[Tom Bagley]

Very good hole-by-hole flyover of the site of the 114th Massachusetts Amateur Championship beginning on Monday, July 11, courtesy of Mass Golf.


http://youtu.be/_Vrlhz0cz8M


The course features great land forms, enhanced by significant tree clearing over the past twenty years.  A Donald Ross design built in two stages with later renovations/restoration work by Ron Prichard and Andrew Green.  The par-four 2nd and 4th holes are uniquely dramatic and memorable.

[Dan_Callahan]

I love the course, but I will admit that I am not a fan of the 2nd. If that hole didn't have Donald Ross's name attached to it, I think it would be reviled.


The 4th, on the other hand, is one of my favorite par 4s anywhere. I remember the first time I played the course, I wen't over the green on 1 and 3, and the guy I was playing with reminded me that on a Ross course, short is always better than long. So on the 4th hole, I hit a good drive that went to the bottom of that fairway depression, so I couldn't really see the green. I goy my yardage and played one less club. Hit it perfectly, only to hear the guy say, "oh, you don't want to be short on this one." Little did I know that the grand canyon fronted that green.


The tree clearing on the 5th has turned one of the weaker holes on the front 9 into one of the best. And the green on the 7th when they have the speed up is virtually impossible if you are above the hole.

[Tom Bagley]

Dan:
I know that #2 can produce some scorecard train-wrecks, but it is much improved with some of the clearing that has been done, particularly on the right side.  Some very long hitters can now attempt to carry the corner and potentially be rewarded, albeit there is a new back tee on the hole that makes that shot even more difficult.


The original nine holes laid out by Ross are on the flatter part of the property (1, 8, 9 and 13-18), and he had his work cut out to find nine additional holes over the rugged terrain when he was asked to expand the course to 18 holes.   I think it's quite clever how Ross found a small plateau on which to turn the dog-leg on #2.  It may be somewhat "target golf,"  I suppose, but an ingenious solution, nevertheless.

[John Foley]

Mass Golf on You tube haas some great flyovers of Essex & Kittansett also. Just need to dig back in to find them.

[Brad Tufts]

Hi Tom,


I won't be at the Amateur this year...I applied my qualifier time to an Ireland trip later this month...but I will hopefully see you at the Dawson!  I consider Concord one of the more underrated courses in Mass, but you probably know that already...


I like both 2 and 4, they are forced long-iron holes for a 260-270 hitter like me, but done very well using landforms instead of hazards.  I actually like 2 a bit better as long approach shots can bounce in, where 4 is all-carry.  4 gets a bit more dynamic from the middle tee, as one might challenge the corner, but you trade distance for a blind shot from the first gully.


I look forward to seeing #10 as well with one less tree!


-Brad

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