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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!
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.
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!
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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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CONNECTI CUT COURSES
Blackledge Country Club
Blue Fox Run Golf Course
Crestbook Park Golf Course
Elmridge Country Club
Farmington Woods Country Club
Gillette Ridge Golf Course
Hawk’s Landing Country Club
Hunter Golf Course
Keney Park Golf Course
Laurel View Golf Course
Manchester Country Club
Norwich Golf Club
Portland Golf Course
Quarry Ridge Golf Club
Simsbury Farms Golf Course
Stanley Golf Course
Tallwood Country Club
The Golf Club at River Oaks
The Golf Club at Windham
Tumble Brook Country Club
Tunxis Country Club
Twin Hills Country Club
Western Hills Golf Course
Whitney Farms Golf Course .... plus 25 more
Brattleboro Country Club
Green Mountain National
Mount Snow Golf Course
Mount Washington Resort GC
Newport Golf Club
The Shattuck
MASSA CHUSETTS COURSES
Blackstone National Golf Club
Captains Golf Course
Cold Spring Country Club
Chicopee Country Club
Crestview Country Club
Crumpin Fox Club
Crystal Lake Golf Course
Dennis Pines & Dennis Highlands
Heather Hill Country Club
Kings Way Golf Club
Ledges Golf Club
Maplegate Country Club
Newton Commonwealth GC
Norwood Country Club
Tekoa Country Club
Wentworth Hills Country Club
Waubeeka Golf Links .... plus 22 more
Bethel Inn Resort
Dunegrass Golf Club
Poland Spring Resort Spring Meadow Golf Club
Sunday River Golf Club
Sugarloaf Golf Club .... plus more
Golf Like No Other
Blackstone National Golf Club was designed by renowned golf course architect Rees Jones. Rees put a great deal of his heart and soul into coming up with a player’s course that took full advantage of the best landscape and scenery that central New England has to offer.
508.865.2111 www.bngc.net
A Barn Wedding Venue
Celebrate your special day with us, where our stunning features including a semi-private golf course and pavilion, will make your day truly unforgettable.
508.865.7300 www.thebarnatblackstonenational.com
New England Spring 2025
More and more people are turning to golf as a way to keep fit and get out of their homes. 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.
After a long winter, Spring in New England is a splendid time to reboot the game and prepare for months of fun and competition. And is there anything that smells as sweet as freshly mown grass on a sunny spring morning?
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 120 of the top daily fee courses and private tracks in the region.
We have worked to enhance our course list for 2025 and your subscription promises to be worth more than ever. We believe
It’s Finally Time For Golf
we are going beyond giving lip service to “growing the game” by offering this 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 five issues of our digital magazine in addition to discounted rounds of golf when you subscribe.
In this issue of Golfing Magazine we visit the Omni Mount Washington Resort in New Hampshire. Gollfers from all over the world should add a visit to the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, NH to their bucket list.
We also visited Gulf Shores Alabama and learned that no matter which direction you head; you’ll be greeted by one of the 15 golf courses that are part of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism. Gulf Shores has a rich history of serving all kinds of escapes at any time of the year, with numerous activities highlighted by miles of white sand beaches and stunning views from the Gulf.
We visited Mohegan Sun Golf Club, an 18-hole layout in Baltic, CT. The course has a nice layout that includes bunkers, water, hazards, and big greens. It makes you use every club in the bag, and it makes you think about either your tee shot or approach shot direction.
We tell you about the private golf courses that you can access trough Golf Stimulus Program, a nice added bonus or signing up this year. And, we check out the nine-hole courses that are included in our program. We also have a line-up of some
of our favorite instructors in the area to get you ready for golf this season.
We also highlight some of the golf resorts in the New England States and tell you about the best nine-hole layouts in New England.
We also have a line-up of some of our favorite instructors in the area to get you ready for golf this season. Sue Kaffenburg in Yarmouth, MA and New England PGA Teacher of the Year and George Connor of Farmington Woods Country Club and 3-Time CT PGA Teacher of the Year.
Also in this issue, we introduce you to the launch of the Kentucky Golf Trail. Curating premier golf, with world-class bourbon experiences and internationally renowned horse farms and racetracks, all wrapped in authentic southern charm.
You will also find some of our “Must Play” New England courses that you can access at a discount with the Golfing Magazine subscription program.
Enjoy our Spring Issue, sign up for a subscription and get the sticks sizzling. Golf season has finally arrived and we’ve got a ton of great courses for you to play.
Hit ‘em
Omni Mount Washington Resort A Premier Stay & Play Destination
By, MYLES MURRAY
Golfers from all over the world should add a visit to the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, NH to their bucket list. The whitewalled, red-roofed castle in the clouds, with the ominous Mt. Washington looking over its shoulder is an adult playground for golfers.
The 5-star resort, combined with the historic 18-hole championship course, provides a unique experience that combines sport, scenery, and amazing food. The resort was built in 1902 and the course was established in 1915. If you go there today you will enjoy a historical vacation that you will remember forever. The lodging is top class, the course is a vintage Donald Ross, and the food is superb.
GOLF
Consistently rated as one of the best courses in New Hampshire, the Omni Mount Washington Golf Course resides at the base of the Presidential Mountain Range in the White Mountains. There is also the Mount Pleasant course, which is a 9-hole par-35
located in front of the resort. These courses have scenic backgrounds of either epic mountain peaks or the majestic Omni Resort throughout. Every single hole offers a stunning view. The golf experience, combined with the breathtaking scenery, are what make this place so memorable.
The Mount Washington course was originally designed by legendary architect Donald Ross and later renovated by the modern master of design Brian Silva in 2008. Silva followed Ross’ lead and merely updated some of the holes instead of completely reshaping them. The result is a fusion of new and old golf course design that challenges but satisfies golfers of all ages and skill.The layout of the course is surprisingly open, considering it is in a mountain range in New England. There are tall pines scattered throughout, but they do not make you feel stifled when hitting. There are typical Ross-style features like tall fescue clumps and thoughtfully placed bunkers on every hole to keep you honest. Some holes are very close together, only separated by thin
lines of fescue or tree lines, so there is some crossover of golfers from wayward tee shots. But the good thing is that you don’t lose many balls, only some pride for having to wait for the group on the correct fairway to hit first.
The greens are what impressed me the most on the course. They were extremely soft on approach shots, leaving huge divots, but rolled very fast when putting. It was a unique feature, and I give credit to the grounds crew for keeping the conditions so perfect. They were large greens that had a lot of interesting designs. All of them had undulations, slopes, and/or tiers that made it difficult to gauge. I think if you play there multiple times you will have better approach shots because you know how the slopes break. I hit some shots that I thought were going to be in prime position to birdie, only to find out I had a double breaker or slippery left to right 10-footer. This only enhanced the experience though, because each green presented a different layout. Hole 4 has a ‘maiden green,’ which means there are two tiers separated by a very deep ravine between
them. When I played, I had the honor of putting at the pin which was in the middle of the ravine! This made it extremely difficult to lag it close and of course I ended up with a 3-putt.
The signature hole for me was the 18th. It’s a 350 yard par4 but the design and setting made it memorable, and difficult. It is a dogleg left with the magnificent Omni Resort as your backdrop. From the tee you have to carry it over OB fescue about 160 yards. Then you have to hit an approach shot over fescue and a stream at 130 yards. The green is large enough to hit, but has a nice slope so it depends on where your ball stops. Once you get to the green you have the clubhouse and outdoor patio in the background as you hope to finish on a high note.
The Mount Washington Golf Course has everything to challenge and reward all types of golfers. The quality and the scenery would make anyone happy, and the veteran golfer will love the difficulty of the Ross-design. Plus you have the added benefit of being able to play the sister course while in the area.
The Mount Pleasant course sits on the front lawn of the Omni Mount Washington Resort and runs alongside the Ammonoosuc River. This 9-hole course offers a relaxed round that can be played quickly, and with the same breathtaking scenery as the big course. This course is actually older than the big course as it was opened in the 1890’s.
The challenge from this course is the fescue and heavy brush that line most of the fairways. If you hit a shot into these areas it is difficult to hit it back onto the fairway. You will also have trouble finding wayward tee shots because the bushes and trees are so dense you don’t have a chance to go in and look for your ball.
Holes 4, 5, and 6 take you through some thick woods so there is little error allowed off the tee. Hole 7 is a funky dogleg right where you hit it over the Ammonoosuc River off the tee. You finish off the round with a beautiful view of the resort in the background as you head back towards the clubhouse.
The greens are a little slower than the big course, but the natural hazards throughout force you to play target golf at Mount
range, with Mount Washington directly in the middle.
The resort drips nostalgia but has high end modern amenities. It is on the National Registry so you feel like you have stepped back in time when you learn more about its history. There are plaques and pictures that highlight the history of the resort, including the Monetary Conference of 1944. This meeting of world leaders took place at the resort and helped decide the future of banking and money as we know it today. The wide hallways are covered in art that represents the evolution of the resort, and pays homage to those who helped pave the way. And I mention the wide hallways because they were designed that way to allow ladies with their hoop skirts to easily fit down the halls. It’s these unique facts that add a special layer of charm to the resort.
Pleasant. If you are able to spend some time at the resort, then being able to play two historic golf courses while enjoying the scenery and accommodations is worth the trip.
OMNI MOUNT WASHINGTON RESORT
Hole 1’s tee box is practically at the checkin area for the resort. It is elevated and you have to hit over the road leading to the clubhouse. It’s a par5 but luckily the easiest hole on the course so you should be able to start your round on a good note. Hole 3 has a large pond up the whole right side so being left is crucial.
This is the premier destination for stay and play in New England because there is so much to do and enjoy. The resort is situated on a hill overlooking the two golf courses, the outdoor pool, tennis courts, and horse trails. The front of the resort faces the Bretton Woods ski resort while the back faces the Presidential Mountain
There are over 200 rooms in the original structure of the resort that opened in the early 1900’s. This includes a room with the original bed of the matriarch of the family, that is available to be booked by anyone. The spacious outdoor veranda has plenty of seating to accommodate guests who want to sip wine and enjoy hors d’oeuvres while soaking up the mountain views. My wife and I chose to have mixed cocktails on the veranda after golf and savored the stunning mountain views. The whole experience felt like a throwback to a bygone era.
