Conference 7.286::golf

    Played Shaker Hills yesterday. Great course. Nice layout. Some pretty
    par 3's. There were a couple of short par 4's (300, 315) but the rest
    of the holes made up for it. We played the blues at 6227 yds.. Whites
    are 5781 and golds are 6850.
    Carts are required. The only negative point I found were the abundant
    gypsy moths. They were everywhere! Don't open your mouth while driving
    between shots. I had two hit me in the lips. Luckily, I wasn't talking
    at the time!
                               Art
                                   

I played it last Thursday. Many good points and some bad points (not at all
effected by the fact that my front 9 score was the worst 9 I've shot in
five years, of course!)

Gorgeous layout, and tough from the blues. It brings the bunkers into
play on virtually every par 4 and 5. This course made me realize that
most of the places I play are pretty easy in terms of trouble. At Shaker
Hills a good drive can land in a big bunker, which is behind another
big bunker placed there to catch you if you screw up your shot. Trouble
on top of trouble, and after a while it makes you tentative and fearful.
At least that was the effect it had on me, which put my front 9 in the
toilet. 

On the back I decided to get a aggressive  and bang away, and things
improved a lot.

It's hilly, and the greens have all kinds of moguls, bumps, downhills, etc.
on them -- much more so than Stow Acres. The day I played those suckers
were FAST. Woe to you if you put a ball above the cup on #3, for instance.

#5 is 606 yds from the back, about 580 yds from the blues, and it's 
completely uphill to a small green. Nasty hole.

The gypsy moths have stripped every single tree on the property, so it
looked like playing in early April.

I liked the back better, but there are about 6 shots I would never have
made if I'd know the course. The 15th is a long, bumpy par 5 with about 80
yards of "waste area" fronting the tiny green, backed by a hill of weeds
and a bunker. I hit my third shot just where I wanted to: right to a
sidehill, rolling left. Perfect! What I didn't know (it's not very clear
from the map) is that this rolls you right into a creekside area of stumps,
weeds, sawgrass, etc. Take the penalty, drop to the hitting area, run a
light wedge through the green into the death bunker, come out past the hole,
three putt -- geez, it was awful. I started that hole two over for the
back, and ended up 6 over in about 15 minutes! Next time I'll never hit
that perfect third shot. Bogey on that hole is a moral victory!

Everyone at the place is very friendly, except for the sullen young
woman who takes your money. They keep handing you various receipts and
paperwork; it got kind of silly. The starter was a real nice guy, and in
general the atmosphere is much friendlier than other places around here.

The service in the snack bar is incredibly slow! Instead of hot dogs
and such, they have this kind of oh-so-cute designer sandwiches and
pastries. Tasted good, but it took so long we almost lost our slot when
we came in at the turn. 

No beer!

The biggest problem -- the cart rule! There are cart paths roped off to
the side of the holes. I hate riding anyway, and this is worse. You get
no feel for the course. It's like driving past a golf hole in a car.
In many cases, you have some very tough lies, which you can't see from the
cart path in the woods, or 10 feet below the fairway. So you have to grab
a handful of clubs. Or walk over, find it, walk back, take clubs, walk
back again. Very slow play as a result. And worse, I still feel that I
don't know much about the course. They have to change that rule.

Anyway, play it at least once. Stow seems so easy now. And if they ever
let players walk, I'll go there a lot.

    
    RE .2:  Stowe IS easy!!!!!!!!! ;-)

    
    
    RE: .2
    
    NO BEER - This is true but they are supposed to be getting their
    license soon..within a couple of weeks.
    
    WOULD MAKE DIFFERENT SHOTS - This is true..course knowledge does help
    on this course..I played there again last Friday with two guys who wre
    there for the first time...I helped them a lot.
    
    CARTS - I wonder if the cart rules will change when the grass matures..
    I mean this is a new course with virgin grass..
    
    GYPSY MOTHS - I hear what you're saying..it really looks bare..but wait
    till next year..it will be a beautiful course when the trees grow
    back..
    
