three and stay at Poland Spring Resort for two different prices; $319, which includes lodging, three all-you-can-eat buffet meals, 18 holes at each course, golf carts and range balls at each course; and the $339 Deluxe Trifecta, which includes the above plus upgraded accommodations and four buffet meals. All rates are per person, double occupancy, plus seven percent Main sale tax.

Tumble Brook Country Club

The Bethel Inn Resort Golf Course (www.BethelInn.com) in Bethel, built just over 100 years ago, remained nine holes of little recognition until 1988 when it was redesigned and expanded to an 18-hole championship layout by the renowned architect Geoffrey Cornish. The 6,663-yard, par-72 course takes maximum advantage of mountain vistas and the natural beauty of the area. Large, welltrapped greens, tree-lined fairways and five tee positions make play challenging for all golfers.

There is a pleasant mix of short and long par-fours, tough par-threes, and demanding parfives that will test the ability of all levels of golfer. America’s Greatest Golf Resorts magazine has rated the Bethel Inn layout among the top 10 resort courses in the Northeast, and Golf Digest magazine has awarded it 3 1/2 stars.

Point Sebago Resort Golf Course (www.PointSebago.com) in Casco occupies 775 acres along the shores of Sebago Lake, two and a half hours north of Boston. Point Sebago’s course has been ranked number one in southern Maine by Golf Digest and one of the top 20 golf courses in New England by New England PGA professionals. Designed by renowned golf course architects George Sergeant and Philip Wolgan, this scenic par-72 course covers 7,002 yards and has a slope rating of 135. Point Sebago has two great finishing holes.

The 17th hole is a demanding, uphill 202yard par-three that has a green that sits in a grassy hollow, with a bunker guarding the front of the green and pot bunkers to the left. The finishing hole at the resort course is a classic par-five. It measures 527 yards from the back markers and the putting surface can be attained with two lusty shots.

Riverside Golf Course (www.

RiversideGolfCourseME.com) is owned and operated by the City of Portland. The popular and traditional public golf facility first opened in 1932. The facility features an 18-hole course, a 9-hole course and a 3-hole practice course. The classic layout, rolling hills and tree-line fairways are bordered by the Presumpscot River.

The toughest hole on the 18-hole course is the 554-yard 10th hole, a par-five. The tee shot is elevated to a low, long and wide fairway bordered by a water hazard the left. The approach

Nnonesuch River Golf Club to the green is guarded by a line of pine trees on the left and more water on the right. There are also bunkers on both sides of the putting surface.

The nine-hole course is a feel good layout with four of the first five holes shortish par-fours.

There is only one par-five, the 540-yard sixth, that can prove tough if you wander on your tee shot and second strike of the ball.

Dunegrass Golf Club (www.Dunegrass. com) in Old Orchard Beach has been offering local and visiting golfers the opportunity to experience an uncommonly high caliber of golf for Maine and New England since 1998.

Designed by internationally known golf course architect, Dan Maples, Dunegrass Golf Club has quickly gained the reputation as the Portland area’s premier public golf course.

Maples imbued the course with the look and feel of a layout one might find in the Carolinas.

The par-threes at Dunegrass are all very good and water comes into play on the four short holes. The 17th can play almost 200 yards from the tips and has water short and to the right of the putting surface.

HF Golf (www.HFGolfManagement. com) manages four of Maine’s premier courses, Bridgton Highlands Golf and Tennis, Fox Ridge Golf Club, Sanford Country Club and Nonesuch River Golf Club. The company will make recommendations for lodging in each market where their courses are located.

Nonesuch River Golf Club (www. nonesuchgolf.com) in Scarborough, was designed by Tom Walker, who was a longtime

course architect with Gary Player Design.

The extremely scenic, 6,300-yard, par-70 Nonesuch River layout, while not long, demands thoughtful approaches to each hole and accurate placement off the tee and on shots to the greens. Proper club selection is a must as is the ability to chip and putt around and on the undulating greens. There are plenty of bunkers in the fairways and around the greens to further complicate matters.

Bridgton Highlands Golf and Tennis (www.bridgtonhighlands.com) in Bridgton is an enjoyable and challenging 18-hole golf course with great mountain views located in the heart of Maine’s Lakes Region in southwestern Maine one hour from Portland and 20 miles from the New Hampshire border. The course has four sets of tees and a maximum length of 6,224 yards.

Sanford Country Club (www. sanfordcountryclub.com) in Sanford has been voted as one of “Maine’s Best Semi-Private Courses,” and chosen by the United States Golf Association to host two United States Amateur qualifiers. Whether you are a beginner, an avid amateur, or even an accomplished player, Sanford has something for everybody. With fast, bentgrass greens, manicured fairways and bunkers, beautiful scenery, and a fun, friendly atmosphere, Sanford offers a great value. The course plays from 4,901 to 6,703 yards and the first nine opened for play in 1929, with a second nine added during the 1990’s.

The Club at River Bethel Inn Oaks, Resort 17th Hole www.GolfingMagazine.net

23

Must Plays

Lots Going on in Rhode Island For Our Subscribers

By, JOHN TORSIELLO

T

hanks to Golfing Magazine’s Free Golf offer, our subscribers can play top courses in Rhode Island this year.

To take advantage of Golfing Magazine’s Free Golf offer, call 860-563-1633, or visit www.FreeGolf.net.

While it might not make you play any better it should make you feel good when you realize that when you take a loop around Laurel Lane Country Club (www.LaurelLaneCountryClub.com) in West Kingston is what owner Joe Videtta called the only totally solar powered golf club in New England, and maybe the Northeast.

Videtta, who owns the course with his brother Mike, installed a solar farm on about an acre of property the course sits on. The farm, which houses 14 solar arrays near the course’s eighth, ninth and 11th holes, were purchased from All Earth Renewables, a Vermont-based firm, and installed by general contractor Anthony Barrow. The units came on line last fall and power the entire golf course, from the pump station that controls irrigation to the clubhouse.

“Laurel Lane is located on about 180 acres, so it was an ideal location to install a solar farm,” said Joe Videtta, who also owns Country Club and Country View Golf Club in Rhode Island and Pine Ridge Country Club in Massachusetts. “We already had an electrical source near the pump station, which cut down on the total cost,” which was half a million dollars.

Laurel Lane Country Club in West Kingston is a par-71, 6,128-yard course that has relatively few bunkers and is a place where all skill levels to play. He course begins in demanding fashion. The first hole is a 412-yard par-four, the second, a 482-yard par-five that tempts payers to go for the green in two after a big drive, and the third a 189-yard par-three. The backside has several short par-fours where birdie awaits and a 548-yard par-five to end your round.

Another Videtta owned and managed course, Country View Golf Club (www.CountryViewGolf.net) in Harrisville is lined with willow trees and routed over a rolling terrain. There are few bunkers but they are stra24

tegically placed, and the greens are on the small side and rather difficult to hit, which places a premium on chipping ability. The par-fours on the front side are risk-reward holes, while the only par-five on the outward nine being the 475-yard sixth, which is reachable in two for long hitters. The back side toughens up, with two tough par-fours, and two strong par-threes, including the 199-yard 17th.

Kings Crossing Golf Club (www.KingsCrossingGolfClub.com) in North Kingston was originally designed by renowned golf architect, Geoffrey Cornish and opened in 1964. From the beginning of the round play-

Laurel Lane Country Club ers will find an unexpectedly meandering and flowing landscape with holes that offer variety, aesthetic charm and flexibility. The course is uniquely laid out to allow players to enjoy a round of 4 holes…which we call the “shorty”, a solid 9-hole test or, with a truly flexible tee marker system, 18 holes that provide enough variety to challenge all abilities. The greens are softly moving and fair, while the bunkering on the course bring a classic style to the eye.

Another characteristic of Kings Crossing is playability.

Pinecrest Golf Club (www.PinecrestRI. com) in Carolina, which opened for play about 13 years ago, is a well-thought out-routing and fun and challenging at the same time. While not overly long, Pinecrest is fairly tight and has several doglegs and uphill shots that complicate navigation. The third hole is a par-four that goes straight uphill from the tee box, which makes its relatively short yardage somewhat misleading. This nine-holer is well worth a second trip around.

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

North Kingston Golf Course (www.NKGC.com) in North Kingston is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. The layout was designed by Walter Johnson, an associate of the legendary Donald Ross. While the total yardage of North Kingston GC is 6,200 yards, with a par of 70, the breezes off the Narragansett Bay add to the challenge of the course.

Winnapaug Country Club (www.WinnapaugCountryClub.com) in Westerly is a solid routing, one that rambles over hill and dale and that affords several views of the ocean in the distance. The layout plays around 6,400 yards from the tips. The par-fives are all under 500 yards, which makes birdie a real possibility on each. The par-fours are an eclectic bunch, ranging from the difficult 425yard fourth hole to the 339yard fifth. The par-threes are a strength of the course.

Although it is only nine holes, Rose Hill Golf Club (401-788-1088) in South Kingstown is a par-three layout in allows you to work on your iron play and has holes ranging from 118 to 218 yards. It is a favorite of locals and tourists alike because you can play nine, or even 18, in less than two hours. The course is well maintained. Three holes, the second, fourth and fifth, play across water and test your nerves and ability as a ball striker.

The owners and management at Coventry Pines Golf Course (www.CoventryPines.com) in Coventry have invested dollars and labor into refurbishing their nine-hole course. Coventry Pines is a little tester, measuring 3,170 yards.

Two of the toughest holes are back to back, the 408-yard par-four fifth and the 520-yard par-five sixth. The latter is listed as the course’s number one handicap hole.

Midville Golf Club (www.MidvilleGolfClub.com) in West Warwick is a sweet nine-hole course. Ownership and the superintendent place a premium on superb playing conditions. The layout measures just under 3,000 yards from the tips, and there are several par-fours that are almost reachable off the tee by big hitters. The number one handicap hole is the 6th, a par-five that measures 535 yards.

www.GolfingMagazine.net

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Must Plays

Nine-Hole Courses

Accessible to Golfing Magazine Subscribers By, JOHN TORSIELLO ine-hole courses serve a valuable role in the golf industry. They allow all players--from beginners to seniors--to enjoy the game in a relaxed setting without having to spend five hours of your day looping the links.

Even if we are busy with all that life throws our way, there still is time to fit a quick nine holes into a day. Especially on the weekdays or late afternoons on the weekends, nine holes can be managed in about two hours…or less. The USGA’s “Play 9” campaign is aimed at potential players who don’t have the time or inclination to play a full round.

Take advantage of Golfing Magazine’s Free Golf offer and test out the following nine-holers. Call 860-563-1633, or visit www.FreeGolf.net.

N

CONNECTICUT. Green Woods Country Club in Winsted (www.GreenWoodsCC.net) is a former private track that went semi-private a few years back. The conditions are very good, even on this early season day.

