WESTON, MA – In a scathing new report from MyGolfSpy, Massachusetts has earned the dubious distinction of being home to three of the five worst golf courses in the United States, a shocking statistic for a state with only a fraction of the nation’s estimated 7,500 public golf courses.
The list, titled “The 10 Worst Golf Courses in America,” highlights the deplorable conditions at Ponkapoag Golf Course in Canton, Norwood Country Club in Norwood, and Leo J. Martin Golf Course in Weston, with the latter two claiming the number one and five spots, respectively.
The report has sparked outrage among golfers and raised serious questions about the management of state-run facilities, as two of the offending courses are operated by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
The MyGolfSpy article, authored by golf journalist Sean Fairholm, paints a grim picture of these courses, describing them as “dilapidated,” “unplayable,” and “an absolute disgrace to the sport.” Leo J. Martin, crowned the worst golf course in America with a Google rating of 2.7, is lambasted for greens that are “just fields with weeds and sand” and fairways resembling a “stony beach.” Reviewers noted, “Some of the holes are just fairway with a flag in the center,” with one golfer quipping, “Whoever runs this place should be behind bars.”
Ponkapoag, ranked fifth, fares no better, with complaints of greens reduced to “sand pits” and holes with “no green, just a flag in a fairway with a spray-painted circle around it.” Norwood Country Club, the only “country club” in the top five, was mocked for conditions so poor that one reviewer mistook a tee box for a parking lot, with another saying, “it’s like calling Burger King ‘fine dining.’”
What makes this particularly embarrassing for Massachusetts is that Ponkapoag and Leo J. Martin are state-run courses, managed by the DCR (formerly the MDC). Commenters on the article, including one identifying as Mark R, criticized the DCR, stating, “Both facilities are owned/run by Mass Dept of Conservation and Recreation. Basically operated by political hacks that have run both into the ground, literally. Money from the driving ranges and carts can’t be accounted for… ahem, it just vanishes.” Another commenter, Matt, emphasized the taxpayer burden, noting, “Keep in mind, number 1 and 5 are STATE run courses. Our tax dollars pay for these terrible courses.”
Massachusetts, a small northeastern state, represents just 2% of the U.S. population and an even smaller share of its golf courses. For it to claim three of the top five spots on a list of the nation’s worst is a public relations nightmare for Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy – especially given the state’s rich golfing heritage, including iconic layouts like The Country Club in Brookline.
The MyGolfSpy report underscores a stark contrast between Massachusetts’ well-maintained municipal courses, such as George Wright, and the abysmal conditions at these state-run facilities. One commenter, John, defended the state’s better offerings, stating, “There are some gems of public golf in the state. Munis like Fresh Pond in Cambridge and Robert Lynch in Brookline are well maintained and friendly staff – with some good layouts.”
The inclusion of two Donald Ross-designed courses (Ponkapoag and Leo J. Martin) adds insult to injury. Both were once considered gems but have fallen into disrepair. A commenter, Brian, lamented, “It’s sad to see two incredible layouts in such a state. Leo J has had a temp green on 7 for about 5 years now it seems (not joking). Poor Donald Ross is rolling over.”
The fallout from the MyGolfSpy report is likely to intensify scrutiny on the DCR and its oversight of public golf courses. With Massachusetts golfers paying upwards of $50 to play on courses described as “crime scenes” and “goat tracks,” calls for accountability and investment in maintenance are growing louder.
For now, the state’s reputation as a golfing destination has taken a significant hit, leaving players to wonder if these courses can ever reclaim their former glory—or if they’ll remain cautionary tales for golfers nationwide.