    If any of your DECCIES are Ayer residents we get a discount to play
    there..you have to show your driver's license when you register!
    
    One other thing I like is the score cards...I like them illustrating
    the holes "individually" for each hole.
    
    and of course they could also clear out some more of the scrub brush to
    help you locate lost balls...one time we were looking for our balls and
    the course marshall drove up and actually helped us look for it..they
    have very friendly people working there...
    
    I like the fact when you drive in they have have the boys to tyour
    clubs from your car..carry them to the carts...and after you play they
    dust off the bags and bring them to the original place...I mean you
    gott a tip them but it's still a nice feature...
    
    I too like to walk to course...but this one would definately be a
    tiring one to walk with the hills!
    
    well that's my .02c worth..
    
    Ken
    
    

hi,
how bout some directions to this one?
thanks!
-n

    
    
    RE:.5
    
    sure...what direction would you be coming from?
    
    

oh sorry about that,  Im coming from new hampshire, so I can come down 495
to Rt 111.. or get off at Rt 117 by littleton, etc.

thanks						NB

    
    
    RE:.7
    
    ok..off 495 South take the RT 110 AYER exit...end of ramp take
    a left...Stay onthe road for about 4-miles...
    
    Here's some landmarks...Lone Star...Home Plate Restaurant..and
    Shirley Upholstering...ABout 1-mile up the rod from SHirly Upholstering
    watch for the Shaker Hills Golf Course sign on the left...
    
    I think it's on Shaker Rd.
    
    Enjoy
    
    Ken
    
    
    

    Did you not intend to say...
    
    From 495 going south take rte 2 west to 110  .... etc
    
    bb

    
    
    RE:.9- RT 2 WEST TO RT 110.
    
    No..not at all..Rt 110 exit is the last one before Rt 2...
    Actually it might be called Rt 2A-110.....Bt it is the AYER Exit.
    
    
    KW
    
    

    is this course in ayer or harvard?
    i assume ayer, but where it is could be half ayer and half
    harvard.
    the reason i ask is that harvard is a dry town, so i'm betting
    that the clubhouse in in ayer.
    
    carrie nation

    My understanding is the course is in Harvard, and the clubhoulse
    is in Ayer. I plyaed the course yesterday afternoon for the
    very first time (very hot and muggy).
    
    It's in nice condition .... the turf in the fairways is absolutely
    exquisite to hit off of, although the areas right around the
    sprinkler heads seem to be suffering a little bit. Most of the
    greens were in very nice condition (save the 3rd par 3, whcih
    still had some major sod lines showing across it).  A mixture of
    some easy holes and very difficult (we played the blue tees,
    and had two par 4s of 300 and 315 yards), but those were wll
    compensated for by 2 very difficult par 5s (533 and 558 yards).
    All 3 par 5s are long and very narrow. The entire course is
    actually a bit on the narrow side ... a good way to lose golf
    balls!  It's a hilly course (not that you have many exaggerated
    uphill or downhill lies) but a lot of holes have you hitting
    down or up to a green ... makes club selection challenging.
    
    John
    

    John,
    
    When you played the course yesterday, did you notice if they were
    serving beer in the clubhouse ?  I played it during its opening 
    weekend and the guy in the clubhouse told us they were trying to get
    a 30-day temporary liquor license until Harvard votes to allow liquor
    to be served permanently.  (I understood that although the clubhouse is
    in fact in Ayer, because the rest of the course is in Harvard, they
    must get approval from Harvard as well).
    
    Lori

    
    I noticed soda and ice tea and fruit juices. Didn't see any
    beer ... but wasn't looking for it either, I must confess.
    
    John
    

    
    
    RE: .12
    
    6-acres of the course is in Ayer...and yes that is where the new
    clubhouse will be located when they build it next year...
    
    It's going to be a beauty too!
    
    Ken
    

Went over to use the driving range during lunch earlier in the week.  A 
small bucket is $3.00 and a large is $6.00.  In a small bucket you get
30 and in a large I assume 60.  Needless to say I will not be back at that
driving range anytime soon.  The only plus was that you got to hit off of
turf.