Typical of the old nine-hole courses in New England (Greenwoods was built over 100 years ago) the layout is on the short side, with small, tricky greens as its only defense in these days of powerful drivers and juiced golf balls.

Walking onto the Hotchkiss School Golf Course (www.Hotchkiss.org) in Lakeville is akin to stepping back in time, that is, from a golfer’s viewpoint. The course is located on the grounds of a prestigious private school, and has been virtually untouched since it opened in 1924.The course was originally built Seth Raynor, one of the legendary names of American golf course architecture. Raynor’s’ work was routed over the existing terrain, which makes for mounding in the fairways and sometimes wildly undulating greens, as well as deep greenside bunkers.

Canaan Country Club (www.CanaanCC.com) in Canaan is a scenic routing in the northwest hills of Connecticut The par-35 course, which borders the Blackberry River and crosses over 26

Minnechaug Golf Course wetlands, has several holes that feature a picturesque view of Canaan Mountain. The par three eighth, which plays from 170 to 210 yards depending upon tee placement, has made several “Ten Toughest Par 3’s in Connecticut” lists over the years. It plays over a deep gully to an elevated green. The green is deep, so a back pin placement adds 10 to 15 yards to the shot. There’s OB left, but a bailout to the right is possible, which leaves a finesse pitch shot to the green.

Eastwoods Country Club (www.EastwoodsCountryClub.com) in Torrington is a great place for beginners and accomplished players alike. The layout plays to around 3,000 yards from the tips and features one of the toughest par-fives in the state. The 564-yard ninth hole demands a right to left tee shot that must steer clear of trees on both sides. The second shot is uphill and needs to clear a pond to set up a mid-iron approach to a table top green.

Copper Hill Golf Club (www.CopperHillGolf.com) in East Granby is a very good test of golf, with a nice mix of short and long par-fours, two very demanding par-threes, and two par-fives that are reachable in two for long hitters. Copper Hill measures 3,030 yards and has two par-fives, the 473-yard fourth and 459-yard

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

eighth, that are reachable in two for the big hitters, and a cool par-four, the fifth, measuring 265 yards, where you can drive the green.

Pomperaug Golf Course (www.HeritageSouthbury.net) is sited near the Pomperaug River in Southbury. The course isn’t long but there is water on every hole, which can play havoc with your tee and approach shots to the modest-sized greens. Number nine is a good, short parfour. The drive must lay up before the river to set up a wedge across the water to a very wide green. Get too greedy if the pin is tucked up front and your ball might fall back into the river.

Suffield Country Club (www.SuffieldCC.com) in Suffield was founded in 1927 and was designed by Ian Smyth. There are challenges throughout the course, especially on and around the greens.

The private course is suitable for all levels of golf and presents a challenge for even the finest golfer. Suffield has hosted qualifying events for the CSGA and various CWGA one day events. The course plays around 3,000 yards and has a par of 36.

The par-three ninth hole at Vineyard Valley Golf Club (www.VineyardValleyGolfClub.com) in

Pomfret is one of the coolest short holes in the region and is northeast Connecticut’s answer to the famous island green at TPC Sawgrass in Florida. Playing anywhere from 110 to 160 yards, the green is fronted by a marsh that has been the end of many a good score. If you’re even a foot shy of landing on the green your destiny is a double bogey at best.

Minnechaug Golf Course (www.MinnechaugGolf.com) in Glastonbury offers excellent conditions and a fun test of golf. It also has one of the few true island greens in New England, the 126yard eighth, which some consider to be the first of its kind in the nation. Graham Clark did the original routing for the course, and Al Zikorus and William F. Mitchell undertook some redesigns years later.

Historic Roseland Golf Course (www.RoselandGolfCourse.com) in Woodstock is one of the oldest nine-hole layouts in the state. Originally built in 1896, Roseland celebrated its 100th birthday more than a decade ago. The course is a modest 2,397 yards in length, providing golfers of all skill levels with the opportunity for a fun, relaxing and enjoyable round of golf. The track features narrow, tree-lined scenic fairways. Small greens present a challenge to all golfers. With only one moderate hill, the course is relatively flat and is quite easy to walk.

The Chanticlair Golf Course (www.Chanticlair.com) in Colchester opened in 1972 and was designed by Hy and Gigi Stollman. The course has undergone continuous improvements. The track measures just under 3,000 yards and its signature hole is a pretty, 138-yard par-three, the fourth that plays to an island green. The layout boasts some of the state’s best conditioned greens.

Highland Greens Golf Course (www.HighlandGreens.com) in Prospect is a lighted, nine-hole par-three course that is ideal for beginner and senior golfers who may shy away for the country club or high-end daily fee golf course scene. You can play nine holes here in about an hour and a half, and those new to golf enjoy the shorter holes that don’t beat them up as they attempt to learn the nuances of the game.

Accomplished players can work on their iron play. As mentioned, Highland Greens is lighted, so you can spend a great evening with family and friends at the course.

Cohasse Country Club MASSACHUSETTS (www.Cohasse.com) is located less than two Quaboag Country Club miles south from the center of Southbridge. (www.QuaboagCountryClub.com) located The track was designed by Donald Ross in in Monson is a splendid 9–hole course 1916 and plays 3,061 yards with a par of with a championship layout and private 35. Known for outstanding conditions and club conditions. The course offers sweet greens that roll true, the course is challengviews and was ranked a 9 out of 10 by the ing and at the same time fair and rewarding Worcester Telegram & Gazette golf review. of good shots. The first hole is a tough, 410The second hole is a 215-yard par-three and yard par-four, and the fifth is a great, short the next hole is a very demanding, 440-yard par-four that plays 327 yards and doglegs par-four. The seventh, a 255-yard par-four, sharply to the left. can be reached from the tee by big hitters.

Greenock Country Club There’s a fully stocked pro shop, full service (www.GreenockCC.com) in Lee was estabrestaurant, and golfers lounge. lished as one of America’s first courses, datPrivate Cohasse Country Club ing back to 1895. Redesigned in 1927 by

Suffield Country Club www.GolfingMagazine.net

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Must Plays the legendary golf architect Donald Ross, the 9-hole course has stood the test of time, a masterpiece of craftsmanship and original style. The club is located just one mile from exit 2 off Interstate 90, within minutes of the historic town of Stockbridge, and just a few short miles from Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The sixth hole is a risk-reward par-five, measuring only 465 yards, but there is water left and right of the green if you are thinking about going for it in two.

Unicorn Golf Course (www.UnicornGC.com) in Stoneham has an interesting history. It was originally designed as an 18-hole private golf course.

The layout was crafted by the renowned architects Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek, and covered portions of the towns of Stoneham and Woburn. In 1972, the town of Stoneham purchased the property within Stoneham and redesigned the course to play as a nine-hole course now known as Unicorn. The course traverses a hilltop piece of land, with some holes playing out in the open, and others surrounded by huge old oak trees lining the fairways.

The former Worthington Golf Club is under new ownership and is undergoing numerous improvements to the course, clubhouse and restaurant. Now a fully public course, the newly named Links at Worthington (www.WorthingtonGolf Club.com) is offering many new golf options, such as league-only memberships, unlimited public play, corporate events and packages.

Children kids 18 and under are offered free memberships. Newly hired PGA Professional Francis Kringle is on duty to accommodate all your golfing and hospitality needs. For more information visit www.WorthingtonGolfClub.com, or call the golf shop at 413-238-4464.

While an 18-holer we include Rockland Golf Course (www.RocklandgGC.com) in Rockland because you can be fit it into a busy day with ease, as it contains all parthrees. The course was carved out of a piece of land featuring tall oaks and rock outcroppings lining some fairways. Due to its friendly layout, the course also provides an ideal learning environment for the beginner golfer, while presenting a challenge to even the most skilled player due to the beefy length of some of its holes.

The Blandford Club (413-848-2443) in Blandford is a delightful nine-hole layout 28

Rose Hill Golf Course nestled in the scenic hills of the western portion of the Commonwealth State. Only 2,722 yards from the tips and playing to a par of 35, this a fun track for all skill levels.

The course is one of the oldest in the region, having opened in 1910. It was designed by William Dexter.

Maynard Country Club (www.MaynardCC.com) in Maynard, Ma. offers pleasing atmosphere and a very solid test of golf, with the course playing more difficult than its overall yardage of 2,783 yards suggests. The ninth hole is a 280-yard parfour and has a green that can be reached off the tee by longballers.

The Meadows Golf Club (www.MeadowsGolf.com) in Deerfield is a popular nine-hole course believed to have opened sometime in the 1930’s and designed and built by Knappy Greenwood.

The surroundings at Meadows GC makes for an aesthetically pleasing round, and the holes are routed through a slightly undulating area adjacent to the Deerfield and Green Rivers. The course plays to a length of 2,800 yards, is a par-36, and has a USGA course rating of 66.5 and slope rating of 104.

The Stoneham Oaks Golf Course (www.StonehamOaks.com) in Stoneham is a par-3 executive course open to the public that was established in 1994 and is owned by the Town of Stoneham. Located right off the I-93 highway and only eight miles North of the heart of Boston it is in the perfect location for commuters traveling from around the Boston area to grab a quick nine holes of golf. Featuring a 1,125 yard course

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

Stoneham Oaks recently, has undergone a change of management and is now being operated and maintained by Sterling Golf Management. The course, while short in length, provides golfers with unique challenges and beautiful greens which run true to form. The short length of the course creates the perfect opportunity for players of all ages and abilities to be able to enjoy the course and work on their short-games.

Bedrock Golf Club (www.BedrockGolfClub.com) in Rutland is a privately owned, challenging, nine-hole, par-36 golf course operated by the Carr Family. Former PGA Tour Professional and current PGA of America member Joe Carr has served as Bedrock’s Golf Professional since the club’s inception on May 23, 1992.

The amenities offered include a scenic course carved through the Rutland woods, fully stocked pro shop, practice putting green, motorized carts, pull carts, tournament schedule and the “Back Nine Pub”, a full service bar and grille. Bedrock is located 10 miles west of Worcester. The well manicured course weaves through woodlands and measures 3,443 yards from the longest tees. The course was designed by Bill Greene and Joe Carr.

RHODE ISLAND Kings Crossing Golf Club (www.KingsCrossingGolfClub.com) in North Kingston was originally designed by renowned golf architect, Geoffrey Cornish and opened in 1964. From the beginning of the round players will find an unexpectedly meandering and flowing landscape with

holes that offer variety, aesthetic charm and flexibility. The course is uniquely laid out to allow players to enjoy a round of 4 holes… which we call the “shorty”, a solid 9-hole test or, with a truly flexible tee marker system, 18 holes that provide enough variety to challenge all abilities. The greens are softly moving and fair, while the bunkering on the course bring a classic style to the eye.

Another characteristic of Kings Crossing is playability.

