Some fall golf suggestions

Hunting down fall golf and shoulder season prices

Author

Sean Melia
October 18, 2024

The Ranch in Southwick, Mass.

Hey Everyone,

A few quick housekeeping things before getting to News and Notes and some fall discount golf.

  • If you are interested in a golf trip, I have partnered with The Golf Trip Guys, who are running a Hilton Head golf trip in April. It’s called the Spring Training Classic. Co-founder Sean Toland joined me on this week’s podcast (watch on YouTube).The trip is a great opportunity to shake off the rust before next year’s season and meet some new people. Grab a friend and book this fun trip. Details.

  • Next week I’ll post another Results Round-Up. College golf is wrapping up and we have MIAA High School championships next week, too. So it’ll be packed with some good stuff! If you have any events you would like to see included in the round up, you can fill out this Google Form.

  • Last weekend, I played Quaboag CC (Monson, Mass.) and The Ranch (Southwick, Mass.) on a day trip to Western Mass. My reviews are already posted for Premium Subscribers to read. They also get additional thoughts that don’t fit inside the Instagram caption limit. If you’d like to support my work, you can upgrade to a Supporter or Founder level to get those reviews and some other perks.

News and Notes:

  • Massachusetts wins Tri-State Matches: Team Massachusetts avenged their Tri-Matches loss in 2023 with a home course win at Worcester CC this past week over defending champ Connecticut and Rhode Island. Here’s MassGolf’s recap.

  • Q-School Final Round: Jack Boulger and Chris Franceour are among a handful of Massachusetts players in the First Stage of Q-School. Boulger is three shots outside the cutline at 4-under par at The Preserve at Iron Horse in West Palm Beach, Florida. Nick Cummings and Taylor Kay-Green are both 3-over par at the same site. Franceour is starting his final day two shots inside the cutline after rounds of 66-68-69 at Lake Caroline GC in Mississippi. At Bermuda Run in South Carolina, Jon Mayer is four shots outside the cutline at 1-over par.

Fall Golf Views and Shoulder Season Deals

We’ve reached the white knuckle section of the golf season in Massachusetts. The high temperatures are slowly descending, and the low temps are sticking around just a little bit longer each morning.

Fall golf is a delight, even though it marks the end of the season. The foliage is still popping around Massachusetts and New England, and a round of golf is one great way to do some leaf peeping.

Here are some courses that are worth checking out. Some of these include excellent shoulder season rates.

As you scroll through this list looking for your favorite and it’s not here, shoot me an email (or reply to this newsletter). Would love to make this a comprehensive list for all the sickos out there. [email protected]

Massachusetts

The Ranch - Southwick, Mass. (Rates)

  • Weekday: $85

  • Weekend: $95

A premier public course in the state. I played here on October 12, just before the shoulder season rate kicked in. It was in superb shape. Another course with beautiful views and challenging golf.

Range balls and a cart are included in the price.

Butter Brook GC - Westford, Mass. (Rates)

The website does not have its shoulder season prices listed, but its summer season prices end on October 20. according to their website.

Butter Brook is a favorite of many. The course winds through trees on the opening 12 holes and then delivers players into an open piece of land befitting the farmland it was built on. The closing stretch of holes at twilight is stunning.

Shaker Hills - Harvard, Mass. (Rates)

  • Weekday: $99

  • Weekend: $119

Just down the road from Butter Brook GC is Shaker Hills. If I’m being honest, the shoulder season rates I listed are still a touch high. But, they offer descending prices as the day progresses and you can play after 3 pm any day of the week for $59.

Shaker Hills has a few unique features, namely the “Signature Shot” series. A few holes have tee boxes in different spots; you can play the par-3 6th and the par-3 13th from the top of a roof.

Ledges Golf Club - South Hadley, Mass. (Rates)

  • Weekday: $38

  • Weekend: $48

This gem in the Berkshires Pioneer Valley* is a fantastic public option. The price is always right; the course has a great mix of drivable par 4s, tough narrow tee shots, and great vistas, especially from the 18th green.

*Heard from more than one person about my lack of geographic knowledge of Western Mass. Apologies…

Taconic GC - Williamstown, Mass. (Rates)

  • $180 (unaccompanied guest)

If you’ve been a reader or follower for even two weeks, you probably know how highly I think of Taconic. One of the best in the state, and if it was 60 miles closer to Boston, it would be atop more lists (and has the chops to host professional events, I think).

