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Four of the hardest public courses in Massachusetts

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Sean Melia
January 31, 2025

Hey Everyone,

Earlier this week, I wrote about Justin Thomas’ letter to the players on the PGA Tour asking players to help the broadcasters improve the coverage. Premium subscribers received that email on Monday.

Why do I have a premium subscription?

In September, my regular editing/writing job ended when New England Golf Journal closed up shop. I decided to write and create more in the Bay State Golf universe and see if I could build out something that could keep the lights on. So here I am, asking for your support.

What do you get with the premium subscription?

  • Early access to my course reviews along with bonus thoughts and pictures about each course.

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News and Notes:

Alexa Pano and Megan Khang: Megan Khang and Alexa Pano both shot a 72 in the opening round of the season-opening Tournament of Champions on the LPGA. Leaderboard.

Ryan Downes and John Broderick open spring season for Vandy: Downes recorded his best finish of his freshman year at Vanderbilt in the Southwestern Invitational. He shot 73-70-67 for a fifth-place finish. The performance should earn Downes a spot in the team’s next tournament, as he competed as an individual this week. John Broderick shot 72-70-73 for a 21st-place finish and helped the Commodores finish in third place.

Best Courses by Handicap: MassGolf dug through the data and rank the clubs with the best players. I have to be honest, I was surprised at the gap between the men’s and women’s handicaps at each club. That might just make me naive. Here’s the list.

If you have any results or stories that you think would be great for the newsletter, I love to hear them! Shoot them to [email protected].

Four of the hardest public courses in Massachusetts

Over the course of a golf season, there might be a time when you’re playing your best golf and thinking you’d like to challenge yourself and tee it up from a different set of tees or pick out a golf course that might provide more of a test.

Not every hard course is built the same. Length, hazards, deep bunkers, and tough greens are usually the ingredients required, and each course has the dials turned to different levels.

Here are four courses that have different types of challenges that you could use to test your game when you’re in mid-season form. Or anytime you’re looking to find out where your game stands.

Widow’s Walk - Scituate, Mass.

Maybe bring some extra balls for a round at Widow’s Walk

Maybe the most polarizing course in Massachusetts. The loyalists appreciate how hard it is and have figured out some cheat codes to survive the 18 holes that weave between hazards and thick, deep forests.

What makes Widow’s Walk hard is the requirement to hit your shots arrow straight off nearly every tee. Some tee shots also force players to pick the proper distance. It’s a true target golf course with small greens that are tucked into tight corners.

Even at just 6,400 yards from the tips, it’s bound to make anyone who sprays it a little off the tee very anxious.

Shaker Hills - Harvard, Mass.

The 14th hole at Shaker Hills

The newly named host of the MassGolf Four-Ball this spring (along with Marlborough CC) is all about brawn and bulk. It measures 6,900 yards from the tips and has some big elevation changes that both lengthen and shorten holes throughout the course.

The par-5 fifth hole might be one of the hardest par 5s in the state. A long, windy hole that climbs uphill the entire way. The second shot here is insane with massive bunkers lurking in the layup zone. It’s just one of a few ass-kicking par 5s at Shaker Hills.

Shaker Hills is also the quintessential New England course with tall trees, rock outcroppings, and a smattering of cross hazards. Balls hit a little offline can tumble into the trees.

Shaker Hills also has a few novelty items going on throughout the course. Every par 3, except for the 17th, has a different tee box to play from. The downhill third has the Double Black Diamond tee box from way up the hill, and the 6th and 13th share a rooftop tee box.

The Ranch - Southwick, Mass.

There’s plenty of space in Western Mass. to build big, bodacious golf courses, and The Ranch is one of the toughest in that area. The length on the scorecard reads 7,129 yards, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.

The course ebbs and flows, with a flat start before climbing slowly on the third and fourth holes. Standing on the ninth hole, it would be easy not to feel like you climbed hundreds of feet in the air. The same thing happens on the back nine once you arrive on the 16th hole. The land up in that area feels more like ski terrain than grounds for golf.

On both the 9th and 16th, 350-yard drives are attainable with the right conditions and bounces.

The Ranch also has some challenging greens protected by large bunkers. With a number of blind shots, course knowledge goes a long way. It’s a course that reveals itself to players after a few trips around.

George Wright - Boston, Mass.

The 12th hole ends a tough stretch of golf at George Wright

Let’s mix in a Golden Age course, shall we? George Wright’s challenge comes from the bevy of blind tee shots in the middle of the round and the Donald Ross greens. The 6,500 yards on the scorecard would make one think that driver and wedge might get worn out at George Wright, and if you know the lines off the tees, it’s certainly possible.

However, George Wright can bite you at every turn with false fronts, narrow corridors, and blind tee shots. There are very few flat lies at George Wright, too, as the heaving land forces players to have good distance control into the greens.

The middle stretch of hole Nos. 5-12 will make or break the round for most people. You’ll either be standing on the 13th hole feeling pretty good or ripping up your scorecard.

Usually, courses built 100 years ago have “gettable” par 5s that allow players to erase a bogey on the scorecard. The third and 15th at George Wright are legitimate par 5s. Birdies are available, but greed is punished, too.

I opened the comment section for everyone for this post. What are some of the hardest courses you’ve played in Massachusetts?

When I’m not golfing…

I’m reading…

I’m listening to…

  • Gave Harry Styles a listen this week. Harry’s House is a no-skip album.

I’m drinking…

  • Guinness Zero is very good. Enjoyed a couple during football on Sunday.

I’m eating…

  • This is a great green smoothie from NYTimes Cooking

  • Been using Colu Cooks: Easy Fancy Food for some recipes this week. Had a great sausage and peppers caprese roast and a Cesc soup with pancetta.

I’m watching…

  • I had jury duty on Tuesday, so I decided to watch a trial movie. Juror #2 is a new movie directed by Clint Eastwood. It has a little bit of the 1990s court case vibe to it. I thought it was pretty good!

  • An Update on Our Family is an insane documentary on Max. Like, totally insane. Watched the first two episodes.

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