A new golf season is thankfully upon us and what better way to welcome the warm weather than to sign up for free golf at almost two dozen courses in New England.
Golfing Magazine is pleased to once again bring you this fabulous offer that gets you playing privileges at some of the best daily fee tracks in the area, all for the price of a year’s subscription to our magazine. The courses on this year’s list include a number of the newest and best layouts in the region, as well as courses that have earned solid reputations through the years. We have increased the cache of courses you can play for free this year to 24.
All you’ve got to do to be sent a list of courses you can play for free is subscribe to Golfing Magazine for $39. As an extra bonus, you will also have access to a number of courses in New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania and Long Island, bringing your total of free golf to almost three-dozen courses.
Okay, so here’s a look at the New England courses included in our free golf offer. Sign up and start playing!


                CONNECTICUT

BLUE FOX RUN GOLF COURSE, Avon
Blue Fox Run Golf Course is public golf at its best.

A friendly atmosphere that caters to parents and women, a superb practice facility and 18 holes of top shelf golf are enough to make this Greater Hartford tract one of the area’s favorites.
Blue Fox Run is a true players’ course in that it appeals to both accomplished golfers and beginners. The front nine, which recently had extensive work done to its bunkers, is wide open and never takes driver out of the equation, a nice bonus in these days of target golf. The first half of the back nine is much the same. But the layout tightens down the stretch, pushing the visitor to play well to finish off a round in high style.
The best hole on the front side may be the eighth, a 568-yard par-five that plays through a chute of trees on the tee shot and concludes at an elevated, severely slopping green that is brutal to putt. The 175-yard par-three 17th is an island green complex that can play enormously difficult when the wind blows.
There is great anticipation this year as Blue Fox Run opens a new nine holes. Some of the new holes will be incorporated with the existing 18 to create a new layout, while the remaining new holes will be merged with several from the old course to create another nine.
www.bluefoxent.com (860-678-1679)

FOX HOPYARD GOLF CLUB, East Haddam
Fox Hopyard Golf Club is a classic woodland course that is a true joy to play any time of the year.
This is one of architect Roger Rulewich’s best designs. He incorporated the rolling terrain and wetlands of the area to create demanding shots, although the fairways on most holes are ample and the undulating greens large and receptive.


The course plays 6,912 yards from the tips but there are four other sets of tees to meet the playing ability of all golfers.
 There are a few open holes on the layout, but most of the track rambles up and down the hilly woodlands of the Connecticut River Valley area. Two of the best are the 202-yard par-three fourth hole that begins from an elevated tee that offers stunning views of the countryside, and the next, a 505-yard par-five, that also starts from a hill and flows down a tree-lined fairway and across a stream.
The 18th is visually stunning. The tee shot must navigate between fairway bunkers and find the generous landing area. The second shot on this 551-yard par-five must steer clear of a pond to the right and tall mounds and bunkers on the left. Even after good layup, the approach is tricky because of the water and greenside bunkers.
www.golfthefox.com (800-943-1903)

QUARRY RIDGE GOLF CLUB, Portland
Quarry Ridge Golf Club, located on the slopes of the Connecticut River valley, offers some of the best vistas in Connecticut.
This is a true shot-maker’s delight, with dramatic elevation changes, an interesting mix of long and short holes and tricky greens. The course is regularly listed among the best in Connecticut and conditions are always top-notch.


The course plays just 6,369 yards from the back tees but it’s all about proper club selection and accurate shot making at Quarry Ridge.
Perhaps the best long hole on the course is the 509-yard, par-five fourth. The green is reachable in two, but there’s a hazard down the left side and a pond behind the putting surface, so be careful.
The 13th hole, a 310-yard par-four, is reachable for the big hitters and the 16th is a short, 149-yard par-three that causes all kinds of problems because the green is elevated and drops off severely to the right.
 The 422-yard par-four 18th is a superb finishing hole. You will need to hit a good drive to an elevated landing area to leave yourself a reasonable approach to the green below. Just make sure you don’t pull or push your drive left as there’s a huge quarry that has gobbled up more than its fair share of golf balls.
www.quarryridgegc.com (860-342-6113)