    
    
    RE:.18
    
    $3.00 a bucket...heck I think the driving range at Kimball's Ice cream
    is $3.75....but they do add a few extra's when you get the basket.
    
    Green Meadow's in hudson N.H. is nice..they also have the grass
    driving range and also a sand trap set-up...the only hazard in the lack
    of walls between the golfers...
    
    Ken
    
    

    re.beer question.
    this is just hearsay.
    
    a friend whose family lives in harvard says that harvard
    is a dry town but private clubs (vfw, elks, etc.) 
    can get liquor licenses.
    the course will likely get one but harvard is jerking them
    around a little cause the course seems to think since the
    entrance is ayer, that ayer rules abide.
    
    scoop de ville

    I just spoke to the Pro at Shaker Hills yesterday and he said
    that they have received a permanent license to serve beer only.
    No other liquor will be allowed.
    
    Lori

I'm planning to play Shaker later this week.  Any of you care to offer a few
hole-by-hole tips?

Thanks,

	Dan

     I've never played this course, so I decided to just drive in this am
    on the way to (Ughhh !) work. I was really impressed ! What a beautiful
    setting. It sure seems nicer than some of the "Goat ranches" I knocked
    around on in my younger days. I think I'll give it a year to grow in (I
    remember how our course was the first year - o.k., but needed time),
    and perhaps go over and play it.
    
     Hard to go to work after looking at a nice course like this.
    
    --Jack 

I'm going to be in ACO next week. I know I can not get out to
play 18. 

Does anyone know if they have a 9 hole fee, since I probably
can not get there until 4:30-5:00...

THAT is unless there is a league...I can't find a course to
play after 4:30 that does not have a league going off.

Jim

Shaker Hills does have a reduced rate after 4:00 or 4:30 PM - it is $ 24.00, 
cart included.  They require a cart anytime you play - no carrying.
You can call the pro shop for more info - (508) 772-2227.

Other courses to play - without golf leagues -

I play in the Digital Maynard Golf league at Stow Acres.  We finished the 
regular season this week.  Since Digital has the biggest league at Stow, next
week should not be too crowded for late day play.

Good luck.

    Played Shaker Hills yesterday.. They have a reduced fee of $25 after
    4 that includes a cart.. I got there at 5, teed off at 5:15 and finshed 
    at 8 pm.
    
    I think this is am absolutely (SP?) beutiful course.The fairways are
    mostly narrow, lots of water and sand and scenery that rivals
    Sugarloaf. Once the fairways mature this course is going to only get
    better.
    
    If your in the area, check it out...
    
    Jim
    

I'm attempting to start a DEC league at shaker hills next year.  I spoken to the
pro at shaker about this already.  One thing he would like to know is how 
many people would be in this league.  So if your interested or know someone
who might be have them send me a mail message stating interest in a league
at shaker next year.

The league would be a nine hole league, playing on either tuesday,wednesday
or thursday starting at approximately 4pm.  I'm not sure of the format
yet but I'm leaning towards two person teams.  Nothing is fixed in stone
however.  Players would be broken up into flights based on a nine hole
handicapp.  A lot of details still need to be worked out.

Two big questions which the pro cannot answer just yet is.

1.  Will carts be required.

2.  What will the cost be.

So if your interested send me mail.  As soon as I get more info I'll
post it here.

					Rich

    I talked with the pro yesterday and asked if he got my proposal for a 
    league and if they had made a decision yet.  He told me that he had
    received my proposal and that no decision had been made yet.  He
    said that in the November timeframe a decision would be made.  When
    I first talked with him he said that a decision would be made around
    the 1st of October....  I'm not sure what factors they are looking
    at in making a decision but I suspect that I will not hear for a while.
    
