64 Worcester Business Journal | Book of Lists 2024 | wbjournal.com
F O C U S H O S P I T A L I T Y
Toughest golf courses
Ranked by slope rating, then United States Golf Association rating
Course Slope rating
USGA
rating Course par Head golf pro Club manager
Type/
year founded
1
The International Golf Club The Pines (1)
159 Ballville Road, Bolton 01740
978-779-6911 • theinternational.com
155 81.7 72 Jim DeMaille
Steve Alden
Paul Celano
Private
1957
2
Shaker Hills Country Club
146 Shaker Road, Harvard 01451
978-772-3330 • shakerhills.com
145 74.2 72 Andrew Jordan Andrew Jordan
Public
1991
3
Red Tail Golf Club
15 Bulge Road, Devens 01432
978-772-3273 • redtailgolf.net
145 74 72
Dillon
Malcolmson
Lauren Scerra
Public
2002
4
Charter Oak Country Club
394 Chestnut St., Hudson 01749
978-562-0800 • charteroakcc.com
145 73.6 71 Steve Sheridan
Laura
Cunningham
Private
2001
5
Sterling National Country Club
33 Albright Road, Sterling 01564
978-422-0275 • sterlingcc.com
144 72.9 71
Matthew
Bradbury
Jeffrey Carroll
Private
1991
6
The International Golf Club The Oaks
159 Ballville Road, Bolton 01740
978-779-6919 • theinternational.com
142 74.4 72 Jim DeMaille
Steve Alden
Paul Celano
Private
2001
7
Shining Rock Golf Club
91 Clubhouse Lane, Northbridge 01532
508-234-0400 • shiningrock.com
142 74.2 72 Mike Stacy Lou Papadellis
Semi-private
2010
8
Blackstone National Golf Club
227 Putnam Hill Road, Sutton 01590
508-865-2111, ext. 113 • bngc.net
139 74.6 72 Patrick Beahn
Matthew
Stephens
Semi-private
1999
9
Pleasant Valley Country Club
95 Armsby Road, Sutton 01590
508-865-4441 • pleasantvalleycc.com
139 74.3 72 Paul Parajeckas Eileen Aviza
Private
1961
10
Cyprian Keyes Golf Club
284 E.Temple St., Boylston 01505
508-869-9900 • cypriankeyes.com
139 72.7 72 Shawn Durocher David Frem
Public
1997
11
Framingham Country Club
16 Gates St., Framingham 01702
508-872-9790 • framinghamcc.com
138 73.6 72
Graham
Cunningham
Michael Methot
Private
1902
12
Marlborough Country Club
200 Concord Road, Marlborough 01752
508-485-1660 • marlboroughcountryclub.com
138 72.4 71 Greg Farland Charlotte Hillery
Semi-private
1922
13
New England Country Club
180 Paine St., Bellingham 02019
508-883-2300 • newenglandcountryclub.com
138 72.3 71 Michael Daron Julie Tartsinis
Public
1990
14
Wedgewood Pines Country Club
215 Harvard Road, Stow 01775
978-897-1790 • wedgewoodpines.com
137 73.8 70 Sean Duong Ken Elworthy
Private
1997
15
The Haven Country Club
369 Cross St., Boylston 01505
508-869-2000 • thehavencountryclub.com
136 74.4 72
Christian
Comeau
David Shannon
Private
1955
16
Kettle Brook Golf Club (2)
136 Marshall St., Paxton 01612
508-799-4653 • kettlebrookgolfclub.com
136 73.6 72
Nicholas
Marrone
Cara Cullen
Semi-private
1999
17
Northern Spy Golf Club
40 Scales Lane, Townsend 01469
978-597-8400 • northernspygc.com
136 71 70 Tim Bishop Derick Fors
Private
2020
18
Highfields Golf and Country Club
42 Magill Drive, Grafton 01519
508-839-1945 • highfieldsgolfcc.com
135 73.6 72 Bill Chisholm Beth Shropshire
Public
2002
19
Worcester Country Club
2 Rice St., Worcester 01606
508-853-8064 • worcestercc.org
133 74 70 Andy Lane Troy Sprister
Private
1900
20
Maplegate Country Club
160 Maple St., Bellingham 02019
508-966-4040 • maplegate.com
133 72.4 72 Greg Dowdell Leonard French
Public
1990
Sources: USGA Course Rating and Slope Database, survey of country clubs and course websites as of Q1 2024. Note: The course ratings, slope ratings, and
course par were taken from
the most difficult tee for males.
(1) Expected to open redesigned version of The Pines course for limited play by members in fall 2024
(2) No longer hosting events
-Compiled by: Stephanie R. Meagher, research@nebusinessmedia.com
U.S. golf
simulator
participants
The National Golf Foundation has
seen a significant spike in the
number of golfers aged 6 or older
who have participated in virtual golf.
0
1M
2M
3M
4M
5M
6M
7M
Number of U.S. golf
simulator participants
'14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 '20 '21 '22 '23
Notes: Figures were compiled in Novem-
ber 2023, and the 2023 overall number
is an unofficial, year-end estimate. The
exact totals for 2015-2018 weren't
specified but were all around 3.6 million.
The National Golf Foundation defined a
participant as those who hit golf balls in
a golf simulator or into a screen with a
launch monitor/shot tracker at a com-
mercial location, golf facility, retail store,
specialty clubfitter, or private home.
Source: National Golf Foundation
