Ridder Farm Golf Club, East Bridgewater, MA

As there aren't many, I'll start with the pros: manicured greens, 1st cut and fairways are given due care by greenskeeper staff, fun layout, though short. Chance to score well if you're long off the tees.

Cons - there are many. First is the lack of value (notice I didn't say rates - I'm happy to pay up for a quality course). I play 3-4x/week around the South Shore and have visited Ridder at least 6 times, but after this year they are completely off my list. My last round was a Friday morning - teed off at 5:30am (nobody attending office so I had to tee off then pay on turn, though they insisted the course opens at 5). After I stopped in to pay, almost fell over - $48 dollars, to walk! It would have been $57.50 with a cart. I understand most courses consider Friday a weekend, but this was walking, AT DAWN. Typical grumpy check in guy makes you feel its a privelage to fork over the cash to play this former dairy farm, 2.5 star at best.

Another is pace of play. There are several old timers who are regulars at this course and are never hurried along, regardless of the line of people behind them. Rangers never present during my visits there (which is typical), but I have been scolded for playing through these groups by the staff! In fact, I've been chastised by the same grumpy old check in guy a few times - once for setting my pull cart on the tee box (??, never heard of that one before).

In short, there are plenty of other courses in the area with better facilities, course conditions, quality, and customer service. Most of these courses have some sort of early bird and/or twilight rate, unlike Ridder. With the quantity of time and money I invest in this sport, there are much better places to play. My suggestion - try Braintree, Olde Scotland Links, Brookmeadow, anywhere but here. I promise you will be disappointed and annoyed (probably both).