Old Sandwich Golf Club

I have an extensive list of “must plays” and in reality, I don’t come across many instances where I can cross a course off the list. This weekend I had the distinct pleasure of playing Old Sandwich Golf Club down in Plymouth.

As a high school golf coach and former caddie I’ve had the pleasure of playing some very nice tracks, however, I’ve never experienced a course as a guest with all the thrills of that experience.

From the get go the experience was simply amazing. Checking in, heading to the range and meeting our caddie as he watched our swing and tried to quickly come to grips with our game.

From the club house you cross a small pond and stone bridge, you are now entering the course and first tee. Crenshaw did an amazing job with this layout and land and it’s reputation is certainly justified. The course feels as if it’s been there for 100 plus years despite being built in 2004. The layout offers players the chance to hit different shots and take different strategies. It doesn’t have the “long” feel of modern, boring courses (TPC Boston comes to mind when I think of a boring layout with impressive conditions).

The conditions are stellar, greens are treacherous... as a public course player I had a hard time figuring out pace. At a few times in the round I wasn’t sure I could physically take a small enough backstroke and still keep the ball anywhere near the hole. I played the composite tees (a mix of back and 3rd tees) at 6700 yards which proved to be a little long for me. I’m a consistent but short player.

I’m a 4.3 handicap but I preface that I’m a 4.3 public course player. If I played OS as a home course I’d be a 12-15 all day. There’s no room for error anywhere.

The rest I’ll leave to pictures. Enjoy.

A few more pictures

We played 18 with caddies and then continued on to make it 27 carrying. The caddie experience was interesting and overall, I did not enjoy it. I like having my bag for a number of reasons. If the experience were one player, one caddie it would have changed the experience.

The pro shop is on point, picked up a few gems that made their way into my bag for my round the next day at a local course.

A few of yours truly... they also have this neat “hit the rock” at the end of the round. 138 from a mat over water to a lonely rock in the pond. It’s fun.

Thanks for sharing your photos - I love OS - one of my favorite places to play in Boston area. Just a great experience all around

Great photo of the OS, TCC, Kittansett, and Vesper covers. Was that your bag?

> @medicoreMAgolfer said:

> Thanks for sharing your photos - I love OS - one of my favorite places to play in Boston area. Just a great experience all around

> Great photo of the OS, TCC, Kittansett, and Vesper covers. Was that your bag?

Yes, that’s my bag... coach high school golf so we get to play around a few nice tracks here and there. One of the few perks of the job.

Great write up. I’m jealous.

Enjoyed your post and the nice photos.

It sounds like a must play if I ever be in the neck of woods near it.

I know nothing is private anymore, but if I belonged to a private club I don’t think I would want somebody’s guest posting pictures of the locker room complete with names.

Had the pleasure of playing there 3 years ago an experience I will always remember

Thanks for the write up

> @ddboston said:

> A few of yours truly... they also have this neat “hit the rock” at the end of the round. 138 from a mat over water to a lonely rock in the pond. It’s fun.

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pretty good position at the top there ... i would pronate the left wrist a bit more to free up some more vertical displacement on the downswing ...

but i'm not a golf coach and have no idea what i'm talking about ...

Great write up. By coincidence, the owner and founder of Old Sandwich is a member at my club. We played a round this past Saturday. He was hilarious and has a damn good game.

On 3/19/2020 at 11:57 AM, T_BoneAZ said:

Great write up. By coincidence, the owner and founder of Old Sandwich is a member at my club. We played a round this past Saturday. He was hilarious and has a damn good game.

Still thinking back to OS... maybe the best course I've played, at least in the US.  However, my list of top 100's played isn't that long.

I played OS recently. Have played a bunch of the top tracks in MA- Salem, eastward ho etc. OS is by far the best. Truly impressive grounds. Greens were tough all shaved around the edges with no flat bunkers. Either had a downhill lie or up hill lie. Made it tough. 19th hole is fun about 115 down the hill. 
 

Also best driving range I have ever seen and the bar in the men’s locker room is epic. 

Big Crenshaw fan. 

I wonder if they would let an Aussie come play??