Conference 7.286::golf

    
      Today's Boston Globe had a golf section. This will be a regular
    feature btw.  Anyway, an article mentioned that some of the Falmouth
    courses had been open Tuesday, and that the Dennis courses (Highlands,
    Pines) were opening very soon.  With some warmer weather forecasted for
    the weekend, you may want to give some of them a call.
    
    -rick

     I played Lakeville C.C. yesterday. There were 4-5 holes that were
    "soggy", but the rest of the course was pretty much dry......soft, but
    dry. They had one temporary green on the back side. The greens were a
    little bumpy, but who cares this time of year !!  It was well worth the
    trip down.
    
      For anyone who is interested:
    
                         Lakeville Country Club
                         Lakeville, Mass.
                         (508) 947-6630
    
        495 South to Exit #5 (Lakeville). Go right at end of ramp. Approx.
    2 miles you will come to a set of lights. Go left....1/4 mile, take 
    right at Lakeville C.C. sign.
    
       Greensfees - 22.00

    
    Glad to see this one.   I am suppose to play there on 4/8 with a 
    group from work.  We all need a vacation day!  It seems this is 
    the report on most courses.
    
    I heard rumor that peope were calling Winneapuag (sp?) from Maine,
    N.H., and New York for tee-times for this past weekend.  I can see
    it now.  "Okay, your teeing off at 12:45".
    
    Bob

    
    
    You laugh at the 12:45 tee time - I called Falmouth CC on Friday and
    the first time they had open for Sunday was 12:45.  I ended up playing 
    at the Captians in Brewster.  Most of the course was in good shape - 
    not too many soggy areas.  They had two tempory greens and the rest 
    of the greens were slow and bumpy.  I'm sure that's why my short game 
    was so bad..;-)
    
    Captians
    Brewster
    896-5100

    Played Poquoy Brook Sunday. Very, very soggy. I was hitting two and
    three clubs more just to get there and the ball didn't even move out of
    the pitch mark. Got lucky and lost only one in the fairway, but found
    two looking for the one I lost.
    
    Rich

Hi,

This sounds excellent as I'm coming down to Boston for a bit in
Mid April.  I was debating on whether to bring my clubs or not.

Sounds like the greens will still have some winter kill on them and
be a little bumpy and slow.

Can anyone recommend a course or two near Maynard and Acton (where I
will be located in my time down there) , that have reasonable 
practicing areas ie. spare area for practicing pitching, driving range,
putting green, sandtrap.
 
    Or, should I try to go nearer the coast (do they open sooner??)
    
Looking forward to it!

Jim
    
PS. We still have 1 foot of snow up here in Canada, won't see regular
greens until late April, early May.... Calgary, Alberta

    Re:   <<< Note 1661.6 by CGOOA::DURNIN "Jim - Unum Cum Virtuitous Multorum " >>>

    Stow Acres on Rt  62  has  all  you're looking for, but it is unclear
    when will it open, mid  April  will  be marginal.  About 45 min to an
    hour south there are open courses now.
    
    Tavo

    I played Bay Pointe in Onset yesterday.  The course is located near
    Buzzard's Bay.  Even with all the rain on Sunday and Monday, the course
    was dry and in excellent shape.  No mud or "squishy" tees, and the
    greens were fairly smooth and puttable.  Even with the wind and mist,
    it was well worth the trip.
    
    Gary

    
    I am looking to head down to Bay Pointe This morning, if anyone wants
    to join me, I am looking for someone.  Send me mail ASAP!!!!
    
    
    Jim

    Thanks very much,
    
    Are there other courses that would be open soon like Stow Acres,
    perhaps in the southern part where it seems the courses open earlier.
    
    This Bay Pointe sounds interesting.  Any details would be appreciated
    ie. Yardage, difficulty, practice areas, cost.
    
    Sounds like it will still be pretty rough around Acton, is this true.
    
    One other question, when does it get dark there now, so I know what
    I will be able to accomplish in the evenings.
    
    Regards,
    
    Jim

    fyi - weathermen predicting 5-10 inches of snow
    for thursday p.m. in boston area.
    
    willie 'wearing a groove in the carpet from putting' ewing

    re .10
    
    I did not keep the scorecard, but the course plays about 6100 from the
    white tees, and quite a but longer from the blues (these weren't open
    yesterday).  I don't know the slope rating.  The par was 71.  Cost was
    $18 because they are still at off-season rates. We were the first ones
    off at 9:30, and only about a dozen people had played when we finished
    4 hours later.
    
