Winter New England Golf

[jamo]

for the memberships, i can just buy the 99$ 16 reg buckets and be able to hit the practice area all year? Planning on joining mcc this year so not looking to spend a very large amount before dues come but definitely want to keep hitting balls through the winter.

Well, they don't really regulate usage of the practice area, so you can really use that whenever you want, but it would be a little better morally i guess to get the $100 bucket.

Also, in mcc do you mean Marlborough CC, i love that place. I played a tournament there over the summer, shot a decent 78 and came in 2nd by 1 shot.

[murphmjm]

sounds like the 99$ deal is the way to go!

and yes, Marlborough CC. I've lived in Marlborough most of my life and have never played the course. I finally got back into golf this year after living in Miami and not being able to afford to play. Started just going to Berlin to get back into my swing now its time to play a real course again. Are the greens over at Marlborough as wicked as my friend has been telling me, if so i'll be in for a real treat. I worked at charter oak for a summer and we double cut the greens lots of times for the weekend, that course was nice but a bit wide open, although the 12th green is hell on earth :P

[jamo]

sounds like the 99$ deal is the way to go!

Fastest greens i've ever played, yup, and i've played in some state level tournaments and never found anything close. Similar speeds near Marlborough include Framingham CC and Hopkinton CC, but they really don't compare.

Also, since you've been to Charter Oak, have you ever heard of/been to the indoor golf place i mentioned earlier, Golfrite? Its literally right around the corner from Charter Oak. To say it nicely, i don't recommend it.

[bogeyhitter25]

Just went to the indoor "range" in Marlborough. It was okay, nothing great. The mats were pretty good, and you hit into nets that are about 20 yards in front of you. All in all, I think it was worth $10 for 70 balls. I want to try out Natick, and Southborough as well sometime.

[jamo]

What was it called? We've mentioned ECG in Northborough and Golfrite in Hudson, but noting really in Marlborough.

[murphmjm]

I've not been to the indoor range in hudson, i checked out the website but id rather just go hit outside as it looked pretty small. If your recommendation earlier was about the golfrite in hudson don't think i'll be going there anytime soon. As for Marlborough the only real driving range is over by the junkyard on rt20, its awful and smells of garbage in the summertime. I'm pretty sure that the range by the rotary in berlin/salmon pond mall area is still around, not sure about the winter.

[murphmjm]

Went over to the southboro range yesterday. The balls were rock hard and the mats so hard my clubs were sparking, don't think ill be going back till the grass opens.

[safetrip]

I went Natik Golf Center over the weekend. Only indoor part, of course. The putting area is rather small but they have about 5-6 net hitting bays, which were't that crowded. There are two golf simulators. Using hitting bays is only $6 for all day, which I thought was pretty good deal. You can also try different clubs available there. The golf simulator looked nice- it can be in driving range mode or actual golf course mode. Driving range mode gives you all the swing info- club speed, ball speed, flight, distance and club path. Golf course mode is basically playing virtual golf game. The only thing is it's $50 per person/hour, which I thought was too pricy.

Overall, I liked the fact that I can just hit the balls to the net unlimited $6. It's beats hitting a mat at home. I just wish the golf simulator was a little cheaper.

[safetrip]

Went over to the southboro range yesterday. The balls were rock hard and the mats so hard my clubs were sparking, don't think ill be going back till the grass opens.

I work near the southborough range so I go there almost every week during the season. I was thinking of going when I see the temperature going up at least 40.

Yeh, I had the same problem with the mats so I usually bring my own portable strip. Regarding the grass, in 2008, there was grass hitting area with extra charge. But last year, somehow they stopped offering the grass area. I don't know why. You can get a 40 bucket card that give some discount. You can also get a $40 (or 50?) membership that allows you use the short game area for one year.

[jamo]

Went over to the southboro range yesterday. The balls were rock hard and the mats so hard my clubs were sparking, don't think ill be going back till the grass opens.

Sorry to hear that. I've never been there in the winter, though, so i can't say I've had the same (or a different) experience.

I went Natik Golf Center over the weekend. Only indoor part, of course. The putting area is rather small but they have about 5-6 net hitting bays, which were't that crowded. There are two golf simulators. Using hitting bays is only $6 for all day, which I thought was pretty good deal. You can also try different clubs available there. The golf simulator looked nice- it can be in driving range mode or actual golf course mode. Driving range mode gives you all the swing info- club speed, ball speed, flight, distance and club path. Golf course mode is basically playing virtual golf game. The only thing is it's $50 per person/hour, which I thought was too pricy.

