Heading to Boston this summer looking for good public courses

[dwboston]

[quote name='arydolphin' timestamp='1401298790' post='9382889']
[quote name='rcain1us' timestamp='1401207016' post='9374351']
Well, out of curiosity I played it this morning before work.

Pros:

I had a 6:00 tee time and was in my car and on the way to work by 9:00

Cons:

Despite my tee time no one was in the pro shop until 6:10
Fairways and rough were lush and green but a lot of holes in the fairways and I lost a ball in the middle of the fairway which is maddening
Greens were bumpy and full of bald spots.
The only bunker I saw that actually had any sand in it was 18
The trash bins on every tee were full of empty beer cans from the weekend

All in all it seemed like your typical $30 muni, except that because it is Brookline it it cost me $49 with a cart.

The whole time I was thinking "i could have played Riverbend for $35"
[/quote]
[quote name='BTP' timestamp='1401277241' post='9380481']
^ Second this. Played it one Sunday a few weeks back -- greens were awful: Sandy, holely, soft, you name it. I paid $30 to walk twilight rate. One of our playing partners made a comment that these are not "greens" they are "browns" referring as to how discolored a lot of them are.

I did enjoy the front 9 though. I found it was a better lay-out and more challenging. The conditions were better overall as well, excluding #1. I'd only recommend it if you're in the area and need to scratch an itch quickly like I needed to do.
[/quote]

I live about 10 minutes away from the Brookline Muni and choose to drive past it just about every time I go to George Wright. While George Wright is a little more expensive, the conditions at GW are far and away better than Brookline.
[/quote]

Is this Putterham in Brookline? That course is a joke. Terrible conditions and it's a swamp. They park cars on it whenever there is a US Open or Ryder Cup at The Country Club, which is right next door.

I think the courses listed by folks above are good recommendations. I will say that I heard that The International had a tough winter and several of the greens on the Oaks course are in really rough shape.

Shining Rock is another public course that's drivable from Boston - it's fun, though the layout is a bit quirky.

[Chris_NH]

[quote name='dwboston' timestamp='1401299614' post='9383003']
I think the courses listed by folks above are good recommendations. I will say that I heard that The International had a tough winter and several of the greens on the Oaks course are in really rough shape.
[/quote]

I think (but don't know) that it's the Pines course at The International that suffered the brunt of the damage. I think the Oaks came through ok. But anybody who's planning on playing there should call to confirm - since I haven't been out there yet.

[P.Lay]

International Oaks is in great shape. Pines suffered more damage.

[bradley j]

-international oaks is in phenomenal shape outside of very rocky bunkers (which i would be upset with if i was paying full price and not golf now hot deals)
-I have heard red tail is in tough shape which has kept me from playing it even though it is one of my favorite layouts
-shaker was in good but not great shape when i played a couple weeks ago. good but not great layout as well.
-the meadows at peabody has some of the best greens I've played on this summer and is a solid course at a more mid range price point
-pine hills twilight and super twilight are the best values going although it can be a long trip to get there depending on where you are and when you're going because of traffic
-tewksbury cc is a really well conditioned 9 hole course with good restaurant if thats what you're looking for

[jdl]

[quote name='bradley j' timestamp='1403791945' post='9582305']
-I have heard red tail is in tough shape which has kept me from playing it even though it is one of my favorite layouts
[/quote]

Not true:

[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1034365-red-tail/"]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1034365-red-tail/[/url]

[rcain1us]

I played New England Country Club this morning, beat condition I have see in in a long time.

Played Crosswinds last week in Plymouth (adjacent to Waverley Oaks) also in great shape.

Riverbend is one of my regular haunts, if you don't sleep much like me you can't beat $35 with a cart before 8:00 (8:30?) during the week

[moose557]

Pine Hills in Plymouth. Both are great courses. Played the Nicklaus last week. Great conditions.

[hockeyplayer19]

If you are okay with an hour-ish drive from Boston, I'm partial to Blackstone National in Sutton. I love the design (Rees Jones) and the condition is normally very good.