Quail Ridge Country Club, Acton, MA

Yes the course is now only a par 66, but the maintenance is still great and its fun to be able to score on most of the holes from the whites that doesn't require hitting 275yd drives each time. Worth a try for those who usually score in the 90's.

course sold land and eliminated holes 8 & 9, made 10 into short par 4 and short par 3 & hole 18 into short par 4 and decent par 3. par 72 down to a par 66. never going back. no one will buy those houses.

Friday July 1st, 2011. Play the coarse if you have the chance, because the word is out, that the coarse may be a 9 hole coarse within a year or two. Holes # 1, 10,and 18 do not have enough real estate. The greens were in great condition and very challenging. Getting around the course without one lost ball is a true accomplishment. The coarse has a good senior rate! There is a similar style coarse in Connecticut called Quarry Ridge.

Although a difficult course, the greatest difficulty is how the layout seems to be a forced fit into the terrain. The front nine and #18 are the two areas that I base this on. I feel there was an attempt here to create a very difficult course while providing the bear minimum of reward for good golf shots. Take #1,1 HC hole, long par 5 where you must layup on your tee shot (200 yds) with hazards up the entire right side. I am not a long hitter and even I could not use my driver until the 6th hole. To me, that represents a layout that is forced to fit into the terrain. Too much junk, too many blind shots. Someone should count the number of red stakes on this course.
Now for #18... the 2 HC hole. 547 Yds, rock quarry wall on the left, hazard the entire right side, narrowest fairway I have ever seen on a par 5, dog leg right carrying over a large hazard area. Come on, you couldn't have added a waterfall, alligators, a small pond, windmill? Yes, you designed a tough finish hole, congratulations.
Yet on the back 9, you will see lots of easy 300 yd par 4's with small postage stamp greens so the scoring chance is there for you.

I can understand why this course failed as a private club. I would not want to play here all the time. The range is for members only, and by it small size it is clear that the emphasis here is not about golf. This place is more about swimming and tennis for the family. Nothing wrong with that at all. Now I know.