The resort recently renovated a part of the building that is now known as the Presidential Wing From the soft bedding to the plus robes, everything in these rooms are luxurious and lavish. The bathroom was exquisite, with marble floors, a rainfall showerhead and complimentary bath salts for the giant soaking tub. The expansive views during the day and at sunset were unreal, and the private patio gave us a great spot to enjoy them.
Another perk of the Presidential Wing is exclusive access to the Presidential Club Lounge. The lounge had an extensive drink menu along with a spread of heavy appetizers to hold you over until dinner. It’s the perfect spot to watch a game on the large flat screens, or play some cards after dinner. It also had
daily continental breakfast that included tasty classics and a variety of juices and coffees to enjoy.
The amenities at the resort include outdoor excursions, not just golf, to keep everyone entertained. The great part about staying here is that once you park your car you can leave the keys on the table because you won’t need to drive anywhere. Most of the activities they offer are either on site or you can get a shuttle to reach them. This includes horseback riding, zip lines, a spa, hiking trails, fishing, mountain biking, rock climbing, tennis, and gondola ride up to the peak of Bretton Woods. We took the gondola ride and had lunch at the Rosebrook Lodge, which was slightly chilly for August, but had amazing food and magnificent views of both the hotel and mountain range.
The bottom floor of the resort is designed to be ‘MainStreet’ and it is all-encompassing. There is a fitness center, post office, arcade, shops, ice cream, coffee, and restaurants running along the length of the resort that give guests everything they need. The resort also has conference rooms, a wedding venue, and full service spa, in case you thought they were missing anything.
FOOD
Along with the golf, first class accommodations, plethora of activities, and on-site services, there are several places to eat and
drink while living the good life. The resort has three restaurants and two bars to keep you full and happy. The bars have huge selections of beer, wine, and cocktails that will keep you hydrated. The restaurants have amazing food that utilizes fresh, local ingredients and has plenty of variety to choose from.
The Rosebrook Bar has charcuterie, flatbreads, dips, and snacks to enjoy on the veranda. If you want stunning views with your cocktails, I’d suggest the Observatory Bar on the rooftop Jewell Terrace. Located on the patio level, Stickney’s Restaurant has hearty
meals that will finish off your busy day. They have tremendous portions and high quality classic steakhouse meals. Mouth-watering ribeye, filet, tri-tip, or NY strip are cooked to order and have delicious sides to go with them.
And you cannot visit the Omni Mount Washington Resort and not visit The Cave. Directly across from Stickney’s, The Cave is prohibition-era speakeasy with live music and flat-screen TV’s. Lined with cobblestones and bricks, The Cave is the place to be for latenight drinks and fun. It can get crowded so be sure to grab a seat when it opens at 9pm.
If you want to experience the highest level of dining at the Omni, you should dine at the 1902 Main Dining Room. The restaurant is elegant but not stuffy. The dining room has vaulted ceilings, huge windows overlooking the resort and mountains, and handcrafted designs built into the walls and columns. The food was exceptional and drinks were always full even before we asked. We had the Burrata salad and Short Rib sliders for appetizers. For dinner I had the Seared Scallops with a bacon/leek risotto that was amazing. My wife had the Gulf of Maine Cod that was baked and served with a clam chowder sauce and succotash. We finished the night with two delicious desserts, the Creme Brulee and the Chocolate Lava Cake. Everything was fresh, flavorful and cooked perfectly. The rest of the menu includes classic recipes, but with a fancy spin on them. It is worth splurging on your trip to go to the 1902 for an elegant dining experience.
PREMIER GOLF DESTINATION
The Omni Resort at Mount Washington is the place to go for fun, relaxation, golf, and incredible food. You can add unlimited golf to your stay for a flat fee so you can play as much as you want. It’s the perfect spot for a golf trip, family vacation or bachelor party. With everything at your fingertips, you don’t have to worry about finding things to do, or coordinating transportation. The onsite activities will help fill your time in between golf, or you can always sit on the veranda and take in the mountain views. Be sure to put this place on your golf bucket list.
www.OmniHotels.com/MountWashington
Gulf Shores, Alabama White Sand Beaches and Championship Golf
By, TOM LANDERS
Going to a golf destination with a fully open mind has its advantages. Such was the case when Golfing Magazine recently experienced Gulf Shores, Alabama on a golf writer’s trip. I learned that no matter which direction you head; you’ll be greeted by one of the 15 golf courses that are part of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism. Gulf Shores has a rich history of serving all kinds of escapes at any time of the year, with numerous activities highlighted by miles of white sand beaches and stunning views from the Gulf.
I joined other golf writers from around the country for a tour that included golf at Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club (a 27-hole facility), Gulf Shores Golf Club, Kiva Dunes Golf Course, and the Cotton Creek Course at Craft Farms Golf Club (36 holes of golf designed by Arnold Palmer).
I flew in and out of Pensacola (Fla.) International Airport then took an easy 1-hour drive to Gulf Shores to check in at our Gulf-side condo at The Beach Club.
The views of the Gulf from our luxurious condominium were endless miles of white sand beach and an endless horizon.
It was my first time to the Gulf Shores / Orange Beach area, the golf was excellent as anticipated, and the seaside setting with fabulous restaurants and bars put the entire experience over the top.
The freshest of seafood options, flounder, grouper, red snapper, and of course any style of oysters you could want. Steak lovers do not despair, you too will find as we did, some of the finest in the country.
The first course we played was the Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club. Peninsula is the home to three different nines, Marsh, Lakes, and Cypress designed by Earl Stone. Up for us were the Marsh and Lakes nines.
The Marsh nine I would consider more of a players course where accuracy and placement off the tee, club selection on second shots are make it, or break as the key to a good round. On the Lakes nine you will find water in combination with marshes
and some awesome golf course bridges on 8 of the nine holes.
Cypress could be considered grip it and rip in style. Generous landing areas off the tee. Several forced carries make tee selection extremely important for your day. Add in strategically placed bunkers, waste bunkers, and water hazards and you find out why Peninsula is a world-class experience. www.PeninsulaGolfClub.com
After lunch in the Peninsula clubhouse, we were off to Gulf Shores Golf Club, the oldest facility in Gulf Shores. Gulf Shores Golf Course is a far more modest course with a distinct “muni” feel to it. The course provided rather generous landing areas, but drives that strayed too far off line, in many places, brought the many oaks and pines into play. There was also enough water to make one pay attention off the tee into the green, particularly on the par-4 18th with a large pond guarding the green.
To celebrate a full day of golf in Gulf Shores we headed to one of my favorite parts
Craft Farms, Cypress Bend Course
of this trip, Jesse’s on the Bay, a spectacular steakhouse on Mobile Bay. While Jesse’s is known for their unique cuts of dry and wetaged steaks, and bone-in cuts, you should not overlook the fresh fish that is brought in daily or the amazing setting on the Bay. www.JessesRestaurant.com
The following day, we teed it up at Kiva Dunes Golf Course. Not much more can be said about this course whose layout was created by former U.S. Open Winner Jerry Pate that is not captured within the accolades from Golf Digest, Golf Pass, Golf Advisor, Golfweek, and Links Magazine to name a few. Topping that list of accolades might be, the #1 Course in Alabama in 2017 by Golf Advisor. With the Robert Trent Jones Trail running through Alabama, we all know how many great courses there are throughout the State.
Winds off the bay add another dimension to your day here. As the locals will tell you, “No two days are the same.” We were rather fortunate on our day to have relatively no wind. Par 3’s offers up great variety with none more challenging than the all-over water 17th. The 375-yard, par-4 ninth hole is Kiva Dunes’ signature hole
because of its forced carry-over water to a long, diagonal green. Seems to me that I am a sucker for water holes, number 2, might be my Par 5 of choice, 2 good shots leave you a wedge to a green protected by water right. Hole 18, although, the water that lines the right side of the fairway should not come into play, “takes you to the house!”
www.KivaDunes.com
We spent that late afternoon aboard a 53-foot open-sea catamaran with Sail Wild Hearts, out from the bayside dock at Perdido Beach Resort for nearly two hours on the Gulf. Complimentary soft drinks and bottled water were provided, but adults are welcome to bring along small coolers stocked with their beverages of choice— which, as you can imagine, made for a particularly enjoyable sunset cruise among a crew of golf writers.
After dinner at The Pier House the evening continued for us with a special treat, at least for me. I had heard of the infamous bar that straddled the Alabama and Florida border. The Flora-Bama is a beach bar that has been serving up music and good times since 1964 and the world-famous Flora-Bama Bushwacker — a “boozy milkshake” that
No fewer than five stages for live music feature bands of country, rock, dance, and beach music. You can relax in any of the areas and select the entertainment of your choice. Feeling a little peckish, you might also slide up to the Oyster bar or Ole River Grill. If you need a little away time the Flora-Bama has several beach-front bars where you might enjoy a beautiful sunset. www.FlorAbama.com
The final day was a round on the Cotton Creek Course at Craft Farms, the older of the two Arnold Palmer designs at the 36-hole facility. Cotton Creek opened in 1987; Cypress Bend followed in 1993. If you are an Arnold Palmer design fan which I am, then you are in for a real treat at Craft Farms with 2 4 ½ star Golf Digest-rated courses. Both are modern links style courses and in typical Palmer style, they offer challenge without intimidation. Semi-private tells you that the courses are maintained “to the tee” as their members would have it no other way. Both courses feature five sets of tees (Cotton Creek can play as long as 7,127 yards; Cypress Bend as long as
pairs vanilla ice cream with a devilish mix of rum, Kahlúa, amaretto and créme de cacao.
Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club, Marsh Course
6,848) and continue to carry out Palmer’s mission of challenging golfers without intimidating them.
The Cotton Creek course is a fun course to play with numerous risk/reward opportunities throughout. Here you deal with more tree-lined and rolling fairways and for water lovers do not despair as small lakes, ponds and rivers come into play on 14 of the 18 holes.
