Ellinwood Country Club

About
Ellinwood Country Club in Athol boasts a unique 18-hole layout with nine holes designed by Donald Ross and another nine designed by Geoffrey Cornish. Having two different designers gives the golf course plenty of variety, especially since the holes are intermingles. Cornish's greens are bigger and flatter while the Ross holes feature some of his characteristic greens and bunkers. Water hazards come into play as well and you'll face a few tricky doglegs and blind shots. There are some challenging holes but overall it's not an overly difficult golf course. The average player can still approach it with confidence. With a secluded location in rural western Massachusetts, Ellinwood Country Club offers beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. The 11th hole, with a winding brook that runs alongside the fairway before cutting in front of the green, is particularly scenic.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blue | 71 | 6210 yards | 69.7 | 121 |
White | 71 | 5948 yards | 68.5 | 116 |
White (W) | 71 | 5948 yards | 74.0 | 130 |
Gold | 71 | 5322 yards | 65.2 | 112 |
Gold (W) | 71 | 5322 yards | 70.6 | 122 |
Red | 71 | 5051 yards | 64.2 | 105 |
Red (W) | 71 | 5051 yards | 68.9 | 117 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue M: 69.7/121 | 405 | 328 | 185 | 493 | 423 | 194 | 418 | 173 | 387 | 3006 | 225 | 311 | 171 | 455 | 152 | 411 | 485 | 448 | 546 | 3204 | 6210 |
White M: 68.5/116 W: 74.0/130 | 393 | 318 | 152 | 482 | 416 | 176 | 408 | 162 | 374 | 2881 | 216 | 282 | 152 | 447 | 136 | 400 | 478 | 431 | 525 | 3067 | 5948 |
Gold M: 64.7/106 W: 70.6/122 | 393 | 312 | 144 | 367 | 410 | 165 | 299 | 155 | 365 | 2610 | 207 | 272 | 142 | 423 | 125 | 400 | 390 | 365 | 388 | 2712 | 5322 |
Red M: 64.2/105 W: 68.9/117 | 336 | 307 | 137 | 367 | 396 | 157 | 299 | 149 | 346 | 2494 | 175 | 265 | 133 | 385 | 119 | 388 | 390 | 321 | 381 | 2557 | 5051 |
Handicap | 5 | 11 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 17 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 18 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 6 | |||
Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 71 |
Handicap (W) | 7 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 2 | 14 | 6 | 10 |
Course Details
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Reviewer Photos
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From the left rough, a look at the slightly elevated green at hole number two, a par-4 measuring 328 yards. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/21/2025
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The par-5 fifth will bring down the hammer if your approach shot falls short–leaving a difficult pitch up a green tilted back to front. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/21/2025
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Eleven, originally the eighth hole on the 1929 Ross course, presents several challenges from tee to cup. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/21/2025
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The par-three fourteenth is short but bold par-3, its green guarded by gaping bunkers. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/21/2025
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A view of the fifteenth green as it appears in the late summer sun. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/21/2025
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The long, par-4 seventeenth hole features a first-rate approach shot playing to a green set between mounds right, big bunker left. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/21/2025
Average course, but worth the money!
I played 18 here for $13 via GolfNow and had a great time. The fairways/rough were a little bumpy and had thin/bald/crabby patches in places but were overall better than I would have expected for the price. The greens were in amazing condition. No bare spots, thick, well-cut and fast. There are 6 par 3's, so the course doesn't get too monotonous with par 4's. A lot of the par 5's are very short but still play like par 5's since they're narrow, windy, and difficult to drive in some situations if you drive it 230+
The handicap 1 and 2 earn their ratings and are way more difficult than the other holes. Other than that, the course is very score-able if you don't get greedy and respect the narrowness.
This obviously isn't a top-tier course, but also is obviously worth the price for your average hidden gem for this area. Would recommend to friends!
Interesting layout
First time playing this course. Small putting green located conveniently near the first tee which I wish more courses would do.
Layout is interesting as you play 13 holes before the "turn". Good players should be able to score well here once you played it a couple times.
Course conditions were good, greens were good with moderate speed but approach shots require keeping the ball below the hole to leave a chance to make putts.
You will use almost every club in your bag here!
Quirky
Neat course. Quirky fairways but a lot of fun. Nice people who run the club house. Tough course.