    So far I've got a lot of responses, so if they do decide to have a
    league and the price is right I should have no problem getting enough
    players.
    
    							rich

    	I got to play Shaker on Sunday. Due to all the rain in the past
    week, the fairways hadn't been cut and they were somewhat damp. Not
    soggy, but the evening dew was heavy so there was no roll off the
    tee. Not that it mattered, I kept push/fading my tee shots into 
    trouble. Very nice course, I like Shattuck Inn better but when I get
    to play Shaker again I'll hope the course is dry. We played from the 
    tips, I think it was about 6850 yards. 
    I don't think there'd be a tougher course to walk than this one. I've
    walked Shattuck, Sky Meadow, Marlboro, and Overlook, but this one is
    about the hilliest I've seen. Most of the tees are elevated so it's 
    down the hill andf then back up.
    	FWIW, I shot 107 from the golds. If I could have hit better off the
    tee, I'd have come in my normal mid 90 range.
    	Maybe in the next 2 weeks I'll be sick in the afternoon and get in
    18 more.......

re .27

Called the pro today and asked him if they had made a decision yet.  
They did, no leagues.  He didn't give a reason.

						Rich

    
    
    I played Skaker Hills twice this weekend...
    
    it's in pretty decent shape for this time of year...
    
    The greens were a little bumpy but the fairways were pretty dry.
    
    Greens fees are $45 with cart (Mandatory)....Not many people playing so
    you could finish 18 in about 3.5 hours...
    
    
    
    Everything will be green soon enough...

    
       Got a chance to play this last week for the first time.  Humbling
       indoctrination to a tough tough course.  Very few weak holes on
       this layout.  Visually, it is very appealing, with many elevated
       tees.  Three extremely difficult and long par 5's.  The par 3's 
       are beautiful!  As mentioned before, having carts restricted to
       one cart path on each hole, presents logistical problems for club
       selections.  It was a pain!  And their after 4 special terminates
       at about 8:00 pm.  Not enough time to get 18 holes in and
       frustrating given the fact that there was still a half hour of 
       daylight left.  Grrrrr.
    
    -rick

    
    hi Rick,
    
    	Yeah that 8pm deadline is a bummer...  specially since my
    partner and I were down a couple skins ! We plan to win the
    last three holes when we're two down to make it more exciting.
    But out came the Shaker Hill police, and ruined our plans ! :)
    
    	Shaker Hills is playing extra tough right now. The course is
    very dry... with a target golf design it's impossible to hit
    some fairways in a good scoring position, without the ball running
    off into trouble. Not that it mattered to me.... I simply airmailed
    the fairway, placing the ball directly into bad positions ! :)
    
    	Walta
    	
    
    	

I played it yesterday. I put my clubs on my shoulder and let my partner drive me
off the tee and then I walk up the fairway and meet him on the green. 

						Regards Phil

    I was just over there today for my weekly bucket of balls and putting
    practice.  After hitting a few putts I can't believe how fast the green
    is - like glass!  I got to talking with one the greenskeepers who was
    changing the cups and he says they had someone come out and demo some
    new machine that rolls and presses sand based greens.  If you've played
    here before then you know how relatively bumpy and grainy the greens
    have been since they opened up (and lately hard).  What a difference!
    But they haven't bought it yet and they only did the practice green.  I
    had to pity the poor souls that were warming up on the green before
    playing.  Hey wait a minute, this course is challenging enough without
    lighting greens!

    Bob

    
    
    Skaker Hills is not taking any tee-times this weekend...
    
    They said they are preparing the ne NEPGA on the 21st...I played the
    course a coupla times recently and they aerated the green and they were
    in rough shape...and they had one temp green set up..
    
    Ken..WHo shot an 85 there last week with three lost balls and a coupla
    bad shots too!....
    
    

    
    	I know.  I called for Monday.  Baffling that a course won't 
    	take money on a long weekend.
    

    The story I heard regarding Shaker Hills is not pretty!!!  Seems that,
    in preparation for the upcoming tourney, they recently fertilized their
    greens.  It's the polymer/plastic/rubber coated-type fertilizer for
    gradual release......  
    
