Start your golf day on top of the world
It’s easy to feel like you are on top of the world when starting a round on Granite Links Golf Club’s Granite Course. The tee box is about 290 feet up, nearly the highest point of the property, and provides great views of the Boston skyline just 7.5 miles away.
The par5 opening hole plays 513 yards from the tips. Downhill from tee to green, No. 1 provides plenty of options whether going for the green in 2 or 3.
“Aggressive players can take advantage of a narrow chute off the tee,” Granite Links head professional Stephen Clancy said.
For them, the line is over the fairway bunker on the left that requires a 225-yard carry. Anything short of 270 will be fine before the fairway narrows on the left side. Longer hitters with a tendency to spray the ball bring a hazard into play on the right.
The second shot also requires a player to fly a marshy area that stretches between the fairway and the green, which sits about 145 feet lower than the tee box. There is a bailout area to the left of the green, and there is a bunker behind it.
Those who play for the green in 3 shots get a nice wide fairway to take aim at, the line being in between the two fairway bunkers. A short- to midiron second shot will carry the first hazard and will leave a wedge approach into a tough green.
“The green complex is receptive with wonderful undulations to test putters,” Clancy said. The hole plays 436 yards from the red tees, 453 from the white and 488 from the blue, and runs west toward the Blue Hills Reservation.
Earlier this year, Golf Digest ranked Granite Links No. 18 on its “Best Courses in Massachusetts” list while the most recent “Best Courses You Can Play in Massachusetts” list from Golf Magazine had it at No. 9.