Course Name: Silver Spring Golf Course
Designer: Unknown (1963)
Location: Riverside, Rhode Island
History: Once an amusement park “Vanity Fair,” this land was sold to Standard Oil in 1910. An original golf course was built on the property in 1919 for their employees. The course changed hands several times before a new course was incorporated in 1963. Since then, it has operated in a semi-private manner.
Conditions: 3/10, A lot of the course was pretty burned out with slow greens. I was particularly disappointed with the 4th teebox, which was a mat.
Value: 8/10, For $10, you can play 9 holes, and for just $250 you can become a member. These rates are very competitive.
Scorecard:
Tee Par Yardage Rating Slope
White 67 4533 61.4 102
Hole Descriptions: I understand that there’s not much room to work with at Silver Spring, but I still cannot appreciate the 6-hole design that can play as 18 holes. Not only does the course get backed up when you play with only 6 greens, it is also confusing and dangerous as multiple people are on the same hole at once and different teeboxes are far away from each other. With that being said, I will review only the 6 holes and not the different variations.
The opening hole is the only par 4 on the course as a 302 yard dogleg right with a blind teeshot. The trees are overgrown on the left side near the green while the right side of this tiny green is guarded by two bunkers. The 2nd hole is probably the best hole on the course as a very short par 5 at 434 yards. There are par 4 variations of this hole as well. The entire left side of this hole is OB and there are multiple mounds along this fairway where the amusement park used to be. Those going for the green in two will have to contend with the OB left and two strategically placed bunkers in front of this green. The 3rd hole can best be described at a patch of dirt with a green 172 yards away. Bunkers guard the back of this green on both sides. The 4th hole is another par 3, and a short one at 120 yards. This hole plays uphill and features a mat for a teebox. The 5th hole is another very short par 5 that offers a good chance at birdie with a solid teeshot. This hole plays only 410 yards but is uphill and to the right. This green is tiny and well-guarded by two bunkers. The “finishing” hole is a 121 yard par 3 with three bunkers surrounding it and a steep embankment on the back right of the green.
General Comments: Although this course is semi-private, it sometimes operates via honor box when there is no worker in the clubhouse. There is no range at Silver Spring, and I can’t recall if there are any other practice facilities. On the day I played, pace of play was pretty decent and somebody even let me pass through as a single, but I cringe when I think about how backed up a 6-hole course can be when it plays 3 different ways.
Verdict: While a decent course for beginners or those on a budget, Silver Spring’s confusing at best and dangerous at worst layout renders it a course to skip.
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