The lush course is challenging for low handicap players but with five staggered tee boxes, it is a fun challenge for all. Fun and challenges come into play on the Par 4, 6th, small lake down the entire right hand and forms to surround the large undulating green, along with some protective bunkers. Bite off as much as you can chew for a short second shot. Maybe???
Cypress Bend is a perfect complement to its big sister, Cotton Creek, this course has a coastal feel as it traverses a unique system of cord-grass accented lakes which come into play on nearly every hole. Cypress Bend offers wide fairways, vast landing areas, and large undulating greens. For a guy who likes Palmer design and play
The Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend courses at Craft Farms are Alabama’s only Arnold Palmer Signature Design Courses. The courses are distinctly different, and both assure a challenging yet playable golf experience. www.CraftFarms.com
The Gulf Shores / Orange Beach area of Alabama is an excellent destination whether for a golf vacation or any occasion at all
October when there isn’t a greens fee higher than $135 and there are accommodations to fit any budget.. With the fresh Gulf Coast breezes and warm winter sunshine, Gulf Shores is the hidden jewel of the Gulf Coast. Enjoy nearby shopping, boating, beach, tourist attractions, deep sea fishing, and, of course, golf! Experience Alabama’s Gulf Coast in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach.
Kiva Dunes Golf Course, 18th Hole
Craft Farms , Cotton Creek Course
Stratton Mountain Resort
There’s always something happening at Stratton Mountain, Vt. during the summer, with live music slopeside and in the Village, mountain top yoga, and a season of special events from Fourth of July fireworks and family fun to brewfests and chili cookoff.
If those activities don’t tickle your fancy, how about scenic gondola rides, downhill mountain biking, pickleball and tennis. And, there’s great shopping and dining in Stratton Village.
Of course, the golf is superb at this all-inclusive resort, which boasts a scenic and challenging championship 27-hole course that played host to six LPGA tournaments.
There are three distinct ninehole routings at Stratton, 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 following hole is a short, 139-yard parthree but don’t hit your tee shot with anything less than determination, as a stream closely guards the right portion of a two-tiered green. Three bunkers surrounding the green make accuracy important.
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 435-yard 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 great stay and play packages.
www.Stratton.com
Bethel Inn Resort
The 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, tree-lined 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 parthrees 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.
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
Geoffrey 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.
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, funpacked experience for individuals, couples and families.
www.BethelInn.com
Vermont’s Mount Snow
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 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 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.
Wyndhurst Manor & Club
The Wyndhurst Manor & Club, located in Lenox, Ma., features an historic 18-hole course (actually 19 holes).
It’s a picturesque, traditional New England resort course routed over the hills surrounding the resort and through mature woodlands of the area. The course features tree-lined fairways and naturally contoured greens that have been carefully preserved in the more than 80 years since the course was built.
The eighth hole is one of the best on the course. You tee off next to the resort hotel and can cut the distance to the hole on the 347-yard par-four dramatically if you take the drive over trees that hug the left side. It’s all downhill to a small green that is easy to miss if you don’t concentrate on the pitch shot.
You need to score well on the front side because the inward nine is much more difficult, with several brutal par-fours and some very good par-threes waiting. The 11th is one of the course’s signature holes, a 200-yard parthree that plays from a chute of trees to a severely slopped green. Huge bunkers guard the putting surface.
The finishing hole is a wide open 393-yard par-four that allows you to hit driver and follow up with a mid- or short-iron into the slightly elevated green. Then it’s a bit of a drive, or walk, back to the clubhouse,
Awhich allows you to take in the scenery and tally up your score. And remember that 19th hole? The par-four is situated near the eighth green and plays toward the clubhouse, allowing golfers who need to get back for dinner or a spa treatment to enjoy a shorter round. www.WyndhurstManorAndClub.com
Poland Spring Resort
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 re-designed 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-yardlong 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 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
Sunday River Golf Club
Sunday River Golf Club in Newry, Maine is a spectacular Boyne Golf property in a classic New England setting.
A Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design, the course is perched on a sloping hillside, overlooking the Sunday River Valley with the Mahoosuc Mountain Range towering above, offering panoramic views that stretch all the way to “Old Spec”, Maine’s third highest peak. Tree lined fairways offer dramatic elevation changes with the natural topography striking the perfect balance between challenge and playability.
The par-threes, several of them playing from dramatically elevated tees, as well as the par-fives, are strengths of Sunday River. The 499-yard par-five first hole sets a stunning tone for the remainder of the round. The fairway runs downhill to the green and the putting surface can be reached in two shots, providing you play your ball down the right side and avoid two bunkers on either side of the green.
The 425-yard-par four fifth plays shorter than its length because it’s all downhill, and the ninth, a 339-yarder, is a great example of a superb, short par-four. The tee shot and approach must carry waste areas.
The 17th, par-four, top handicap hole is just a beast from whichever tee box you are playing. Finding the fairway off the tee of this demanding hole is critical for success. Bunkers guard the right and left side of the landing area. Carrying the fairway bunker along right side will allow the best angle of approach from the right center of the fairway to a dramatically elevated green.
For the most part here, the fairways are generous, greens are spacious, there are only a few blind shots and, of course, uneven lies. The key to scoring is your shot into the green. Pick the right tees for you and you will be fine.
GSunday River has received numerous accolades from golf publications, including Golf Digest’s Number One Course in Maine, and list among its Top 10 Upscale Public Courses.
The resort has over 700 condominiums, ranging from studio condos to three-bedroom townhomes, all with access to indoor and outdoor pools and saunas. Sunday River offers attractive stay and play package at the property’s Jordan Hotel, which is just two miles from the golf course.
For more information on Sunday River check out the website www.SundayRiver.com
Sugarloaf Golf Club
olfers in the state of Maine are fortunate to have two resorts that are part of the Boyne Resorts cache, Sugarloaf being one and Sunday River the other.
Boyne Resorts is a collection of mountain and lakeside resorts, ski areas, and attractions spanning from British Columbia to Maine. The company owns and operates 11 properties and an outdoor lifestyle equipment/apparel retail division with stores in cities throughout Michigan. An industry leader in multiple U.S. regions, operations include snow sports and year-round mountain recreation, golf, an indoor waterpark, spas, food and beverage, lodging and real estate development.
Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley, Maine is the state’s premier golf destination; the Robert Trent Jones Jr. design provides golfers with stunning panoramic mountain views and an unforgettable experience from first tee to final putt.
Panoramic views here are a plenty, and one that you are not likely to forget, such as the view from the 11th tee box, the hole appropriately named “Precipice”. The par-three is Sugarloaf’s most famous hole and one of the most photographed in New England. Dropping more than 120 feet, the hole plays nearly two clubs downhill to a green guarded by bunkers back and right of the green and the Carrabassett River short and left. A par is a great score.
The 11th is the “Signature Hole” and the second in a run of five holes, 10 to 15, known as the “String of Pearls.” The collection of holes offers up everything and anything that anyone could want, from risk-reward, intimidating bunkers, flirting with the Carrabassett River, and spectacular views of the Bigelow Mountain Range.
Closing out the String, is the 15th hole, “Cobbled Stone”. Providing a unique challenge, similar to Augusta’s 12th hole, wind will often swirl, causing indecision on club choice. A successful approach over the Carrabassett River will provide a great chance at par on this receptive green.
Sugarloaf Golf Club is a must play and many would agree as accolades
have been pouring in year after year. Playing here is no walk in the park, but five sets of tees allow you to choose the right one’s course ratings and slope, range from Black 75.2/150 to Green 72.6/135.
Sugarloaf was selected as the Best Course in Maine in 2017 and 2018 by Golfweek Magazine and was chosen three times among the 100 Greatest Public Courses in America by Golf Digest.
A round would be complete without a visit to Strokes Bar & Grill for a made-to-order breakfast before you play, or pick something up to take with you to the tee. Finish your day with a quiet cocktail on the patio while soaking in the panoramic mountain views.
Just about any style of accommodations that anyone could want are available at Sugarloaf, from hotel, to condos to homes.
Stay and play packages are available at www.Sugarloaf.com.
Mohegan Sun Golf Club An Upscale & Unique Golf Experience
Mohegan Sun Golf Club, located in Baltic, CT, is a short ride from their casino of the same name. The course includes an 18-hole layout, the Mohegan Sun Golf Academy, the Greenside Grille & Pub, along with a fully-stocked pro shop. You can take your chances at the casino before taking your chance on the fairways, or just book a tee time and enjoy the friendly course.
The course has had some recent renovations that have improved the layout to make it challenging but still playable for golfers of all skill levels. I played there in October so it was in full Fall mode with colorful but also annoying leaves scattered throughout the course. The greens were lightning fast, but the overall quality of the course was great. The sand bunkers have all been upgraded and have the softest grains of sand I have ever hit out of. I think the improvements they have made make it a true destination course in New England.
The General Manager, Philip Krick, explained that since he began working at the club 10 years ago, he has been making improvements to make the course fun and playable. When I travel to a course I want it to be challenging and fun, not so difficult that I will never go back. Mohegan Sun’s course is just that, it offers an interesting layout that requires skill, but it is forgiving so you can have a good time and not get overly frustrated. That is, as long as you play a consistent game and play within your limits.
The course has a nice layout that includes bunkers, water, hazards, and big greens. It makes you use every club in the bag, and it makes you think about either your tee shot or approach shot direction. I like having this challenge because it makes you use your golf IQ to plan how you will attack the hole. I didn’t lose a ball all round, but still had difficulty picking the correct approach from tee to green which caused some over-par scores.
The layout has a mix of doglegs, tree-lined fairways, water or bunkers in landing areas, and some strategic tee shots. I liked the par-5 5th hole which has a creek running through the
middle of the fairway and requires a 250-yard to clear. You then have an approach to a small green guarded by front bunkers. The par-5 6th hole is the #1 handicap for a reason. It takes a 225-yard shot to land in the ideal position for your second shot. However, the approach shot is to an uphill green that has a huge pond on the whole left side of the fairway and small waterfall on the front right side. It is tough to hit two perfect shots in row so I would layup, chip on, and hopefully 2-putt for par.
Hole 12 is a short 289-yard par-4 that has a huge pond on the right and triplett bunkers on the left. If you go for the green you have to carry it at least 185 over the pond but there is a small landing area of fairway. You should probably hit it to the left with a 200-yard shot that lands short of the tripletts.