    The course played tough because of the mist and the strong wind.  Nice
    cape-style layout with some elevated tees and greens, and a couple of
    holes that look like a roller coaster (up hill, down hill, side-ways
    slopes).  Lots of sand that came into play.  I don't remember any water
    except for the island green on #17.  This was a short, beautiful hole,
    but unfortunately we  had to play the "old" #17 because it was not yet
    open.  There were two temporary greens.  Some real short, easy par 4's,
    and some long, tough, into-the-wind uphill par 4's that played like par
    5's.
    
    Another interesting thing about the layout- you only see the clubhouse
    on the first and last holes.  
    
    Gary

    Hi,
    
    Info seemes to have stopped flowing in this conference topic.
    
    Does this mean that you guys and gals are under snow out there
    or (hopefully) does it mean that everything is open and the greens
    are in great shape!!!!
    
    Thanks and Regards,
    
    Jim
    
    

    Most of the courses I know that are open now reside south of Boston. 
    Don't know of any open west and north of the city.  Traditionally
    a lot of courses try to open by Patriot's Day, but with the rain and
    snow this year I doubt many will make it.  If they do open this early,
    I would plan on some wet, soggy areas.
    
    BTW, heard that Wayland was down to a 14 hole course after the Sudbury
    River flooded.
    
    Gary

    open outdoor driving ranges?
    
    especially north of boston.
    
    hack nicklaus

    
    Eunhwa and I played down at Falmouth CC on Sunday.  It's in pretty
    good shape.  The greens aren't bumpy but they aren't fast yet either.
    The courses is very open and forgiving of those early season hooks 
    and slices.  It was also cheep which is nice when the conditions aren't
    great.
    
    -Laura
    

    
    Hi Laura,
    
    	So Falmouth CC was cheep ...
    
    	Is that a Freudian slip? Meaning it played sooo easy you made
    	a few "birdies" ?
    
    	cheep cheep
    
    	Walta

    
    
    	sigh,	The two birds didn't help the score all that much.
    	My short game needs so much work.
    
    	Cheap would have been $20 for 18 holes - but when we went in
    	to pay for the back nine the pro shop had closed up and there
    	was no one to give money to....
    
    

 
re: .15

>   open outdoor driving ranges?
>    
>    especially north of boston.
>    
>    hack nicklaus

	Whirlaway, Rt 110 Methuen, Ma. has been open all winter (heated bays).

Peter.

      Any out door driving ranges open in the Central Mass area?
    
    Paul
    

THe range in Berlin, MA is open.

    Stow Acres will probably open this weekend, for sure next one.

    Stowe Acres is taking tee times for the South course this weekend.  The
    North course and the driving range are still closed.
    
    Gary

    I JUST drove by Stow Acres and saw about 5 people on the driving
    range hitting balls...
    

    In NH:  add Green Meadows and Amherst CC to the list!
    
    	also Ponehmah Greens driving range

    
    Auburn Driving range is open.

    
    
    The driving range on route 9 in Westboro had folks driving Friday
    afternoon.
    
    

Anything open in Maine ?????????


:-)

    
    Bretwood in Keene, N.H. opens today.  We will be there Patriots Day.

The Kimballs Driving Range in Westford, MA, was open last night (lights!).
It's on Rt. 110 behind the ice cream stand (which is open, too).

    	Holden Hills is opening today.  4 temporary greens and a little
    snow and ice around the edges.  Less standing water than I expected
    to see when I went up there tuesday after work.
    
    						JT

I called Juniper this morning.  They report that the Lakeside Course is open 
with no temporary greens or tees.  The Riverside Course has about 4 temporary 
greens and tees.

Dave

    
    The driving range in Sterling, MA is open.
    
    

    Crumpin-Fox is open - looks pretty dry... The ponds are a little slow,
    but I did manage to catch (and release) 4 bass on Monday (missed a ton
    more - they're all just tapping it...).
    
    __Jack
    

    Jack,
    
    Are there any birds at the Fox?
    
    Rich

    Tough for me to tell, Rich - I've only taken about 10 swings since
    November (although the number of birdies I make bear no apparent
    relationship to how much I work - they're all pretty much
    accidental...). As for real birds - we've got a lot - including a
    couple of robins that nest yearly right on building beams and
    floodlight fixtures.
    
    The guys have expanded a few tees, are working on the range, and are
    doing a lot of work around #18 green (adding mounds, working on the
    "waste area," etc.). I anticipate there will be work on a few collars,
    including #18.
    