TUNXIS PLANTATION COUNTRY CLUB, Farmington
The only 45-hole facility in the region boasts some of the best public golf in Connecticut.
TPCC’s Green Course is a par-70 layout that has a pleasing mix of open and woodland holes. The finish to the track is especially strong, with two par-fours demanding approach shots over water, a lengthy par-four, a par-five that can be reached in two and a mid-length par-three that calls for a precise shot in order to reach the hidden putting surface.
The White Course is more of a shot maker’s layout, with water coming to play on a number of holes. One of the best holes on the course is the 350-yard par-four 17th where big hitters can think about booming a drive over a pond to leave a wedge into the green. The smart play may be a layup followed by a mid-iron to a green protected by bunkers.
Tunxis Plantation also has a fine nine-hole course. The tee shot on the par-four seventh hole is played across a pond to a landing area guarded by a bunker and trees to the right. The 210-yard par-three eighth is one of the best short holes at TPCC. The tee shot must be precise to avoid bunkers right and left.
www.tunxisgolf.com (860-677-1367)

STANLEY GOLF COURSE, New Britain
The 27-hole Stanley Golf Course has long been considered one of the premier daily fee facilities in Connecticut.
With three distinct nines to select from and some of the best conditions in the Greater Hartford area, Stanley has a dedicated following among the state’s golfers.
The White Nine is a friendly track that has a nice mix of holes. The 330-yard par-four sixth hole and 123-yard par-three seventh conspire to offer wonderful back-to-back birdie opportunities.
The Red Course is as friendly as the White nine, with no par-four over 388 yards from the back markers and two par-fives that can be reached in two. But the 233-yard second hole is perhaps the toughest short hole on the course.
The Blue Course is very fair, tougher routing that has two stout par-fives and one of the most demanding par-fours at the club, the 434-yard seventh that has a pond guarding the right side of the green.
The three nines can be played in any combination.
www.stanleygolf.com (860-827-8570)

BANNER LODGE COUNTRY CLUB, Moodus
Banner Lodge, a 6,015-yard, par-72 track, is situated on 200 acres of scenic Connecticut countryside.
There is a pleasing mix of wooded and open holes and the layout is playable for all levels and challenging enough to hold the interest of more accomplished golfers.
Especially daunting are back-to-back par-fives on the front side. The sixth is a 507-yard, double-dogleg with water and an elevated green. The putting surface can be reached in two, but there is plenty of danger awaiting an errant shot.
Both the course and its facilities are undergoing major renovations that include enhanced turf quality, expanded tee boxes and a new clubhouse, which promise to deepen a visitor’s overall experience at Banner Lodge Country Club.
www.bannercountryclub.com (860-873-9075)

ROCKLEDGE COUNTRY CLUB, West Hartford
One of the best-conditioned, player-friendly tracks in Connecticut, Rockledge Country Club has attracted a following throughout the greater Hartford area.
Rockledge, a relatively flat layout that sits in a beautiful parkland setting, is a prime example of sound public golf--approachable for all levels of players, challenging for the better golfer, and offering a pleasing mix of holes and finely manicured fairways greens and tee boxes.
Rockledge has a number of very good holes, ranging from short par-fours, like the 290-yard second and 317-yard 11th, where birdies await, to classic risk/reward par-fives. The par-five 14th measures 528 yards from the tips, and big hitters can think about going for the green in two because the tee shot will tumble down a slight hill. The green is guarded by a lone tree and bunkers to the left and rear and a pond well below the putting surface to the right, which makes going for it in two a gamble.
The 18th is a very good finisher, playing 401 yards downhill to a green that sits below the clubhouse.
www.golfrockledge.com (860-521-6284)

TOWER RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB, Simsbury
If you’ve never played Tower Ridge you’re in for a great.
The club opened its doors to the public as a semi-private facility only two years ago. So, you are getting a course that is conditioned to private club standards as well as one of the most unique routings in Connecticut. The feel is more that of a northern New England track, as the layout winds up and down steep hills with fabulous views and challenging shots.