The signature hole is the par-5 18th which has the clubhouse overlooking the green in the background. It has two ponds on each side of the fairway from 200-250 yards that narrow the fairway to provide a small landing area between them. Both ponds have water spraying up from sprinklers in the water, which provide a very cool view from both the tee and fairway. If you land on dry ground then you will have 170-200 yards to the large green. Only problem is the green is surrounded by bunkers, including a huge one in the front that will dissuade some
golfers from going for it in 2.
The greens were pretty fast when I played, and they were really the equalizer on the course. The fairways were hittable, and you can play from other fairways on errant tee shots, but the greens were sloped and tiered with some fast pace that made 2-putting the norm for me. Most of the greens slope back to front so you are best to leave it short and have an uphill putt because hitting downhill lag putts there is not easy. I had a few roll past the hole then down to the first cut of the green, and all resulted in f’ing 3-putts.
The carts are comfortable and quiet, and have GPS tracking on a screen that is on the pole over the steering wheel. The Pro shop had a full complement of gear, equipment, and souvenirs in case you forgot something for your round. The large putting green had multiple targets and rolled just like the holes on the course. The huge grass driving range is behind the clubhouse and tops out at around 200 yards. There is a short game area for practicing chip shots or bump-and-runs.
Overall, Mohegan Sun Golf Club provides an upscale and unique golf experience. The course is wide open and offers the chance to get away with a few mistakes during your round. The amenities are top notch, and the staff did a great job of helping me out as a first timer play-
ing there. Besides the great golf there are also a few options onsite for incredible food.
Located in the clubhouse is the Greenside Grille & Pub which is a full service restaurant for players and the public. The Greenside has a loaded menu with tasty pub classics and offers a full bar for drinks. You can start your round with a freshly made breakfast sandwich on a biscuit or as a burrito (my personal favorite). For lunch or dinner you can have apps, salads, burgers, sandwiches, or entrees. The cobb and caesar salad can be starters or you can add chicken or steak to make them meals. The burgers and sandwiches have a nice variety so everyone will find something they like. If you are visiting New England, you should definitely try a New England classic like their crispy fish and chips. The fan favorite is hands down the Smashed Clubhouse Classic. This is a mouth watering burger with double angus beef patties topped with cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, pickles, lettuce, and tomato.
If you get hungry on the course then you can stop at the TTT food shack conveniently located in the middle of the course near holes 9, 14, and 17. I stopped here several times during my round for food and a few adult beverages. The menu is similar to the Greenside with pub favorites that can be prepared quickly so you can keep up the pace of your round. It has a pretty robust menu for a snack shack so you should be able to find something to keep you happy and full. They have soup, chili, glizzys, tenders, and fries as apps. They also have burgers, wraps, and sandwiches. I had the BBQ burger and fries and they were delicious and surprisingly light so I wasn’t feeling sluggish on the back 9. They also
have every type of drink you could want, including alcohol, soda, water, and sports drinks. TTT has a little ‘parking lot’ for carts so you can hop off and grab what you want. There are some picnic tables to sit at and enjoy the view of the 9th and 17th tee boxes.
The Mohegan Sun Golf Club has great golf, amenities, practice facilities, food and drink. It is a superb course to play and it lets all skill levels have a fun time. If you are still hungry, here are some other options in the area worth checking out.
Stone Row Kitchen + Bar
This is the place to go for creative dishes using locally-sourced ingredients. Stone Row has daily specials, carry out, Sunday brunch, pri-
vate events, and catering to go along with their delicious menu in the restaurant. You can enjoy the quality of a fancy menu but at an affordable price. They have starters like fresh, warm sourdough bread with roasted garlic butter or fresh shucked oysters. The appetizers include salads, pork belly, scallops, and confit chicken wings. They have sandwiches and burgers like the popular Korean BBQ chicken. The large plates have well-rounded options that include fish, duck, lamb, and roasted cauliflower. Whether you have a sweet tooth or not you should save room for dessert because Stone Row has housemade ice cream and a warm brownie with espresso ice cream on top. This place has big flavors, decent prices, and a very cool vibe.
Irene’s Family Restaurant
They have high quality comfort food with fresh ingredients and a warm atmosphere. The menu has all of the popular comfort food you’ve had or have craved in your life. Seriously, the menu is huge and has everything covered. They have over 10 different types of salads including buffalo chicken, taco, grilled shrimp, and an antipasto. The menu also includes appetizers, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, gyros, grinders, seafood, pizza, calzones, classic pasta dishes, baked pasta dishes, BBQ, and even some ‘lighter’ options. You are guaranteed to find something you like, and guaranteed that it will be made with flavorful ingredients. The crowd favorites are the Fried Calamari for an app, Tommy’s BBQ burger for a handheld, and the Baked Scallops or Chicken Parm for entrees.
www.MoheganSun.com
Private Courses
You Can Play with Golfing Magazine
Golfing Magazine’s Golf Course Stimulus program has some superb private courses you can play if you join. We have around 130 courses this year in our program, all with no greens fees. To take advantage of this tremendous offer, call 860-563-1633, or visit www. FreeGolf.net.
Let’s take a look at the private courses that are part of our list for 2023.
A premier addition to our lineup is The Golf Club at River Oaks, located on the Sherman/New Milford town line in western Connecticut.
River Oaks has a number of holes on its back nine that hug the Housatonic River, which is visible through the trees in late autumn or early spring. The look from the tee box on the par-four dogleg left ninth hole reminds one of playing golf in northern New England rather than Connecticut. Many consider this to be one of the top two or three courses in the state. PGA star Phil Mickelson was said to have called it a superb layout when he visited.
Robert McNeil designed the course that opened in 2003, and he built into it challenge and fairness. The fairways are rather
generous on the par-fives and longer parfours and tighter and strewn with fairway bunkers on several of the shorter par-fours. The greens are fairly large and kept on the fast side. The rough is manageable and the greenside bunkers challenging yet not unfair. While the course is no push-over, it is eminently playable for any golfer, as long as you tee it up from the proper markers. The tips play 6,730 yards with a slope of 138 and a course rating of 73.8. The layout plays to a par of 71 and has five par-threes, which cut into the overall length, so don’t be fooled into thinking even the white markers, around 6,100 yards, are easy. They are not, even for the
better players.
The finishing holes at River Oaks are all very good, which adds to the satisfaction of playing the course.
The ninth hole features that stunning view of the hills in the distance and is as visually pleasing and challenging a hole as you can want. The drive is to an area well below the tee box and the second shot is across a natural area. Push you drive to far right and you are left with a 180-yard or more approach into a narrow green.
A well-designed golf course should always reach a stirring climax and River Oaks fills the bill. After a nice parthree in the woods at 15, there’s a downhill par-five (503 yards from the tips) that can be reached in two by the big hitters. And then comes the course’s signature hole, the 210-yard par-three 17th that plays across a pond to a narrow green. It’s another great look from an elevated tee.
Farmington Woods Golf Club is a real treat, it is a well-maintained, interesting and challenging track that was designed by renowned American golf course designer, Desmond Muirhead, who also crafted the famed Jack Nicklaus Muirfield Village
Farmington Woods Country Club
Tumble Brook Country Club
course in Ohio. It is unique to the area in that each hole is challenging, stunning, and memorable. The course is located in a gated condominium community, with ample woods and wetlands surrounding.
One of the best one-two punched on the routing is the par-five 12th that is a dogleg right and tumbles down a steep hill to the putting surface. The 13th is a sweet little par-three that plays across a pond with trees framing the green.
Farmington Woods is a welcoming, active and diverse club and has long been known to be women-friendly (allowing women tee times on weekends equal to men), and its backbone is a variety of strong leagues.
The club is family-oriented due to its emphasis on introductory programs, and other facilities available for its members, including a full-service restaurant, and a pub and banquet facilities, as well as seven tennis courts and four pools located around the community. A wide range of events and activities are available to residents and members.
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. The Park nine is by far the most popular of the three nines at Tumble Brook. Due to its walkable layout and rewarding par-fives, the nine holes are the busiest at Tumble Brook. The original nine opened in 1924 and consisted of current holes 1 through 3, 8, 9, 19, 20, 26 and 27
A second nine, designed by Orrin E. Smith, was opened to play in the spring of 1949. The holes were based off Park’s original layout for the course, although Smith followed very little of Park’s design. Smith was a construction supervisor for Park and Donald Ross. The Smith holes form one of the more challenging nines due to its length (between 100 and 200 yards longer, based on which tee you play, from the two other nines).
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. Fazio created holes that in the present day are 4 though 7 and 21 through 25 to combine with the original front nine, now holes 1 through 3, 8, 9, 19, 20, 26, and 27. This addition to the course was not blended into Park’s original design, as Fazio characterized his course with flashes of sand in the bunkers and green sites well protected and often requiring the ball to carry onto the green. The Fazio nine is the shortest of the three but it provides plenty of challenge with the most complex greens of the 27 holes.
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.
To have access to these premier private courses, call 860-563-1633, or visit www.FreeGolf.net
The Club at River Oaks, 9th Hole
LeaderBoard New England
‘Send Your Fundraising SKY HIGH’
New name, same great service… LeaderBoard New Engand’s Air Cannon has quickly become a “go to” promotion of choice for charity golf fundraisers across the northeast. “We have completed our 8th year with the Air Cannon and have supported over 2,500 events since our launch in 2014.” said Nick Richard, a Partner in the company. “With our staff of more than twenty trained fundraising professionals we can accommodate multiple events concurrently, especially important on busy Monday’s in season.
The company has standardized on the latest third generation, stainless steel air cannon designs, much more rugged and a major step up from the plastic versions of past years. These new cannons are manufactured exclusively for LeaderBoard and offer increased range and even better accuracy.
The company offers a great variety of promotion formats to keep the competition fresh from year to year. “We offer great prizes at every event based on the best shot of the day.” Two options for the winning shot are a customized Pinned Dart Bluetooth Speaker and premium LeaderBoard branded merchandise. We are once again offering the popular Golfing Magazine certificates for reduced greens fees at more than 100 courses across New England, good for the entire season.
