Conference 7.286::golf

    Joe,
    I have played Groton C.C. a couple of times in the past month.
    Yes,there are some fairways that are burnt up and the first
    few holes are very hilly.But I think you may find that this
    course is very challenging and it has alot of character in
    it's own right.       
                         Good Luck,
                           Rick
    

    
    
    well for Strawberry Hills the early morning specials can't
    be beat ...I think it's 24$ for 2 fees and a cart before 
    10:00am..the course has improved over the 3 years after new 
    ownership..It doesn't really have to many bad spots (like cement
    fairways) but the last time I was there they were still not finished
    with the new 18th hole that'll have a fountain in the middle of
    it and I guess you'll eventually  need to hit over it...
    but when I played it was just big man-made hole with some water
    in it...
    
    but I'd recommend it for it's nice clubhouse and it's price....
                                                
    
    jus mi two cense  *8^)
    
    Bill

    I belong to Groton and think it's the best bargain around.  
    
    Hopefully the rain this week has helped to rejuvenate the fairways
    which, last weekend at least, were getting pretty brown.
    
    A couple of points:  Groton is just 9 holes, collared shirts are
    required and if you're looking to buy a cold beer after your round,
    you'll have to bring your own - I believe the Club has had a problem
    with the town of Groton re the granting of liquor/restaurant licenses.

     IMHO, both are lousy.
    
    --Jack

    re .4    Come on Jack, stop beating around the bush !

    re. 4
    
    Saying they are both "lousy" isn't very helpful to someone trying to
    make a decision.
    
    Could you be a little more specific?

     No character, not great condition, short and relatively uninteresting.
    However, both are fairly cheap and accessible. If you just wanna go
    "whack whitey," they serve the purpose. For a course of their genre,
    Heritage in Charlton is probably better. It depends on the needs of the
    individual, I guess. I just think there are a lot of better Publinx
    around. I don't want to offend members, but since this medium allows us
    our opinion (FWIW), that's mine.
    
    --Jack

    
    Hi
    	I agree with Jack Varley regarding Groton CC, I think the course
    is below par (no pun intended) . The thing that bothered me most was
    the blind shots. It gets a little scary out there !
    
    	For a good priced "hacker" course it's fine. Bring the kids ;) 
    
    	Walta

	I don't know either course, but Jack and Walta, you guys expressed 
your opinion, which was asked for by the way, in what seems to me, to be a 
very well intended way.  In other words, neither of you rtied to affend 
anyone, but just expressed your opinion.  Here, here!!!

Beak

    Walta,
    Wouldn't you consider a blind shot to be challenging?
    There is only about 3 or 4 blind shots and you could 
    always walk to the top of the hill to check it out.
     
                                               Rick

    Hi Rick,
    
    	I guess I should have qualified that statement... At Groton,
    	one of the holes in particular , I think it's #3? Requires a
    	good tee-shot, to setup your second shot. If you miss the
    	tee shot, the ball will end up a good walk up a steep hill
    	to see if the green is safe to hit to. I remember waiting on 
    	the 3rd tee for a half hour or more, while the players in front
    	trekked up the hill , waited ... , then trekked back down to
    	hit their shots. 
    
    	If the people on the course are familiar with the direction to
    	hit, play will move more quickly. I guess league play there
    	must have better results, because the players are familiar
    	with the blind shots. The couple times I've played there,
    	to be honest, I didn't want to go back...Alhtough I'm pretty easy
    	to please... Hell I even like the Red Sox ! ;)
    
    	Walta

    Can you reserve a tee time at Groton, on a weekend? What are the
    greens fees?
    

    Okay, so the answers to .12 are:
    
    1. yes
    
    2. $12 for 9; $16 for 18 (weekends & holidays)
    
    Played there today, only 9, but that was enough to convince me I'd seen
    as much of Groton as I cared to (it was too hot for 18, anyway). I
    should have been suspicious when we arrived at 10, and the parking lot
    was half empty (or half full, if you're an optimist). By the time I got
    through the first three holes, my round was in the dumper. Never saw so
    many sidehill, downhill lies in such a short time in my life!
    
    		Frank

    Groton is a challenge and it helps keep you fit when climbing the
    hills. I enjoy the challenge an the people who play there.

    RE: 14-
    
    Hooray! Someone with something positive to say about Groton!
    