Tower Ridge has two of the best finishing holes in the area. The ninth is a fabulous, sinewy 374-yard par-four that starts from a dramatically elevated tee and ambles past a stand of pines trees to the left, mounds and high rough. The 18th, a 374-yard par-four that has a much more open fairway landing area, but demands an approach across a pond to the putting surface, which sits below a clubhouse terrace.
The back nine has several holes where the view is second to none in the state. The 244-yard par-three eighth, as stout a short hole as you will find anywhere, also offers great looks at the Farmington River Valley.
www.towerridgecc.com (860-658-9767)

PEQUOT GOLF CLUB, Stonington
The owners of Pequot Golf Club in Stonington pride themselves as having one of the prettiest layouts in the state.
The course is located in the southeast corner of Connecticut, near a plethora of other attractions that include two major casinos, Mystic Seaport and Aquarium, the beaches of Rhode Island and funky Newport.
The course opened in 1958 and was designed by Wendell Ross. A little trivia: Jack Nicklaus holds the course record of 65, which he shot in 1966.
The par-70 tract plays to around 6,000 yards and appeals to players of all abilities. It is routed through mature stands of trees and over rambling meadows.
The fairways at Pequot are fairly flat, affording even lies on most approach shots to the greens, which are somewhat undulating and quick. The putting surfaces are guarded by bunkers, although there is no water on the course to snag errant shots.
www.pequotgolf.com (860-535-1898)


EASTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB, Torrington
Eastwood has gained a solid reputation as a course that welcomes all level of players, from those just starting out in the game to more advanced golfers.
Conditions at this 3,000-yard par-36 track have improved dramatically over the years.
The layout has a fun mix of holes, that includes the 445-yard, dogleg right par-five that even modest distance hitters can reach in two, to the very difficult, dogleg left, 550-yard par-five ninth, a classic three-shot hole if there ever was one.
The eighth hole is a 170-yard par-three that plays over a pond to a green that is elevated from the surrounding terrain.
(860-489-2630)

LONG HILL COUNTRY CLUB, East Hartford
Long Hill County Club, formerly East Hartford Golf Club, has been taken over by new management and many changes are in store for this Greater Hartford favorite.
MDM Golf, the largest golf management company in Connecticut, is investing money into the course and clubhouse at Long Hill, which has always been a fun, playable track for golfers of all skill levels.
There is a fleet of new golf carts for golfers to enjoy and work has already begun on fairways and tees. Future efforts will entail improving the layout’s drainage and irrigation as well as adding new bunkers. The club’s pro shop has been completely redone and the facility’s restaurant is being overhauled, all with the intention of enhancing a visit to this Al Zikorus creation.
Long Hill plays around 6,000 yards from the tips and has a pleasing mix of short par-fours that can be attacked with driver, reachable-in-two par-fives and solid par-threes.
860-528-5082

MASSACHIUSETTS

BLACKSTONE NATIONAL GOLF CLUB, Sutton,
Master golf course architect Rees Jones created what many have called one of his best works in the wooded countryside of the Blackstone Valley area of southwestern Massachusetts, not far from Worcester.
Blackstone National Golf Club is a truly splendid tract, one that weaves over hill and dale, through mature stands of trees, past old stone walls and contains enough character to fill a golfer’s dreams. The sense of peace and immersion in nature is second only to the challenging golf Jones presents the visitor.


