Tour of Greater Boston

[CapeCodGolf]

Posting in the NE Regional Forum...

 

I'm interested in playing a greater variety of local Boston / New England golf courses. I'd also like to do some competitive events - handicapped.

 

Anyone here a member of the Tour of Greater Boston or similar groups?

 

What has been your experience?

 

https://www.golfthetour.com/index.php

[Slippin_Jimmy]

Hey CapeCodGolf, I posted a reply in the main CMT thread.  Feel free to DM me or reply if you have any questions about TGB.  I've had a very positive experience so far.

[jdl]

I have my own group that plays courses all over NE but have also played some MGA member days. Didn't do any last year but have enjoyed them in previous years.

 

https://www.massgolf.org/play/member-days/

[CapeCodGolf]

18 hours ago, jdl said:

I have my own group that plays courses all over NE but have also played some MGA member days. Didn't do any last year but have enjoyed them in previous years.

 

https://www.massgolf.org/play/member-days/

 

MassGolf looks like another good option but it appears that all the events for 2022 have a lottery system and are already closed per the website.

[pingfool]

I played with the Tour of Boston back around 2008 when I was looking for medal play events on courses I’d never seen before - in preparation for my PAT.

I was fortunate to get paired with other low index (good) guys.  
everything is organized efficiently on their website and communication was excellent. 
 

[jdl]

1 hour ago, CapeCodGolf said:

 

MassGolf looks like another good option but it appears that all the events for 2022 have a lottery system and are already closed per the website.

True you do have to get in via lottery, will be interesting to see how that goes. Some events end up with open spots that they fill with anyone who didn't get selected, others get filled just with the lottery.

 

The event lotteries aren't closed, they first open on March 4th.

[Imp]

There's also AGTNE... smaller than the Tour, no lottery, and can still get on different courses. 🙂 https://agtne.com/ Quite a few rounds, 2-3x a week, in SE Mass/RI area Southish of Boston. Oh, and were the Interclub Champions last year. https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/3230048

 

And... if you also play in the winter, there's the Winter Golf Tour. https://newintergolf.golfclub.net/cm/web/site/page.html?clubId=80246

Edited January 16, 2022 by Imp

[medicoreMAgolfer]

Here is my take on the options that I have participated in

 

TGB - Largely "member run", decent courses, typically foursomes, and play can be slow.  I would say it skews age wise older than I expected it to (and I am mid 40's). Key is to find a couple of guys you want to play with and make sure try and do that as the random pairings can be, well random.  Nice mix of privates (during the week) and public (weekends).  For the guys that play a lot of events, it really does feel like a club.  I only did private events during the week.  I think you if you want to play different public courses in a medal style every weekend this is better than the other options

 

NES (https://www.newenglandseries.com/amateur/programs/neat/index.html) - Almost all privates, almost all during the week (a couple of exceptions).  Great way to see private courses (and they have some great ones on the list).  Historically play has been faster than TGB as they do try and do threesomes where possible - I think in 2021, they moved almost all events to foursomes due to demand.  I enjoy this more than TGB, but I think it is a function of getting in with a group of guys I like.  Run by New England PGA so it felt more "professionally run" than TGB - but doesn't really move the needle to pick NES over TGB. 

 

MassGolf Member days - As per above, this is a lottery system.  Last year, I entered 6 or so lotteries and I think I was able to get into 1 event.  I think it is worth throwing your name in as many of these as possible, but hard to actually plan around it.  Whereas for TGB and NES, I only was shut out of 1 or 2 days that I really wanted (basically Myopia).  However, you do want to jump on TGB and NES RIGHT when the registration opens to get your picks

Edited January 21, 2022 by medicoreMAgolfer
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