[NCheel]

I've been up in New England for US Am qualifying and I happened to play two pretty good public courses in Mass...

I played the Jones Course and Pine Hills in Plymouth. $75 at 2pm. Pretty good course which played pretty tough in the winds last weekend. Really good par 3's, one which features a 250 yard carry over a nasty gully.

On Monday, I got a chance to play The Ranch in Southwich, Mass. $100 in morning. Another really good course with some pretty interesting and tough holes. The 9th and 16th holes feature enormous downhill slopes, which you have to see to fully appreciate.

My buddy from Boston said that these were two of the best public courses in the state. Not sure if this is documented, but either way they were pretty tough and definitely worth the money and the trip.

NCheel

[Dbogey]

Where are you qualifying?

[NCheel]

Irrelevant reply now, but I was in the Qualifier at Yale...

Great old and tough course. I had two 4 putts and three 3 putts, just from being on the wrong side of the slopes. The dip in the middle of the 9th green should be a hazard. Wouldn't have mattered since I didn't play all that stellar otherwise, but 7 extra putts never helps.

Finished in the middle of the pack...I guess we'll try again next year.

NCheel

[Dbogey]

I had to WD.....good try! there's always next year!

[cubiclegolfer]

Will second that both courses are legit. Pinehills has two courses playing well over 7200 and in near country club conditions. Cant beat the value.

[PShow]

Pine Hills, both courses are beautiful. Others to consider are Granite Links(great views of Boston), Red Tail, Blackstone National and I enjoy playing Kettlebrook.

[freddiec]

Both courses at Pinehills are in Private CC conditions. Both very interesting and great designs. I think its the best public facility in Massachusetts by far that features a huge driving range, great huge chipping practice green and a 1st class Clubhouse with a great restraunt, veranda area. Its always a great experience being there.

[danattherock]

Another NC boy chimming in. My dad went to UNC. Go heels:)

I am working up on Nantucket and went over to Plymouth for Thanksgiving. We played Pinehills and it was an absolutely fantastic course. Anyone in this area must play it. It closes Nov 29 - Mar 13. Lovely layout, we played the Reese Jones course. The Jack Nicklaus course is the other one at Pinehills. Awesome club house and restaurant as well. Nice driving range (far better than average). Just a great round of golf. Several elevated tee boxes made for some interesting driving. Great golf course and I was totally surprised. Living in Pinehurst,NC and spending weekends at my folks vacation home in Myrtle Beach,SC, I am a bit spoiled on good golf courses. I had been dissapointed with many while living/working here on Cape Cod these last three years. Pinehills was an absolute treat!!

[muzz]

I've played the Pine Hills- Reese course as well, and it is a great course, which it should be for $80-100
Driving range is very good, clubhouse/pro shop are nice.
Due to the amount of $ it costs to play golf these days, I generally play courses a step(or more) below that, like Olde Scotland Links, Poquoy, Easton, etc..
I play Atlantic every now and then, and that's almost as expensive as PH, but a step below IMO.

They fill the divots at PH every night/morning from what I'm told by a friend of mine that's a member, I asked him because I saw grass seed in the divots in the middle of the fairway.......I imagine that's what the nicer private courses do.

I wish I was rich enough to play courses like that at least twice a week.

[Sean2]

Have you played Crosswinds? Almost Pinehills like conditions at half the price. Crosswinds has 27 holes and most are very challenging. The range isn't much to speak of, there is no fancy club house, just a very good and challenging golf course.

[muzz]

Sean2, on 01 March 2010 - 10:28 AM, said:

Have you played Crosswinds? Almost Pinehills like conditions at half the price. Crosswinds has 27 holes and most are very challenging. The range isn't much to speak of, there is no fancy club house, just a very good and challenging golf course.

I could've sworn I checked Crosswinds last summer and it was almost as expensive as Pine Hills... I see the Winter rate is $55- includes a cart, but I thought I saw it was around $80 for a Weekend 18 w/cart in the summer(cuz I wanted to play there).
If it were 55 in the summer I'd probably be down there alot, even though it's an hour away.