Pinecrest Golf Club (www.PinecrestRI.com) in Carolina is a sweet nine-hole course. The layout is kept in splendid condition, and the routing is fun and challenging at the same time. While not overly long, Pinecrest is fairly tight and has several doglegs and uphill shots that complicate navigation.

Rose Hill Golf Club (401-798-1088) in South Kingstown is a par-three layout in that has holes ranging from 118 to 218 yards. You can play nine in an hour and 18 in perhaps less than two hours. The course is well maintained. Three holes, the second, fourth and fifth, play across water and test your nerves.

The owners and management at Coventry Pines Golf Course (www.CoventryPines.com) in Coventry have invested dollars and labor into refurbishing their nine-hole course. Coventry Pines is a little tester, measuring 3,170 yards. Two of the toughest holes are back to back, the 408-yard par-four fifth and the 520-yard par-five sixth. The latter is listed as the course’s number one handicap hole.

Midville Golf Club (www.MidvilleGolfClub.com) in West Warwick is a sweet nine-hole course.

Ownership and the superintendent place a premium on superb playing conditions.

The layout measures just under 3,000 yards from the tips, and there are several par-fours that are almost reachable off the tee by big hitters. The number one handicap hole is the 6th, a par-five that measures 535 yards.

NEW HAMPSHIRE Brookstone Golf and Driving Range (www.Brookstone-Golf.com) in Derry, New Hampshire is the state’s premier nine-hole, par-three golf facility. The routing was created by noted golf architect, Howard Maurer, who worked to preserve the natural characteristics of the site. The course features large greens, sand traps, rolling hills and water hazards that are strategically placed to create “target style” greens.

Kings Crossing Golf Club

Hotchkiss School Golf Course

Quaboag Country Club www.GolfingMagazine.net

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Travel

IAGTO Opens Up Covid-19 Recovery Hub To all Golf Courses and Golf Resorts Worldwide

By, Claudio DiMarchi

I

n a major step designed to give maximum support to the entire golf tourism industry, the Covid-19 Recovery Hub created

by IAGTO, International Association of Golf Tour Operators, for its 2700 member companies is being made accessible, from today, to all golf courses and golf resorts worldwide that receive golf visitors, along with all hotels currently working with IAGTO golf tour operators.

The Recovery Hub includes an Operational Status webpage that enables golf courses and hotels to upload and then regularly update their reopening schedule, current operational status and Covid-19 safety measures. Over 700 IAGTO-member golf tour operators in 62 countries receive a Daily Update notifying them of changes made to the site in the past 24 hours. Most ensure that our tourism sector is the best importantly this means that there is now prepared for the recovery from this unprecone global central resource for the golf tour- edented crisis.” ism industry to keep track of the changes that are being implemented in golf destinaThe Operational Status section of the tions worldwide literally every hour, avoiding Recovery Hub focuses on five aspects of golf time-consuming administration and com- course and hotel operation: munication. · Current status and conditions of curIAGTO Chief Executive Peter Walton rent visitor access said: “We made the decision to extend this · Date and details for reopening or next essential service beyond our membership in phase of reopening/increasing visitor order to ensure that every golf destination on access the planet now has a mechanism to keep golf · Compliance with local government tour operators informed of the precise operastandards and regulations relating to tional conditions in place at every golf course Covid-19 in their region. Access to our Recovery Hub · Details of Covid-19 safety measures site is now entirely free of charge to noncurrently in place member golf courses and golf resorts.” · Covid-19 safety certification Walton added: “In our role as the global To gain access to the Covid-19 Recovery trade association of the golf tourism indus- Hub, golf courses and golf resorts that are try, our entire focus since March has been to not currently members of IAGTO must first provide guidance and create tools that will 30 Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

register, which is entirely free of charge, by going to: https://www.iagto.com/iagtolite About IAGTO Established in 1997, IAGTO is the global trade organisation of the golf tourism industry, and has 2700 members in over 100 countries including more than 700 golf tour operator members in 62 countries, which control more than 87% of golf holiday packages sold worldwide and which collectively have annual sales of over €2.1 billion. IAGTO runs annual Asia and North America Golf Tourism Conventions, along with regular Destination Conventions.

IAGTO established the International Golf Travel Writers Association in 2000, the year in which the first prestigious annual IAGTO Awards also took place. www.IAGTO.com

Great Escape

Great Escape Aiken/ North Augusta October 13 – 18, 2020 6 Days, 5 Nights, 3 Rounds of Golf (4th round optional)

PLAY: Aiken Golf Club, River Golf Club and Mount Vintage Golf Club STAY: Fairfield Inn & Suites Also included: Evening dinners, breakfast daily, welcome reception and closing lunch, Polo Match, trolley tour of historic Aiken. Evenings in the trendy ‘Alley’, great food, live music and local artistry.

$750 per person, based on double occupancy.

Create Your Own in 1 of 4 regions

OR

Over 45 courses to choose from in: Rock Hill – 12 courses 20 minutes south of Charlotte, NC. Greenville – Tee it high and let it fly over 15 courses in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Columbia – 13 courses around South Carolina’s state capital.

Produced by Golf Packages of South Carolina

Dare to Compare

Contact Golf Packages of South Carolina for more information:

www.GolfingMagazine.net 31 1-888-501-0954 | www.GolfPackagesofSC.com

Product Guide FootJoy FLEX XP Golf Shoes

The FJ FLEX category has been extremely popular the last two years thanks to the incredible lightweight comfort and the VersaTrax outsole that delivers targeted grip for on and off course traction. FJ enhances that experience with FLEX XP that includes a premium waterproof mesh upper for all conditions, as well as an updated footbed and a bootie-fit construction that provides a sock-like fit.$109.99 www.FootJoy.com

Sure-Set

Master the move from top of your swing into transition and you are on your way to unleashing effortless power into the ball. The Sure-Set is available for right or left-handed players and comes with ample instruction on how to use it to improve your swing.

Sure-Set is part of the Sure-Set suite of products, available as a bundle or a la carte. Developed by Dan Frost and endorsed by Martin Hall. www.GolfTrainingAids.com

Volvik 2020 VIVID golf balls

Volvik USA (volvik.com), a rapidly-growing, premium high-performance golf ball company, is offering a special on its 2020 VIVID golf balls for spring and summer, in honor of golf’s welcome return. From May 22 through July 6, golfers can purchase a dozen world-class SF matte-finish 2020 Volvik VIVID golf balls for $32.99, or a bundle of two dozen for $55, with a variety of color options.The 2020 Volvik VIVID balls have the VAS Triple-line Volvik Alignment System and a new-and-improved UV protected matte finish coating.

The 3-piece construction balls feature 75 compression and a maximized ENERGY core. Color options include: green, red, orange, yellow, pink, blue, white and purple.With an ever-increasing number of both tour and amateur players finding success with Volvik, the company continues to extend its recognition and presence throughout the golf industry.

Learn More & Save Now at www.volvik.com

Golf Pride MCC Teams collection

This collection gives golfers a new way to show their sports squad fandom on the course! With 15 popular team color combinations to choose from, golfers can represent one of their favorite sports teams while enjoying premium Tour-level performance. As the #1 Grip Series Worldwide™, preferred by amateurs and professionals alike with over 250 Tour wins, the revolutionary MCC model features Brushed Cotton Cord Technology in the upper hand area for firm all-weather control with high performance rubber in the lower hand for ultimate feel and responsiveness. Available just in time for Father’s Day, MCC Teams grips can be found at golf retailers nationwide and through store.golfpride.com for $10.49 per grip (standard).

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Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

SIK Golf - PRO MODEL PUTTER Total Golf Trainer

The Most Versatile Golf Training Device Ever Developed The Total Golf Trainer 3.0 is the Ultimate golf training kit for the avid golfer looking to improve his or her range time or reinforce their lessons. This kit has everything you need to improve your swing and lower your scores. The 3.0 kit is perfect for the beginner golfer also, teaching how to move the club correctly, learn to control the wrist and arms, product powerful consistent lower body movement. The Total Golf Trainer products provide real time feedback. It is like have a coach with you all the time. You can practice in your home, office or on the range and make swings that make a difference. If you just can’t get rid of a bad habit or have been practicing hitting a million golf balls seeing no difference in your game. This is because you have no feedback when you are making a good swing. The Total Golf Trainer 3.0 teaches how to correctly move the club to improve the takeaway, downswing path, impact, release.www.TotalGolfTrainer.com

SIK stands for Study In Kinematics. Speaking of studying, did you know that Bryson DeChambeau, aka The Professor, has captured all 7 of his victories as a professional using a SIK Putter? Bryson learned about SIK’s Descending Loft Technology shortly after turning pro and has subsequently earned over $16 Million Dollars putting it into play. Every SIK putter features their patented (DLT) Descending Loft Technology™. DLT works to launch the golf ball at a consistent angle which in turn leads to the most consistent distance control of any putter on the market. Their putters are custom made to order and 100% CNC milled from 303 Stainless Steel. The PRO model (pictured here) is their signature design, the model most professionals choose. It’s a classic anser look. With every custom milled putter from SIK Golf, you can rest assured that the look, sound, feel, and most importantly, the performance meet and exceed the standards of Tour Pros. For information or to schedule a fitting visit www.sikgolf.com.

PutterBaLL Backyard Golf game

The PutterBall backyard golf game came from a dream of wanting to combine a love of golf, competition, and beer. This is the perfect backyard party game for every scenario, and it’s perfect for those who have never played golf or claim not to enjoy it. Take it to the beach, use it for tailgates or enjoy playing in your home. Includes 2 balls, 2 putters and putting mat! The Putterball game is available for $169.95 www.Putterballgame.com

Harry Taylor Golf

Games are won and lost with your wedges. Your short game can hold you back, so why not make it the best part of your game. Harry Taylor wedges can help knock strokes off your game! Built with you in mind, now you can hit your ball out of the sand on the first time EVERY time! Your next club is just a click away! Right now, get your second club for $10 off! www.harrytaylorgolf.com

www.GolfingMagazine.net

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Golf Bags Today’s golf bags are state-of-the- art wonders, whether they be the larger and heavier bags used on motorized carts and push or pull carts or lightweight stand bags–replete with foldout legs–that can be easily shouldered around the course. The latter has become extremely popular with today’s exercise-conscious golfer.Golf bags are style statements, whether it is be for their color, shape, brand or substance. Let’s take a look at some of the new cart bags on the market.

