Top Courses I’ve Played

With the help of my trusty New England Golf Guide, I’ve gone through and counted up all the courses I’ve played over my lifetime.  The number was higher than I anticipated, and to this day I am at 80 courses.  Here is the breakdown by state:

Massachusetts	44
Maine	9
Rhode Island	8
South Carolina	7
Florida	4
Vermont	3
New Hampshire	1
Hawaii	1
North Carolina	1
Connecticut	1
Nevada	1

I’ve also gone through and ranked each course based on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the best.  Ratings were determined by course layout, conditions, memorable holes, amenities and staff.  Over time, I will get more in depth with some of these course reviews, but for now I will list the courses receiving 4 ½ stars and above and provide a quick recap of each.

5 STAR COURSES:

TPC Boston, Norton MA

I played here a few years ago in September with my friend Jared, his brother and one of his clients who’s a member at TPC.  I don’t remember a ton of specifics about the course, other than how cool it was to play the same track Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott and other pros had played just weeks earlier in the Deutsche Bank Championship.  If you’re not in the fairway off the tee (and often I wasn’t), the rough can be a bitch to hit out of.  I would say this is the nicest course I’ve ever played.

Granite Links, Quincy MA   

Everyone will tell you the views of Boston is what makes this course great, and that is true, but don’t forget about how well conditioned the fairways and greens are as well.  The 19^th hole is one of the best in the country.

4 ½ STAR COURSES:

Newport National, Middletown, RI

This is probably my favorite course of all-time.  Located just a few miles from downtown Newport, this course is tucked away on an old apple orchard farm.  There isn’t a blade out of place in the fairways and the greens are spectacular.  Good luck if you spray it into the fescue.   I give this 4 ½ stars instead of 5 due to lack of driving range and subpar clubhouse. 

Farm Neck, Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard

There were torrential downpours the day I played here but even still you could get a sense of the gorgeous views of the water.  The layout of the course was phenomenal and would love to play it on a nice day.  $160 for in-season rates is steep, but considering Presidents play here when they vacation on Martha’s Vineyard, it’s worth it once in a while.

Red Tail, Devens, MA

Fairways and greens are fantastic.  The course has a very nice layout and some of the holes make you forget you’re in Devens and instead feels like a course you’d find in Arizona.

Belgrade Lakes, Belgrade, ME

Another course I played on a rainy day and would love to go back when we have nicer weather.  The fairways and greens were comparable to the nicest I’ve played on.  The course has some awesome views of Belgrade Lakes.  $150 is not cheap, but worth splurging on for a great golfing experience.

Have you played any of these courses?  What do you think about my ratings and reviews?  Leave a comment to discuss.