This past year the company recorded multiple “aces”, bringing the company’s total to more than 50 holes-in-one since the program
was launched. “With our optional hole-in-one insurance we elevate the potential for a fantastic prize to another level“ explained Richard. Of course, cash prizes are also available in any amount with the added incentive to split the total on a 50/50 basis for the winner and the designated charity.
The Leaderboard Air Cannon is a powerful fundraiser and an exciting addition to the day’s activities. It is a full turnkey service with two staff from the company manning
the Air Cannon Hole. The most popular format sets up on a short par 4 where the carry to the green is between 300 and 350 yards. Typically players donate for team shots to guarantee a short putt for an eagle two. For corporate events and client appreciation days we offer a flat rate program. It is promoted as a “Closest to the Pin” contest and offers organizers an excellent sponsorship opportunity. “We invite the sponsor to hang out with us on the tee box to do a quick ‘Meet and Greet’ with the players. It is a great opportunity to thank the players for their support while raising thousands of dollars for the charity.” Last year we raised in total, over a million dollars at more than 500 events.
For more information on the LeaderBoard Air Cannon please visit our website at www.LeaderBoardNewEngland.com or contact us at info@LeaderBoardNewEngland.com
By, JOHN TORSIELLO
ANine-Hole Courses for Your Plating Pleasure
ccording to the National Golf Foundation (NGF), the number of nine-hole rounds was up over 15 percent in 2024. The NGF also reported that 33 percent of core golfer rounds in 2024 were of the nine-hole rounds, while occasional golfers reported that 48 percent of the rounds they play are nine holes.
While some golfers may look down their noses at nine-hole courses, saying they are too short or that they attract too many beginners, nothing could be further from the truth. Many private clubs have a nine-hole courses that are often historic in nature, some dating back 100 years or more. Some public courses can say the same thing. These courses tend to be a bit quirky in nature and are fun to play.
One of the best things about playing nine holes is that you get onto and off of the course in rather quick fashion. Unless you have the slowest golfers in the world in front of you (sometimes that does happen) you can play nine holes in an hour and a half or two hours at the most. Thus, a nine-hole round can be easily fit into a normal working day. Skip lunch and take the clubs with you to your local nine-hole course and you will find yourself refreshed; you can have something to eat while you play after all.
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.
CONNECTICUT.
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 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
Minnechaug Golf Course
Vineyard Valley Golf Club
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 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 par-four. 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.
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 126-yard 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.
Gainfield Farms Golf Course (www.GainfieldGolf.com) in Southbury is an executive layout located between Waterbury and Danbury. It is ideal for beginners, women and children, as well as for working on your short game or when you have limited time. The course can be played in less than two hours, a plus when trying to fit some swings into a busy work day. Gainfield Farms Golf Course has eight par-threes ranging in length from a short 94 yards up to 195. The latter hole, plus the 188-yard third hole, are tough to par even for the best players. The one par-four plays around 260 yards and can be reached off the tee by big hitters.
Quarry View Golf Course (www.QuarryViewGolf.com) in Canaan, along with its full-service golf center, is a great place for the beginner golfer. You won’t feel intimidated if this is your first time out. Experienced players will enjoy the quick play and the ability to concentrate on improving their iron shots and short games. Quarry View has the feeling of playing on two unique types of golf courses, for each hole has fairways lined with fescue similar to a links course, while the surrounding woods
Cohasse Country Club
Quaboag Country Club
Hotchkiss
is typical of a traditional New England layout. The course, driving range and short game area are well manicured and designed with excellent drainage that enables Quarry View to remain playable even after a heavy rain when other courses are under water.
Sleeping Giant Golf Course (www.SleepingGiantGolfCourse.com) in Hamden is set in the shadows of the Sleeping Giant Mountains southern Connecticut. Drop the notion that you need a collared shirt, a ranger, and the most expensive golf carts in the world to enjoy a round; the club is laid back. The course plays 2.671 yards from the tips and has a par of 35, with six par-fours, two par-threes and one par-five. Several of the parfours are stern, such as the 407-yard second and the 374-yard fourth. The final four holes are all birdie holes, with the seventh and eighth playing only 207 and 227 yards respectively. The only par-five can be tricky. It plays 459 yards from the back markers and the green can be reached in two shots by long hitters, but it’s three good shots to find the putting surface for most golfers.
MASSACHUSETTS
Blue Rock Golf Course (www.bluerockgolfcourse.com) in South Yarmouth is a par-54 18-hole executive course designed by Geoffrey Cornish. It measures from 2,150 to 2,800 yards from five different sets of tee boxes. The course was built in 1962 and has been consistently ranked in the Top 10 executive courses in the country.
From the manicured tee boxes to the meticulously maintained greens, Blue Rock would be an excellent choice if you are looking for a course to work on improving your irons and short game.
The top handicap hole is number, playing
at a robust 255 yards from the tips. Hole number 9 is rated one of the Cape’s Top 18 holes, playing 170 yards from the back markers. The hole requires the experienced player to navigate a well-placed tee shot over water to a large, undulating kidney shaped green. Par on this hole is a great score.
For those golfers who prefer to take a cart the course offers an easy walk through picturesque landscaping.
Quaboag Country Club (www.QuaboagCountryClub.com) located in Monson is a splendid 9–hole course with a championship layout and private club conditions. The course offers sweet views and was ranked a 9 out of 10 by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette golf review. The second hole is a 215-yard par-three and the next hole is a very demanding, 440-yard par-four. The seventh, a
255-yard par-four, can be reached from the tee by big hitters. There’s a fully stocked pro shop, full service restaurant, and golfers lounge.
Greenock Country Club (www.GreenockCC.com) in Lee was established as one of America’s first courses, dating back to 1895. Redesigned in 1927 by 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 riskreward 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.
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 par-threes. 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
Blue Rock Golf Course
Rockland Golf 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 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 par-four and has a green that can be reached off the tee by longballers.
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 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, par36 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
At Louisquisset Golf Club (www.louisquissetgc.com) in North Providence, past U.S Open Champion, Ken Venturi designed a course that is fun yet challenging, player friendly and offers fantastic course conditions.
Carved through natural wetlands, rolling hills, and oak trees, Louisquisset offers golfers a setting that is in the middle of the city where they can get away for a great round of golf, fantastic food and beverages at the Pub On One and a relaxing patio with golf course views.
Louisquisset Golf Club offers terrific views and challenging play for golfers at every skill level. Well-groomed fairways and greens keep Louisquisset Golf Club difficult yet friendly, and the staff can offer tips and tricks for playing your best round. Louisquisset Golf Club is a terrific choice for your regular rounds of golf or a new destination for you and friends when visiting North Providence.
What Louisquisset lacks in length in more than makes up for in creativity. The course offers three par threes that are three completely different shots – No. 4 is a mid-length shot, No. 5 requires a little more length and No. 8 puts a scoring iron in your hand on a green that’s deceptively small.
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
Copper Hill Golf Course
Louisquisset Golf Club
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.
www.FreeGolf.net
Rose Hill Golf Course
Rose Hill Golf Course
Fundamentals of Putting
By George Connor
There are multiple ways to move the putter to create a stroke. I like to get my golfers to create a stroke that is as simple as possible. Of all the motions in golf, full swing, pitching, chipping, bunker shots etc. the putting stroke should be the most simple motion from a mechanical basis. Like every aspect of golf, you can find great golfers that have their way swinging a golf club. So this piece and the video are a preference of mine and I have had a lot of success with folks having them use this as the engine of their stroke.
• You can use your wrists to flick the putter back and through.
• Your arms can move the putter back and through.
• You can rotate the middle third of your body to create a motion.
In my opinion, the above options are choices to move the putter however each of them will introduce a lot of variety from one putt to the next. Moving your hands/wrists, or arms independent of your body will be quite different from one swing to the next because your hands, wrist and arms are very versatile. Versatility in some parts of life is great, “It’s the Spice of Life” However, versatility is also the opposite of consistent.
In my opinion and based on the success that I have had the shoulder blades are the optimal way to move the putter both back and through. Watch the video and try it out yourself. If you give it a little practice, I think you will both simplify the stroke and improve your putting stroke.
George Connor, PGA ConnorGolf at Farmington Woods Golf Club in Avon, CT Three Time CT PGA Teacher of the Year 860-830-6969 or George@ConnorGolf.com
The LOW DOWN for LOWER SCORES
I hear you’re a pretty solid ball striker. So… why aren’t those scores dropping? Could it be that your short game decisions keep you stuck? It’s time to take a different (literally, lower) approach to those little shots around the green. Be honest—aren’t you reaching for that 60° wedge every time you pitch or chip? Save the lob wedge for special occasions. All that airtime? It’s just extra room for error! Quit trying to float every shot high into the sky. You’re not precise enough (yet?) to land the ball exactly where you imagine. (And yes, you DO need to pick a landing spot!) To make matters worse, once you’re standing over the ball, you’re deep in mechanics mode—thinking about how to “do it right” like you did on the range. Trouble is, your brain’s so busy with form, there’s no space left to figure out where to land the ball, how hard/soft to hit it, and how it’s going to roll out based on the club you chose.
Sue Kaffenburgh, PGA/LPGA
www.GolfLessonsCapeCod.com
SusiePGA@comcast.net
508-364-GOLF (4653)
By Sue Kaffenburg
A safer, more reliable, and lower-risk option? The low bump-and-run chip. Picture your ball skimming under the limbo bar. That’s the shot you can count on because it comes with more consistency!
You can get really good at this shot— easily—by simply reaching for your 7, 8, or 9 iron most of the time. The idea? Land the ball just 3 to 6 feet past the fringe, and let it run out to the hole…like a putt.
Set up with the ball back in your stance, feet close together, weight forward. Grip the club with the shaft more vertical—toe
down, heel slightly off the ground. And remember to stand closer to the ball to make the motion feel more like, yep, a putt! I promise—you’ll be shocked how foolproof this shot is! Every club sends the ball out low—knee-high to a grasshopper—with the goal of landing just past the fringe and letting it roll. The 7-iron rolls out the farthest. Hit the 8-iron with the same energy, and it rolls about 10 feet less. The 9-iron? Another 10 feet less than that. The key is to use the same “putting energy” with each club. Get consistent with your strike, and let the club do the distance control. Let the club be the variable, keeping the motion the same!
