Public course recommendation - Worcester area

[geoangus]

Four of us are hoping to play a round in October and need to find a spot somewhat equidistant between New Hampshire and the CT shoreline. Worcester area seems to fit the bill at 90 minutes. I don't know much about courses in the area, other than what I read here. Red Tail and Blackstone come to mind, and IIRC, one of the International courses accepts public tee times. I'd like to keep the greens fees well south of $100 if possible ($65ish?). What suggestions do you guys have? If it matters, one of us has a low single-digit cap, the rest of us play anywhere from 8-14 depending upon whether Jekyll or Hyde packs the bag.

 

Thanks

[jdl]

Red Tail and Blackstone are both good layouts. A couple of other possibilities - Kettle Brook in Paxton (playing my league outing there in a few weeks), Green Hill is a really nice muni in downtown Worcester, Highfields in Grafton is a very nice course. There's also my home course of Cyprian Keyes in Boylston, but it's a pretty tough track especially the first few times you play it, so might not be the best choice.

[allparz]

Wachusett CC in West Boylston is really nice - scenic in the fall with great long views -- $45 is a deal - https://secure.east.prophetservices.com/WachusettCC

Not a big fan of High Fields -- too many houses in play - feel like your playing through peoples back yards at times...

Holden Hills is pretty good for $45

Cyprian Keys also pretty good but probably more $$$ - you can lose some balls here - newer course with lots of "Environment Sensitive Areas" - no looking for your ball

[MyShortGameSucks]

For your budget I would say Blackstone and Wachusset would be my recommendations followed by Kettlebrook. I have heard good things about Green Hill but never played it.

Steer clear of Highfields. I think it's a very poor course with quirky holes, hazards and OB right next to cart paths and as Allparz points out, too many houses.

[hockeyplayer19]

I would certainly recommend Blackstone.

[jdl]

[quote name='allparz' timestamp='1411051134' post='10139997']

Not a big fan of High Fields -- too many houses in play - feel like your playing through peoples back yards at times...[/quote]

Hmmm....you have to be pretty far off the fairway to reach houses, except for maybe #9 and #15. It's definitely in the middle of a housing development, couple of long rides from green to next tee box for sure.

Should also add in a warning about Green HIll, the greens are lightning fast and sloped, so if you play there keep the ball under the hole for sure....



[quote]Cyprian Keys also pretty good but probably more $$$ - you can lose some balls here - newer course with lots of "Environment Sensitive Areas" - no looking for your ball
[/quote]

$54 on the weekend, $49 during the week.

[DCSerafin]

You really can't go wrong with either Blackstone, Wachusett or Green Hill. blast one has a great layout and the conditions there right now are fantastic. Wachusett is a classic Donald Ross and Green Hill is a great muni with great greens and more open. It is more open and on a hill so it could be chilly in October.

[scores]

Play them all -- I live in the area even Blissfull Meadows is Okay - great back nine. They are all good tracks as well as shinningrock add that one in a couple of crazy holes.

[MyShortGameSucks]

My son played Green Hill in a tournament this weekend. I have to say I was underwhelmed. Not a bad layout and a great location but conditions were iffy at best. Fairways were shaggy and lots of bad lies from some kind of very course aeration. Greens were also slower and bumpy. I have to think Blackstone, Wachusett and Kettlebrook are significantly better local options,

[jdl]

I can update my post with a report from Kettle Brook. Played there last Friday and the course is in really good shape. They had cart path only restrictions on holes 2-5 due to the heavy rain the night before, but the greens were in really good shape and rolled pretty fast.

[Shemp]

I played Blackstone today. I like the course but it is in rough shape. I've been a member at Blissful Meadows for 10 years and really enjoy the course. The fairways and greens are good but we had some burnout in the rough due to the lack of rain. Otherwise it's in very good shape and a good Cornish Silva design. Redtail has had conditioning issues as well.

[Judge Smails]

Haven't played Blackstone in a while, but remembered really liking it. Price is very reasonable.

You might well catch a late season rate at the International, which is great.

Red Tail is an excellent layout, condition was so-so last time I played. On the front 9 in particular. Not horrible, but for the premium price not what it once was.

[Imp]

[quote name='Shemp' timestamp='1412718423' post='10251381']
I played Blackstone today. I like the course but it is in rough shape. I've been a member at Blissful Meadows for 10 years and really enjoy the course. The fairways and greens are good but we had some burnout in the rough due to the lack of rain. Otherwise it's in very good shape and a good Cornish Silva design. Redtail has had conditioning issues as well.
[/quote]As someone that only played Blissful Meadows once... never again until the rangers/staff get rid of those damn radios and know not to drive up on people playing shots/swinging, etc... It bordered on purposefully rude.

--kC

[R Hagan]

[quote name='Shemp' timestamp='1412718423' post='10251381']I played Blackstone today. I like the course but it is in rough shape. I've been a member at Blissful Meadows for 10 years and really enjoy the course. The fairways and greens are good but we had some burnout in the rough due to the lack of rain. Otherwise it's in very good shape and a good Cornish Silva design. Redtail has had conditioning issues as well.[/quote]

Got married at Blissful Meadows and played it the morning of my wedding. Made me wish I knew about it when I was in college at good ol Becker.

[Shemp]

[quote name='Imp' timestamp='1414415275' post='10356619']
[quote name='Shemp' timestamp='1412718423' post='10251381']
I played Blackstone today. I like the course but it is in rough shape. I've been a member at Blissful Meadows for 10 years and really enjoy the course. The fairways and greens are good but we had some burnout in the rough due to the lack of rain. Otherwise it's in very good shape and a good Cornish Silva design. Redtail has had conditioning issues as well.
[/quote]As someone that only played Blissful Meadows once... never again until the rangers/staff get rid of those damn radios and know not to drive up on people playing shots/swinging, etc... It bordered on purposefully rude.

--kC
[/quote]

I play there two or three times a week and have never had that problem. The staff is generally very friendly and courteous. It can get slow if you tee off after 10:00 or 11 on a weekend. We have standing early tee times.