Great local course
Don't mind the hour drive, great layout from a golfers perspective. Green, fringe and tee boxes always in good shape. Fairways can be weather dependent, this year no complaints. Cart paths broken up so expect a bumpy ride. Great staff, pace of play and old school character. Great finishing 4 holes.
Enjoyable
This wasn't a boring course. Kept you thinking ! The angled greens were a challenging experience. And the hilly fairways were interesting. Par 3's weren't short. A good test of your game.
Great course
Ellinwood staff are friendly and get you onto the course quickly. Conditions are always great. The first par 5 and a few par 4's are very challenging with interesting layout. Small greens, so get your approach shots and putter tuned. Cart paths are awful, but why speed around? Relax and enjoy, or walk. This is a favorite of mine. Worth the drive!
Nice layout
Played this course with the Safari club recently. Great layout and challenging greens. Fairways could you some more, but I hear they're working hard to restore them. Very friendly staff Good value
Annual Safari Trip
a great course for the money...6 par 3's but the length of the 4's made up for it
Another Safari Gem
They call it a hidden gem and it is. A little hard to get to but a beautiful place with lots of rocky hills surrounded by woods. The course was in good shape, greens were fast, fairways were ok because we've had a lot of rain.
Cart path was pretty bumpy, used the grass mostly.
Staff gave the Safari Club a warm welcome and were very accomadating. We're going back in the fall for the foliage and for a great getaway. I had food there before and it was very good, didn't have time to eat this time.
fine for a $20 hot deal
The only draw back was the conditions. I thought it was a real great track.I can't think of a hole that was unenjoyable or ill conceived, and the scenery is very nice. It seems they keep their attention and resources on the greens which were in nice shape. The fairways need some attention, as well as some of the green side rough, a few holes had some major bare spots (hole 7 prime example). I know it's been a little wet this spring and it had rained pretty heavy the night before but the place really seems to hold water (carts on paths only the day we played) and it definitely put the test to the waterproofing of my shoes. For $20 it was a fine round, for $45 I would expect better conditions. As far as recommending to a friend, that's a loaded question,I live an hour away so it's a bit of a drive for conditions that aren't equal or better than what we have within half hour.
"The hidden gem"
We pulled up to ellinwood and found a nearly empty lot. I went into the pro shop and meet a very nice young lady that checked me in , handed me a cart key and I was off. We had the course to ourselves but at times wished there were golfers to help us keep the pace . It was a great layout I enjoyed the par fives by four's and the the par threes. The days weather couldn't have been more perfect. The soggy ground made it a cart path only day. It was me and my buddy's first time to Ellinwood and we look forward to a return trip in the coming weeks. A real hidden gem as advertised.
Hit em long and straight .
John G.
Another flashing chance @ bliss
This course is awesome friendly staff, great layout! Can't beat it.
Horrible Conditions
Unless you get to play this course for next to nothing don't even bother. It did not look like the fairway had been watered the entire summer. The cart path has more pot holes and tree roots which made for a very uncomfortable ride. The wooden steps leading up to some of the tees was rotting away and could be treacherous if you are not careful. The only reason I gave it 2 stars was for the greens. Looks like that is the only area they are concentrating on keeping up. They were very fast and challenging. Since the front 9 is Donald Ross designed it's challenging but to see it not being taken care of properly is a sad shame. I would not golf this course if it were around the corner from my house. They need to put in a good amount of money in upkeep.
Not bad for price
Fairly tight on most holes yet scoreable. Stay below pin on approach or expect to 3 putt all day long. Greens are slow yet challenging and in great shape! Had a few perfect drives down the middle of the fairway that ended up in the woods due to rocks and severe slope of hill but twice from hitting a rock...shot 40 yards away. Good deal for price. Played on a Thursday and played 2 balls by myself in 3 hours. Wide open. If not for multiple 3 putts I would have shot low 80s instead shot a 88. Keep those balls below the pin!
Simple but challenging
Fairways were dry due to no rain, but tee boxes and greens were perfect. Greens played extremely fast, which is always nice. Course layout was nice, a great design. Boulders in the fairways made it challenging and unique. Definitely recommending this course to friends and will be back to play again.
Play Ellinwood !!!!
A Safari Club outing that was challenging and fun. Hilly landscape provided a great challenge. Peaceful, rural setting. 19th hole was accommodating in every way - excellent food.
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DROUGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!