Many think Taconic is private. It is not. You can call the pro shop five days in advance for public times. If you know a member or anyone affiliated with Williams College, the prices drop quickly.

Miacomet - Nantucket, Mass. (Rates)

  • Shoulder season: $145

  • Winter (November 23 -April 30): $70

Yes, you have to get on a ferry to play the next two courses on this list, but they’re both worth it. Miacomet is $270 during the summer. The fall price of $145 is in place until November 23, and then it drops to $70 for the winter.

I did this day trip in April for the $70 price tag. Ferry is $60 round trip and the taxi to the course will probably run you $25 bucks each way.

Farm Neck - Martha’s Vinyard, Mass. (Rates)

  • Sunday-Thursday: $175

  • Friday & Saturday: $195

It’s been years since I have played Farm Neck. Mark Mungeam has done a bunch of work to make this excellent course even better.

Cape Club - Falmouth, Mass. (Rates)

  • Monday-Wednesday: $100

  • Thursday-Sunday: $110

One of the few courses on this list I have never played. The summer price on the weekends is $150, so it’s a good discount to play a course that I’ve heard is always in great shape. Steal a sunny day and head for The Cape.

Plymouth Golf

It’s incredible the wealth of golf in Plymouth. Each of the public courses offers rates that are worth taking advantage of this time of the year.

Pine Hills (Rates)

  • Weekday: $90

  • Weekend: $100

I haven’t played either course at Pine Hills in more than six years. The shoulder season price kicks in on October 21.

Waverly Oaks (Rates)

  • Weekday: $85

  • Weekend: $95

Probably the Plymouth course I suggest the most to people. It’s the one I like the most, but in peak season it’s a little pricy. This shoulder season rate is pretty solid.

Crosswinds GC (Rates)

  • Weekday: $67

  • Weekend: $89

One of the best deals in the state. Crosswinds is typically open all year. It offers three nine-hole courses that can be mixed and matched.

Southers Marsh (Rates)

You can play golf over and around cranberry bogs—a very cool experience. They also have an exceptional indoor/outdoor driving range called The Barn.

  • Weekday: $37

  • Weekend: $43

Atlantic CC (Rates)

  • Weekday: $50

  • Weekend: $60

Often overlooked in Plymouth, Atlantic CC is a good golf course worth checking out. It has some good elevation changes, a good layout, some playable holes, and lovely views.

Not Massachusetts

Fox Run - Ludlow, Vt. (Rates)

  • Monday-Thursday: $59

  • Friday-Sunday: $69

Set at the bottom of Okemo Mountain in Ludlow, Vt. Fox Run is one of the best public courses in the region. The course is challenging and offers incredible views throughout, especially from the dramatic 8th tee box. They also have a driving range and solid restaurant, Calcuttas, on-site.

They also offer stay-and-play packages. Ludlow is a lovely town with a few good spots to eat, drink, hike, and window between rounds.

Montcalm GC - Enfield, N.H. (Rates)

  • Weekday: $108

  • Weekend: $150

Add “The” to Ledges GC in South Hadley and Google Maps will send you to York, Maine to play The Ledges Golf Club. Play golf among rock outcroppings and hills. The course offers stunning views and is very good, too.

Come for the wild driving range and stay for the mountain golf. Montcalm is just off of 89 in New Hampshire. That’s a perk, as visitors don’t have to wind through backroads to reach this cool spot.

Montcalm is no frills. A simple clubhouse where the pro shop and grill share the same space.

The Ledges Golf Club - York, Maine (Rates)

  • Anyday: $90

Cape Arundel - Arundel, Maine

There doesn’t seem to be published rates for Cape Arundel, but a few people recommended it when I put a call out for courses with shoulder season rates.

It is an incredible course and well worth a trip. Some of the best greens around.

Belgrade Lakes - Belgrade Lakes, Maine (Rates)

  • October rate: $175

Another spot I have never played, but many people suggested it for this list because of the shoulder season price. The peak season price is $200. Bookmark this for May when you can sneak out for $130 (if the snow has melted.).

When I’m not golfing…

I’m reading…

I’m listening to…

I’m eating…

I’m watching…

  • Outer Banks is back! Just a fun treasure hunt show. The first five episodes are up on Netflix.

  • This was an incredible video that The Fried Egg put together.

New here? Reached the bottom?

Hell Yeah.

You should subscribe.

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