SCITUATE, Mass – Want a beautiful, challenging, eco-friendly public golf course with traditional New England habitat, foliage, and an old course feel?
Look no further than Widow’s Walk Golf Course, in the seaside town of Scituate, Massachusetts on the South Shore of Boston, Massachusetts. It is easily accessible from Route 3A and minutes away from a quintessential New England downtown with shops, restaurants, and a beautiful harborfront.
Designed in the 1990s by golf course architect, Mike Hurdzan, its mission was to have a minimal impact on the environment. Upon opening, it was named one of the “Best New Golf Courses in America” by Golf Digest and has since won several awards and designations such as an Audubon International, Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.
“Widow’s Walk Golf Course was the very first Environmental Demonstration Course in the United States and shows the natural beauty of the South Shore,” said Ian Kelly, PGA Professional and Director of Golf. “The course is in top condition and we expect this season to be one of the best ever.”
Designing and building a golf course that blends in with the contours and ecological surroundings of the land is now a growing trend all over the world. Widows Walk was originally built on an old sand and gravel pit and the vegetation, trees, and natural plantings that have grown in since its opening over twenty years ago have made for a beautiful, challenging golf course to play.
While playing the course, so much of the natural landscape is still intact. Many of the holes have impressive elevated tee boxes overlooking valleys and ravines from fairly narrow tee boxes where a straight drive and a decent carry are necessary to find the rolling fairway far below and avoiding danger and a lost ball.
Golf at Widow’s Walk has been known to be a challenging track, however, it is not as difficult as when it was first opened. After much feedback and response from many golfers of the difficulty of Widows Walk Golf Course, the fairways were widened, more rough was added (to stop balls from rolling into the thickets), and other actions were made to make it a much more enjoyable course to play.
If you haven’t had a chance to play Widow’s Walk or you haven’t played it in a while, this might be the time to do so. The value is superb for the golf that you will receive. I was pleasantly surprised playing here again as it had been at least twenty years since I first played the course and remember losing a few too many golf balls. What I was most delighted this time around was the natural New England contours and landscaping that has been kept intact, the winding doglegs, elevated ravine carries, and waste bunkers.
Kelly also mentioned that they are excited about a new clubhouse slated to begin renovations next year.
With many unique holes and its mission to support the environment and follow a minimalistic approach to golf course design and maintenance, it meets the needs of nature lovers as well as any golf enthusiast who likes a little challenge.
Be sure to look for the panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and the North River atop hole #17. On a clear day, it is worthy of a few good photo opportunities from the tee box.
And if you have a little extra time, head downtown for a little light fare and shopping or a walk along Scituate’s beautiful harborfront.
On the web: widowswalkgolf.com
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