    Well, after having fertilized, they brought out one of those
    greens-rollers.....like the ones they showed recently during a PGA
    tourney on TV.   Anyway, while rolling the greens, they broke open the
    fertilizer coatings, releasing it all at once!!!!!  They have
    supposedly lost multiple greens and are at risk of losing their
    tournament!!!!  I heard that if they were unable to reclaim the greens
    by today, that they were history!!!!
    
    
    Sounds like there may be a Superintendant out of work very soon!!!
    
    
    Nelly 

    
    has anyone played shaker hills this year. just wondering
    how the greens etc were after the above mentioned problems.
    						thnx john

I understand they had to re-sod 13 greens including the practice green.  I
haven't played it but I have gone over to practice putting and the green was
VERY slow and bumpy.  If the rest of the course is like it you'll be in for a 
disappointing round.

bob

    I took an afternoon vacation and played it last  Thursday  and as -.1
    says, the greens were slow and bumpy, but I thought  they  were ready
    to be cut and rolled, so give them a call and  find out.  The rest of
    the course is in great shape.
    
    BTW, they have a  special  at  3:30  for $25 including cart.  For the
    layout and service I believe this is a great bargain, and we finished
    18 in 4 hrs. The course was almost empty.
    
    Tavo

    	As an FYI for anyone. I just called yesterday and the $25 special
    is only after 4:30 as I was told, not the 3:30 as Tavo put in. That is
    unless they gave him a good deal and me the shaft ;^(  They also told
    me they don't throw you off the course until 8:30. You can call and get
    a tee time 4 days in advance.

    Re:  <<< Note 1298.42 by NACAD::NISKALA "The Red Sox cause Achy Breaky Heart" >>>

    Yes, they changed  the  twilight time to 4:30.  I took another PM off
    and played it yesterday  (got  to  get my 310 hrs vacation hours down
    they tell me and I  am  happy  to  obligue).   Even if were having an
    outing with a shot gun that  started  at  1:00PM, so we played behind
    them for the first nine holes, we managed to finish 18 before 8:30.
    
    I got there by 3:30 and had to wait an  hour.    In  the  meantime my
    partner and I played $1 a hole in the putting green,  I  ended  up $4
    down, but ended up even after the real  match;  played 50c a hole and
    and I ended up 8 up!  he couldn't hit a watermelon :-), and on top of
    that he bent the titanium shaft of his brand new driver just swinging
    hard,  i.e.   he didn't hit anything but the ball.   BTW,  it  was  a
    Taylor  made,  so  if  that is their quality, following the thread of
    driver selection,  I think the Big Bertha is looking better!  Obvious
    to say my partner was not a happy camper.

    By the second hole we catched up with the  twosome  in  front, and IT
    WAS THE GUY THAT WAS MY BOSS'S BOSS UNTIL LAST  WEEK.  I hope that he
    also put in his vacation card :-)

    The  wind yesterday made it play loooooooooong.  On the 420yd  par  4
    18  hole, I had a good drive a good 3 wood and  was  still  about  30
    yards short. Nothing that a chip and a putt couldn't take care off.
        
    Tavo

    
                            Shaker Hills vs Maple Gate
    
    I'm organizing an outing and would appreciate your comments/opinions.
    The choice has been narrowed to Shaker Hills or Maple Gate.  I've
    been to Shaker Hills and think it's one of the nicest courses in the
    area.  But I've heard recently that they are having problems with
    their greens.  Does any know what the current status is?
    
    Also how would you compare Maple Gate to Shaker Hills?  I've never
    been to Maple Gate.  I'm looking for a pleasant day out for a four-
    some of middle to high handicappers (16 - 22).
    
    Thanks for your comments
    
    /John

    As a HIGH handicaper myself I thought Shaker was a "little" more 
    friendly, havn't played there this year and have heard the greens
    problem rumors as well......Maple Gate has a coupon for 4 for the price
    of 3 (available in most golf outlets) which reduces the cost to play
    which may also be a consideration.  There both terrific courses.