Cold Spring Country Club

Cold Spring is one of those golf courses that deserves the respect of serious golfers, and one that I surely want to come back to play again, though next time I will be availing myself of a cart. The rugged terrain feels almost as if it’s part of the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and not what’s expected a mere nineteen miles from downtown Springfield. But despite the hike I still found the course compelling and beautiful, with scenic panoramas coming into view often to enhance an exhilarating site.

LAYOUT

Six Par–threes

Standing some fifty feet above its green and not far from the clubhouse, the first tee supplies a long vista into the surrounding hills. You’ll return (nearly) to this elevation twice: at the ninth and eighteenth greens. The first hole is a beauty, with a sizable but pitched green where the approach is better short than long. Another long three-par comes at six, which, at 230 yards, plays a bit downhill to a green defended by a sprawling, leftward bunker. Its right-side opening is surprisingly narrow for a long hole, and the shallow green angles 45 degrees to the fairway. Two more long par-3’s appear at nine and thirteen. The former was a puzzle to play because of its eccentricity, as it climbs so steeply uphill that I found it almost impossible to judge the risk-reward prospect the hole invites. The latter, however, has no hazards–other than woods–but plays downhill, andi it seemed to me about perfect, featuring a similarly tricky green canted from back to front. In general, all of the par-3’s demonstrate artistry from course architect Mary Armstrong, who designed Cold Spring to open for play in 2012.

Five Par-fives

As impressive as the par-threes are at Cold Spring, the fives might be even better. All are strong holes, but the standout, I thought, was eleven. After a drive to a landing zone doglegging left and guarded by woods, the hole plummets into a vale and then back up to another well-contoured green protected by two big bunkers and a falloff on its right flank. At 540 from the blues, it’s not easy to find the dance floor here in two. I also like the strategic aspects and especially the look of both the second and seventh holes, but seven, playing downhill, presents the better scoring opportunity.

Seven Four-pars

I liked nearly all of these holes, whether they were long or short, brutal or more mild. For sheer difficulty, you can’t find many tougher holes anywhere than the tenth. I’m not a fan of the placement of the pond set on the fairway’s left side, which leaves no real bail-out area on a very difficult hole. Given that you’re driving to an offset fairway (that many golfers will struggle to hit), the hole strikes me as too penal. Some golfers, I’m sure, will love the pure challenge, because the second shot is a doozie. Two other standouts were the monstrous twelfth, which undoubtedly plays longer than any sub-400-yard hole I’ve yet encountered, as well as the 325-yard eighth, with its green perched at least forty feet above the fairway and an extremely tough target. And if you like these sorts of holes, eighteen is cut from the same cloth. Still, the remaining four par-4’s, though less dramatic, all have something to offer and add to the great variety in this golf course.

DEFENSES & HAZARDS

The most common hazards are the looming woods which threaten the course’s entire perimeter and sometimes surround entire holes. Still, the layout impresses by its variety because some of the holes, such as the stretch from four through seven, are more open and even have a parkland feel. Bunkers are plentiful and typically quite large, but have been placed strategically; they are not overdone. With five bunkers, the closing hole has the most on the course. Another positive is the relative paucity of water hazards, (there are only two) which many modern architects tend to overdo.

CONDITIONING

Good overall, and there are no great shortcomings. The greens ran smoothly, uniformly, and moderately fast; they were excellent. Fairways were good but some of the landing areas might be suffering the effects of heavy play. Tees were good, but the areas that I found wanting were the fairway roughs, in some areas, and a good deal of the greenside roughs, which were average. Bunkers were average and many needed raking.

PLAYING EXPERIENCE.

Great playing partner, who outdrove me (disconcertingly) on nearly every hole. I am more than a few years his senior. This is one of his go-to courses, and he was helpful in explaining how to play it.

SOME CONCLUSIONS:

I’m a fan of modern courses that don’t overdo the hazards or make the holes so narrow and penal that playing them isn’t much fun. Cold Spring is thankfully not a course with those problems. What it does well, in fact, is give you a number of strategic holes mixed with some more tough but straightforward ones, yet only a few penal holes–which, according to renowned Architect Dr. Michael Hurdzan, is essentially the right mix. The layout is, without a doubt, one of the best I’ve played in Massachusetts.

Great course to play, it was a tough walk, but needed to be able to move it both ways to play well. Greens were hard but fair.

It was fathers' day treat from my lovely bride. I like the course and the layout. It was very windy at 1:20 P.M. We both enjoyed our 9 hole round. I have golfed there before and was given a great rate for being a Senior, and a Military Vet. The young men working the pro shop seem to not care what you are. I asked for a senior discount for my wife and I and he said no discount for 9 holes. I also added I was a military vet and got the same answer, no discount for 9 holes. This maybe true, but was said with a rude statement.

By far one of the top courses in Western mass, very well kept, enough of a challenge to not make you want to throw a club (maybe the 3rd hole par 3). In all honesty, this course is forgotten about if you golf in this area and have never been, I’d suggest trying it as soon as you can!

I play here a few times a year and if I lived a little closer (or were retired) I would be a member. The course is in great shape, the staff is friendly, and the golf is fun.

One of the hidden gems of Western Mass! Absolutely gorgeous playing field, hole placement was challenging that day which made it even better! Will be back asap!

Course was in good shape and pace of play was great.Love the layout and is always a challenge. Best cart paths around!

Golf Now needs to do a better job of making it clear when carts aren’t included, the walking thing is there but should be in bold letters, there was a misunderstanding on that issue when we got to the course, the course handed it fairly for both our group and the course

My deal was cart included and they chart me in the club house.I pay $36 more.

I play there every day except weekends, and I love it. The greens and fairways are in GREAT shape....

Layout is bizarre but fun nonetheless. Conditions always great. It is a dry course...No booze is sold. Word to the wise....BYOB!!