As one of the 5 charter clubs that founded the USGA, The Country Club holds an important place in golf history. It has hosted a number of championships over the years but none more notable than the 1913 US Open. The event was won by Francis Ouimet, a 20 year old former caddy that grew up across the street from the golf course. The improbable victory was later immortalized in a book and a major motion picture. 109 years later the US Open would come back to The Country Club for a fourth visit. I would arrive in a Lexus.
I can only imagine that Francis Ouimet would have loved the Lexus LC 500. But since the players didn’t have courtesy cars in 1913, we can’t be sure. The only certainty is that when you show up in a Lexus, you arrive in style.
Now that I have your attention, let’s dig into the details of the Lexus experience in Boston. Since I had a fancy car, I needed to go places and I needed to show off my sweet wheels. Here are my favorite options for golf and golf related activities in the Boston area. Inspired by the Lexus LC500 I have broken this Boston guide down into 4 categories for luxury and convenience.
9 hole golf options
Boston Triple H (Hangs, Hotels and Hot spots)
Extreme value report
Top Tier must plays
9 Hole Golf Options
Only three 9 hole options in the Boston area receive the pjkoenig.com official seal of approval. Chatham Seaside Links is the first of those options. This little nine holer offers 7 par 4’s and two par 3’s with nothing stretching longer than 275. Just minutes from downtown Chatham and Chatham Bars Inn, the Seaside Links gives you a peak of the Atlantic on the 7th and 8th holes.
Chatham Bars Inn - Cape Cod’s finest luxury hotel.
My other option for nine hole play is also located on Cape Cod. For those thinking about complaining, make the drive out to Truro and play Highland Links before you come in hot. I am happy to cover your greens fee if you think this course isn’t worth the drive. Golf has been played on this land for more than 100 years and it’s as close to an authentic Scottish links experience as you will find on the eastern seaboard.
Designed by legendary architect George C Thomas in 1904, Marion Golf Club marks the beginning of a historic architectural career. After Marion, Thomas went on to design Riviera, Bel Air and others. The course is short and fun with the original stone walls defining the golf experience. With Sippican Harbor peaking in on several holes, this is $20 well spent. For $50 you can play unlimited golf all day long.
Hotels Hangs and Hot Spots
My #1 favorite spot to hang in Boston is Fenway Park. Few stadiums in MLB deliver the ambiance like Fenway and the only serious contender is Wrigley Field. If you want to get specific on the hang, I would suggest the Lexus suite section. Soft serve in one of those little plastic baseball helmets is a must
It is rumored that George Washington slept at the Beacon XV hotel in Boston. Frankly, with it’s top notch service and rooftop putting green, I am not sure why George would want to stay anywhere else. Having stayed in a wide range of hotels in my life, it’s always nice to visit a spot that has the”it factor.” With a combination of location, style, and attentiveness, the Beacon is one of the finest spots to stay in the city. I know I will always look to the Beacon when I return to Boston.
The roof top putting green at the Beacon is a serious Bean town hot spot.
The LC500 in. front of the Beacon. A winning combination.
Even though it only comes around once every quarter century, the Lexus US Open hospitality tent on 18 is certainly one of the hottest spots in Boston. It served as the perfect operating HQ for all of my US Open operations. As you can see below operations is used strictly as a technical term.
Extreme Value Report
One of my favorite things to find in a new town is a golf course that captures the essence of the local golf community. When it comes to Boston, nothing fits the bill more perfectly than George Wright Golf Club. This Donald Ross design is open to the local public and provides some of the best value in the city. With green fees ranging from $12-$57 everyone can enjoy golf at George Wright.
Top Tier Must Plays
Most of the exceptional golf courses in the Boston area are private and are a true treat for the golfer that is fortunate enough to secure a tee time. Here is a quick sample of my favorites. You can check out the full lineup of my Boston area golf courses on my Massachusetts home page.
Essex County Club boasts one of the best back nines in America. With a strong start on the front side, the action picks up significantly on the 10th and 11th holes. Winding its way around a large rocky hill, Donald Ross takes advantage of the dramatic terrain and leaves the golfer with a strong impression all the way to the clubhouse.
The Kittanset Club is widely regarded as a William Flynn design but it was founding member Frederic C. Hood who oversaw the construction of the golf course based on his substantial knowledge of American and British golf courses of the time. With Flynn consulting on the project, the result is a timeless and very playable design. The eye candy reaches epic levels quickly on the island green 3rd hole.
Myopia Hunt Club was designed and built by Herbert C Leeds in 1894. This experience came in handy for Herbert when he tied for 7th place as an amateur in the 1898 US Open. When the open returned in 1901 the course played so difficult that not a single golfer broke 80 in any tournament round resulting in the first playoff in US Open history. Willie Anderson won his first of four US Open titles over Alex Smith in the inaugural playoff.
The majority of top tier golf in Boston comes from the golden age, but not everything needs to be old in order to be elite. Boston Golf Club is a true modern classic built and designed by Gil Hanse that opened for play in 2005.
As one of the finest spots in America for golf I am able to offer rare “100% good time guarantee” if you are able to take part in any of the above experiences.