    I, too, find the course "challenging" as compared to some other 
    "short" courses. Granted, if you hit the ball dead straight, and are
    as accurate as all get out, it's a "drive and a wedge" course. However,
    if you don't and aren't you will find lots of "challenges". I'm not
    thrilled about the blind shots, or the deadly climb up #2 either, but
    all in all it's fun- and the people are terrific.
    
    BTW- ain't that what it's all about?
    
    p.s.- the pool sure felt great after 18 on Sat. and Sun.......

    Okay, so maybe I was a little unfair to Groton...and now after a day to
    lick my wounds, I may reconsider (actually, if my buddy'd been willing,
    we would have gone around again Saturday...I felt like I'd been thrown
    from a horse, and wanted to climb back into the saddle again as quickly
    as possible; but he'd had a bad night Friday, and the heat was really
    getting to him). I'd had a terrible round, aggravated by a combination
    of factors: a new, unfamiliar course; three partners who were having
    even worse rounds than I was; being behind a very slow group; being
    hit into by an impatient group from behind (who had nerve enough to
    accuse us of picking up one of their balls); plus the brutal heat and
    humidity.
    
    I don't really object to a hilly course, since I believe in walking and
    getting the benefit of the exercise (my buddy wanted to take a cart,
    but luckily, there were none available when we got there). Well, at
    least it wasn't too crowded! Is this typical??
    
    		Frank

    Frank, 
    
    Re: crowded- it varies. Nancy and I have been there when it took 3 hrs.
    for 9, and this weekend, we did 18 in about 3-1/2. One thing that is
    a serious problem is that there is no bell to notify groups behind that 
    it's OK to hit. I have made the suggestion in the suggestion box, but
    nothing has been forthcoming. As a member, you get to know and
    understand the course, and the more you become familiar, you ralize the 
    hazards- so you will go up and check to see if you're clear.
    
    I do agree that it was brutal walking this weekend. Normally we walk,
    but considering the heat, et al- we had a cart. Also- for someone
    unfamiliar with the course- the placement of shots can be frustrating.
    You have to know *where* to hit, along with yardages/etc.
    
    Again, we find the course fun, and the "regulars" are swell folks- plus
    the staff of young people are courteous and pleasant. We played the
    second 9 Sat. with one of the young female lifeguards.....could she
    hit the ball!!!!
    
    Also, in the fall- the view from the 2nd green makes the ugly climb 
    wothwhile.....
    
    

    Re. 17 - Yes, that must be quite a view from the 2nd green when the
    foliage is in full color. It's pretty spectacular now! Too bad I wasn't
    in a more appreciative mood when I (finally) reached that vantage
    point. Maybe next time...
    
    
    		Frank

    I played Strawberry once, and I give it mixed marks with a slight tilt
    toward favorable (in fact, I intend to return in a couple of weeks).
    
    I'm not a great golfer, or even a good golfer. It was a challenge, but
    not too bad. There's some memorable holes - the first par 4 downhill
    with what I would term a "swamp-rough" is pretty interesting. There's a
    couple holes on the back nine which are pretty useless - the 17th and
    18th in particular. The 18th was in abysmal condition - most of the
    fairway wasn't grass but rocky dirt with weeds. Other than that, the
    course was in fairly good condition.
    
    It's pretty cheap at $16 per person, with cart (weekdays before 11).
    We called ahead to get a tee-time. We teed of at 11:00 or so, and ended
    up at 3:30, WITH a fairly long break (the break is after 10, not 9!)
    
    One thing did strike me funny about this course though - the
    inhabitants. First of all, I'm used to the older golfers being the
    sedate and more polite ones (old==wise, and all that). Here, the old
    guys were cussing and throwing clubs, and the young guys were mellow
    and just enjoying their game. Second, there was this grandfatherly
    type out with his grand-brats looking for balls. I got _so_ sick of
    them walking around the sides of the fairways we were playing, I
    contemplated using my sand wedge on 'em. At one point, I hooked into
    the rough (where they were again!) on a hole and ended up near them. One
    of the "golf entrepreneurs" made some comment like "that was close, I
    thought you were going to hit us", to which I responded, after flashing
    a look at the grandfather, that I didn't think it was quite close
    enough. Eventually, they took the hint and beat it, but they really
    bugged me for 7 or 8 holes in a row!
    
    For the sake of your nerves and your game, I hope they're not around if
    you ever play there.