Hey Everyone,

We are knee-deep in winter, and by Sunday, we might be hip-deep. It feels like the first time in a few years that there’s not even an opportunity to look at the ten-day forecast, hopeful for a 45-degree day and the possibility of golf.

But if you live in Oswego, Illinois, you might have an indoor golf course starting in 2027….

This week, I wrote about three courses that have been on my mind for difference reasons.

But first a few things…

On Monday, I sent a Small Bucket to paid subscribers with some details about Davis Chatfield’s first made cut on the PGA Tour, Michael Thorbjornsen’s flame out in the desert, the golf ball rollback being possibly pushed back to 2030, and how golf could adopt something like the Australian Open’s Million Dollar “One Point Slam."

In addition, paid subscribers also received a 25% off code to Course Maps. I’m hoping to add more value to the paid subscribers in 2026. This discount code is one way, and I am also including a discount on my printable Bay State Golf Volume 1, which will be available in the coming weeks and will have reviews and photos of every course I’ve played.

If you would like to support my work, you can subscribe as a Supporter ($50 for the year) or Founder ($75). I also offer a monthly membership if you’d like to dip your toe.

Farmers Insurance Open: Davis Chatfield and Michael Thorbjornsen are both in San Diego for the Farmers Insurance Open. On Thursday, they both played the South Course, which is the tougher of the two Torrey Pines courses. Thorbjornsen is in good shape after an opening 68 (T23). Chatfield will need a good day on the North Course on Friday after a 76 (134th) Live Scoring.

TGL: Thorbjornsen went from missing the cut in the desert to competing for the Boston Common Frogs and then back out to the west coast for the Farmers Insurance Open. (oh, to be young…). Boston beat The Bay 9-1. Thor is undefeated on TGL. I can’t believe I’m writing these words…

Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions: The LPGA kicks off its season this week. The field includes winners from the previous two years, and Megan Khang and Alexa Pano do not fall into the category. Live Scoring

UCF Challenge: Molly Smith started her spring season with a T30 finish in the UCF Challenge. She shot 73-76-69 at Eagle Creek GC in Orlando. Her UCF team finished third in the event and is currently ranked 12th nationally.

Division 1 schedules and results: If you are interested in following Division 1 college golf this spring, I have compiled schedules and results for every men’s and women’s team from New England. Additionally, many golfers from Massachusetts play D1 golf in New England and beyond. I am also tracking their results this season. It’s all here.

I made a video about courses under 6,000 yards this week. Some are harder than they appear on the scorecard. Some are great for beginners or intermediate golfers. And some are fantastic for busting out of a slump.

It’s January, and the golf season feels years away with the snow and the cold. Maybe you’re like me, and you think about golf courses that you have played or look forward to playing once the season starts up again.

These are three courses that have flitted through my mind this week for various reasons.

Everyone should make a point to play this course in 2026. The nine-hole Donald Ross design was a private course until the 2025 season. After years of mismanagement, the membership found other places to play and spend their money. Hence, the course continued to spiral downward. A new owner bought it and hired some good people to turn the place around.

Right now, it’s a semi-private course and will probably go back to being private again, so the window is open to check it out.

So why am I thinking about it?

Well, first, a course that is saved and not turned into, oh, I don’t know, an AI data center or solar field, is uplifting.

Second, nine-hole courses are more and more appealing to me, too. Not because I’m old (I am…) and can’t play 18 holes anymore (I can). But when I played Cohassee, I played Dudley Hill the same day. Nine-hole courses allow players to play less golf but also more golf. Tacking on a nine-hole round to an 18-hole day is great. 36 holes is tough, but 27 is manageable. Even playing 18 holes on two different nine-hole courses can be interesting.

Third, the greens at Cohasse CC rocked, and it’s a course I could play regularly.

Another affordable nine-hole golf course designed by a famous architect, George Thomas.

My only trip to Marion was in the fall of 2023, and I had golfer’s elbow, so I was only able to play it once.

It’s so cool, and I’d like to get back there this season for a few trips around the place. They have a $80 all-day rate on the weekends (which is sick). You can play 18 holes for $44.

Marion is one of the rare courses that gets away with being weird and quirky. You hit shots over walls and berms, but none of it feels forced or overly done.

A few moments led to my quest to play all the courses in Massachusetts; a trip to Poland, Maine, in 2020 was one of them. I snuck across the border to Maine in early June 2020 to meet a buddy and play at Poland Spring Resort. It’s just over a 2-hour drive from Boston.

The resort was welcoming and laid-back (I didn’t stay there). The course is more than 100 years old and winds through trees near the edges of Middle Range Pond and Lower Range Pond and then up and through some of the old resort buildings, some of which date back to the 18th century.

The resort’s catch phrase is “Welcome to the Stress Free Zone” and that extends out to the golf course. It’s not tough, and it’s not long (6,100 yards from the tips). It’s old-school resort golf, which I appreciated. Not big and bold and overdone. Cool greens, short holes, some odd spots, and ceraintly stress free.

Not a bad place to visit this summer for a little vacation.

If you would like to support my work, you can upgrade your subscription.

Golf in the Nation’s Capitol: The National Links Trust saga in Washington, D.C. is still ongoing, and now senators are demanding answers. Gabby Herzig of The Athletic has been doing a good job with this story. Read here.

Hall of Fame Snub: Bill Belichik was left off enough ballots to miss out on becoming a first ballot Hall of Famers. There are plenty of reasons why this happened. Pettiness might be at the top of the list, but there are also some new voting rules that might have caused a bit of a protest, leaving Belichik as the one left out in the cold.

Any Given Thursday: This John Mayer live show recording from 2005 is excellent.

Golfers Anonymous Pod: Really enjoyed this conversation between Noah and Erik Anders Lang.

Pulled Pork: A pretty easy recipe for the oven. A good snow day, Conference Championship activity. Made in the oven, not a slow cooker.

Shepherd’s Pie: We are very much in the comfort food section of the calendar. This will last a couple days.

Pastina Soup: A simple soup.

Knights of the Seven Kingdoms: Another Game of Thrones show. I have thoroughly enjoyed the first two episodes.

Golf in Nebraska: No Laying Up went deep on Nebraska with this 90-minute movie about a trip TC and Neil took to the Cornhusker State.