Jones incorporated only a few forced carries into his routing at Blackstone National, allowing even mid- and high-handicappers to navigate the course in relative comfort. To make matters easier, Jones also designed large fairways that allow a player to stay in the hole even after a less than perfect tee shot. There is ample bunkering that guards the medium sized greens, making it imperative to choose the proper club on approaches.
www.blackstonegolfclub.com (508-865-2111)

MAPLEGATE COUNTRY CLUB, Bellingham
Located in a scenic, quiet area west of Boston, Maplegate Country Club has been delighting visitors ever since it opened.
Built in lush woodlands dotted with maples, beech, oak and white birch trees, architect Philip Wogan designed a course that fits superbly into its environment and offers an always interesting, challenging round.
The 6,815-yard, well-conditioned layout, which hosted a U.S. Open qualifier in 1998 and 2001, offers a great mix of holes, from short par-fours that may be drivable for the big hitters, to brutally long, difficult four pars. Water comes into play on a number of holes and makes tee shots and approaches to the rather large and undulating greens dicey at times.
Number 18 is a scintillating finishing hole. The 447-yard par-four doglegs severely to the right and demands a tee shot of over 200 yards to have an unfettered look at the green. A stream must be carried and a greenside pond avoided on the approach shot.
 www.maplegate.com (508-966-4040)

  GLEN ELLEN COUNTRY CLUB, Millis
Glen Ellen Country Club offers superb conditions and a challenging routing.


Glen Ellen, which can stretch to 6,634 yards and plays to a par of 72 and has two par-threes--numbers two and eight--that play over water. The second hole can stretch to 218 yards from the back tees, while the eighth hole is a full carry over water to a large green.
 Number 17 is a classically difficult, 411-yard dogleg left par four. The hole demands a hefty and accurate tee shot to avoid water left and right followed by a well struck mid- or long-iron to the green.
Glen Ellen also features two reachable par-fives and two par-threes, including the second hole, measuring over 200 yards.
Glen Ellen Country Club is a classic golf experience.
www.glenellencc.com (508-376-2775)

BAYBERRY HILLS GOLF CUB, Yarmouth
The original 18 holes at Bayberry Hills Golf Club were designed by the notable team of Geoffrey Cornish and Brian Silva and opened for play in 1986. A Links 9 was opened in 1999.
This is a true “championship” layout, which can be stretched to almost 7,200 yards, although it’s slope of 123 from the tips indicates that good players can go low here provided they manage their games appropriately.
The track features seven par-fours of over 400 yards and three par-threes over 200 yards, including the monstrous 241-yard 17th hole. Number four is a superb par-four, playing around 400 yards with water guarding the right side of the fairway landing area and the front of the green.
Number 14 is another great par-four. It measures over 400 yards from the tips and bends to the right, with bunkers guarding the fairway landing area and scattered around the deep putting surface.
The fairways on the Links 9 are fairly wide and forgiving, which adds to the pleasure of playing the track. It’s only a little over 3,300 yards from the tips, so you can score here, provided you manage to stay out of the bunkers and high grass that lines most of the fairways.
www.golfyarmouthcapecod.com (508-394-5597)

CAPTAIN’S GOLF COURSE, Brewster
The Captain’s has two superb 18-hole layouts, an expansive practice area with target greens surrounded by bunkers and a rolling terrain that allows players to simulate actual course conditions.
The Port Course weighs in at 6,724 yards from the tips and plays a stroke and a half higher than its par of 72. There are three other sets of tees.



The Starboard Course is a tad longer, 6,776 yards, and is also rated above its par of 73.
The Port Course has a neat mix of par-fives that includes three very tough and long holes, the sixth, eighth and 18th, and the 446-yard 13th hole that big hitters can easily reach in two. The 17th on the Port, a 246-yard par-three, features the smallest green on the entire 36 holes.
The Starboard Course has one of the most challenging par-fours in the area, the 451-yard fourth. The tee shot is to a slightly uphill, concave landing area, with the green sitting on a ledge that kicks away all but the most accurate of approaches.
The equally difficult 213-yard par-three fifth hole is followed by a short, 303-yard par-four that favors accuracy over distance off the tee.
www.captainsgolfcourse.com (877-843-9051)

