Worldgolfer's Golf Course Reviews

Designer: Donald Ross (1927)

Location: West Boylston, Massachusetts

History: Founded in 1927, the semi-private Wachusett Country Club was built by Donald Ross and is considered one of the better public courses in the state.

Conditions: 8/10, Wachusett is in excellent condition with thick rough, lush fairways, and firm, speedy greens.

Value: 9/10, Although a tough teetime to come by, Wachusett offers excellent value with rates between $50 and $95 to walk depending on the day and time with further discounts for juniors and seniors.

Scorecard:

Tee                     Par         Yardage         Rating          Slope

Blue                   72           6678               71.2               126

White                72           6241              69.7               120

Green                72           5180              66.2               110

Red                     72           4800             68.6               115

Hole Descriptions: Wachusett is infrequently mentioned when discussing the best public courses in New England and I can’t really understand why. Perhaps the fact that it is a country club and has members makes it so people don’t know the public can play it, but make no mistake about it – this is one of the best courses open to the public in the region. Wachusett features a hilly property with authentic Donald Ross greens and superb conditioning and feels somewhat similar to another extremely underrated course in nearby Worcester Country Club. It is well-worth your time if in the area and is absolutely a course worth driving from Boston and Providence for.

Wachusett opens with a gentle, 388 yard par 4 that plays slightly downhill with a right-to-left sloping fairway. Several trees line the left but this side is much more open than the right, which features a creek and brush. This green slopes both front-to-back and left-to-right and is defended by a bunker short left.

The 2nd hole is the longest on the course as a 518 yard severe dogleg right par 5. This teeshot initially plays straightaway to a generous left-to-right sloped fairway lined by OB right. At around 290 yards, the hole turns sharply right with a small pond you must carry to reach a second slab of fairway. Those who are shorter hitters will have an interesting decision to make on their second shot here, as a lay-up short of the pond leaves a very difficult third shot. This bunkerless green slopes front left-to-back right.

The 3rd hole is a short, almost reachable par 4 from the White Tees, but plays much longer at 378 yards from the Blue Tees. This teeshot, which is almost certainly not original, is a bit unnerving running directly uphill through a chute of trees to a fairway defended by a left crossbunker at 275 yards. This approach continues steadily uphill to an elevated, narrow, severely back-to-front sloped green containing two tiers and defended by a deep bunker short left.

After holing out at 3, you’ll need to cross Prospect Street to access holes 4-7, one of the best stretches on the course. The 4th is the shortest hole at Wachusett but plays slightly uphill as an 142 yard par 3. Bunkers defend well-short of a back-to-front sloped putting surface.

At 507 yards, the par 5 5th is one of the most memorable and interesting holes at Wachusett. Playing straightaway, this hole features a semi-blind teeshot to a skinny fairway that trundles downhill the entire way lined by OB left and trees down the right. There’s a crossbunker on the left at 270 yards that first time golfers won’t be aware of but any straight shot here should suffice. Due to the downhill nature of this hole, it is certainly reachable in two, but this requires a carry over a creek about 60 yard short of the green. Not unlike the famous 15th at Augusta, a pond also defends the green long and this putting surface slopes wickedly back-to-front with bunkers short as well.

The par 3 6th hole turns back around and plays back uphill at 160 yards. Requiring at least one club extra, this gorgeous one-shotter features another severely back-to-front sloped green lined by deep bunkers short and on either side and a hill long.

The 7th hole continues uphill as a 383 yard par 4. Lined by trees down the right and OB to the far left, this hole features another blind teeshot over a bunker at the beginning of the fairway at 100 yards. The fairway continues uphill and slightly to the right towards a green containing several mounds defended by bunkers short.

After crossing back over the road, you face the toughest stretch of holes on the course beginning with the number 1 handicap 448 yard par 4 8th. This hole plays level and straightaway but will be a tough par for many, with a tight fairway lined by trees down either side and fescue-lined mounds. This green slopes right-to-left with a vertical ridge running through the middle.

The 9th hole turns back around and plays very similarly to the previous hole as a straightaway 440 yard par 4. This hole is a bit more open, but still features mounds, bunkers, and trees down either side. This green is fairly subtle and is lined by long bunkers on either side. This is another hole where par is an elusive score.

At 494 yards, the 10th hole is a short, straightaway par 5 that provides a birdie opportunity in the middle of a stretch of long par fours. This hole is again level and defended by trees and mounds down either side. Two bunkers line the left at 200 and 260 yards as well, but this teeshot is rather straightforward. Those looking to lay-up or out of position should beware of a right crossbunker about 120 yards short of the green. This back-to-front sloped green is open up front and lined by a pair of bunkers on either side.

The 11th is probably the most difficult hole at Wachusett as a sweeping, 438 yard dogleg left par 4. Tall trees line the left for the entire length of the hole and OB defends the right side of a skinny fairway that turns left around 240 yards. Nearly impossible to cut the corner with these trees unless you play a big draw, you’ll inevitably be left a long approach into a raised back-to-front sloped green guarded by bunkers left and long.

The 12th hole is Wachusett’s longest par 4 at 459 yards and is my favorite hole on the course as a gorgeous dogleg right. A wonderful design that would fit in nicely on any of Ross’s best designs in New England, this lengthy par 4 features a difficult teeshot to a generous tree-lined fairway that bends right around 260 yards. A crossbunker lines the left at around 300 yards and is a good target for those that can’t reach it. This fairway then dips into a swale before rising again on the way to an elevated green that slopes both back-to-front and right-to-left with bunkers on either side. Par is again a great score on this gorgeous hole.

Although not a long par 4, the 13th hole is no breeze as a lengthy 208 yard par 3. This one-shotter plays over a valley to an elevated green defended by a vicious false front and bunkers on either side. This putting surface is one of the most vexing on the course, sloping hard back-to-front and right-to-left.

At 330 yards, the par 4 14th is one of several quirky holes you’ll encounter down the closing stretch. Playing shorter and reachable as a dogleg left, this hole features a brief forced carry to a tree-lined fairway that turns left nearly immediately. This narrow green slopes back-to-front, defended by tight lies and slopes.

The 15th is another unusual hole as a 508 yard dogleg left par 5 that plays much shorter. This teeshot plays severely downhill to a tree-lined fairway that turns sharply left at around 330 yards. Due to tall trees down the left, it’s hard to cut the corner here as well. This green is defended by a bunker short right and is on the flatter side.

The 16th hole is the shortest par 4 on the course at just 316 yards but plays uphill and to the right. Golfers might want to think about laying up here, as a right crossbunker at 255 yards significantly narrows the fairway. This approach continues uphill to a perched back-to-front sloped green defended by deep bunkers on either side.

The 17th hole is a bit more straightforward as a straightaway 374 yard par 4 lined by trees and fescue. The most interesting feature of this hole is another severely back-to-front sloped green lined by bunkers on either side.

Wachusett closes in unorthodox fashion with an 185 yard par 3. This is a nice one-shotter with a back-to-front sloped green lined by deep bunkers short on either side. It’s the 18th handicap, so don’t expect to get any strokes here.

General Comments: Practice facilities at Wachusett include a practice green near the clubhouse and small driving range across the street. Pace of play was poor when we played.

Verdict: One of the most underrated and best courses in New England open to the public, the semi-private Wachusett Country Club features a classic, well-conditioned Donald Ross layout over hilly terrain. I highly recommend a round here if you’re able to secure a public teetime.