Truth is, this “low down, under the limbo bar” shot can be played with almost any club—it’s the rollout that changes, not the energy supplied. No more guesswork on how hard or soft to hit the ball. Save your high pitches for when you need to clear a bunker or hit to an elevated green. For more one-putt chances…make this lowroller your go-to secret weapon. How low can your scores go?
Wentworth Hills Country Club
We know golfing is fun. The ownership at Wentworth Hills Country Club in Plainville, Ma. is intent on making it even more enjoyable.
The club has purchased a new fleet of “Shark” golf carts that allows players to remain in contact with the clubhouse throughout a round. They can order food and refreshments while playing the front nine and pick up orders at the turn. In addition, the carts offer yardages and golfers can even watch video tips from Greg Norman between their own shots.
And, the club has developed an app for cell phones that make the user a member of the “Wentworth Hills community” once they get the app. Individuals are notified of discounts on greens fees and other promotions and specials. A map of the course and yardages are automatically available on the user’s phone when accessing the app.
”We are trying to keep up with the younger generation that is so into technology,” said one of the club’s owners, Constant Poholek. “The hole-inone challenge is a game within the game and money we receive helps out charitable causes. We are trying to do things to make golf even more fun and keep people coming back.”
Wentworth Hills is a fun course to play, offering
classic risk/reward holes that dare lowhandicappers to “go for it,” while allowing for alternate routes to the green for less experienced golfers. The varied natural topography here features rolling, tree-lined fairways, large, receptive greens, ponds and lakes protecting holes, and 60 strategicallyplaced bunkers.
The course, while playing just over 6,200 yards from the tips, has a slope of 128 and a rating equal to its par of 71. The track places emphasis on proper club selection and accurate approach shots to the putting surfaces.
Wentworth Hills is located between Boston and Providence and only minutes from Route 495, which makes it an ideal destination for golfers from the Metro Boston area to Federal Hill in Providence.
Since 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 Golf Club
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 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.
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.
The 18th is a very reachable-in-two 448-yard par five where birdie, or perhaps even an eagle, can really bring your round to a delightful conclusion.
www.CrystalLake-Golf.com
Gillette Ridge Golf Club in Bloomfield, Ct. stands as a tribute to the traditions and challenges of golf, and is considered one of Palmer Course Design Company’s best creations.
As you journey through Gillette Ridge, you’ll appreciate its natural beauty and a dynamic layout. The course will challenge and excite you as you maneuver through a variety of terrain; treelined fairways, spectacular carries, and several natural obstacles.
Gillette Ridge Golf Club
Gillette Ridge was named to honor Francis Gillette, a local 19th century reformer, politician and business leader, whose house still stands on the site. The course features elevation changes and mature trees.
Gillette Ridge closed briefly and fell into a state of disrepair several years ago due to management problems.
Century Golf has addressed many issues and refurbished much of the golf course, as well as the clubhouse. A main issue
Twas with course’s the bunkers. A design team fixed bunkers, coring them out, fixing drainage issues and filling them in with all new sand. All 21 greens (including practice greens) on the property were redone. In addition new forward tee boxes were added. The clubhouse got a new carpet, new paint, new televisions, and new tables for the restaurant.
Gillette Ridge has had a bit of a reputation as being a very difficult golf course that caters to the better player. But the own-
ers’ new goal has been to keep the course challenging, while adjusting it to accommodate all levels of player without compromising the original intent of the design.
There are four sets of tees at Gillette Ridge, making the course play anywhere from 7,191 yards at the tips to 5,582 from the forward markers. The course has been given a slope of 135 and a rating of slightly over 74 from the back markers. Play up if it’s your first time, you’ll enjoy your round to a far greater degree.
The eleventh hole is the course’s signature. The tee box affords a view of the Heublein Tower in the distance, and the 505-yard, par-five winds down to a peninsula green. This is a true risk-reward hole as a long drive will leave the player with an opportunity to go for the green in two. But a pond guards the right side of the putting surface all the way to the green, and long is bad.
www.GilletteRidgeGolf.com.
Tallwood Country Club
allwood Country Club in Hebron is known for its classic New England landscape. Situated on over 200 acres of rolling country farmland, it’s a perfect place for a golf getaway. The course offers a pleasingly eclectic mix of strong par-threes, long and demanding and then shorter and tricky parfours, as well as par-fives that sometimes are reachable in two for long hitters and other times, not so much. The 505 yard parfive eleventh hole is one of our favorites. A good tee shot to the generous fairway leaves you the decision of whether to go for the green which is guarded by water to the left. Maybe the most picturesque hole is the 373 yard par-4 fifteenth. With water to the right and short of the green, this hole provides a nice challenge and plays as the hardest hole on the back side. A public course with a private feel, it’s easy to see why Tallwood is chosen to host some of
Connecticut’s top men’s and women’s amateur tournaments year after year. The course features your choice of four tee placements sure to meet or challenge
anyone’s playing level. Tallwood also boast one of the best public practice facilities in the state. www.TallwoodCountryClub.com
The Captains Golf Course
The Captains Golf Course in Brewster, Ma. features two very distinct 18-hole layouts. The Captains’ Port Course plays to a yardage of 6,724 yards from the tips and has a slope of 131 and a rating above its posted par of 72. So, it’s no pushover. One of the best holes on the Port Course is the beefy 573-yard, par-five eighth. There is a pond that guards the putting surface and several large fairway bunkers are placed along the hole to make precision on the drive and layup a prerequisite to making birdie or par.
The Captains’ Starboard Course plays a tad longer than the Port Course, around 6,800 yards, and has a slope of 122. Most players who tackle both tracks say the Starboard Course it also a bit more player friendly than its sister layout, with wider fairways, large greens, and fewer bunkers than the Port Course, which makes it more suitable for mid- and higher handicap players. But we are here to tell you that it isn’t a pushover either. The course’s 18th is a great finishing hole, a challenging 534-yard par-five that can be reached in two by big hitters. But the smarter play is two strong shots followed by a wedge into the green.
The conditioning on both course, which have very affordable greens fees, is always excellent at all times of the year, the golf is challenging but
approachable for players of all abilities, there are two practice greens and a driving range, a restaurant, a friendly staff that is available for lessons, and a fully-stocked pro shop. Indeed, what more could locals and visitors to this special section of New England want in a daily fee golf club. www.CaptainsGolfCourse.com.
Dennis Highlands and Dennis Pines Golf Courses
Dennis Highlands Golf Course in Dennis, Ma. is a perfect start to a golf vacation on Cape Cod.
The Highlands tends to be forgiving off the tee, but don’t get too comfortable around the greens, as the rolling terrain requires focus and concentration on tee shots and approaches to the greens. Dennis Highlands is situated on 175 acres of pine and oak forest on the north side of Dennis.
Designed by Jack Kidwell and Mike Hardpan and opened for play in 1984, Dennis Highlands is considered by some to be one of the “crown jewels” in the traditional list of fine Cape Cod golf courses. It boasts a spectacular practice range and a visually enjoyable golf experience.
The Pines Course is a bit more dramatic and challenging than the Highlands, with pine groves squeezing the fairways, putting a premium on more accurate shot-making.
The Golf Committee for the Town of Dennis, Massachusetts approved a Comprehensive Enhancement Plan
developed with noted golf architect, Robert McNeil, for far-reaching improvements at Dennis Highlands Golf Course and its sister course, Dennis Pines. The improvements will include all new bunkering, new tees, cart path revisions, drainage, tree management, and fairway recontouring.
www.DennisGolf.com
The setting is amazing for this semi-private Country Club which exudes pride of ownership. From the moment you enter the property, making the quarter mile country side drive you can’t miss the rolling manicured greens.
Crestview Country Club
Serving golfers in scenic Agawam, MA, and Suffield, CT, area, Crestview Country Club features panoramic views of the Pioneer Valley. Known as the “Gem of Western Mass,” a renowned Geoffrey Cornish design. The course is challenging enough to have played host to the PGA TOUR Travelers Championship Open Qualifier in 2015, the CT Section PGA Championship in 2013, the LPGA Friendly’s Classic from 1995-1998, as well as several US Amateur qualifiers.
With it’s 5 sets of tees it is very playable for all levels of golfers. Best to be ready to take on the course right out of the gate. Best not to be tying up your laces on the first tee because the first 2 holes are challenging to say the least. Even from the white tees you are looking at an opening hole (#3 hdcp) of 400 plus yards backed up by a 526-yard part 5.
A scenic collection of challenging par 3’s await as you are guided through the meticulously maintained rolling fairways with a number of
Trisk reward par 4’s and 5’s to round out you round. Plus, a 19th hole to settle those bets. Big hitters can tee it up from as far back as 7,100 yards, the reds tees bring that down to a very manageable 5,500.
There is no excuse for not being ready when you get to the first as the club has an expansive driving range, practice green and pitching area. If by chance your game needs a little tune up, the professional staff is there offering lessons, clinics and specialized instruction. Not just for the adults in the room but Juniors as well.
Dining here is an art unto itself and you will want that experience, whether indoors or outdoors. The VIEW Restaurant and The California Grill feature panoramic views of the Connecticut River Valley, sumptuous food and an impressive array of cocktails and wine selections.
If you are lucky enough to live close by membership at Crestview Country Club should be a consideration. A classic country club, one of the best semi-private golf courses in the area, other amenities include: pool, tennis courts and fitness area.
www.CrestviewCC.org
Or to book a tee time call: (413) 786-0917
The Ranch Golf Club
he Ranch Golf Club in Southwick, Ma. has gained a reputation as one of the elite daily fee clubs in the region for good reason. Management takes great efforts in making a visit an extremely pleasurable, stress-free experience offers some of the most sublime views of fall foliage in all of southern New England.
The golf course layout climbs up and down steeps hills as you amble your way along fairways lined by mature woodlands. And there are valley holes, where the fescue grows high in the warm weather months and foliage around wetlands turns various gorgeous hues during the fall.
