“Hello, friends”

Welcome back!!! It’s been a long time since I’ve updated this site but due to an increase in play and serious golf dialogue with my esteemed friends, I’ve decided to embark (at least shortly) on my return to the golf blog world. What better place to start than discuss my favorite courses designed by my all-time favorite golf architect, Mr Donald Ross himself. Before we jump into it, a few disclaimers:

  • This list is based on the courses I’ve played, so it’s limited in scope. I’ve documented 18 courses on my list
  • I’ve excluded Newport Country Club and Tedesco Country Club – both courses The Donald Ross Society recognizes as Ross designed but due to my independent research, feels like they are not actually Ross courses
  • Favorites are based on all around golf experience, which includes but is not limited to: overall amenities, staff friendliness, course conditions, value, sentimentality
  • Biases to how I played could very well play a role in my rankings 
  • ALL Donald Ross courses are to be respected, so even if I give a bad ranking or commentary on a course, it is not meant to be disrespectful.  However current course conditions and changes to the original design might not live up to the standard presented by Mr Ross
  • Do not get too discouraged if a course is a bogey or even a par. Remember – golf is about avoiding the high number. You can’t birdie every hole even if you’re Scottie Scheffler. Sometimes a bogey is a good thing and for pars, well I’ll take 18 of ‘em, Roy.

Now that we got that out of the way, without further ado, the list…..

Triple Bogey

Like all Donald Ross courses, you start off with a gentle handshake on 1 tee.  However, you hit a hosel rocket 130 to the right.  Then you duff your next shot.  Next you try for the hero shot to save par but leave it in a greenside bunker. It takes you 2 swings to get out of the beach, you leave your putt for a 6 short, then tap in for the dreadful triple bogey 7.  You don’t want 7s on your scorecard.

T-16th: Whaling City, New Bedford, MA

T-16th Ponkapoag 1 and 2, Canton, MA

Double Bogey

You settle in a little bit after the disaster on the first hole and hit a decent drive, or so you think.  You’re a little quick so you pull it and need to punch out from the native area.  You have 165 into the green for your third shot and hit it decent but the false front rolls it back and leaves it short. You get up on the green but another 2 putt results in a double.  Making progress but things can only get better from here on out.

15. Cape Neddick CC, Cape Neddick, ME

14. Franklin Park, Dorchester, MA

Bogey

You hit a good but not great tee shot, leaving yourself just off the fairway.  You hit a solid iron shot to the left side, short of the green and into the rough.  You take out your favorite club around the green and hit a good chip but it runs out and settles above the hole (a Ross no-no), leaving yourself with a 15 foot downhill slider.  You hit a great putt that burns the left edge, leaving you with a tap in 2 footer for bogey.  Solid hole overall and you’d be happy with that all day.

13. George Wright, Hyde Park, MA

12. Agawam Hunt, Rumford, RI

11. Biddeford-Saco, Saco, ME

Par

380 yard par 4.  You hit a great drive in the middle of the fairway and are looking at 130 coming in to a green that is sloped from back to front.  You stick your PW to about 20 feet and 2 putt for par.  You’ll be more than pleased with that all day.

10. Wianno Club, Oysterville, MA

9. Pocasset GC, Pocasset, MA

8. Oak Hill Country Club, Fitchburg, MA

Birdie

Now you’re getting into the meat of your round.  You step up to the aesthetically pleasing but difficult 210 yard par 3, a Ross staple.  You stripe a hybrid to 10 feet and manage to stay below the hole (great course management, bud!).  You knock in the uphill left to right putt and hurriedly write the 2 down on your scorecard.  LET’S FUCKING GO!!! 

7. Oyster Harbors, Osterville, MA

6. Metacomet, East Providence, RI

5. Portland Country Club, Falmouth, ME

Eagle

Alright, now running on adrenaline after the bird, you step up and hit an absolute piss missile on this par 5.  You’re firmly in the go zone now hoss! You stick a 7 iron to the crowned, turtleback green – on in 2 and have a great look for a 3 here! You find the line and put a great stroke on it and watch as the Taylormade Tour Response finds the bottom of the cup for the double circled eagle. You are now on fire and can’t believe what’s happening.  

4. Worcester Country Club, Worcester, MA

3. Rhode Island Country Club, Barrington, RI

2. Plymouth Country Club, Plymouth, MA

Albatross

Coming off a birdie and an eagle you are officially in heat check mode. Playing a short par 4, there is no question we are going for the green.  With an elevated tee box and downwind, you tee it and rip your driver.  You make a perfect swing, make perfect contact, your ball is tracking exactly where you envisioned.  Your tee shot lands short of the green and rolls up….it keeps going….wait a second….this can’t be….holy shit guys…it’s tracking…pin is in the back….this ball has a chance…COME ON!!!….YOU GET A HOLE IN ONE/ALBATROSS.  A PERFECT GOLF SHOT ON A PERFECT GOLF COURSE.

  1. Wannamoisett, Rumford, RI

Donald Ross himself called this his finest course layout so who am I to argue with this legend?