BagBoy Chiller Cart Bag

Stay hydrated on the course with the Chiller cart bag featuring a removable insulated cooler bag that holds up to six 12-oz. cans. Bag weighs just 6.4 pounds. The bag has a 15-way organizer top with full-length individual dividers and 9 zippered pockets including 2 large garment pockets with an IGOTCHA® Ball Retriever sleeve and a fleece-lined valuables pocket. Features a Rubberized putter well, an ergonomic soft-grip lift assist handles and TOP-LOK® Technology, a patented bag-to-cart attachment system. $189.95 • www.BagBoy.com

Bag Boy Shield

Unique hard shell bag design. The Shield Cart features eight zippered pockets including two mid-size garment pockets, an oversized ball pocket and a fleece-lined valuables pocket, oversized rubberized putter well, and an umbrella holder with matching rain hood. TOP-LOK™ Technology is an innovative bag to cart attachment system designed to securely lock a Bag Boy or Datrek golf bag onto a Bag Boy push cart. This patented design prevents the bag from twisting or turning, eliminating the need for cart straps. The bag features a 14-Way organizer top with 14 full-length individual dividers and a dedicated oversized rubberized putter well $219 www.BagBoy.com

Sun Mountain 2020 Sync Cart Golf Bag

Push your way to victory with the Sun Mountain 2020 Sync Cart Bag. Designed specifically for use with push carts, the bag features a 15-way top with full length dividers and dedicated putter well provides meticulous club organization, while 9 forward-facing pockets allow for unmatched storage potential on the course. This is constructed of rugged nylon material for durability and the cart strap pass-through secures bag to cart without hindering pocket access.

Two integrated lift-assist handles on top for easy mobility and the 15-way top is reverse orientated top for easy club selection $229 www.SunMountain.com

BagBoy Nitron Auto-Open Push Cart

BAGBOY NITRON AUTO-OPEN PUSH CART features Nitro Piston Technology - a patented nitrogen powered auto assist open mechanism that opens and folds in seconds. Top-Lok Technology - a patented bag-to-cart attachment system the prevents twisting and turning. The cart has a Full-feature scorecard console with integrated beverage holder, mobile device holder and golf ball storage, an Umbrella holder with storage clip and an Extra large accessory bag under scorecard console for storage. $259 www.BagBoy.com

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Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

Datrek Go Lite Hybrid

The Go Lite Hybrid is the second generation of Datrek’s best-selling stand bag, built with multiple features to keep clubs and gear organized without being weighed down. This bag features 14 Full length individual dividers, 6 Zippered pockets including fleece-lined valuables pocket, an oversize insulated cooler pocket, 2 Garment pockets, a large ball pocket and an accessory pocket. The bag also has an ergonomic double shoulder strap and cushioned hip pad and an easy-grip handle integrated into bag top $159 www.Datrek.com

Titleist Players 4 Plus Stand Bag

Lightweight Design. Superior Performance.

The all new Players 4 Plus golf bag includes a lightweight design with plenty of extra storage space, improving accessibility on the golf course.

The bag features High-grade aluminum legs, an advanced hinged bottom for bestin-class stability, a Self-balancing, convertible strap system and Dual density foam straps for long lasting comfort. Pockets include a Waterproof pocket to protect your valuable and a High-capacity, Full-length apparel pocket.

The Lightweight, low profile top cuff features full-length dividers. www.Titleist.com • $225

Titleist Players 4 Carbon

The Titleist Players 4 Carbon Stand Bag features carbon fiber legs and weighs-in at just 2.8 pounds. This super-lightweight bag is designed with a 4-way top and 5 pockets so you can bring just what you need for the round and organize your clubs conveniently for the carry. Pockets include an exterior mesh water bottle & range finder pockets www.Titleist.com • $225

Datrek Ranger Sunday Bag

The Sunday Carry Bag is a small, lightweight golf bag that is conservative with pockets and with weight. Weighing in at just 2 lbs., the Ranger Sunday Bag is ultra-lightweight and comes standard with a shoulder strap, making the trek around the golf course a breeze. This bag comes equipped with 2 total pockets including a zippered accessory pocket and a quickaccess mesh pocket. Its soft-grip, rubberized top with two compartment dividers helps to keep clubs organized. Durable, automatic stand legs with slide-resistant traction feet come standard. Convenient accessories include a carry handle which is integrated into the bag top, tee holders and easy grip zipper pulls. $69 www.datrek.com.

Sun Mountain 2.5 +

Designed for the avid walking golfer, 2.5+ redefines the features that can be offered in an ultralight golf bag. It has contoured, high-density foam shoulder straps for maximum carry comfort, a roomy, 9.0” top and five pockets including a beverage pouch. All of this and it still weighs under three pounds. The bag has five pockets that include a full-length apparel pocket; a velour-lined, valuables pocket; a ball pocket with two-way zippers, and a beverage pouch. The X-Strap System is easy to get on and off and works well as a single strap for short carries.

Features Ultra-lightweight, highly durable carbon fiber legs. $229 www.SunMountain.com

www.GolfingMagazine.net

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hands on

The Best Ball For you

By, DEAN SNELL SNELL GOLF Selecting the right golf ball is a critical step toward better golf. Unlike the rest of the equipment being used, the golf ball factors into every shot. In an instant gratification world, it’s understandable why the majority of golfers just grab a sleeve of balls at the course based on the golf staff’s recommendation. Instead, let’s review how Tour professionals test/fit their golf balls.

Performance Balls Bridgestone TOUR B x / XS $44.95

www.BridgestoneGolf.com

Unique Features: The TOUR B X & XS features a new REACTIV cover technology to combine distance and more spin. With REACTIV you can now get more distance and more spin out of the same golf ball. Designed to fit golfers with Tour-fast swing speeds of over 105 miles per hour. The TOUR B X is engineered for maximum distance as well as hit and sit performance on these close shots. The B X has been validated professionally by Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Kuchar, and Lexi Thompson. The B XS has a softer feel and maximum greenside spin, allowing you to stop approach and pitch shots on a dime. The Tour B XS was designed and is played by Tiger Woods.

Start on the Putting Green Elite players all start on the putting green. Start by bouncing a few different types of golf balls off the face of your putter. By doing so, you will feel/hear how soft each one is. Today, there are a lot of 2-piece balls that are actually made softer than tour balls. A Tour-caliber ball with a thin cast urethane cover will be quieter and softer. It’s important to choose a ball that sounds & feels right. After all, more than 30 percent of your strokes will come off the putter face.

The Recovery Zone (Inside 40 Yards) I call this the “recovery zone,” because if a golfer is off the green 40 yards and using a wedge, he/she has missed the green in regulation and now needs to recover by getting up and down for par. Since an average 15-handicap golfer only hits about four greens per round, a lot of time should be spent in this zone when testing balls. Using the club you prefer on short pitch shots, hit a series of small chips and flops to evaluate the ball’s behavior. Did the ball stop immediately? Bounce once and check? Run out? This can be an arduous process, but will be one of the biggest determining factors in choosing the ball right for you.

The Scoring Zone (Inside 100 Yards) This is the distance where players are the most accurate.

It is also where performance differs from ball-to-ball. In my experience with Tour pros and average players, the better player will spin the ball with their wedges twice as much and as a result, are able to zip the ball backward. Having a ball that will stop faster and reduce roll out may eliminate additional strokes. As a general rule, if the ball is settling near the pitch mark (and not running out), it is a good fit.

Approach Shots (Inside 165 Yards) The final step in finding the right golf ball is with mid and long irons shots to test the ball’s performance into a headwind. Which ball travels at the highest peak trajectory?

If a ball is consistency shorter, it may be spinning too much.

Off The Tee All golf balls today travel the same distance, so I don’t advocate ball fitting with a driver. The proper loft, shaft selection and strength are the best ways to add extra distance!

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Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

Distance HHHH1/2 Performance HHHHH

Feel Short Game

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Bridgestone TOUR B RX / RXS $44.99

www.BridgestoneGolf.com

Unique Features:

The reinvention of the TOUR B RX / RXS features a new REACTIV cover technology. Until now you had to choose more distance or more spin. With REACTIV you can now get more distance and more spin out of the same golf ball. Designed to fit golfers with swing speeds under 105 miles per hour, the TOUR B RX has higher ball speeds for maximum distance, while offering “hit and sit” performance on approach shots. The TOUR B RXS has a softer feel and maximum greenside spin, allowing you to stop approach and pitch shots on a dime. The ball has been validated professionally by Fred Couples and Rocco Mediate.

Distance HHHHH Performance HHHH1/2

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Snell MTB / MTB-X $32.99

www.SnellGolf.com

Unique Features: The new generation MTB features a soft, 7 percent lower compression core that provides exceptional feel, but also low spin rates off the tee for exceptional distance. MTB Black golf balls are designed to have less spin. The MTB-X is for golfers looking for a high-performance ball, and is a three-piece design offering a new smaller core for low driver spin and faster speeds, a thicker, firmer mantle layer for increased mid- and short-iron approach shots, low lift, low drag for controlled ball flight to reduce «ballooning» and for performance in the wind. A firmer, thicker mantle layer provides high spin and firmer feel than the company’s MTB Black model.

Distance HHHH1/2 Feel HHHHH Performance HHHHH Short Game HHHHH

Titleist Pro V1

RZN GOLF - MS-TOUR

$44.99

$29.95

www.Titleist.com

www.RZNGolf.com

Unique Features:

Unique Features: The Pro V1 features a more efficient design. A proprietary cast thermoset urethane elastomer cover system provides scoring control. While great for generating high spin on approach shots and short game shots, the cover does not contribute speed. By reducing the cover thickness, the company added speed, while retaining spin and control.

The ball’s core has more speed and less spin, while maintaining feel characteristics and compression.

From 2011 to 2016, golf balls with RZN Technology helped elite golf athletes claim more than 50 wins on professional golf tours around the world (PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, PGA European Tour, Ladies European Tour etc.), including 4 majors! That same RZN Technology is now available in the MS-TOUR golf ball. The MS-TOUR is a 3-Piece golf ball with a soft urethane cover. It provides long distance on all long irons, woods and driver, good control all around the green and reduced air drag due to its Micro Dimple Surface! It’s our easiest playing TOUR PERFORMANCE golf ball for all swing speeds!

Distance HHHH1/2 Performance HHHHH

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Feel Short Game

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Feel Short Game

Titleist ProV1x

Vice Pro Plus

$44.99

$24.99

www.Titleist.com

Feel Short Game

This ball has a four-piece construction with a cast urethane cover. There’s a size-increased High Energy Speed Core (HESC) for higher ball speed and more driver distance, an elastic dual mantle for low driver spin and increased carry distance, an extra-thin cast urethane cover for maximum feel and short game spin, and a highly durable 336 dimple design.

HHHHH HHHH1/2

Titleist AVX $44.99

Distance HHHH1/2 Performance HHHH

Feel Short Game

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Wilson Staff Model

www.Titleist.com

$49.99

Unique Features:

www.Wilson.com

Unique Features:

The new AVX golf balls are the latest addition to Titleist’s line of premium performance balls. It was born out of Pro V1 innovations to provide remarkable distance with exceptionally soft feel. The balls are made with softer feel and less long game spin along with a lower, more piercing trajectory off the tee. Three layers include a very soft core, inner casing layer to increase speed and decrease spin, and a unique cast urethane cover that allows Titleist to offer the AVX in a yellow color.