I went there over the weekend too. I like the fact that hitting balls is only $6, but i agree, $50 is too much for the simulators. If it is really empty, sometime they let you use them free for a little while.

I also agree about the putting green. The cups are poorly installed, there is only really enough room for 1 person, and some of the putts break so much you need to put it off the green. I'd rather just putt at home and spend more of my time actually hitting balls. Also, if anyone cares, the indoor range that i had mentioned earlier, Golfrite, (the place i now dislike) is moving to The International Golf Course in Bolton, MA. Their e-mail seems to imply going to Golfrite at The International will let you use the clubs other facilities, but it is pretty vague and The International is pretty private so i doubt it.

[TheMassHacker]

Not sure what kind of drive you guys would be looking at, but the ForeKicks facility in Norfolk (just off of Route 1) has an indoor driving range.

http://www.forekicks.com/content/ind...n=drivingrange

[jamo]

Not sure what kind of drive you guys would be looking at, but the ForeKicks facility in Norfolk (just off of Route 1) has an indoor driving range.

Apparently there is one in Marlborough too. That might come in handy. The problem for me is that in the winter they are only open on weekdays from 9-3, and i don't get out of school 'til 1:50, so i probably couldn't get there untill 2:20-2:30, and that doesn't leave much time. Maybe i'll check it out ofter Midterms next week. I get out a 11 then. I like how you can see the flight of the ball

[murphmjm]

i think the one in Marlborough is just for soccer unfortunately

[safetrip]

i think the one in Marlborough is just for soccer unfortunately

Nope, it has driving range too.

http://www.forekicks.com/marlboro/co...n=drivingrange 200 x 100 yard big. It looks great although it may be the ceiling that's going to stop your ball first. But I cannot complain compared to hitting into a net 10 yard away Can't wait to check it out.

[murphmjm]

wish i knew that earlier haha, no more 20 min drive to hit balls! Went to east coast today, mats were much better than in southboro, still hard but thats cause of the cold mostly. Its way to cold to be outside to be going to the range! I'll have to check out the marlborough forekicks this week, good find masshacker/safetrip!

[jamo]

Nope, it has driving range too.

wish i knew that earlier haha, no more 20 min drive to hit balls! Went to east coast today, mats were much better than in southboro, still hard but thats cause of the cold mostly. Its way to cold to be outside to be going to the range! I'll have to check out the marlborough forekicks this week, good find masshacker/safetrip!

Well i just went to ForeKicks Marlborough today, and it was great. You get a large bucket of balls and you hit into a net about 50 yards away. Also i was the only one there so that was neat. The distance is just enough so you can see snap-hooks and sh**ks and also a little bit of curve on baby draws and fades. I had been to ForeKicks Norfolk before and they are nearly identical.

Another good thing is that i found that the ceiling only affected LW and SW shots. It provided enough height for all of my irons, and i liked being able to pick targets to hit to on the far net. Also, because it's indoors, no cold mats!

[TheMassHacker]

The distance is just enough so you can see snap-hooks and sh**ks and also a little bit of curve on baby draws and fades. I had been to ForeKicks Norfolk before and they are nearly identical.

Yeah, the short distance to the back wall is the only drawback. I use it more a place to work on getting a repetitive swing (something I'm still working on as a newcomer to the game), instead of trying to see how far I can hit my drives. But I was at McGolf in Dedham the other day and, despite the heater's best efforts, the wind was just too much for it. Inside at ForeKicks I didn't even need a jacket.

[jamo]

Yeah, the short distance to the back wall is the only drawback. I use it more a place to work on getting a repetitive swing (something I'm still working on as a newcomer to the game), instead of trying to see how far I can hit my drives. But I was at McGolf in Dedham the other day and, despite the heater's best efforts, the wind was just too much for it. Inside at ForeKicks I didn't even need a jacket.

I'm not a fan of outdoor ranges, at least in the winter. I can never get loose enough when it's cold out so i never really know where my swing is. Plus, it is always so windy, you really don't know where the ball is going. The major drawback to indoor ranges is that you have no idea where the ball is going, although that has sort or trained me to really go by feel. ForeKicks sort of has the best of both worlds.

BTW how is McGolf. I was in the neighborhood once (at the Apple Store opening, got a free t-shirt) but it was raining like all hell when i got to the driving range so i didn't go. I didn't look as nice from the parking lot as is does on their website, but then again it was raining so hard i thought i needed to build an ark. Also, i thought they had a Golf Zone pro shop, but apparently they don't have it anymore?