Things to Do in Chicopee

Hickory Ridge Golf Club’s dense tree lines create tunnels of narrow fairways intersected by a meandering creek that comes into play on at least nine of the course's 18 holes. Players immediately find themselves myriad obstacles on the first hole, a 509-yard par 5 with a lateral hazard running the length of the left side and an elevated green with an out-of-bounds area summoning errant shots beyond the pin. After the initial hole, birdie opportunities abound on the front nine so long as players control their shots off the tee, make wise club selections on approaches to the green, and avoid penalty strokes for chop blocking unsuspecting caddies.

More difficult challenges await on the back nine, including tricky par 4s on holes 12 and 14 and long par 3s on holes 15 and 17. Before finishing the round, golfers must conquer the par 4 18th hole, which requires a long layup on the second shot and often sends unfocused golfers on their way with a bogey and a Kick Me sign as they complete the round.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course

• Total length of 6,704 yards from the back tees

• Course rating of 72.8 from the back tees

• Course slope of 130 from the back tees

• Four sets of tees per hole

During the day at World Sports Camp, professional head coaches and assistants of college-level athletes head up lessons in golf, basketball, tennis, and soccer. Campers also get the chance to participate in sports leagues with competitions throughout the week and a culminating championship. There is a 4:1 camper-to-instructor ratio, which helps to ensure that young athletes get the personal attention they require. Campers get to choose their level of involvement and which sports they want to focus on. Beginners and advanced mini-athletes alike will then play together, adhering to the rules of good sportsmanship and gravity. Check out a typical schedule for an overview of the daily activities.