Distance HHHH1/2 Performance HHHH

www.ViceGolf.com

Unique Features:

Unique Features: The larger casing layer on the Pro V1x is a speed enhancing, spin optimizing layer that helps power Pro V1x for exceptional distance in the long game.

The ball has a larger casing layer, adding more fast material to its design. By reducing cover thickness, speed has been added, while retaining spin and control.

The core of the ball is key to providing more speed and less spin, while maintaining feel characteristics and compression.

Distance HHHHH Performance HHHHH

HHHH1/2 HHHH1/2

A cast urethane cover on the Staff Model provides the control and spin the best players demand on complex approach shots. A hard ionomer outer mantel provides high velocity and maximum distance performance, an HPF inner mantel gives the ball a soft feel while enhancing velocity and allowing for controlled spin, and a HIGH CIS polybutadiene compound core material generates maximum velocity off the club for greater distance performance..

Feel Short Game

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Distance HHHH Performance HHHHH

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Recreational Balls Bridgestone e-12

Titleist Tour Soft

$29.99

$34.99

www.BridgestoneGolf.com

www.Titleist.com

Unique Features:

Unique Features: The e-12 is a three-piece Surlyn golf ball that delivers sidespin reducing performance, with added distance off the tee and a soft feel. Bridgestone’s proprietary new Active Acceleration Mantle layer is a key component of the construction. The mantle is comprised of a new High Performance Polymer material that provides increased thrust and higher initial velocity at impact, while allowing Bridgestone to soften the core for greater forgiveness and enhanced feel. The ball is designed specifically for players with less than 105 miles an hour driver swing speeds.

The Tour Soft is designed to deliver soft feel with plenty of distance off the tee, and replaces the NXT Tour and NXT Tour S in the company’s lineup. The Tour Soft was designed to feel significantly softer at impact than the NXT balls, while still delivering distance off the tee and surprising amounts of short game control.

The Tour Soft features a large core that measures 1.6 inches in diameter to ensure greater speed off the clubface and longer distance.

Distance HHHH Performance HHHH

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Feel Short Game

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Feel Short Game

Titleist TruFeel

Wilson Duo Soft +

$22.99

$24.99

www.Titleist.com

www.Wilson.com

Unique Features:

Unique Features:

The TruFeel is the softest Titleist golf ball with low spin for long distance along with excellent control into and around the green. A proprietary TruFlex cover is designed for excellent control on your short shots to help you play better, score lower and enjoy the game. The aerodynamics of the TruFeel have been enhanced to maximize flight to allow for more distance off the tee and on approach shots to the greens. This is a ball for the player looking for all-around performance.

The Duo Soft + has a new core technology that uses advanced materials to extract and amplify every ounce of power from the swing, making the new Duo Soft + the world’s softest and the longest premium two-piece golf ball, says the company. You will find the feel and consistency you demand when hitting the Duo Soft +. A durable urethane cover creates six percent more iron spin compared to previous models to increase short game control.

Distance HHHHH Performance HHHH

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Feel Short Game

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Titleist Velocity

Wilson Duo Professional

$27.99

$34.99

www.Titleist.com

Unique Features:

Unique Features: The new Wilson Staff Duo Professional golf balls are the world’s softest-feeling urethane golf ball. With a Wilson compression rating of 60, the three-piece construction provides distance as long or longer than any three-piece urethane ball available. The urethane cover provides optimal greenside, spin, feel, and control with exceptional durability. A seamless 362 dimple pattern enhances distance and trajectory so you get the most out of every shot.

The Velocity’s two-piece ball construction features the patented LSX core technology that the company claims to be the “the fastest solid core” of any golf ball on the market. With this core, initial velocity is increased allowing for better distance. Additionally, a 328 spherically-tiled tetrahedral dimple design reduce the ball’s drag while in the air, allowing for high flight and long carry. The Velocity is also an ideal choice for around and on the green, as it has superb feel.

Distance HHHHH Performance HHHH1/2 38

www.Wilson.com

Feel Short Game

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

HHHH1/2 HHHH1/2

Distance HHHH1/2 Performance HHHH1/2

Feel Short Game

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Profile

Wilson’s New Line of Putters And Wedges By, JOHN TORSIELLO

T

he new Wilson line of Infinite putters features counter-balanced technology with a heavier grip and a higher balance point to provide more control for a smoother putting stroke.

The grip is oversized for greater stability and is made with a new perforated pattern so it feels better in your hands. With six classic head shapes, each named for a Chicago landmark or neighborhood, the putter faces are double milled for consistent impact, roll, and distance control. Finally, they’re finished off with an anti-glare finish to accentuate the sight lines and eliminate distractions.

The Wilson Infinite Bean, a large mallet, is counter balanced and has a double milled face to promote consistent impact, roll, and distance control with solid feel. A dark PVD matte finish reduces glare and accentuates sight lines for easy alignment and zero distractions. Counterbalanced technology moves the balance point of the putter closer to the hands for a smoother, more controlled

stroke. A new counter balance Infinite grip features a new perforated pattern for improved feel, an oversized grip construction offers stable feel and limits twisting during the stroke, and a heavier 104 gram grip weight creates a counter-balanced feel.

The Wilson Infinite Michigan Avenue’s, a classic, slightly large blade, has features the include a double milled face to promote consistent impact, roll, and distance control with solid feel, a dark PVD matte finish to reduce glare and accentuate sight lines for easy alignment and zero distractions, counterbalanced technology that moves the balance point of the putter closer to the hands for a smoother, more controlled stroke, a new counter balance Infinite grip for improved feel, and oversized grip construction that offers a stable feel and limits twisting during the stroke, and a heavier 104 gram grip weight to create a counter-balanced feel Wilson has also collaborated with its Tour players to deliver short-game confidence and reliability in every swing with the launch of the all-new Staff Model Wedges. The line also includes a high-toe option to offer advanced players added performance around the green.

Featuring a soft-forged 8620 carbon steel construction, the Staff Model Wedges provide golfers with a soft touch for

increased f e e l .

Designed with machine-engraved scorelines in the precisionmilled face, the wedges create Tourcaliber spin and control that the most demanding golfers expect.

The Staff Model Wedges feature True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 steel shafts and Golf Pride Tour Velvet grips. The wedges are available in 48-, 50-, 52-, 54-, 56-, 58-, and 60-degree options, while 52-, 56-, and 60-degree options are available for lefthanded players.

For 100 years, Wilson Golf has designed, manufactured, and distributed premium and recreational golf equipment throughout the world. Since 1914, Wilson Staff irons have won 62 major championships, more than any other iron manufacturer in history. The winning tradition continues as the company delivers the highest quality equipment to golfers to enhance performance on the course and overall enjoyment of the game.

The putters and wedges are available for purchase at www.Wilson.com and golf retailers.

www.GolfingMagazine.net

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Profile

Make More with SeeMore Putters By, JOHN TORSIELLO

S

eeMore proudly offers golfers new, top alignment putting system putters to help lower their scores.

SeeMore’s patented RifleScope Technology (RST), known by a visible gun sight on the top line, allows the golfer to set up the putter perfectly in relation to the intended target line. This is accomplished by lining up the black bottom portion of the shaft between two white lines and covering a signature red dot on the heel of the top line. Two parallel white sight lines frame the shaft and serve as an indicator that the golfer is in perfect position to make a consistent and reliable stroke.

New from SeeMore is the Si5 Offset Mallet, a solid stainless steel mallet with a new milled aluminum insert for great feel and roll. The Si5 Offset is for the player who prefers to have his or her hands slightly forward. The Si5 Offset mallet is a very pleasing mallet shape with sleek lines, instilling a ton of confidence. It’s a great option for golfers who typically enjoy larger mallets. A Black PowderCoat finish helps to reduce glare and enhance overall design.

The Si3 Offset Mallet is a solid stainless steel

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mallet with a new milled aluminum insert for great feel and roll. The Si3 Offset is also for the player who prefers to have his or her hands slightly forward. The Si3 Offset mallet is a very pleasing mallet shape with sleek lines, instilling a ton of confidence. A Black PowderCoat finish helps to reduce glare and enhance overall design.

The SeeMore Si2 Offset blade is a solid stainless steel putter with a new milled aluminum insert for great feel and roll. The Si2 Offset is a classic heel and toe weighted blade for the player that wants a great looking, forgiving blade with SeeMore’s patented and proven alignment system. The Si2 Offset works great for players that prefer to have their hands slightly forward. The Black PowderCoat finish helps to reduce glare and enhance overall design.

Alignment benefits of RifleScope Technology (RST) creates an offset shaft and a head that is face Balanced.

Design and functionality is completely unique to SeeMore, with the majority of weight behind center making it very easy to properly release the putter head.

SeeMore putters receive rave reviews from consumers, the media, and

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

the best players in the world for their technology, innovation, craftsmanship, and overall performance.

Players use SeeMore putters on all of the world’s key professional tours, as well as at college, amateur, and club level tournaments.

SeeMore became recognized when Payne Stewart won the 1999 U.S. Open playing a SeeMore putter in the greatest clutch final round putting performance in Open history. The brand was re-launched in 2007, and immediately regained worldwide prominence as Zach Johnson used a SeeMore FGP to win the 2007 Masters.

SeeMore now has over 800 worldwide certified instructors, fitters, and sales people who are brand ambassadors and well informed on how the many benefits of the putter and SeeMore putting system can help golfers everywhere. www.SeeMore.com.

must plays Tournament Instruction

Controlling Trajectory on Greenside Approach Shots

By Ron Beck, PGA

Where Memories Begin.

The quickest and easiest way to lower your scores is to get the ball in the hole from greenside situations in 2 shots verses the 3,4 or more it sometimes takes. Tour players and low handicap amateurs get it “up and down” 75% of the time and even more. Distance control is your number one priority on these shots.

Having the ability to imagine the correct shot and then being able to control your trajectory and spin is the key to successful execution. In general, we are trying to safely land the ball on the green, producing a predictable bounce, and roll it to the hole. The myriad of different greenside approach situations we are faced with require us to play greenside approaches with different trajectories. Following are factors that affect trajectory. Get out and experiment with these different variables. Observe how the ball reacts on the green with different trajectories and then be able to execute as needed…and watch your scores drop.

Call for Tee Times or check out our New Online Tee Times site

1158 Riverside Street Portland, ME 207.797.3524 www.RiversideGolfCourseMe.com

Basic Rules for Controlling Trajectory

Low

Medium

High

Ball Position Back Center Forward Center of Gravity Forward Slightly Forward Centered Width of Stance Narrow Medium Wider Clubshaft Lean Forward Varies with Club Neutral or Back Clubface Position Closed Square Open Club Selection Varies Varies Varies Distance from Ball Closer Varies with Club Further Swing Length Shorter Varies with Club Longer Follow Through Very Little Medium Fuller Spine Tilt (at finish) Forward Centered Centered to Back

Ron Beck is the PGA Director of Golf Coaching at Northeast Performance Institute in Portland, CT. He can be reached at RonB.NPI@gmail.com or www.GoNPI.org www.GolfingMagazine.net

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Book tee times on-line at www.golfrockledge.com

must plays Tournament Instruction

An award-winning public golf course with all the amenities of a private club

Hold The Finish

By George Connor

• 36 picturesque holes • Practice greens, driving range, carts and club rentals • Friendly, highly-trained PGA Staff • Customized planning for corporate groups, tournaments and special events “Top Ten in the U.S.” -Golf Digest

“Brian Silva, Architect of the Year.”

