George Wright Golf Course – Played July 2021
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 420 W Street, Hyde Park, Massachusetts
- Year: 1938
- Architect: Donald Ross
- Course Access: Public
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Blue: 6,506 yards, Par 70, 71.9 Rating/133 Slope
- White: 6,237 yards, Par 70, 69.9 Rating/129 Slope
- Gold: 5,522 yards, Par 70, 66.2 Rating/126 Slope
- Red/Ladies: 4,908 yards, Par 70, 68.8 Rating/122 Slope
It’s hard to imagine what the setting for George Wright Golf Course was when it was built by Donald Ross in the late 1930s. Driving in now, through the Boston Metro area, it seems like a golf oasis amongst the concrete. Back then it must have been a more wide open space.
George Wright, the man, has a pretty interesting history. A Hall of Famer in baseball, he ran a sporting goods shop in Boston that employed a certain Francis Ouimet. Wright also helped in the development of Franklin Park, another Boston area municipal course.
George Wright (the course) was meant to be a private club but plans were abandoned when the stock market crashed in 1929.
Using money from the WPA, massive amounts of dynamite were used to move huge sums of dirt. Drainage pipe was added and by completion the course cost an estimated $1,000,000 to build. According to the course’s website, Walter Johnson (a Ross associate) took on the project as an engineer, but the course is listed as a Ross.
The clubhouse, seen below, was also built as part of the project. A bit grander than what you see at a lot of municipal courses.
I met up with Ben and Ro, two new friends from my Boston-area chat, so I had plenty of great guidance around the course. My old friend, Ira, also joined us on the fourth hole once he got through the Boston traffic. I don’t envy them for dealing with that! We chose the blue tees for the round.
Hole 1 – 394 yards – Par 4
The opener is straightforward but no pushover as it plays just under 400 yards.
You start to see on the first hole that this will not be your typical muni.
Hole 2 – 364 yards – Par 4
We get the start of some elevation change on the approach to this green. You do not want to hit your approach over the putting surface.
Hole 3 – 527 yards – Par 5
This hole is a beast since it plays uphill all the way. You’ve got to keep your shots between the thick trees and the perched green is no easy target.
Hole 4 – 159 yards – Par 3
As I mentioned, my buddy Ira joined us on this hole after getting out of the traffic. Straight out of the car and he hit it to 10 feet!
Hole 5 – 426 yards – Par 4
The fifth is one of the most interesting holes at George Wright. The green is hidden and a precise line is needed off of the tee.
Some of our turkey friends were staying out of the sun near this tee.
Depending on how far you hit your drive, the second shot may be blind as well.
Don’t worry though, a large green is down there.
Hole 6 – 384 yards – Par 4
It started on the previous hole, but I really liked this stretch of holes. I liked the visual framing of this hole from the tee. You can see the green down to the left.
Hole 7 – 433 yards – Par 4
While the length may grab you, I was taken by the massive fairway mounding. If a course can utilize that without feeling tricked up, I am all in for it. This hole is a great example of doing that the right way.
Hole 8 – 167 yards – Par 3
The uphill slope definitely makes this hole play longer. Choose your club accordingly.
Hole 9 – 449 yards – Par 4
The front features some gargantuan par fours. If you can get a draw slinging up the right side here it should bound down the slope a bit to shorten your approach.
Hole 10 – 462 yards – Par 4
The yardage is a little misleading here. The second shot plays starkly downhill and a good drive should leave you with a manageable approach shot.
Hole 11 – 350 yards – Par 4
Precision reigns over power on this dogleg right. Ideally you hit your drive to the top of the hill to set up a straightforward second shot.
Notice there is a good bit of slope in the front portion of the green.
Hole 12 – 412 yards – Par 4
Similar to the seventh, a good drive to the blind landing area should bound forward. The view from the top of the hill down to this green is a good one!
The green is a pretty massive target.
Check out the elevation change seen looking back to the fairway.
Hole 13 – 386 yards – Par 4
This tee shot felt tighter than it looks. There is a hazard left and thick rough right. I found it difficult to block that out.
Hole 14 – 189 yards – Par 3
With a false front, make sure you hit your tee shot far enough onto the green. It’s a big target commensurate with the length.
As a funny aside, Ben decided to do his “fitness” challenge here. Carrying his bag, he did 10 squats and then sprinted up the substantial hill to this tee box. Ah youth!
Hole 15 – 507 yards – Par 5
This is a bit of an awkward tee shot. Personally, I don’t like the bushes growing to obscure the view. The hole swings hard right and downhill. If you have the power fade, let that sucker loose.
I love a good net protecting the nearby houses. I’m saying that with zero sarcasm.
Hole 16 – 346 yards – Par 4
Plenty of rise to the green makes this one challenging. Also, three of us hit it near the carts on the left, so three instances of yelling fore gave us a good laugh.
Hole 17 – 167 yards – Par 3
After a day of poor play, it came together for this tee shot. My ball almost flew into the hole. I love the look of this green sitting into the hill with the bunker surrounds.
It may not appear so from the tee, but this green is elevated quite a bit.
Hole 18 – 384 yards – Par 4
The finishing hole bends slightly left, just enough to where you cannot see the green. I hit a bit of an indifferent drive up the right side. Golf has a sense of humor though. After almost holing a seven iron on the previous hole, I pulled the same club again. A good swing, drawing slightly, one-hopped into the hole for a deuce!
No putts for me on this green!
Playing George Wright was a fun time. There aren’t really any municipal courses near me at home, which is a shame. Boston is a great municipal golf city and I hope more cities take their lead. Muni golf is the lifeblood of the game and it can serve to get all types of people into the game. We definitely need more of that.
Secondly, getting to meet up with Ben and Ro was a great time. My streak of meeting fun people from the interwebs continues. It’s always fun to see my buddy Ira as well since we live so far away.
If you live in and around Boston and haven’t played George Wright, I don’t know what you are waiting for!