Golf Course review: The Ranch
Fill up your gas tank, we’re going to The Ranch; Southwick Massachusetts is a haul from Boston. We left Billerica at 6:45, down 495 to 290 then on to the Mass Pike; we were pushing 80 all the way to exit 3 before it got rural. An hour and a half is what it takes and it’s worth every minute.
The course is only 8 years old but the scorecards says “104 years in the making”… if it’s like a fine wine, it will get even better with age. This golf course is a gem! Do I dare say flawless?
The dilemma I face here is rating this course too high before I give the others a shot. How can I give out a perfect 10 when the rest of the field hasn’t showed me their shit? Without hesitation, this place sets the bar. Nothing I have played has ever been more enjoyable. The 2 times I have played here, I’ve sat in the clubhouse wanting to play more. And no other course has ever done that.
Hole after hole there are temptations and there are rewards. You don’t have to be a scratch player to put marks on the scorecard. My foursome consisted of a 10, two 15’s and a 30 handicap player. Every one of us worked the course and earned our par’s. Birdies are another story though; these greens are lightning fast so a bird needs to be earned.
What about the property? “The Ranch” is a ranch! It fits the name. The clubhouse is in a barn. The Pro Shop is in a barn. I’ve never been to Wyoming but I would figure this is what a ranch looks like. There are a few links style holes out near the property entrance but the majority of the holes are out on the hillside. Everyone is unique.
Always welcomed is the GPS units on the carts. These are the sister carts of the ones you can ride at Quarry Hills; modern, accurate and with your up to date scores on all your favorite sports. When tee’ing off, there are also pointers that are beneficial to the 1st time ranch player. In fact, on the downhill par 5 ninth, this GPS instructs you to let it rip so you can reach the green in 2. When have you ever been told to do that?
Bonnie, Bonnie, Bonnie…. She started off a little slowly, because we were golfing on a Sunday and she couldn’t serve us until 12. But when high noon hit, she was there for us at almost every hole. Beers, mixed drinks, whatever we needed. I think the secret to that is a fat tip right out of the gates. She was a nice lady as was everyone working the Ranch.
I have to give Kudos to the guys that made it out here to play with me today. This was a little different than banging out 9 at the local track; playing the Ranch is a whole day affair. Paska, Z, and Rusty were the 3 that made up my foursome. Z had a 30 foot eagle putt that turned into a 35 foot birdie try on the 13th; nice par Brian. I mentioned the greens were lightning fast, right? There was also a 3some a head of us that took the ride with us. Morgs, Gordo, and Dan… they had just as good a time as us.
Without hesitation, I will give this place a “MUST PLAY” for any level of golfer. Put aside a full day this summer and take a ride out to the Ranch. The course is worth every penny and I’m not even going to give you the cost of the greens fees. Just show up and enjoy.
The Ranch Golf Club is located at 100 Ranch Club Road
Southwick, MA 01077
For Tee Times: 413.569.9333
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