Pinehills Golf Club - Nicklaus Course

Pinehills has been on my list of courses to play in the Boston area for a couple of years now. We chose to play the Nicklaus course for our first visit. At $135, it's close to the top of my budget for a casual weekend round. However, Pinehills does not disappoint.

As you approach the clubhouse, you are greeted by bag boys who take your clubs and place them on a cart. The inside of the clubhouse is clean and quiet. Once you have paid, you go out the back exit towards the large practice range. Plenty of space out there. The bag boys have already parked your cart next to the range (it can be slightly difficult to spot your cart in the sea of easily 30 parked there). We decided to skip the range and headed to Nicklaus 1 and the practice green beside the tee box.

The course starter is at the first hole to greet you. He explains pin locations for the day and any applicable cart rules. Since this was our first time, he walked through some local knowledge that would help our round and walked us through the cart's touchscreen GPS system. I did discover that yardages on the GPS tended to be slightly overstated (no more than about 9-10 yards and you quickly adjust). The starter also provides an ice cold bottle of water for each player and scorecards/pencils.

Course conditions were immaculate given COVID circumstances. Even without rakes on the course, the bunkers were well maintained. The tee boxes (we played Blue - about 6,640 yards) were perfectly flat and also in good shape. The course itself is relatively flat and most holes were fairly straight. There are maybe 2 or 3 holes that have tee shots blind to the green. The bunkering is what makes the course a little more challenging. Fairway bunkers designed to punish aggressive lines are on nearly every hole. If not in a bunker, missing a fairway in the rough is still very safe. The rough was fairly trimmed. Tree-lined fairways also provide forgiveness as most balls into the trees bounce out or straight down. The greens were incredibly fast. We discovered quickly that you merely need to pick a line and just get the ball rolling. The green speed took care of the rest.

The cart girl passed us 3-4 times throughout the round, which is ample time to refuel. The grill at the 10th tee is not open due to COVID and the cart's food options were limited to snacks/candy and a few deli wraps. Unfortunately, I could not gobble any glizzys during my round.

After the 18th green, the cart path returns you to the clubhouse and practice area. Once again, the cart boys emerge to ask you how your round went and clean off your clubs before placing them on the bag stand in front of the clubhouse.

This place advertises "Be a Member for a Day" and lives up to the reputation. I will return to play the Jones course this month.

Playing a round at Pinehills is a special treat. Grounds are beautiful and course design is well laid out.

Such a great course and for the money we paid was essentially more than half off. Would come back every week.

Favorite public golf facility in eastern MA! Complete experience from range to restaurant! Prefer the Nicklaus course over the Jones layout.

Pinehills Nicholas course plays so well. Unfortunately we only got 9 holes in due to the inclement weather. Really want to go back and play 18 holes. One of the best courses around.

Country Club conditions...I like how the design makes each hole is its own entity! Could def play here everyday!

Nice place to play. Pin placements were especially challenging and course was very breezy, which made for a long day. Everything was in great shape as usual from tee boxes, fairways, traps, 2nd cut and greens....

Would recommend to anyone looking to try this course out, from high to low handicap.

Weather was great, sunny, bright and warm. Course was in emasculate condition (as always) and staff was friendly and inviting. Need I say more? O.K. I will, Tee boxes were freshly mowed, fairways ran well and nicely cut and green are extremely fast and difficult. Was paired with three others, all great guys. Great time, would definitely recommend this course. One note, play your proper tees (there are 5 of them), playing back will not do you any favors.

Played the Nicklaus course for the first time in the middle of November In New England and the course was in beyond amazing condition. From the practice facility to the staff to the course itself, this was by far one of the most beautiful and best courses I have played in years. Would recommend and can’t wait to get out there again in the future

Was one of my favorites but too much building around course, relatively poor course conditions, and some really stupid pin placements made it a not vey good experience. The course is always packed so I guess it doesn't matter to other people.