    __Jack

    Played Green Meadow (Hudson, N.H.) this past Saturday.  It was a real
    mess and I'm very surprised they opened considering the conditions.  I
    suggest waiting a bit before heading out there.

    Didn't know anything was closed - did notice that even with the rain we
    had earlier that some of  the  courses are getting too dry.  Is that
    the problem?  I guess when it gets in the 80's it does dry things out
    a bit.  Sorry, couldn't stay quiet...
    
    Big Mac
    

    Played South back 9 last night.  Not bad except for a lot of the tees.
    
    I would guess a lot of the problems are on south side.
    
    Of course this is green meadows;  greens were as good as green meadows
    is ever going to get.
    
    I hadn't putted and couldn't hit my favorite wedge.  All my wood shots 
    are still of the heel.  I will have to see a pro for that.  2-6 irons
    I am still hitting very well.
    
    Only played  winds like yesterday down in Fla keys.
    
    Over the Hill - Bill

    Jack
    
    Where are they putting the mounds on 18? My guess is: on the left about 150
    yard from the green? That green is tough enough to hit now without adding 
    some downhill lies.
    
    Rich

     Left of the putting surface.
    
    __Jack

    Finally, Natanis Driving range opened today, as well as 14 holes with
    temporary greens.
    
    Westernview opens Thursday, only 7 holes though, unless the wind
    continues.
    
    Greenmeadow, who knows.. Maybe next week...Nothing yet.
    
    Rockland is open.. Temporary greens.
    
    Thats all I've heard about.
    
    Jim
    

    
    	Sterling CC is open.  Golf carts restricted to cart paths.  Course
    	on sunday was a little wet in spots.  Yesterday was dry just 
    	about everywhere.  Greens are in outstanding condition..
    
    	

re. 39

I have to agree Mac, the fairways are getting a little hard already !
Also, I now have to decide whether or not to wear shorts and don't
forget the sun screen !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Supposed to be in the mid-80's most of the week up here, how about
down south ?

Mad Hacker    	

    Ah, New England Spring!!!
    
    Played  this    Sunday   early  and  started  (at  6:45  AM)  wearing
    sweatershirt and windbreaker, four hours later I was on short sleeves
    with some perspiration and loving it!!!  (Not my  game,  I played one
    of my worst rounds in a long time, but the  warm  weather  feels sooo
    good!)

    
    re -1 
    
    People were asking me if I went to Florida for the weekend? Nope,
    sunburned in Southern NH!!! What a day. Good thing I didn't listen
    to Al Kaprillian (sp?)!!!!!!

    
    re last two
    
    Ya, but how much snow was in your yard this morning? Ok, it was a 
    HEAVEY frost, but it looked like snow.
    
    --Bob
    

 Played thier yesterday afternoon. Yick! Not the place
I remembered. I know it's early but, WCC was nothing
more than a goat path. It will be a while before I
shell out the full weekend rate considering 5 tees
were closed and the fairways were just plain horrible!

 - Dave

    played grandview in leominster on sunday.
    it was in better shape than it usually is
    in mid-season.
    played with two guys from newton who play at
    leo martin regularly.  to them, grandview was
    a great course.
    
    i guess it depends on your perspective.  we
    play at grandview as a last resort, they thought
    it was great!
    
    black nicklaus

    Played Shattuck Inn, located at the foot of MT Monadnock in Jaffrey NH,
    Sunday as it was open with 3 temporary greens with one hole
    temporarily closed due to beavers. Great day and it was a real treat to
    play it again.
    
    Shattuck has new owners. It cost $8.0 mill to build before opening day
    and another $2.0 mill since it opened and rumor has it it sold for 20
    cents on the dollar. They are renovating a new clubhouse out of a part
    of the old inn.
    
    						regards Phil

    re. 45
    
    Coop - thanks for the reminder on the sun screen - my wife and I are
    going to Pala Mesa tomorrow for 36 holes for the next four days - great
    price only $109/day with breakfast, dinner, cart and unlimited golf. 
    The rub is that some day  time temperatures may approach 90 and with
    the ocean breeze the evenings are around 60.  Oh, well I guess I can
    wear a heavy coat to dinner.
    
    Big Mac

Yea Mac, it is tough out here !! I was in shorts for my 6 a.m. tee
off yesterday. It was already 80 at 10:00 when we finished. Got in
early enough that I didn't even need the sunscreen !!! Sure am glad
our economy still sucks here in Cal as plenty of people are fleeing
the state for greener pastures (or is that fairways). Makes getting
tee times so much easier !!!

Mad Hacker