BELLINGHAM, Mass – If you’ve never played New England Country Club you’re missing out on a golfing experience not soon to be forgotten.
Situated high above the city of Bellingham, Massachusetts, this 18-hole, par 71 championship golf course, designed by Hale Irwin, is touted as a “public course with the look and feel of a private golf course”. The facility offers a state-of-the-art practice facility, including an all-grass driving range, practice bunkers and two putting greens.
The course provides a fair challenge for all ability levels with four tee boxes to choose from with distance ranges of 6,483, 6,148, 5,867, and 4,927 yards. However, don’t be misled by the yardage distances since the landscape is hilly and the course plays much longer due to the demanding uphill fairway shots and approach shots to elevated, subtly sloped two-tiered greens. Best advice is most times you’ll need more club than you think.
The beauty and challenge of this countryside course lies in its unique design features. Like “Beauty and the Beast” it is captivating with its severe elevation changes, sudden turns, rolling, tight, tree-lined fairways, babbling brooks, and occasional wildlife darting across the fairway. There are many “WOW” holes like the par-5, 4th, with its sharp dogleg left, sudden elevation drop and two-tiered green. The signature 18th hole features an approach shot over water to an elevated two-tiered green guarded by bunkers.
Beware of a few beastly rock outcroppings that can divert your seemingly straight shots off course; the hidden water hazards and bunkers lurking to gobble up your ball; those blind uphill shots that you thought you hit so well but got lost in the trees as the fairway suddenly changed course. A captivating new vista and challenge awaits the golfer around each corner requiring thought, planning and pin-point accuracy to score well. Knowledge of the layout, slope variations from tee-green and shot placement tips are helpful and provided in their Yardage Guide.
This countryside course, offers spectacular views and awesome sunset views from Egan’s Pub Grille, an outdoor deck located in the clubhouse. Tee times can be made online with weekday rates about $50. and weekends $85.
New England Country Club is a “beast” of a course that will test your golf skills, but it’s beauty and unique layout begs to be played again. So muster up your strength, especially if you play on a day with windy conditions, get there and enjoy playing fearless golf!
https://www.newenglandcountryclub.com/
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