Golf in Boston

Sculpted into 300 acres of glacial depressions that form kettles and kames, Pinehills Golf Club's pair of 18-hole, par 72 championship courses seamlessly incorporate the stunning landscape, earning acclaim from Golf Digest, Golfweek, and Golf Magazine as top public courses in the state. The Rees Jones Course is cleaved through a dramatic glacial imprint left from the Ice Age, showcasing 7,175 yards of wide fairways and very few water hazards for a layout that plays similarly to a links-style course. Hole 15 is a 509-yard par 5 behemoth that demands the toughest carry of the round, about 200 yards. The uphill hole reaches the highest point on the course, which offers views of the surrounding topography, as well as the five bunkers that await errant shots or displaced sunbathers on their way to the green.

The Nicklaus Course was built one year later and presents a serpentine layout of dramatic elevation changes and small, slick greens. Undulated fairways are characteristic of this young course as it winds through dense clusters of coniferous and deciduous tree lines that burst with color in autumn. The course places a premium on precise approach shots rather than gunpowder-filled golf balls in order to avoid the gauntlet of bunkers on nearly every hole. The course culminates at the 18th hole, a 476-yard par 4, as well as a cerulean pond that golfers must carry in order to reach the small, contoured green in regulation.

Pinehills' practice facilities and clubhouse are what set the club apart from other public and private courses. Complete with five large putting greens, a 60-stall driving range, and three chipping greens with bunkers, the practice area is an ideal host for Pinehills Golf Academy. Lessons and clinics pair apprentice golfers with expert PGA instructors, who hone swings with the help of V1 digital swing-analysis technology. After a day on the course or at the range, the East Bay Grille quiets rumbling stomachs with clam chowder, burgers, and steaks.

Jones Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course

• Length of 7,175 yards from the farthest set of tees

• Course rating of 73.8 from the farthest set of tees

• Slope rating of 135 from the farthest set of tees

• Four sets of tee boxes

• See the scorecard

Nicklaus Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course

• Length of 7,243 yards from the farthest set of tees

• Course rating of 74.3 from the farthest set of tees

• Slope rating of 135 from the farthest set of tees

• Four sets of tee boxes

• See the scorecard

White pines, hemlocks, and white birches flourish on the 140 acres of New England countryside that golf-course architect Ted Manning—a Robert Trent Jones protégé—and US Women’s Open champ Mary Mills sculpted into a championship golf course for Townsend Ridge Country Club. Golfers can leave breadcrumb trails to find their way back as they swing through the forested links, hitting over the stream that splits the 3rd hole’s ryegrass fairway before heading uphill on a 474-yard, par-5 12th hole. The course’s signature par-4 14th hole demands a cautious approach, as balls that land past the pin find themselves rolling down a steep slope. At last, with the clubhouse in sight, golfers finish up at the 18th by launching their balls over a pond to land on a double green shared with hole 9.

Although it’s a daily-fee course, Townsend Ridge creates the feel of a private club with a driving range hemmed by 35 hitting stations and a pro shop that hosts two swing simulators. These let players keep in shape during wintery months by tackling digital recreations of the links at Pebble Beach and St. Andrews. For more structured practice sessions, golfers can join lessons and get professional answers as to what’s the best grip for hitting out of the sand and what kind of bird lays golf balls.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-70 course

• Length of 6,188 yards

• Course rating of 70.2

• Slope rating of 125

• Three tee options

Gardner Municipal’s par 71 course takes golfers on an 18-hole odyssey through immaculate fairways hugging the north end of Crystal Lake’s waters. Astride a whirring golf cart or advancing on foot, golfers bob and weave through the course’s tight tree lines, rein in wayward balls, and bribe woodland creatures to improve their lie. Rounds reach their crescendo at the 538-yard, par 5 seventh hole, where drives must trace the fairway as it doglegs to the left while avoiding a vanguard of towering trees along the left side of the fairway.

A multifaceted training area fosters straighter swings and confident putts with a three-tiered practice green and a two-level driving range with space dedicated for long drives, shorter iron shots, and blindfolded sprints through the barrage of practice shots.

Gardner Municipal Golf Course showcases the latest golf styles and equipment in Ben Egan's Golf Shop, which is run by a savvy staff that will help golfers find the clubs and clothes that best suit their style. William's Restaurant and Tavern awaits greenside, where golfers can peruse a menu of prime meat cuts and savory grill fare while deciding whether or not spinach leaves would make a good putting surface.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 71 course
• Length of 6,131 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 73.4 from the farthest tees
• Slope of 126 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options