.The Ranch is a thoroughly enjoyable routing, challenging yet playable for all golfers because of several sets of tees. The layout is a mix of open and woodland holes, plays 7,175 yards from the tips, and has a rating of 75.4 and a slope of 143 from the back markers.
While difficult, you can score at The Ranch, as long as you hit the ball straight off the tee and don’t get too greedy on approach shots to the undulating greens, which are usually well protected by sand, water or rough.
The 441-yard par-four fourth is one of
the prettiest holes on the course. It starts with a carry across a small ravine to a fairway that flows up toward the green. The hole is framed by tall pines and guarded by fairway and greenside bunkers.
The 540-yard par-five ninth and 618-yard par-five 16th play dramatically downhill and afford those great views of the surrounding
countryside. A well struck tee shot on the ninth will tumble down a hill and leave the player with a choice of either laying up for a short third shot or going for the green in two by challenging a wetlands area in front of the putting surface.
www.TheRanchGolfClub.com
Blackstone National Golf Club
The 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.
of the Bay State.
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
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 parthrees 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. www.BNGC.net
Birdies and Bourbon A Match Made in Kentucky Welcome to the Kentucky Golf Trail
By, CLAUDIO DEMARCHI
You can feel the calmness in whatever you are doing in the Bluegrass State. Afterall, it is always better to be calm when around the majestic thoroughbreds, which makes the Lexington area “The Horse Capitol of the World.” Playing golf, it is definitely better to play in a calm and relaxed state of mind. Sipping Bourbon, if that doesn’t make you kick back and relax nothing will.
That magic combination, and so much more is yours to discover with the launch of the Kentucky Golf Trail. Curating premier golf, with world class bourbon experiences and internationally renowned horse farms and racetracks, all wrapped in authentic southern charm.
the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. How convenient is that!
Main Street is all you really need to know, if you are staying in the downtown area, wine dine and you have a number of excellent Bourbon opportunities. Our favorite by far, so much so that we visited twice, Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery is set in the 19th-century building named for the historic Fort. Make your way to the 2nd floor and the elegant Bar at Fort Nelson overlooking Main Street. Staff is second to none. Once is not enough. www.Mitchters.com
As is stands right now the Golf Trail offers up Stay & Play in the heart of Bourbon country. Six courses in and around 4 major centers of Lexington, the State Capitol of Frankfort, Bardstown and Louisville. It just so happens that within this region of the State, you will be close to 44 of the approximately 60 distilleries that make up
You can plan your trip around the Golf, or you can plan around the bourbon. Because we wanted to visit and sample Bourbon in each of those centers, we planned our visit around the bourbon, with as little driving as possible. The team at the Kentucky Golf Trail can help you with that as well.
We started and ended our Kentucky adventure in Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky with a vibrant downtown area.
Old Forester’s sampling at George’s Bar was most surprising, simply because I had never had it. It is now on my BUY list. Creatures of habit and pub rats we must be, as both on the first night and last night we ended up at O’Shea’s Downton for dinner and to close out the night.
Museum Row on Main Street also boasts several one-of-a-kind attractions within its stretch of walkable blocks. From his-
tory to Bourbon to modern art, there is something for everyone, the Frazier History Museum (home of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center), Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, and the Muhammad Ali Center were all that we had time for. www.GoToLouisville.com
Thanksgiving at Churchill Downs, was a dream day in Kentucky. When you are out of town on Thanksgiving why not spend it at the greatest racetrack in the world – Churchill Downs, Home of the Kentucky Derby, and “the most exciting 2 minutes in sports.”
We booked ourselves into a day of feasting and excitement. A win in the first race set the pace for the day, of course. It was only appropriate that our first cocktail of the day was a Mint Julip, the official cocktail of Louisville, and closed out our day with a Woodford Reserve Double Oak Bourbon. Woodford Reserve is the Official Bourbon of the Derby. www.ChurchillDowns.com
Two courses on the Golf Trail are around the
Louisville area, GlenOaks Country Club, to the Northeast in Prospect, offers up dramatic vistas from the tees, showing great elevation changes. Bunkers were fully renovated in 2017, along with bent grass tees, greens, and Bluemuda fairways, the golf course has matured into one of the finest in the area, staying lush and green all year long.
Bardstown Country Club at Maywood, this semi-private course is equal distance between Louisville and Lexington, about a hour from either. Of course, you can also stay in Bardstown as we did. The Club with its Bentgrass greens and Riviera Bermuda grass fairways is the crown jewel of the golf community.
Ranked the fourth most difficult course in the Louisville area by Business First Magazine. Five sets of tees measure over 7,200 yards from the championship tees and of course the full-service dining at The Grill comes with extensive bourbon selections.
Off to the Horse Capital of the World we go, Lexington, and the epicenter of the Kentucky Golf Trail. Four courses in and around Lexington and over a dozen distilleries within 35 minutes of downtown.
Tee It Up in Lexington
What you will find is a collection of semi-private and private, resort style layouts with stunning and meticulously maintained fairways and greens. All set in a background of panoramic land-
Bardstown Country Club
scapes, and blended together with Southern hospitality. Of note, in 2024 Conde Naste Traveler Readers Choice Award designated as “Top 5 Best Small Cities in the U.S. “
Right in Lexington, is The Greenbrier Golf and Country Club, the regions premiere private club. The Greenbriar has proudly hosted three Kentucky State Open Championships. The layout stretches back to 6,754-yards, it’s expertly maintained Zoysia fairways offers a scenic setting to escape and unwind. GPS equipped golf carts ensures an excellent pace of play.
The Woodford Club has been the centerpiece of Woodford County, Kentucky since 1965. 18-hole, par 71 course on 150 acres of rolling hills with its pristine zoysia fairways and the best greens in the region! The only “neigh-bors” they have are horses, and thus they are only minutes away from the historic Keeneland racetrack and quaint Versailles shopping and dining district. Home of The Woodford Legends Invitational.
To the southeast of Lexington, and just off I-75 in Richmond you will find Gibson Bay Golf Club designed by internationally recognized and award-winning golf architect Michael Hurdzan. In 1993 Gibson Bay was recognized with an honorable mention by Golf Digest for best new public golf course in the United States in 1993. The 7,100yard, par 72 course is seeded with bent grass and challenges golfers with strategically placed bunkers and mounding. The course is located next to Richmond’s 450-acre Lake Reba recreational complex.
Just north of Lexington in Georgetown,
you will be able to tee it up at the beautifully manicured Cherry Blossom Golf & Country Club. The championship golf course offers beautiful scenery across its bent grass tees, greens, and fairways. Multiple tee options maximize enjoyment for all skill levels. From a simple round of golf to outings, junior tournaments, and PGA qualifiers, all a golfer may want can be found at Cherry Blossom golf course!
Lexington: The Horse Capitol of the World
Churchill Downs is not the only place to hear and feel the thundering of hooves. Keeneland Race Track in Lexington is a National Historic Landmark; having hosted spring and fall thoroughbred races since the 1930s, and today spectators tailgate on “The
Hill” with fare from food trucks while live bluegrass plays in the background.
Founded By Horsemen: Since opening in October 1936, Keeneland has been unique in the Thoroughbred industry. Only at Keeneland are world-class racing and industry-leading sales united under one mission-driven entity. Today, Keeneland continues to be guided by its original mission, taking a leadership role in the industry to improve safety, promote integrity and strengthen the sport of racing. Keeneland is open every day, welcoming visitors, and offers guided walking tours. www.keeneland.com
A visit to the area would not be complete without a visit to one of the many sprawling horse farms. We had a most memorable visit to Mill Ridge Farm, a sprawling 900-acre horse farm, and for Kentucky, it is considered to be one of the smaller ones. But you have likely heard – size isn’t everything!
Founded in 1962 Mill Ridge has a rich history of raising and selling Thoroughbred racehorses and you will need more sets of fingers and toes than you have to count the winners. Since 2000, Mill Ridges has produced 39 world class winners including: Kentucky Derby winner, GIACOMO, 2 Horse of the Year winners, HAVRE DE GRACE, and POINT GIVEN, and 9 Breeders Cup winners. You can see the complete list at Mill Ridge. www.MillRidge.com
Speaking of fingers, and keeping them all, Mill Ridge is a very interactive Farm. At the guidance of your tour guide you will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with Mares, Foals, Yearlings
The Woodford Club
and maybe even Stallions. These horses love their carrot treats, and you will have the opportunity to give them such. Listen to your guide as all of these majestic animals have different personalities. You will be shown how to feed them their treats, while keeping all your fingers.
Even if you don’t come to Kentucky a horse lover, you’ll almost certainly leave as one. www.VisitLex.com
Bourbon, It’s a way of life!
To find your way into the true spirit or spirits of the Bluegrass Sate. You will find that Bourbon is more than a drink — it’s a way of life.
If you are coming to Kentucky, you are likely aware of the Bourbon Trail and now so much more. Everything that is mentioned here can be handled through the good folks at the Kentucky Golf Trail. Yes, even the Bourbon Tours.
Visiting the 4 main bourbon centers was the right way to get to know Kentucky, safely tour and sample at our chosen distilleries. There are way too many to get to in one trip, if you did them all in one trip it would be a major challenge for your liver.
