So I will be heading up to the Cape for a week in August with some buddies and wanted some advice on where to play. I have played a handle of courses up there already (parents have a house) which include, Olde Barnstable, Captains (not sure which), Oceans Edge (was not too crazy about it), and Ballymeade. With that being said which of the following courses would you guys play:

Plymouth Area:
Pinehills (Nicklaus)
Pinehills (Jones)
Waverly Oaks
Atlantic Country Club
Other (please include which and no further then an hours drive from Falmouth)

Cape:
Olde Barnstable
Captains (Port)
Captains (Starboard)
Other

Not too worried about price and willing to drive up to an hour.

Thanks in advance.

Definitely pinehills. the jones course is a tad more difficult, and both are excellent. jones has narrower fairways and larger greens, and nicklaus has wider fairways and smaller greens. i would also suggest crosswinds. 27 holes of excellent golf at an outstanding price. waverly and atlantic are also very good choices. as to the cape, you can't go wrong with captains. if you'd like to play a donald ross design you may want to check out bass river. it's not a "high-end" course, but it is a donald ross design. also, there is an excellent par 3 course called blue rock. the holes range from 90 yards to 240 yards. both are a lot of fun.

have a good time!

+1 for Bass River. It's a fun and unique layout. I would also check out the Dennis Pines if you want a more challenging track @ 7000yds 74.6 rating and 135 slope from the tips. Both are muni's, although you probably couldn't tell from the price or condition. Have not played either Pinehills course but I've heard only good things about them.

Thanks for the replies, I think we are going to play one of the Pinehills courses, other then that it is still open and would like to hear what others had to say? Is Crosswinds worth it? Which of the two Captain's courses is better?

Thanks in advance.

Crosswinds is definitely worth it. Played it in May and it is in great shape with a great staff.

Cranberry Valley in Harwich (mid cape) is also a great public track. I'd say better than Crosswinds hands down. I'd also 2nd Bass River, its a unique and beautiful layout.

+1 on Pinehills, used to drive down from Boston to play there when I lived back east. Also really like Waverly Oaks. Can't comment on the others.

cant go wrong with pinehills or crosswinds for sure. i like bass river too, but it wont compare to either of the other tracks.

bottom line if you want to play the best around go to pinehills. If you want a really good golf experience for a lot less dough go to Crosswinds.

Going to Pinehills in Plymouth, Mass is a monthly trip for my brother and I. IMO is definitely in the top 3 best upscale courses in all of New England. The entire experience from when you drive in, bag drop, hit balls, 1st tee gitters is worth the price of admission. ( $105 to 110 I think during prime time, including cart and range balls). The range is a 5 star range, for those who have not been to Pinehills, beautiful grass with about 6 to 7 pins to shoot at. You could spend the whole day on the practice area and not get bored. The atmosphere at the range is awesome. Behind the range is a huge patio area where you can sit and enjoy lunch as well and watch people hit balls or just enjoy the sun. We always play the Nicklaus course, because to us, its more enjoyeable. There is also a Reese Jones course, that is more dramatic and equally as beautiful and a tougher test. The Nicklaus course is a good drivers paradise, but no pushover at all. I've never played a track with more good driving holes. There are tons of great positioned fway bunkers as well as greenside bunkers. Most of the greens are relatively flat, but pretty large with some underlations in certain spots and you'll find they roll as true as any course you've played. They are usually at about 10.5 to 11 on the stempmeter, I'd say. The Nicklaus Course plays around 7000 yards from the tips and about 6600 from the Mens tees. When I first started playing there, we played the tips, we now always play the next tee up, which is still a heck of a challenge with a Slope of about 132. There isn't one hole on the entire golf course that I don't like. Most of them are like signature holes. Here is a pic of the 10th a dog leg left reacheable par 5 and the 18th. A lot of times they tuck the pin way left, which is really tough to get to with a big bunker that borders the back of the green. The 18th is one of the best finishing holes you could play, its a tough tee shot with a bunker up the right side and trees on the left, although its a pretty generous fairway. The 2nd shot can play over water if the pin is left back and your anywhere left of center of the fairway. The green is also some large bunkers that will catch a shot missed to the right. Its a great hole. Pinehills Nicklaus is awesome, for those who have not been, you should go!

Really enjoyed Dennis Pines, plus you can get out after 1pm for 35. I found it a challenging track that required a bunch of different shots, not every hole was driver low iron.

Played Cranberry Valley, decent but nothing special.

Take a look at Quashnet Valley in Mashpee. Reasonable afternoon rates (Mon - Thurs).
Next door to Falmouth
Enjoy

Crosswinds = good golf = great value

Play Waverly Oaks. Believe me it is a better layout than Pine Hills, cheaper and pace is better. No question, no hesitation. Only play Pine Hills if you like the CFAD garbage and golf architecture means nothing...if you don't mind a ride Newport National in Rhode Island is spectacular.

