BOSTON'S #1 COURSE

[freddiec]

The landfill. Too funny.

[P.Lay]

It literally is a landfill. They then dumped additional dirt from the Big Dig on top

[shook23]

I look forward to trying the ones mentioned here. Some other pretty good tracks are Cyprian Keyes, Maplegate and Stowe North (if you can get around in under 5 1/2 hours).

Has anyone played Maplegate recently? I used to play there when I was in HS around 98-99 and the course was kept in fanstatic condition. When I went back to play about a year ago, the course just wasnt the same as before, fairways had a lot of weeds growing on them, and overall the course didnt look well kept. Did the course change management or something?

 

I played it in July/August, and I agree with you, it was terrible. We paid like $80 for carts and a Friday 18, and it wasn't worth $40. I was feeling good and wanted to play from the back tees, but have of the tee boxes weren't even mowed. I noted the weeds that you speak of too. Looked like a course that was a bit of a "has been" and now is in dire need of repair and restaffing.

[shook23]

Also, I played Cyprian last week. It's in great shape, very pretty with the leaves, but therein lies the problem, losing balls in the leaves on the ground!

 

Check out redtail this time of year, their Fall rates have started.

 

Also, Stow is runing a deal next week (10/23) that is pretty good. Sign up for their "Honors club" (free, they send you emails). Then donate some canned goods, or $5 cash, and play for free ($17 pp for cart), mandatory cart. That's good on both courses.

 

Finally, rumour has it shaker hills is closing next year. Red tail was beating them badly, and the owner is selling the land at shaker to a real estate developer who's looking to put about 140 condos up there. Just what Boston needs, one less decent golf course, and more friggin condos! $$$ talks I guess. Not sure when it is closing, but most likely next year will be its last, so if you haven't played it, make sure you do.

[maguy1970]

I hate Cyprian.

 

I believe there is a "leaf" rule, is there not? If you have certainty that your ball is in play and buried under leaves, you can take a drop where all agree the ball should be with no penalty. Can anyone confirm this?

 

And as for Maplegate, I have heard some bad things all year about the condition of the course. A few guys from my course went there to qualify for one tourney (Mass am maybe, i forget) and said the greens were like shag carpets and bumpy. I think with the availability of some of the courses west of Bellingham now (Blackstone, Blissful, that one in RI just over MA line I forget name of), fewer people feel like travelling out to Maplegate, especially when they get there and it is in the condition it is. I say play New England CC.

 

2nd edit: Answered my own question:

from USGA.org

 

There is no 'Leaf Rule' in the Rules of Golf

 

 

If a ball is lost outside a water hazard (including in an accumulation of leaves), the player must proceed under Rule 27-1 incurring the penalty of stroke and distance. If accumulations of leaves seasonally create an abnormal problem, the Committee may make a temporary Local Rule declaring such accumulations through the green at certain holes to be ground under repair. Please see Decisions 33-8/31 and 13-4/33 in this regard.

 

In the absence of this Local Rule, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1 under penalty of stroke and distance when his ball is lost, even if it is lost in an accumulation of leaves.

 

 

and 33-8/31:

The Committee may make a temporary Local Rule declaring accumulations of leaves through the green at certain holes to be ground under repair (see Definition of “Ground Under Repair”) and Rule 25-1 will apply.

The Local Rule should be restricted to the hole(s) at which trouble with leaves occurs and it should be withdrawn as soon as conditions permit. Particular attention is drawn to the opening paragraph of Rule 25-1c; unless there is reasonable evidence that a ball which cannot be found is lost in the leaves, it must be treated as lost elsewhere and Rule 27 applies.

 

and 13-4/33:

 

13-4/33 Bunker Covered by Leaves; Player Touches Leaves During Backswing

 

 

Q. A player hits a ball into a bunker which is covered by leaves (loose impediments). The player removes as many leaves as will enable him to see a part of the ball in accordance with Rule 12-1. If the player then touches some of the leaves on his backswing, is he in breach of the Rules?

 

A. Yes. If the player touches leaves on his backswing, he is in breach of Rule 13-4c which prohibits a player from touching a loose impediment in a hazard before making a stroke in the hazard. A stroke does not begin until after the completion of the player’s backswing — see Definition of “Stroke.”

If fallen leaves in bunkers seasonally create an abnormal problem, the Committee may make a Local Rule declaring accumulations of leaves in bunkers to be ground under repair. Rule 25-1b(ii) would then apply.