-Golf World Magazine

...Now with Tee Times Available Online!

1000 Freeman’s Way Brewster, MA 02631 Toll-Free: 877-843-9081 www.captainsgolfcourse.com

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An amazing thing happens to me many times a week. During a lesson I will intend to show the student a position in the finish that we would want to change. They might be out of balance, have too much weight on their trail foot, inadequate turn from the lower body etc. I will film a swing and ask them to “hold the finish.” Invariably, the student swings to a good balanced finish with full rotation, knees next to each other.

I’m talking cover of New England Golfing Magazine quality poses!

Bad news: I don’t get to point out the flaw on that swing. Good news: The finish being as balanced and proper as it is results in a good shot.

I am telling you this observation as a way to help you. This is as close to the “secret of golf ” as it comes. If you intention is to make a swing that ends in a proper and balanced finished, the resulting shot will most likely be something pleasing to you as well as your scorecard. How can this be? A balanced finish is a product of a proper swing and using the proper engines to create that swing.

If a golfer gets violent with their arms and shoulders when the club transitions from back swing to forward swing, the golfer will tend to be off balance at the finish.

Do this experiment at home. Step out into the backyard and swing a club around you, on a horizontal plane. Keep your lower body motionless during the entire swing. With any speed at all from the club you will feel the centrifugal pulling you forward. (Side note, this is the main cause of people “standing up” during their golf swing despite their determination to keep their “head down”) If the golfer uses the rotation of their lower body to turn to the balanced finish, that rotation will counter balance the centrifugal force of the golf club. This counter balancing that allows for a balanced finish also allows the golfer to stay in good posture beyond impact.

It is easy for golfers to get a bunch of swing thoughts in their head when on the golf course.

Each bad shot has the risk of adding another one. Take this one thought to the golf course for your next round. Once you have planned the shot, picked the target are over the ball and ready to execute the swing, put your focus solely on achieving a perfect balanced finish. Not every shot will be perfect but if you achieve a classic finish position you will hit a lot of great shots, and your misses George Connor is the Head Golf Instructor at Farmington Woods Country won’t be so bad either.

Club in Avon, CT. 860-830-6969 or George@ConnorGolf.com

The Four Point Power Move The best way to get more distance from your golf shot is to generate more club head speed. It’s simple, really: The faster the clubhead travels, the farther the ball will fly and the more distance you will see as a result.

And, the best way to get more clubhead speed is to not just swing harder but also faster. It must be remembered that swinging harder requires tension in the muscles and 42

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

By Lucas Hitchcock

the biggest enemy of a good golf swing is tension.

I have developed four points that will increase clubhead speed to give you more distance on your drives. Here are the steps I want you to take as we seek more distance: 1. Using a long tee, tee the ball up as high as it will go.

Instruction

YOU CAN HANDLE ANYTHING

By Sue Kaffenburg So much is written about the importance of managing and controlling your club’s FACE to get better ball strikes. This is certainly worthy of your attention! You might remember previous articles where we simulated impact by hitting into an Impact bag to see the alignments that occur. But, sometimes changing focus can add a new dimension to your understanding.

So, let’s get a “handle” on that.

your arms got shorter) Has your handle moved several inches up? Are you standing TALL with eyes locked onto your intended target?

Practicing this way is fun. You’ll feel more like you’re “hitting” rather than swinging. The extra distance you’ll gain is a benefit I know you can “handle”!

Instead of thinking about the clubhead and club face, let’s give information to the other end of the club…the handle. The benefit is your hands, in conjunction with other body parts, will come to understand their critical role in producing great contact. You might have been given false information when “they” told you to keep your hands out of the golf swing.

Even Tiger Woods has said it’s about educated hands…and your hands are pretty clueless!!

When the clubhead contacts the ball in an efficient way, the HANDLE of that club is actually AHEAD of the CLUB HEAD. And, as the handle moves through impact to parallel to the ground, it actually RAISES UP as the arms continue to straighten. If you think you’re not getting enough “bang” for your buck, especially with your driver, have someone video you on your phone in slow motion. If you notice that the butt end of your handle doesn’t rise, you will definitely see how much your arms are bent, especially just after impact. This is a huge power loss!

Click Here to See Sue Kaffenburg’s Video about Golf Backswing Indoor Drills

The drill that will help is to hit punch type shots, abbreviating your finish. Swing the club ONLY to where it is parallel to the ground Sue Kaffenburgh, PGA/LPGA and evaluate your finish. Pay attention to Bayberry Hills Golf Course, the movement of the handle, finishing with Yarmouth, MA. EXTENDED straight arms, EXTENDED www.GolfLessonsCapeCod.com straightened legs, and EXTENTION in SusiePGA@comcast.net your spine. Are your arms rod straight? (If 508-364-GOLF (4653) you top the ball, your elbows have bent and

2. When taking your stance, move your This will allow the clubhead more “travel back foot away from the target about six time”, which should increase clubhead speed inches to widen the stance. and result in greater distance on your drives.

3. Do not let the clubhead touch the ground at address.

4. Now, swing the club fast Lucas Hitchcock and hold your finish.

Director of Instruction The aim of this drill and Arnold Palmer Golf Academy at Gillette Ridge four points I have described Golf Club. Bloomfield, CT is to widen the swing arc, (860) 726-1430 or width, of your swing. LHitchcock@centurygolf.com

www.GolfingMagazine.net

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Instruction

CHECK YOUR FINISH ON THE GREEN FOR EXCEPTIONAL DISTANCE CONTROL!

By Jimmy Damiano, PGA One common characteristic among the world’s best putters is their tempo or ratio.

Great putters follow a 2 to 1 ratio. What does that mean? Simply put, the time that it takes for the putter head to move from the address position to the completion of the backstroke is two times longer than from the top of the backstroke to impact. For example a putter who employs a backswing that takes 600 milliseconds will provide a forward swing that takes 300 ms, that tempo or ratio is 2 to 1. Although some players possess a slower or quicker tempo all great putters subscribe to that same balanced ratio.

Now what does that have to do with the finish position of the putter?

I’m glad you asked. Let’s dive in. The best putters arrive to impact with their putter head already going the appropriate speed. They do this by taking a backstroke that is long enough for the required distance and they produce a consistent frequency or tempo. When I say consistent I mean on every putt of every length the tempo is the same! The time that it takes your putter to stroke a 3 foot putt is the same time it takes your putter to stroke a 50 foot putt. The only difference is that on the 50 foot putt the putter head travels a further distance and has more velocity but is still inside the same timestamp using our original example of 600 and 300 for backswing and forward swing.

44

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

If you watch the finish position of the best putters they are all similar. The putter head does not go too far past the outside of their front foot. Players who struggle on the greens with distance control often have a short slow backstroke followed by an aggressive accelerating forward stroke with a long finish. These players are constantly trying to guess how much acceleration to add to control the distance. This makes for poor distance control.

See the video attached for an easy way to learn how to arrive at the ball with the correct speed and have a finish that is appropriate for exceptional distance control.

Jimmy was recently named 2019 NEPGA Cape Cod Chapter Teacher of the Year. He has served as Lead Instructor at the McLean School at The Doral Resort in Miami, Florida, and spent countless hours honing his craft under the watchful eye of Jim McLean. As a longtime owner and advocate of Trackman, Damiano utilizes state-of-the-art technology to deliver an understandable message to his wide range of players.

By Jimmy Damiano, PGA Director of Instruction The Club at New Seabury Mashpee, MA 508-539-8320 JDamiano@NewSeabury.com

Come enjoy the day at one of the top 10 public courses in Massachusetts.

Relax before or after your round on the new Heron’s Nest deck with lunch, dinner or your favorite 19th hole refreshments!

BLACKstone national golf club 227 Putnam hill road, Sutton, MA 01590 508-865-2111 • www.bngc.net

50 minutes from Boston, 15 minutes from Worcester and 40 minutes from Hartford

BLISSFUL MEADOWS Golf Club www.blissfulmeadows.com 8 0 1 CH O CK A LO G ROA D UX B R I D G E , M A 0 1 5 6 9 5 0 8 . 2 7 8 . 6 1 1 0

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Must Plays

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Heritage Country Club

eritage Country Club in Charlton, Massachusetts has long been a favorite of locals and those golfers who like to throw their sticks in the trunk and drive a bit to play a real good course. Heritage offers private club conditions and amenities at affordable rates.

Heritage CC has joined Golfing Magazine’s growing list of courses you can play when you subscribe to our magazine.

You get a complimentary round of golf with a small service fee charged when you arrive to take care of a motorized cart for the round.

The 18-hole course at Heritage Country Club features 6,335 yards from the longest tees and a par of 71. The course rating is 69.3 and it has a slope rating of 118. The layout was designed by Donald Hoenig, with the track opening for play in 1964. Shane Bayer manages the course as General Manager.

There are a mix of holes at Heritage CC that will keep you entertained through your entire round. Some of the fairways are rather tight,

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Wycoff Country Club

family-owned and operated, a semi-private country club in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Wyckoff Country Club is an 18-hole, par 69, 6100-yard championship golf course built on the beautiful rolling property at the base of Mount Tom. Wycoff CC has an interesting mix of holes; a number of short par--fours that can be attacked with a lusty drive and a shortiron or wedge to the putting surface, only two par-fives, one of which, the 478-yard 13th, can also yield birdie to long hitters that can reach the green in two, two par-fours that play over 400 yards from the tips, and several strong parthrees (there are five short holes in all on the layout). The 18th is perhaps the most difficult par-three and a cool way to finish a round. It’s a whopping 229 yards from the tips.

The course begins with a 301-yard-par four that can get your day off to a nice start. Then 46

so accuracy is called for off the tee to get you involved in the hole from the tee box.

The layout starts off in stern fashion, with a pair of fairly long par-fours followed by a 200yard par-three where par is a good score indeed.

The fourth is a 452-yard par-five that is reachable in two shots for long hitters.

The fifth hole is a beast of a par-five, playing around 600 yards and it’s a true three-shot hole to get the putting surface. Number eight is

a par-four of around 300 yards where birdie awaits before moving on to the monstrous 490-yard parfour ninth. The ninth can also be played as a parfive, which makes sense for most golfers.