Lexington is in the heart of Kentucky and the heart of Bourbon County. Seven distilleries within a mile of downtown and another 11 within a 20-to-30-minute drive. One of Lexington’s exciting hot spots, appropriately named is the Distillery District. It was the original home to the historic James E. Pepper Distillery which began making bourbon in 1879. Bourbon tours are available at $20 per person and include the story of the historic brand, time in the distillery museum, a tour of the working distillery and a tasting of the award-winning, small-batch whiskeys. www.JamesPepper.com
Our favorite here was the one-two punch of Barrel House Distillery and the Elkhorn Tavern. Barrel House embraces the tradition of old Kentucky distillers by
producing quality Kentucky Bourbon with traditional methods. The Elkhorn Tavern, is an intimate lodge-style bar and restaurant, located right next to Barrel House Distillery in the old barreling house of the historic distillery. An ideal spot to end your tour, begin your sampling, and have bite to eat. www.BarrelHouseDistillery.com
Bardstown, rightly touts its status as the Bourbon Capital of the World, its historic downtown is a refreshing mix of authentic, locally owned businesses that pair a genuine welcome with small-town charm. With its collection of distilleries such as Heaven Hill, James Beam, Makers Mark and Four Roses it might just be considered sacred ground for Bourbon lovers. www.VisitBardstown.com
Of note to golfers, Heaven Hill’s, Elijah Craig Bourbon is the Official Bourbon of the 2025 PGA Championship. To commemorate the partnership, the brand will release a special edition of its 94 proof Small Batch Bourbon. One might say that they are bringing together the best in the game with the best in Bourbon. https://elijahcraig.com/pga-2025-championship-commemorative-bottle
Makers Mark is by far one of the most interesting, colorful and artistic of all distilleries. If your lucky you might just get to dip your own bottle with the infamous red wax. You will have to find out for yourself. For a sneak peak you can visit my Instagram @travelinggolfer23 or visit www.MakersMark.com
The States historic Capital City of Frankfort, perfectly positioned on the shores of the Kentucky River between Louisville and Lexington. Frankfort embodies the essence of everything that makes Kentucky special from natural charm to world-renowned bourbon, all in one distinctly small but spirited package. You will find eclectic small distilleries, just a stone’s throw from some of Bourbon’s biggest and most beloved names. www.VisitFrnakfort.com
The biggies you might recognize are Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey, Castle & Key and perhaps the grandaddy of them all, which is not a member of the Bourbon Trail, Buffalo Trace, producers of the bourbon that got me addicted to the taste, “Blantons.”
What you need to know about Buffalo Trace, other than it is the oldest continuously operating distillery in Kentucky and the World’s Most Award-Winning Distillery…. they do about 30 tours daily, you may get lucky and get in without booking in advance. Not recommended. The Tour and the sampling are FREE! We did not come across another that was free. The sampling is likely free because they have the most amazing gift shop or Pro Shop as I like to call it. It is very unlikely that you will get out without buying anything. I could go back for that reason alone. www.BuffaloTraceDistillery.com
And you will find another short little video on that same Instagram, @travelinggolfer23
Regretfully the Castle & Key Distillery was one that we could not fit into this trip. Rest assured that this historic gem is top of the list for the next visit. www.CastleAndKey.com
In 2024 the Kentucky Bourbon Trail celebrated it 25th Anniversary and for 2025 the Trail continues to grow, adding a number of new distilleries throughout the State. If you happen to be or maybe want to plan to be in Kentucky the week of June 10-15 that would be National Bourbon Week, just say’n. www.KYBourbonTrail.com
You should consider letting the Kentucky Golf Trail tee up your golf vacation. They will make sure that you and your friends discover the tastes and true spirits of Kentucky! www.KYGolfTrail.com
Grip It and Sip It in Kentucky
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina What’s Old Can Be NEW!
By, CLAUDIO DEMARCHI
You don’t get branded The Golf Capitol of the World without out have tons of great golf courses. Well maybe not tons of courses but at one time there was over 100 golf courses on the Grand Strand.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is known as the Golf Capital of the World. It is still home to over 80 award-winning golf courses designed by golf legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Greg Norman. The courses are set along more than 60 miles of Carolina coastline.
Myrtle Beach has long been celebrated as one of the premier golf destinations in the world, offering an array of layouts that cater to players of all skill levels. In recent years, the area’s commitment to delivering a first-class golf experience has been underscored by a wave of renovation projects aimed at modernizing courses while preserving their unique character. From restoring greens to revamping bunkers, Myrtle Beach’s courses are setting a new standard for excellence. Here’s an in-
depth look at some of the most significant renovations shaping the Grand Strand’s golf landscape.
King’s North at Myrtle Beach National
An Arnold Palmer classic, King’s North at Myrtle Beach National, recently unveiled a reimagined front nine as part of a twophase renovation. Brandon Johnson, a former Palmer Design associate, expanded the greens to their original specifications, adding
pinnable locations and enhancing contours. Bunker renovations included the installation of Capillary Concrete liners and a renewed focus on the course’s rugged aesthetic.
Phase two of the project, focusing on the back nine, is scheduled for summer 2025, ensuring King’s North will continue to captivate golfers with its iconic design and strategic challenges.
Myrtlewood’s Pine Hills Course
Myrtlewood Golf Club’s PineHills Course underwent a comprehensive bunker renovation under architect Dan Schlegel. The reshaping of bunkers and installation of Capillary Concrete liners addressed drainage issues while raising the profile of the traps, improving both visual appeal and strategic play.
Notable changes include adjustments to the par-4 16th, where a second fairway was introduced, offering an alternative approach over water. Additionally, fairway bunkers on
holes 1 and 2 were repositioned to better accommodate a range of skill levels. These updates enhance the course’s playability while preserving its charm.
Grande Dunes Resort Course
Grande Dunes Resort Course, a jewel of Myrtle Beach, recently completed a comprehensive renovation under the leadership of architect John A. Harvey. The project focused on greens, bunkers, and clubhouse upgrades, reclaiming nearly 40,000 square feet of putting surface by restoring the greens to their original dimensions. This 33% increase not only enhances playability but also respects the original vision of the course.
The bunkers also underwent significant improvements, with restored contours and the addition of Capillary Concrete liners to ensure consistent playability. The clubhouse received a complete overhaul, featuring a new restaurant, expanded outdoor seating, and a larger pro shop. These
enhancements solidify Grande Dunes’ reputation as one of America’s top public courses.
Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club
Jack Nicklaus’ Pawleys Plantation has long been revered for its beauty and challenge. Recent renovations led by the Nicklaus Design Group modernized the layout while
honoring the Golden Bear’s original vision. Central to the project was the expansion of the greens, adding nearly 40,000 square feet of putting surface, and the installation of TifEagle bermudagrass.
The redesign also addressed overgrown trees and sprawling bunkers that had encroached on fairways, replacing them with native areas and expanded fairway space. These changes improved playability for mid- to high-handicappers while maintaining the course’s challenge for skilled players. With its stunning back nine along a tidal marsh, Pawleys Plantation remains a mustplay for visitors.
Pine Lakes Country Club
As Myrtle Beach’s oldest golf course, Pine Lakes Country Club holds a special place in the area’s history. Its recent greens and bunker restoration, led by Craig Schreiner, provided a modern touch to the venerable layout. The installation of Sunday bermudagrass greens and the restoration of their original size added more than 21,000 square feet of putting surface.
Bunker renovations included a new drainage system and the reduction of 25 greenside bunkers, complemented by native grasses that enhance the course’s natural aesthetics. Known as “The Granddaddy,” Pine Lakes continues to deliver a timeless experience for golfers.
River Hills Golf Club
Nestled in Little River, River Hills Golf Club underwent a transformative greens and bunker renovation, bringing new life to the course. Working with original architect Tom Jackson, Founders Group International (FGI) spearheaded the project, which restored the greens to their original size, expanding them by an impressive 40%. This restoration increased playability and introduced more pinnable areas, particularly on holes 5, 9, 10, and 18.
The installation of TifEagle ultradwarf bermudagrass, a premier putting surface, further elevated the experience for golfers. Jackson’s guidance ensured the design’s integrity remained intact, enhancing both the challenge and charm of the layout. Known for its rolling terrain and commitment to customer service, River Hills continues to be a favorite among players seeking a memorable round.
Sea Trail’s Byrd Course
Sea Trail’s Byrd Course has also benefited from a recent renovation, focusing on bunker upgrades and tree removal to improve playability and course conditions. The enhancements provide a more open and inviting layout, making it a favorite for golfers of all skill levels. These changes align with the area’s broader effort to modernize its courses while retaining their unique identities.
Rivers Edge Golf Club
Situated along the Shallotte River, Rivers Edge Golf Club has made significant strides in recent renovations. Greens restoration and drainage improvements have revitalized this Arnold Palmer design, ensuring it continues to deliver on its promise of a challenging yet rewarding round. The course’s spectacular views and strategic layout make it a standout among Myrtle Beach’s offerings.
Tidewater Golf Club
Tidewater Golf Club, one of the most visually striking courses in the area, is currently undergoing a bunker renovation project aimed at improving both aesthetics and
playability. The work emphasizes maintaining the course’s natural beauty while addressing modern golfer expectations. Tidewater’s commitment to quality ensures it remains a top choice for visitors.
Myrtle Beach’s Commitment to Excellence
The extensive renovation work across Myrtle Beach’s golf courses underscores the destination’s commitment to providing an unparalleled experience for players. By embracing modern techniques and materials while respecting the original designs, these courses are poised to remain at the forefront of golf tourism for years to come. Whether it’s the restored greens at River Hills, the breathtaking views at Rivers Edge, or the innovative updates at Pawleys Plantation, Myrtle Beach continues to deliver the golf vacation players have come to love.
We are proud to tell everyone about our home, which has 60 miles of sandy beach and, oh, so much more. Beyond our famous boardwalk, The Beach has live music; theaters offering dinner and a show, from battles between medieval knights to murder mysteries to a Polynesian luau. We have, literally, thousands of restaurants serving a wide range of cuisines, plus amusement parks, a fabulous aquarium, more than 90 beautiful golf
courses, fishing and a full spectrum of other watersports. Among our 14 unique communities we also have quiet towns that glow with coastal charm and are filled with South Carolina’s Lowcountry history and culture. Myrtle Beach has everything you want and we have everything you need to know. Come enjoy!
Reasons to visit Myrtle Beach
• 60 miles of Beaches
• Over 2,000 Restaurants to choose from.
• Bimini’s Oyster Bar is a long time favorite and as good as ever.
• Great Golf on and off the course.
• Over 90 mini putts and even Top Golf.
• Great Value
• Top Notch Shows and Entertainment
• 1.2 Miles of America’s Boardwalk
• Tons of Shopping• Live Music, Day and Night
• Events and Festivals throughout the year.
• PGA Super Store, what golfer doesn’t want to go there!!!
For anyone looking for 1 stop shopping for all their Golf Packaging needs, we recommend that you check out www.yourgolfpackage.com and www.myrtlebeachgolftrips.com
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Pawleys Plantation
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