Winchester Country Club – Played July 2022
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 468 Mystic Street, Winchester, Massachusetts
- Year: 1916
- Original Architect: Donald Ross
- Additional Work By: Ron Forse, Stephen Kay, & Jim Nagle
- Course Access: Private
- Walking Rules: Carts & Caddies Available
Score Card Information:
- Blue: 6,886 yards, Par 71, 73.5 Rating/137 Slope
- White: 6,474 yards, Par 71, 71.9 Rating/134 Slope
- Green: 6,126 yards, Par 71, 70.0 Rating/126 Slope
- Gold: 5,747 yards, Par 71, 68.1 Rating/123 Slope
- Red: 5,382 yards, Par 74, 72.1 Rating/127 Slope
- Silver: 4,222 yards, Par 74, Not Rated/Sloped
I had no idea just how close to Boston I would be when I played Winchester Country Club. You’ll see what I mean in some of the following photos.
The club itself dates back to 1897. Their was an original nine holes designed by Willie Campbell that gave way to a Alexander Finlay nine-hole layout on the current property in 1902. The 18-hole routing that exists today is all Donald Ross.
More about the club and site’s history can be found here. It’s worth taking a look at and perhaps diving deeper.
The tournament history is also long. The Massachusetts Amateur has been held at Winchester seven times. The Massachusetts Open has been hosted twice. My favorite nugget is the annual Father & Son tournament, which is said to be the longest running event of its kind in the country.
As for the golf, the holes are built on a hill near Mystic Lake and you know that to be true by the lay of the land. More to come in the photos. Let’s get on with the tour.
Hole 1 – 333 yards – Par 4
For me, it’s comforting to hit driver on the opening tee shot because it’s the largest face. Winchester asks a different question on its short opening hole. You can run out of room hitting directly at the bunkers so driver is only the play if you go way right on this dogleg right.
You quickly learn that the name of the game here is to be below the hole.
Hole 2 – 475 yards – Par 5
This hole is an early birdie opportunity. The fairway is generous and the green is open. We caught it on a downwind day which helped even more.
The green has a small false front but it not too crazy.
Hole 3 – 420 yards – Par 4
The difficulty meter turns up quickly on this long par four. For me a good drive and long iron was needed to get home.
It is subtle but there is plenty of slope in this green.
Hole 4 – 384 yards – Par 4
The elevation change factors into this hole and will make club selection a bit of a challenge. You absolutely do not want to come up short on the approach or you’ll be rolling back down the hill.
Hole 5 – 324 yards – Par 4
It can be tempting to take on the bunkers at this shorter hole. However, having a clean lie into the green is imperative. Above the hole here is asking for a bogey or worse.
With the front pin, anything on the back shelf is a likely three putt.
Hole 6 – 176 yards – Par 3
For a left miss player like me there is some fear on this tee shot. With a big hill in front and deep bunkers left, you need to summon a good one here.
Hole 7 – 378 yards – Par 4
This tee shot is a fader’s delight. The hole moves to the right while the fairway slopes right to left. Hard to believe I ended up in the left rough!
With the angle of the green it is quite beneficial to approach it from the right side of the fairway.
Hole 8 – 427 yards – Par 4
There is no doubt that this hole is a brute. It played a bit into the wind for us as well. Hitting a long club into this elevated green is quite the challenge.
The green gives you no respite either with the ample contouring.
Hole 9 – 164 yards – Par 3
Keep it out of the sand on this little devil. Additionally, the green has a great deal of slope.
Hole 10 – 423 yards – Par 4
The fairway is wide open here and the green is accepting. That doesn’t make the hole easy, rather it provides the proper challenge for the length.
The green is quite massive and you can see the tiers from the fairway as you get closer.
Hole 11 – 221 yards – Par 3
The par threes have a mix of length and I believe I hit four different clubs. I picked a good time to hit a stellar wood on this tough hole. I’m glad I only had to do it once!
Hole 12 – 470 yards – Par 5
The first of back to back par fives, this hole gives you a chance to get one back early on the finishing side. The drive will launch from the elevated tee and many players can even hit iron into the green.
Aside from the deep front bunker the green is pretty open.
Lest you get comfortable, there is still plenty of undulation to prevent an easy birdie.
Hole 13 – 510 yards – Par 5
Options is the operative word on this hole. There is an upper and lower fairway and your choice will heavily influence your second shots. The upper is treacherous but provides a better view and angle for the remaining shots.
The view below is looking back at the split fairway.
The hole turns hard left to get to the perched green.
Hole 14 – 141 yards – Par 3
This one is shorter than the others but not easy. The front bunker was a popular spot for our group.
Hole 15 – 384 yards – Par 4
We’ve got some good city views coming into focus here, as I mentioned at the beginning. If you can hit a fade, now is the time.
My hosts pointed out this old bridge as you walk off the tee. Pretty cool!
The fairway rises for a bit before plunging back down to the green. Depending on the firmness, landing your approach a little short can be a good idea.
Hole 16 – 390 yards – Par 4
From the tee the landing area is blind on this slight dogleg right. The reveal on the approach shot can only be imagined.
As you progress down the fairway the green starts to come into view. The elevation change is stark and it’s a cool presentation.
Looking back up the fairway puts the hole into perspective.
Hole 17 – 414 yards – Par 4
The final two holes at Winchester are demanding tests. Seventeen is long and straight, calling for two very solid shots.
Be aware of the steep slope at the front of this green.
Hole 18 – 440 yards – Par 4
The finisher is even longer than the previous hole and adds some left bend. The fairway cants left to right making the right rough a popular spot.
With a long approach, the open green is a welcome sight.
Winchester Country Club provides a mix of challenging and scoreable holes. It’s a traditional old school New England course in all the right ways. Good conditions and challenging land make it easy to see why tournaments are hosted here. The proximity to Boston is just an added bonus!