Butternut Farm in Stow was number 24 on my list. This place is kinda bonkers. Tree-lined and extremely narrow basically all the way around the course. Sometimes it feels like a bowling ball might be a better object to use than a ball and club. Some holes make up for the tightness with massive greens, which sadly had been punched recently. The course’s first six holes weave through the woods, but with space to breath. The claustrophobia starts on 6 when the trees tighten up and then on 7 you’re faced with the first option to hit driver on a short par 5. The 8th is a great, short par 4. It’s drivable but requires a long carry over water. The back starts with a long par 5 and more tightness. Then a breather for a few holes. The best tee shot on the course is the par 4 14th. An uphill tee shot to a tight landing spot protected by, you guessed it, a tree on the right side. I joke about the trees, but they play such a big part at Butternut that some tees are unplayable due to the overhang, so the tips have to be moved up. That’s a shame. The routing is also funny, a lot of walks from greens to tees along the hole you’re about to play. We even got lost at one point, missing the 16th hole when we walked to 17 tee.
For a Tuesday afternoon fall round, it was great. A wonderful walk through the woods with my brother, who was visiting. Stow, MA has a ton of golf. This is the first one I’ve played on this quest. Looking forward to seeing how the others measure up.
in Stow was number 24 on my list. This place is kinda bonkers. Tree-lined and extremely narrow basically all the way around the course. Sometimes it feels like a bowling ball might be a better object to use than a ball and club. Some holes make up for the tightness with massive greens, which sadly had been punched recently.
The course’s first six holes weave through the woods, but with space to breath. The claustrophobia starts on 6 when the trees tighten up and then on 7 you’re faced with the first option to hit driver on a short par 5. The 8th is a great, short par 4. It’s drivable but requires a long carry over water.
The back starts with a long par 5 and more tightness. Then a breather for a few holes. The best tee shot on the course is the par 4 14th. An uphill tee shot to a tight landing spot protected by, you guessed it, a tree on the right side.
I joke about the trees, but they play such a big part at Butternut that some tees are unplayable due to the overhang, so the tips have to be moved up. That’s a shame. The routing is also funny, a lot of walks from greens to tees along the hole you’re about to play. We even got lost at one point, missing the 16th hole when we walked to 17 tee.
For a Tuesday afternoon fall round, it was great. A wonderful walk through the woods with my brother, who was visiting. Stow, MA has a ton of golf. This is the first one I’ve played on this quest. Looking forward to seeing how the others measure up.
THE FACTS
Date: October 6
Tee TIme: 2:15PM
Playing Partner: Ryan
Tees: Back Tees (6302 yards)
Game: No game
Score: 78
Birdie Count: 0 (29 total)