Forest Park, Adams, MA

[Ken Fry]

I was perusing through Harper's Official Golf Guide 1901 this evening.  I grew up in Western Massachusetts so I was looking at what clubs existed in 1901.

Forest Park is a 9 hole, par 34 course opened in 1901, designed by Alex Findlay in Adams, Massachusetts.  The course has been mentioned on GCA before usually around discussions of Findlay.  I grew up 20 minutes from the course.  I opened the club's website to get some background information and came across the layout of the course.

Club website link:  https://forestparkadams.com/

Course Layout link:  https://forestparkadams.com/course/

Compare the above layout with the following link to Google Maps:
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6206206,-73.1269762,540m/data=!3m1!1e3

Looking at the satellite view, I can't think of any course in the US with this many crossing holes or crossing roads in 9 holes.  Over the last five years I've gotten into hickory golf and this looks like an amazing opportunity to play old school golf on what appears a relatively untouched Findlay course.  For those who have been there (Pat Burke, Jim Kennedy) what's your input on this course?  There aren't too many courses like this remaining anywhere!

Ken

[Jim_Kennedy]

Ken,
I posted this about FPCC nearly a decade ago, and I've been back there a few times since then. Nothing ever seems to change at this course, which is a good thing. It's the perfect place to bring a few clubs, steel or especially  hickory, and have a ball playing a course that is firmly rooted in the past.
      -Par of 68 (2 go-rounds), 5183 yds. from the 'tips' 
-Some wild and undulating terrain w/small but tamer greens, although there are only three greens that are 'flat'
-No fairway bunkers ( not needed, see above) 
-A 'volcano' par 4 and other well sited greens, one in particular seems to be growing right out of a ridge w/a steep drop off to the left
-One down and one uphill par 3
-A couple of holes w/ hidden greens and fronting swales that will kick a ball toward a bunker or a steep drop off at the side if you don't make the surface
-Either an uphill, downhill or side hill drive from every par 4, save one
-You hit over roadways eight times if playing 18 holes.
-Just a real throwback and fun to play.  The view of Mt. Greylock to the west is worth the price ($) of admission.