Golf in the State of Massachusetts
Massachusetts, officially known as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with nicknames "the Cradle of Liberty" and "the Bay State," is situated in the northeastern US and its eastern border is the Atlantic Ocean. Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York are bordering states. It is famous, of course, for Plymouth, founded by the Pilgrim passengers of the Mayflower. Relatives of those same Pilgrims have likely had a hand in developing the city's 15 golf courses, but the large majority of the state’s 363 golf courses are the 259 in the area of capital city Boston, followed by Springfield with 43, Pittsfield with 16, and 6 and 4 at Falmouth and Nantucket respectively.
The Country Club, Brookline Golf Club, one of the oldest country clubs in the United States and one of the founding clubs of the USGA, and was host of the 2022 US Open. The 9-hole public Cape Ann Golf Club, Essex, describes itself as "a hidden gem… A great course for all levels of play, with spectacular ocean views." The Red Tail Golf Club, Devens, named after the magnificent red-tailed hawks of the area, has received a review saying "Great layout. The course is always in great shape." The George Wright Golf Course, Hyde Park, has been referred to as the best municipal course in Massachusetts - the goal of the city administration is to "provide the best golf experience possible for the city's residents at an affordable rate." The 18-hole championship Waverly Oaks Golf Club, Plymouth, offers "a premium experience for golfers of all skill levels."
Paul Azinger, born in Holyoke, undoubtedly the best golfer to hail from Massachusetts, is now a TV golf analyst and resides in Bradenton, Florida. Other notables include Francis Ouimet, born in Brookline, often referred to as "the father of amatuer golf"; Jane Blalock, born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and now retired and residing in Cambridge, who was named the 1969 LPGA rookie of the year and holds the record for the most consecutive cuts made on a pro golf tour (299); Keegan Bradley, who has lived in both Portsmouth and Hopkinton, and who was the 2011 PGA Tour rookie of the year; Pat Bradley, winner of six major championships and member of the World Golf Hall of Fame; and Fred Corcoran, born in Cambridge, a non-player inductee into the World Golf Hall of Fame, who was once the business manager of some of the biggest names in golf.