The back side also starts off tough, with two par-fours of around 400 yards sandwiched around another long par-five of about 600 yards. The 305yard par-four 14th is a birdie hole and then it is on to a demanding finish that includes another parfive that measures almost 600 yards from the back tees. Better bring a great long game when you play here and tee off from the tips. The wise option the first visit may be playing from one tee up, which will put the total yardage to around 6,000, shortening some of those long par-fives.

85 Sampson Road Charlton, Ma. www.HeritageCountryClub.com

it’s on to one of those long par-fours, 401-yards from the tips, followed by a very good, 531-yard par-five that is a three-shot hole to get the green for all but the longest hitters.

The toughest hole on the front side is the 421-yard par-four sixth where par is never a given, even for the best players. The front side ends with two par-trees of modest length sandwiched around a 389-yard par-four.

The back side has a mix of short and medium-length par-fours, in addition to a 478-yard

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

par-five at the 14th. The 16th is another tough parthree, playing 213 yards from the back markers, followed by a 345-yard parfour and then the closing par-three hole.

You will be called upon to hit pretty much every club in your bag at Wycoff. If your driver and fairway woods and hybrids are on fire, you can score low here. But nothing is a given at this track. While only around 6,000 yards from the tips, the layout has plenty of bite, especially if you get wayward on your tee shots and approaches.

Wycoff Country Club is accessible to our subscribers this year as part of our Course Play Stimulus Program. It is certainly worth a visit.

Wycoff Country Club Holyoke, Ma. 413-536-3602 www.WycoffCountryClub.com

Must Plays

Whitney Farms Golf Course

From Horses and Cows to a Superb Golf Course

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he Whitney Family originally established the property on which Whitney Farms Golf Club in Monroe, Ct. now sits as a farm with rare race horse breeding stables. A dairy farm existed on this land as well.

The land was purchased in the mid-1970’s by Chris Bargas, Sr. and after a three-year design project, Whitney Farms opened as a public course in 1982. During this time, over three hundred homes were added to form a desirable golf community.

In the process of re-designing the land, the architects took advantage of the ponds, scenic views and natural wildlife in its overall routing. The 18-hole course was designed by Hal Purdy and built by Bargas, Sr. Yardages range from 5,480 yards to 6,714 yards, with slope levels of 127 to 134.

The layout starts in stern fashion, with three

holes that will test you immediately. The first is a 426 yard par-four, the second another parfour measuring over 400 yards, and the third a 526 yard par-five. After letting up a bit, the front nine again rears its head with four difficult holes to end the outward journey. There are two par-fives that play over or around 500 yards and

a pair of par-trees that play 200 yards or longer.

The back nine is a bit less severe with shorter par-fours where birdie awaits. But you’ll also encounter two par-fives that play over 560 yards from the tips, and the final hole is a brutal, 442-yard par-four that can make or break a round.

Whitney Farms has been recognized for its value and has received top marks for its condition by Golf Digest, Connecticut Magazine, Connecticut Post and Connecticut Golf Magazine.

Stop by the Sand Trap Grille and Bar for a bit to eat and libations after your round. The Grille has a relaxed, Scottish pub feel to it, which only enhances your visit to this very fine upper Fairfield County club. www.WhitneyFarmsGC.com.

Crestbrook Park Golf Course

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Great Golf, Great Dining.

riginally a nine-hole private golf club, purchased by the town of Watertown in 1975, a second nine holes were added in 1980 to make Crestbrook Park Golf Course one of the best daily fee tracts in the Greater Waterbury, Ct. area.

Crestbrook, always in good condition, features fast sloping greens and has four sets of tees for all levels of play. It is complete with a full service pro shop and a five-acre practice facility.

The course, which plays almost 7,000 yards from the tips and features a number of elevation changes, has an interesting mix of holes, from par-fives that demand thoughtful tee and approach shots to beefy par-threes, like the 228-yard seventh where the tee shot must clear a pond to reach the putting surface. The sixth hole is another beautiful design. The par-five plays 527 yards

from the back tees and the drive must come close to a small stream that dissects the fairway, which will leave you with a legitimate shot to hit the green in two.

Jan Wivestad, PGA, offers group and private lessons, both indoor and outdoor, and oversees the leagues that operate out of Crestbrook every day, including the men, women, junior and

special golf programs. From apparel for men and women, bags, clubs, all brands of golf balls to shoes and training aids, the pro shop offers a very wide variety of choices for any golfer.

In addition to the course, players and non-golfers can enjoy the newly renovated Sunset Grille at Crestbrook Park, which offers “family dining with a view.” There’s an 85-seat dining room and outdoor deck with a majestic view of Merriman Pond, as well as an intimate 55-seat private dining room on the lower level with an outdoor patio. It’s a great place to hang out with friends and enjoy liquid refreshments and some well crafted dishes after a round on the challenging 18-hole championship track.

Visit www.CrestbrookPark.com.

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Must Plays

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Cold Spring Country Club

esigned to bring world class golf to Western Massachusetts, Cold Spring Country Club, is an 18-hole semi-private course located about midway between Springfield and Worcester in scenic Belchertown, Ma. Designed by Mary Armstrong, completed in 2010 and opened for play in 2012, Cold Spring Country Club is an up-and-coming par 71 golf course, with its 6,521 yards set on rolling hills that boast of breathtaking vistas in nearly every direction. Each hole has up to 5 sets of tees, enabling golfers of all levels to play an exciting mix of six par 3s, seven par 4s and five par 5s.

It all starts with a tough 216-yard parthree. From the highest tee box on the course, enjoy a complete panoramic view of Central Massachusetts facing south. Normally you will need one less club because of the steep drop,

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Crystal Lake Golf Club

ince 1960, Crystal Lake Golf Club in Haverhill, Ma. has been one of the premiere public golf courses in the Merrimack Valley, located only 35 minutes from downtown Boston.

The course offers some of the finest rolling bent grass greens in the area, lush wide fairways, light rough, manicured bunkers, rolling tree-lined terrain, and a well-thought out design

by Geoffrey Cornish of Cornish Golf Designs.

Crystal Lake provides a fun, yet challenging round of golf that will be played under four and half hours on weekends.

Every club in your bag will be used and a memorable golf experience is guaranteed.

The club is also known as one of the best priced courses for the value in New England, with a caring staff, and a proactive 48

but watch the wind here. If constant prevailing winds are in player’s face it will require one or two more clubs. The trees on either side of the tee box will keep players honest, by making them hit down the chute. But there’s lots of wide open room the rest of the way.

The par-five 495-yard seventh hole plays right to left off the tee and with a good tee

shot a player can get home in two. The best shot is a driver with a big draw to a large landing area. Just beware of the bunkers on the right side.

How well you score depends on your 3rd shot into the green. You will need to pick which side of the green to shoot for--choose right or left depending on the placement of the pin. There are unique double approaches created by a large “bump” that protects the center of the green.

The 18th is a nice finisher, a 386-yard par-four that plays quite a bit longer. There is plenty of room off the tee with fairway bunkers on the left. If you play from the back tees you must hit a good drive, with the tee shot taking you over Roaring Brook, and your second shot is severely uphill to a very well-bunkered green with a false front. www.ColdSpringCC.com.

Situated near Crystal Lake, the course features a multitude of challenging yet approachable holes for all types of players. Take the fifth for instance. The par-five plays around 500 yards from the tips and bends ever so softly to the right, which makes going for the green in two shots risky.

membership program, including a “fun” tournament event calendar.

Acquired by Sterling Golf Management in 2018, Crystal Lake Golf Club continues to provide guests and members with a unique and affordable golf experience.

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

The 18th is a very reachable-intwo 448-yard par five where birdie, or perhaps even an eagle, can really bring your round to a delightful conclusion. www.CrystalLake-Golf.com

MUST PLAYS

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Stanley Golf Course

he 27-hole Stanley Golf Course in New Britain, Ct. has long been considered one of the premier daily fee facilities in the state. With three distinct nines to select from and some of the best conditions in the Greater Hartford area, Stanley has a dedicated following among the state’s golfers.

Some modifications were made a few years back to the course, with several new or reshaped holes created and some shifting of the nines, which made the course even more interesting and a tad more challenging.

The White Nine is a friendly track that has a nice mix of holes. The first hole, a 510-yard par-five, is a straight forward test and the green is reachable in two for big hitters. The second hole plays 442 yards from the back tees and par is well defended by the hole’s length and

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bunkers that guard the putting surface.

The 330-yard par-four sixth hole and 123yard par-three seventh conspire to offer wonderful back-to-back birdie opportunities.

The Red Course is also mostly friendly, with a few toughies, like the 424 yard par-four sixth, which presents perhaps the meanest challenge. The Red Nine’s seventh hole, a 508-yard par-five, is a strong design and doglegs from left to right. There is water about halfway to the green that must be avoided off the tee.

The Blue Course is a very fair, tough

routing that has two strong par-fives and one of the most demanding par-fours at the club, the 434-yard seventh that has a pond guarding the right side of the green.

The Red, in fact has its own Amen Corner, with the sixth hole, a short, 331-yard par-four that doglegs sharply left near the approach to the green, the aforementioned seventh, the 147-yard par-three eighth that has water guarding the green, and the 461-yard ninth, which can be reached in two shots with a strong drive that sets up a hard draw with a fairway wood to a green that sits a bit to the left.

Stanley Golf Course New Britain, CT (860) 827-8570 www.StanleyGolf.com

Hunter Golf Club

he Hunter Golf Club in Meriden, Ct. offers a wellrounded test of golf, with great views of surrounding trap rock ridges and Castle Craig in Meriden’s Hubbard Park, which can be seen while playing the fifth hole.

The course has in the past been named the number seven public golf course in the state by Golfing Magazine, and has been named a top 10 course by Connecticut Magazine. The track played host to the 2001 Connecticut Women’s State Amateur, as well as the Senior New England Public Links Championship, and the yearly City Championship for Meriden residents.

The layout has one of the most challenging and perplexing opening holes you will find anywhere. It’s only 368 yards from the back tees, but a stream dissects the fairway a little over halfway to the green, so the dilemma is to take driver and risk hitting

it short or right and into the water, or lay up and be left with a long approach to an elevated green.

The 10th hole is a demanding 587-yard par-five that bends to the left and has water hazards on the left side of the fairway and near the green, which makes the second shot and approach tricky.

Water again complicates matters on

the 182-yard par-three 11th, with ponds flanking the putting surface.

Choose your club for the tee shot wisely because if you wander even a bit left or right you will find trouble.

The 513-yard par five 18th is a truly superb finishing hole. You will want to hit your drive as close as you can to a stream that runs across the fairway about two thirds of the way to the green. Then it’s a decision on whether to try for the putting surface in two shots or lay up and have a wedge for your third shot.

The hole can make or break a round and decide a match.

The course plays 6,604 yards from the tips and has four sets of tees to meet the talent of any player.