TEKOA COUNTRY CLUB, Westfield
The hand of legendary golf course designer Donald Ross is all over wonderful Tekoa Country Club, located at the foothills of the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts.
Ross designed an original nine holes in 1923 and five of these remain intact, the second, third, fourth, 14th and 15th. Geoffrey Cornish, one of the most prolific of all New England architects, redesigned the course in 1961 and added 13 gems of his own to today’s present routing.
Recent work has added about 400 yards of length to the layout, refreshed the course’s classic bunkering system, and enhanced several greens.
While not overly long at 6,215 yards from the tips, Tekoa’s small and undulating greens are difficult to find and a good short game is essential to scoring well here.
All four of the course’s par-fives are under or around 500 yards in length and reachable in two for big hitters, further adding to the pleasure and challenge of a round here.
www.tekoacc.com (413-568-1064)


MILL VALLEY GOLF LINKS, Belchertown,
Mill Valley is western Massachusetts’ newest 18-hole layout.
The course is considered to have some of the best par-threes in the area, with one playing a whopping 240 yards from the back markers.
The track is not overly long--6,583 yards from the tips, but demands precise club selection and proper shot making.
The course starts with back-to-back par-fives, both of which are reachable in two for big hitters. There is a great mix of short and long par-fours and those tough par-threes, including the aforementioned 240-yard fifth hole.
The back nine has two par-fours, the 319-yard 11th and the 316-yard 15th, that the big boys can think about reaching the green with driver.
The 468-yard par-four 14th is a beast of a hole and demands two lusty shots to find the putting surface on the dogleg right hole.
The layout ends with a long par-four, 422 yards, and a short four par, the 323-yard 18th, where a birdie will be a delightful way to finish a unique round.
www.millvalleygolflinks.com (413-323-4079)
   
CRUMPIN-FOX CLUB, Bernardston
The Crumpin-Fox Club was carved out of the forest close to the Vermont line.
Many of the holes here are tree-lined with ample bunking and enough water to create a few jangled nerves as the round proceeds. Some of the greens are elevated, further complicating proper club selection, especially when the breeze kicks up.


 The 550-yard, par-five eighth is one of the more celebrated holes in New England. A lake runs along the entire left side of the fairway towards the putting surface, necessitating an eventual approach shot over water to an undulating green.
There is no shortage of great holes at “Crump,” designed by noted golf course architect Roger Rulewich, who lives nearby and maintains an office on the property.
The 18th is wonderful. The drive needs to stay clear of trees left and right to set up a daunting mid-iron across a pond to a snake-like green that can be almost impossible to find depending upon pin placement.
www.golfthefox.com (413-648-9101)

NEW ENGLAND COUNTRY CLUB, Bellingham
Hale Irwin, the three-time U.S. Open champ was the mastermind behind the design of New England Country Club in Bellingham, one of the best-conditioned and most interesting courses in the greater Boston area.
New England CC has the look and feel of a private club, with Irwin placing his routing smoothly over rolling hills and through mature woods. He also designed multiple tee boxes to allow all players the opportunity to enjoy the track.
While not overly long at around 6,500 yards from the back tees, New England CC is a true test of golf that features several doglegs, ample greenside and fairway bunkers, and water on a number of holes.
New England CC, which offers stunning views spring through fall, has all the amenities one would expect from a private club, including an all-grass driving range, practice bunkers, a practice putting green, and computerized GPS yardage systems on the carts.
www.newenglandcountryclub.com (508-883-2300)

THE BLANDFORD CLUB, Blandford
The Blandford Club is a delightful nine-hole layout nestled in the scenic hills of the western portion of the Commonwealth State.
Only 2,722 yards from the tips and playing to a par of 35, this a fun track for all level of players. Beginners will enjoy the friendliness of the routing, while those more advanced can work on their iron and short game skills.
The course is one of the oldest in the region, having opened in 1910. It was designed by William Dexter.
(413-848-2443)

MAINE

DUNEGRASS GOLF CLUB, Old Orchard Beach
Located near Old Orchard Beach and the city of Portland and only an hour’s drive north from Boston is one of Maine’s best golf courses, Dunegrass Golf Club.


