wbjournal.com | Book of Lists 2021 | Worcester Business Journal 87
H O S P I T A L I T Y F O C U S
Toughest golf courses
Ranked by slope rating and then United States Golf Association rating
Course
Slope
rating USGA rating
Par for
course
Public,
private or
semi-
private Golf pro Club manager
Year
founded
1
The International Golf Club/The Pines (a)
159 Ballville Road, Bolton 01740
978-779-6911 • www.theinternational.com
155 81.7 72 Semi-private Paul Celano Steve Brennan 1957
2
Cyprian Keyes Golf Club
284 E.Temple St., Boylston 01505
508-869-9900 • www.cypriankeyes.com
146 76.2 72 Public Shawn Durocher David Frem 1997
3
Marlborough Country Club
200 Concord Road, Marlborough 01752
508-485-1660 • www.marlboroughcountryclub.com
145 78.8 72 Semi-private Greg Farland Michael Rodman 1922
4
Blissful Meadows Golf Club
801 Chockalog Road, Uxbridge 01569
508-278-6110 • www.blissfulmeadows.com
140 78.1 72 Semi-private Rick Cardoza Mark Laskowski 1992
5
Bedrock Golf Club
87 Barre-Paxton Road, Rutland 01543
508-886-0202 • www.bedrockgolfclub.com
140 73.8 72 Semi-private Joe Carr Joe Carr 1992
6
Charter Oak Country Club
394 Chestnut St., Hudson 01749
978-562-0800 • www.charteroakcc.com
140 73.3 71 Private Peter J. Hulbert Laura Cunningham 2001
7
Blackstone National Golf Club
227 Putnam Hill Road, Sutton 01590
508-865-2111 ext. 113 • www.bngc.net
139 74.6 72 Semi-private Patrick Beahn Matthew Stephens 1999
8
Pleasant Valley Country Club
95 Armsby Road, Sutton 01590
508-865-4441 • www.pleasantvalleycc.com
139 74.3 72 Private Paul Parajeckas Eileen Aviza 1961
9
Northern Spy Golf Club (b)
40 Scales Lane, Townsend 01469
978-597-8400 • northernspygc.com
138 74.6 70 Private Derick Fors Derick Fors 2020
10
The Haven Country Club
369 Cross St., Boylston 01505
508-869-2000 • www.thehavencountryclub.com
138 73.9 72 Private Hal Jacobs Brian Moffett 1955
11
Wedgewood Pines Country Club
215 Harvard Road, Stow 01775
978-897-1790 • www.wedgewoodpines.com
138 73.6 70 Private Peter Maki Joseph Pittorino 1997
12
New England Country Club
180 Paine St., Bellingham 02019
508-883-2300 • www.newenglandcountryclub.com
138 72.3 71 Public Michael Daron Julie Tartsinis 1990
12
Sterling National Country Club
33 Albright Road, Sterling 01564
978-422-0275 • www.sterlingcc.com
138 72.3 71 Private
Matthew
Bradbury
Matthew DePaolo 1991
14
Highfields Golf and Country Club
42 Magill Drive, Grafton 01519
508-839-1945 • www.highfieldsgolfcc.com
137 74.0 72 Public Bill Chisholm Beth Shropshire 2002
15
Red Tail Golf Club
15 Bulge Road, Devens 01432
978-772-3273 • www.redtailgolf.net
136 77.4 72 Public Chris Kasheta Chris Kasheta 2002
16
Holden Hills Country Club
1800 Main St., Holden 01520
508-829-3129 • www.holdenhillsgolf.com
136 76.0 74 Semi-private N/A Tanyon Ventres 1948
17
Shaker Hills Country Club
146 Shaker Road, Harvard 01451
978-772-3330 • www.shakerhills.com
136 73.9 72 Public Andrew Jordan Andrew Jordan 1991
18
Framingham Country Club
16 Gates St., Framingham 01702
508-872-9790 • www.framinghamcc.com
136 73.7 72 Private
Graham
Cunningham
Christopher Mitchell 1902
19
Franklin Country Club
672 E. Central St., Franklin 02038
508-528-6110 • www.franklincc.com
135 76.1 71 Private Anthony Maki Robert Carrick 1899
20
Shining Rock Golf Club
Golf was not doing so well.
Courses were often hurting, and
some even closing, as people
struggled to find the time, or per
-
haps the money, to play a round.
The coronavirus pandemic
changed that. A public health cri-
sis that meant being outside and
spread apart benefited a sport
that's all about those two things –
being out on the course with part
-
ners who might never need to
come within six feet of each other.
It was all enough to more or
less make up for the lack of wed-
dings, showers, and other ban-
quets golf courses would typically
rely on for much of their revenue,
especially in the warmer months.
It was also enough to pleasantly
surprise leaders of Central
Massachusetts golf courses
expecting a difficult year all
around.
"It took me by surprise," said
Troy Sprister, the general manager
of Worcester Country Club.
Sprister, whose club's history
stretches back more than a centu
-
ry, thought the pandemic would
bring crippling economic strug-
gles, forcing people to give up
their memberships. Instead, many
found extra time on their hands,
particularly if they now worked
from home or were forgoing travel.
They also found, rediscovered, or
doubled down on a leisure activity
rarely requiring coming too close
to others.
At the New England Country
Club in Bellingham, Mike Daron,
the golf director, tracked the dra
-
matic ups and downs of the 2020
season. A warm start to the year
brought the number of rounds up
87% from where it would normally
be. Then the pandemic hit. The
course was then down 23%. It fin
-
ished the year up 30%, despite
weeks in the spring in which all
courses were forced to close
"Unheard of. Historic," Daron
said of New England Country
Club's year.
Golf clubs look
to capitalize on
increased
interest
Worcester Country Club