Hunter Golf Club Meriden, CT (203) 634-3366 www.HunterGolfClub.com www.GolfingMagazine.net

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MUST PLAYS

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Blackstone National Golf Club

he par-five 18th at Blackstone National Golf Club in Sutton. Ma, is a favorite for anyone who has played it. The hole measures just 485 yards from the tips, but it’s loaded with all kinds of trouble if you wander.

The tee shot must be true to find a landing area protected by wetlands and woods.

Big hitters can reach the putting surface in two shots after a strong drive, but the approach is uphill and there are a number of deep bunkers guarding the putting surface.

The smart play is to lay up in front of the green and knock the ball onto the putting surface with a wedge.

The 18th is a solid finisher and just one indication of the thoughtful approach Rees Jones put into the layout. The course is tucked into the wooded countryside of the Blackstone Valley area of southeastern part of the Bay State.

One of the sweetest aspects of the track is that while it is challenging for the best players, Jones incorporated only a few forced carries, which makes it playable for mid- and even high-handicappers. Ample

fairways allow a player to stay in the hole even after a less than perfect tee shot. There is bunkering guarding the rather large greens, so it is important to choose the proper club to find the target.

Blackstone National, which can stretch to almost 7,000 yards from the tips and plays to a par of 72, has some superb short holes that are also visually enticing.

One of the most stunning par-threes on the layout is the 173-yard 11th, which demands a tee shot over a small pond. It shouldn’t be difficult to find the green.

But any pulled tee shot may find the wet stuff.

Blackstone National GC Sutton, MA 508-865-2111 www.BNGC.net

Blissful Meadows Golf Club

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lissful Meadows Golf Club in Uxbridge, Ma. is a Geoffrey Cornish and Brian Silva design that winds its way through mature stands of tree.

The course, which celebrated its 25th anniversary a few years back, is not long, even from the back markers, playing around 6,700 yards from the tips.

Surrounded by the aforementioned woods as well as open meadows, the course presents a unique and secluded golfing experience. The front nine is more open than the back, which features several dramatic elevation changes and two of the best parthrees you’ll find anywhere. The conditions are always very good.

The opening hole is a 353-yard par-four that demands a precise downhill tee shot to 50

find a fairway that bends slightly to the left.

The approach is to an elevated green with bunkers guarding the right side. It’s a visually exciting start to a round.

The par-three 13th and 15th holes are stunning, a bit intimidating, and demand accurate mid- to long-irons off the tee in order to clear waste areas below and in front of the

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

greens. Rock outcroppings lend a natural feel to the design of the two holes.

The 17th hole, a 400-yard par-four, is a perfect set up to the finishing hole. The toughest shot is the approach, with a pond guarding the green to the left.

When the pin is tucked close to the water it begs you to pull off a tough shot and risk making bogey or worse.

Blissful Meadow’s finisher measures 420 yards from the tips and calls for a solid approach shot over a pond that guards the front left side of the putting surface.

The club’s Meadowview Tavern restaurant is open daily to the public with a vast array of menu items from a basic burger to a garlic rubbed herb pork and daily specials. www.BlissfulMeadows.com

Fox Hopyard Golf Club

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ox Hopyard Golf Club in East Haddam, Ct. offers a blend of challenging golf, first-class customer care and a setting that is difficult to beat.

The course, designed by Roger Rulewich, is always in top condition, with large, fair greens, full and thick rough and cuts, and definition between the fairways/ rough and greens/fringe; always the sign of a well-maintained course.

There really isn’t a weak hole at Fox Hopyard. At almost 7,000 yards from the back markers, which carry a slope rating of 136, the par-71 course offers a test for even the best players. But five sets of tees allow the track to be enjoyed by golfers of all abilities.

The 506-yard fifth hole is classic risk versus reward. Big hitters can go for two with a lusty drive off another dramatically elevated tee box. But there is a stream that guards the front side of the green and danger left and right all the way.

The 18th is a solid finishing hole. At 551 yards it is best attacked in three shots,

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as a pond is to the right side of the hole from about 150 yards and hugs the putting surface. Miss the approach ever so slightly right and you are in the drink.

The club has a top-notch clubhouse and an outdoor pavilion that sits upon a rock

outcropping where golfers or guests can relax and enjoy a drink and meal.

East Haddam, CT (800) 943-1903 www.GolfTheFox.com

Crumpin-Fox Club

he Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston, Ma., near the Vermont bordcr, is a challenging test of golfing ability.

Many of the holes are tree-lined, and gorgeous in the with ample bunkering and enough water to create a few jangled nerves as the round proceeds. Some of the greens are elevated, further complicating proper club selection, especially when the breeze kicks up. The course blends perfectly with the stunning natural landscape that is this section of New England. The layout plays a little over 7,000 yards from the tips and has several of the best holes in the region.

The eighth is an amazing par-five and is certainly the most difficult hole on the course. The eighth starts from an elevated tee box and a lake plays a factor on the first, second and third shots, as it must be avoided and then cleared on any approach to a rather large green protected by bunkers.

Make a five here, never mind a birdie, and you have done something special indeed.

The 14th hole is a par-five that measures 527 yards from the tips. It’s fairly narrow and guarded by trees on both sides of the fairway. The third shot is to a green that has water fronting its left side and bunkers short and long.

Crumpin Fox Golf Club Bernardston, Ma. 413-648-9101 www.GolfTheFox.com

www.GolfingMagazine.net

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Road Trip

Playing a (not so) Hidden Beauty In South Carolina

By, Mark William Paul

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n a recent road trip from Connecticut to the Lowcountry near Charleston, South Carolina, my driving companion and I decided to take a break and pulled off of I-26 looking for some great golf. We had a treat in store as we played Crowfield Golf Club in Goose Creek, S.C., an 18-hole beauty that is conveniently located within a short 30-minute ride from historic downtown Charleston.

Driving through the Hamlets section of Crowfield Plantation, one gets an immediate sense of the beauty that South Carolina has to offer in this well-planned out community.

Spacious homes, well maintained lawns, playgrounds and sport facilities for the kids are the norm.

Upon arrival at the course, one immediately senses the “wow” factor.

A spacious, inviting clubhouse and an accommodating staff welcomed us on this beautiful sunny Lowcountry morning.

We were given a brief course update and suggestions from the club’s ranger, along

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with the days pin placements, and off we went to the practice range. Once warmed up, we drove off to the first tee box.

The course offers five different tee boxes to accommodate players of all abilities. The black tees play 7,005 yards, while the whites, which we chose to play on this day, are a challenging 6315.

The first hole, a straightaway 396 yard par-four, offers a glimpse of what is to come; manicured tee boxes, plush fairways and large, receptive undulating greens with both natural and man-made mounding. The Bermuda greens rolled as true as any we have played anywhere. The undulations were not only aesthetically pleasing to the eye but also a unique challenge.

The par-four 6th hole was one of our favorites on the front nine. The 381-yarder required an accurate tee shot, which left a mid-iron to a contoured green that was guarded by a large pond in the front and a large greenside bunker in the back. Neither short, nor long, are options on this approach shot. This is arguably one of the better holes

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

that we played this season.

We made the turn to hole 10 in a little less than two hours. Our experience on the front nine was only about to get better. The back side is as well manicured as the front and even more challenging. The fairway mounding and the large undulating greens were designed with great care. The par-five closing hole plays a long 611 yards from the back tees and is a challenge for even the most accomplished player.

Enjoying a cold refreshment after the round we both agreed that Crowfield GC is on the list of Top 5 courses to play when in the Charleston area. It is number one on our list of “must replays” the next time we are in the mid-coastal area of South Carolina. If you are looking for a challenging track that will test your golfing ability and allow you to use every club in your bag, look no further than Crowfield Golf Club in Goose Creek, S.C. Visit wwwCrowfieldGolf.com.

The Rip Van Winkle Trail Courses Blackhead Mountain Country Club Blackhead Mountain is a hidden masterpiece in the heart of the Catskill Mountains. Blackhead’s golf course was designed by Nicholas Psiahas and carved into the natural terrain of the beautiful and majestic Blackhead Mountains. Lodging and meals available. www.BlackheadMtn.com

Christman’s Windham House Country Inn & Golf Resort Christman’s Windham House has grown into a 27-hole golf resort and restaurant, set on 300 acres of lush lawn and woodland. Lodging and meals available. www.

WindhamHouse.com

Blackhead Mountain Country Club

The Rip Van Winkle Golf Trail in N.Y.

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ake a trip this year to the Catskill Mountain area of New York State and hop onto the Rip Van Winkle Golf Trail.

There’s a wonderful cache of courses and resorts that have lined up to introduce visitors to superb Greene County golf that are fun, challenging and affordable. There are a total of nine courses that make up the Rip Van Winkle Golf Trail (named after Washington Irving’s famous fictional oversleeping character), several of which afford stay and play options Subscribers to Golfing Magazine New England can play seven of the

courses on the Trail for only a cart fee.

For après golf along the Rip Van Winkle Golf Trail, a number of the resorts and courses have superb dining venues and there is plenty to do and see in this special region of New York State, including hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, shopping or merely sightseeing and taking in the beautiful rolling countryside and hills.

See sidebar for courses on the Rip Van Winkle Golf Trail.

For more information, visit www.GreatNorthernCatskills.com.

Catskill Golf Club Experience 18 Holes of Championship Golf in the scenic beauty of the Northern Catskill Mountains at the Catskill Golf Club. The Club is conveniently located less than a mile from the New York State Thruway, Exit 21. www.CatskillGolfClub.com

Rainbow Golf Club Rainbow Golf Club is an 18-hole facility and has one of the area’s only island greens, Lodging and meals available. www.RainbowGolfClub.com

Rip Van Winkle Country Club This 9-hole Donald Ross golf course at the base of the Catskill Mountains is sure to capture everyone’s fancy.

No lodging or meals available here.

Sunny Hill Resort & Golf Course Sunny Hill Resort and Golf Course is an all-inclusive family resort with two golf courses in the Northern Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley. Lodging and meals available. www.SunnyHill.com

Thunderhart Golf Club at Sunny Hill Thunderhart Golf Course at Sunny Hill is a championship 18-hole golf course and is part of Sunny Hill Resort.

Lodging and meals available. www.ThunderhartGolf. com

Windham Country Club Windham Country Club is an 18-hole public golf course located in the scenic Northern Catskills of New York State. No lodging or meals available here. www.

WindhamCountryClub.com

Colonial Country Club This scenic, nine-hole regulation golf course opened in 1965. It is a PGA facility and features 2,681 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 35. This golf course is playable as an 18-hole, par-70 layout. 518-589-9807.

www.GolfingMagazine.net

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Great

Golf

Ocean City, Maryland

17 Championship Courses 10 Miles of Beach 3 Mile Boardwalk

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Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

2 Nights, 3 Rounds Starting: Spring / Fall Weekdays - $170 Weekends - $191

First Class Accommodations Excellent Dining Exciting Nightlife

“Great Golf is Just the Beginning” Ocean City, Maryland