North Carolina-based architect Dan Maples brought a down-home feel to Maine golf when he designed Dunegrass. The 6,684-yard, par-71 course features sandy waste areas and pine-needled rough. The course, which opened for play in 1998 and remains in pristine condition, sprawls over 300 acres.
Water comes into play on over half the holes, including three of the par-threes, which are a strength of the layout. The course features a pleasing variety of holes.
Dunegrass has one of the best finishing holes in New England. The par-five measures 548 yards from the tips and the tee shot is across water, although the carry is relatively slight. Sand and waste bunkers guard the fairway all the way to the green, making a lay-up a dicey proposition.
www.dunegrass.com (207-934-4513)

THE LINKS AT OUTLOOK, South Berwick
Brian Silva lent his expertise to the design of The Links at Outlook, a prime example of an “American links” routing.
In a nod to the legendary Scottish courses Silva incorporated what he calls random bunkering into his design to make the player think out each shot.


The Links at Outlook, only a short drive from Dunegrass, is mostly open to the elements, with each hole posing its own set of problems, whether they be fairway bunkers, sloping greens, or deep rough off the fairways.
While not overly long--only 6,423 from the back tees--The Links at Outlook can play difficult in windy conditions. None of the par-fours on the back side measure over 388 yards. But Silva placed a premium on accuracy off the tee and proper club selection on approach shots in order to stay out of trouble.
The toughest hole on the course is the 451-yard par-four second. And the other three of the first four holes--two par-fives and a 206-yard par-three, also test the player right out of the box.
www.outlookgolf.com (207-384-4653)

PROVINCE LAKE GOLF, Parsonsfield
PROVINCE LAKE, Parsonsfield
The golf course at Province Lake, less than a two-hour drive from Boston, is a most pleasing combination of the old and new.
The club’s original nine was designed in 1918 by Lawrence Van Etten, who laid out a number of East Coast courses, including the original Wykagyl Course in New Rochelle, New York. The second nine was added in 1988 and designed by Brian Silva, who worked on Shaker Hills in Harvard, Massachusetts and Cyprian Keyes Golf Club in Boylston, Mass. The front nine was updated several years ago to bring its greens up to USGA standards and other improvements have been made throughout the course.
 A neat fact: you can play in two states in a matter of minutes here. The course straddles the Maine-New Hampshire state line and on two holes you tee off in one state and putt in another!
One of the best holes on the layout is the 530-yard par-five sixth that is nicknamed “Lakeside.” The hole has a lake in play on the right side and offers nice views of the surrounding countryside.
The 11th hole, a downhill 175-yard par-three, again offers a superb view of the lake, which, by the way, you can see from 14 of the course’s holes.
Golf for Women Magazine consistently ranks Province Lake its top course in New England. There’s a great restaurant on the premises, with outdoor verandas and granite patios, where you can enjoy a cocktail, a meal or a brick oven pizza.
www.provincelakegolf.com (800-325-4434)

NONESUCH RIVER GOLF CLUB, Scarborough
One of the top new courses to open during the past decade in Maine is Nonesuch River Golf Club.
The extremely scenic, 6,300-yard, par-70 layout was designed by Tom Walker, who created a course that, while not long, demands thoughtful approaches to each hole and accurate placement off the tee and on shots to the greens.


The eighth hole is one of the toughest par-fours on the course. It measures 413 yards from the tips and has heavy rough, two ponds and two bunkers guarding the putting surface.
The 10th hole, a 492-yard par-five, is reachable in two for big hitters but is not without its dangers. The 13th, a 397-yard par-four, is considered the course’s signature hole. A well-struck tee shot left of fairway bunkers will get you around or past the 150-yard marker. The approach is to a wide, somewhat shallow green.
The 18th is a solid finisher, playing 435 yards from the back markers. The tee shot must reach a plateau in the fairway to shorten the second shot.
www.nonesuchgolf.com (888-256-2717)

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