Of course, city links change perceptions
The 110th Massachusetts Amateur was the first time the tournament was played on a municipal golf course.
The players raved about the conditions at both George Wright Golf Course in Hyde Park, which hosted the final four days of the event, and William J. Devine GC at Franklin Park, which hosted the first day, proving the investment by the city into the courses over the last 20 years paid dividends.
“It’s great for our courses and it puts a real spotlight on our public courses in Boston,” Mayor Martin J. Walsh said. “When we go to other places, you hear mayors talk about their public courses and big tournaments on them. Having the amateur here is big for the city courses and a boost for the staff of these courses and the people that play on these courses.
“George Wright and Franklin Park are home courses for a lot of golfers. You’re never going to read about them in the newspaper or see them on TV, but everyone is talking about this tournament this week, and everyone is excited for the women’s tournament as well.”
Patrick Frodigh grew up playing at Dedham Country & Polo Club, but felt this week proved that a public facility can be a worthy host.
“I know when I saw these two courses were hosting the Mass Am, I thought it was awesome public courses could be brought up to the limelight, and this course is unbelievable, and Franklin Park is, too,” he said after accepting the trophy following his 4 and 3 win over Herbie Aikens. “The superintendent and the grounds crew here have done a phenomenal job to not only make the conditions great, but how firm it’s been and how lush it’s been with the heat, it’s pretty spectacular.”
Even though the tournament was an exclamation point to a significant rebuilding effort, Boston Parks and Recreation has plans to continue to improve both courses and show that municipal course golfers can expect the same type of playing conditions like those at a country club.
“We’re going to look at the next 10 years and continue to build out this golf course and bring it back to be at the level it was intended to be, and we’re going to continue to partner with Mass Golf and talk about maybe making it a permanent spot in the rotation,” Parks and Recreation director Dennis Roache said. “I think this was the perfect showcase to let everybody know that we’re capable of hosting an event like this.”
Roache said the next wave of improvements include the 12th fairway and cleaning up the trees and underbrush that line the holes.
“You’re going to come back in five and 10 years, and you’re already amazed at how it looks today, but you’re going to be more amazed at how it looks five and 10 years from now,” he said.
The Women’s Amateur will also be at George Wright from July 30-Aug.2, also for the first time at a municipal course.