I'd like to recommend Red Tail. I just played both the Nicklaus and Jones courses at Pinehills, but from what I remember (I played RT last summer), Red Tail offered a more unique experience. I loved the views it provided, and I also found it more challenging.

I do think it'd be less of a drive for you, though. I drove to Pine Hills from Beverly, MA (where I'm going to college next fall) and it was about 2 hours with decent traffic. Mapquest will definately be your friend though haha

Gosh - I miss the Cape , Cape Scrod .. as I used to call it.
My main track was captains course.. 10 years ago.
Geez - if ya have the dough & 3 hr drive time - try to get on The Country Club- Brookline...I guess maybe not. But thats
my dream.

So it looks like quite a few people are saying play Crosswinds over Pinehills, now between Pinehills and Waverly Oaks, which would you choose?

Also between one of the two Captains Courses and Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds what would you choose and why?

Thanks in advance.

Ryan

Also any truth that Waverly Oaks is going to be leveled come Oct of this year.

Link

So I've been hearing. I don't have any inside information or anything but everyone is expecting it. Supposed to be replaced with part of the new Plymouth Rock studio.

God bless Waverly Oaks, and may she rest in peace. This is her last year. a victim of Pine Hills, Atlantic, and Crosswinds all in the same area!!! More money in the land than the golf!!

You can go wrong at any place mentioned. I would avoid red tail from falmouth though. You would be looking at a HUGE drive to get back and forth, but dont get me wrong.....red tail is AWESOME!!!! Just not convenient!! Pinehills is an experience. Crosswinds is a great golf course for cheap money, and with ever you choose you will have a blast!!! Its all great golf man!!! Money no object go to PH!!! money an issue go to crosswinds!!!

+1 for CrossWinds. One of the best values around. Course is always in fantastic shape and the rates are reasonable thanks to an agreement they have with the town. Ask to play the "new" side (Zaharias). All the nines are great, but the new side is probably the cream of the crop IMO.

So we decided to play Crosswinds the Saturday we are up there, have an 8:33 tee time, not too sure on the course but based on what everyone is saying they are all pretty legit. Also any truth to Crosswinds not having a clubhouse? I heard it is or was just a trailer? Any place to grab something to eat afterward?

Yes that is correct, no clubhouse at crosswinds. If it was me i would do a double round at pinehills. If i'm not mistaken you can do the second round at half price. Of all the courses that were talked about Pinehills hase the best conditions hands down. The courses on the Cape such as Bass river, Captins, and Barnstabe Fairground don't compare at all. Crosswinds is not bad but just not as good as Pinehills. The money you might save by not going to Pinehills woud be $20 at the most.

Crosswinds has a tent for beers, and snacks after the round. Its actually not too bad. You wont have a problem!! SW is a great deal for a great golf course.

I played out there last year with my dad. We played in Dennis (on the Cape), at a placed called Dennis Highlands or Dennis Pines. Nice course. Decent price. Very hilly. Some water. A ton of trees line the fairways. I got in trouble in the trees it's pretty hard to get out. The base in the trees is very sandy not grassy with dirt. Still a nice place to play. I would surely check it out.

It actually looks to be around $45 (Crosswinds to Pinehills), $66 vs. $110.

Dennis Pines is a great course fast hard greens and tight driving areas. Pine Hills is a good track but way over priced! Olde Barnstable has a nice layout but is way too slow. The greens are like putting on velcro and every drive you hit bounces backwards! Cranberry valley same thing these superintendents like to water the crap out of the courses! Waverly is a lot of fun and always in decent shape. If I had the choice between paying $125 for Pine Hills or $85 for Waverly I'm playing Waverly every time.

We played at Highland Links in Truro last week. Course was pretty tough with very narrow fairways. It was a neat experience, but we spent a lot of time looking for balls in the high stuff.

I live in Mass and would choose Waverly over Pinehills. Here's a hidden gem for you..... Acushnet River Valley. A half hour or so from the cape in Acushnet Mass, (home of Titleist). Public course with 10 holes of parklands golf and 8 holes of links golf. Cheap, well maintained and rarely crowded.

I just played Crosswinds this past Thursday. I was pleasantly surprised and it was only $48. Staff was great and the course was in good shape. I played the holes 19-27 and then 10-18, forgot the name of those nines. try to avoid 10-18 as it was not as good as 19-27. I definitely recommend it.

I've also played Bass River which was pretty nice and cheap, also played bass river's sister course for a cheap rate and loved the course. think its call Bayberry. I also like Cranberry Valley and Sandwich Hollows


and yeah, its true about Waverly Oaks, its set to become Hollywood East in the very near future...that being said, I think its still like $230 to play there