Agawam Municipal Golf Course

So I’ve played Agawam Municipal since about ‘03-‘04. The course has always been an affordable experience with better conditions than you’d think and a diverse, challenging layout at parts. It has been a “go-to” for my friends and I for almost 2 decades.

The first real disappointment ever came this past morning when I booked 9 holes on GolfNow prepaid for a friend s and I. I was able to take advantage of a “pay now” discount which was great considering it had carts included, When we arrived to check in and get a cart, the man charged me $16 for the cart despite showing him the reservation details. The $ isn’t a big problem but the unwillingness to budge on squeezing me for $16, a regular customer for 20 years, was a disappointment.

This course never manages to dry out this early in the year, the holes on the green are full of water. Greens could also use some work, very uneven cuts. Good prices but also was packed and overbooked. Took 2.5 hours to play 9 holes as we got stuck behind a 5-some.

I always enjoy playing this course. It was understandably wet this weekend. We’ve been getting the springtime rains. Pace of play was a little slow, but at this time of year, many courses aren’t open Yet, so those that are will naturally be crowded.

Busy Agawam (the parking lot was jam-packed today) is set on an attractive, sloping site in the Pioneer Valley with vistas stretching to downtown Springfield. The course itself is of moderate difficulty, making it a solid option for a wide range of golfers. Here you should enjoy the quiet, rural character, although at the perimeter of the course, on its east side, a suburban neighborhood peeks through the trees during summer.

FRONT NINE

After an inviting first five holes, which allow birdie opportunities, the sixth and ninth punctuate the front with two of the course’s toughest tests. Off the tee, six plays to an awkward, sidehill landing zone; on the heavily-tilted green, three-putting is commonplace. Nine, a shorter par-3 that plays straight uphill, demands the hardest par at Agawam.

BACK SIDE

With mostly challenging holes, this back nine is a force to be reckoned with. Eleven and twelve are seriously good challenges: well-defended four-pars playing tough from tee to green. Another one-two punch comes at the a pair of eccentric par-fives, sixteen and seventeen. The former has a tricky right-angled dogleg-left to negotiate and a narrow landing zone for the second shot, while the latter features an equally demanding second to a drastically curving fairway, and finishes things off with another steep tilt–from left to right–at its putting surface.

GREEN COMPLEXES

Pretty straightforward overall, but these also can be problematic, most notably at the fourth, sixth, and ninth, and–to varying degrees–at the four closing holes. Falloffs around the greens are generally shallow (only a few are sizeable) so pitching may become a serious challenge on but a few holes.

HAZARDS / DEFENSES

The terrain and trees at Agawam generally are bigger stumbling blocks in most places than are the infrequent bunkers or water hazards–which appear sporadically in the form of small streams acting as cross hazards at some five holes. The ground rolls heavily and engenders frequent sidehill lies. Trees, mostly scattered on the front side, give way to dense woodlands on the back, which will likely cause headaches on shots misplayed at the four and five-pars.

CONDITIONING

Although it is early April, the course fell well short of the best conditions I saw last summer. The main problems were the frequently waterlogged roughs and fairways, along with bumpy greens. The bunkers, too, were below average. Conditions were hardly surprising, however, for early spring in New England, and the greens rolled fairly true despite having grass that needed to grow. The staff here is conscientious and no doubt the course will be much further along by month’s end.

BOTTOM LINE

Pace of play was also on the lethargic side as my threesome (I joined two excellent golfers–and great playing partners) waited on nearly every hole.

Compensating for that was the strong but balanced layout; there are more than enough holes here where you can try to make birdies. All of my experiences, including this one, have been positive at Agawam.

This is a good practice course. The front is generally forgiving with a little elevation while the back is a bit more technical with more elevation challenges.

The greens were open but were a bit beat up in spots. It’s early so that was to be expected. Carts were allowed but we chose to walk. Some wet roped off spots but not too bad. If you walk be aware there are hills so you will be working a bit.

For the money it was a great value. As I mentioned a solid practice course when you don’t want to break the bank.

User friendly starts with the golf course staff. Friendly and accommodating. Helps start a round with good vibes.

The course - the majority of the holes will challenge any skill. Why? Because shooting par is not out of reach. One can even see the birdie in their mind as they start their pre-shot routine. The course is not Augusta nor the typical, executive par 3 course. It’s fun, challenging and your dollar well spent.

Agawam CC honors veterans of all service periods. I came across a few after my round who invited me to sit with them at the 19th hole. I am a Korean War vet.

I don’t believe you will easily forget Agawam CC. In fact, you may want to come back the next day as you are leaving.

On a surprisingly pleasant late fall afternoon at this reliable muni, I played an enjoyable round, also meeting some interesting “Golf Now” guys out on the course, then joining them for a few of the closing holes. We all agreed that this is one of the top value offerings, combining, as it does, quality with a fair price.

What I like most about playing this layout, in short, is the neat contrast between the open front side and the much tighter--and more difficult--inward half. Certainly, on the front you may enjoy yourself and, if all goes to plan, make a good score, but you’ll also need to steel yourself for what is to come, starting with the short but brutal par-3 ninth.

Conditions were surprisingly good for this time of year, especially on the smooth putting surfaces here. The fairways weren’t bad, either. Only the bunkers needed a bit of attention, but who’s complaining on November 21st? The atmosphere is also friendly in the pro shop and around the clubhouse.

On the seventh tee today, a red fox appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, as I was waiting to hit my driver (see picture). A golfer from fairway eight tipped me off that he or she was imminently approaching. The fox appeared curious about whether my golf ball was edible or not, but, after knocking it off the tee, left it on the ground and casually departed the scene.

It was an unusually warm day mid-November so the course was busy. Started about 15 minutes after our tee time. But pace moved along pretty well, as we finished 9 holes in just over 2 hours.

Second time playing since late summer. Everyone played well and enjoyed the game.

We’ll be back.

Good conditions however leaves becoming a problem finding balls in play. Staff tried blowing leaves to the side helped clear fairways. Greens pretty fast. 9th hole a nightmare if you come up short. Two chips rolled back and off the green. Next time play it stronger to be sure to hold.

Great course to golf at. The grounds were very well kept and very affordable. Best course for your money.

The front 9 and back 9 are very different from each other with the front being being more open, fairly flat with back and forth fairways and the back being more peaks and valleys with a creek that crosses the fairway on several holes. For a municipal course, we didn't expect too much but the conditions overall were very, very good. We'll certainly be back.