Crumpin-Fox Club

I have heard many great things about Crumpin Fox from several different area players. It absolutely did not disappoint. While about 1 hour drive from the Springfield MA area,, the course is actually quite easy to get to - right off 91N at Bernardston. The course layout and conditioning was outstanding. The driving areas were quite generous - but a very (I mean VERY) demanding 2nd shot golf-course. Some course knowledge is helpful - particularly on the back 9. For middle- and higher handicappers, I strongly suggest the gold tees. The course rating from the blues (6500 yds) is a strong 72.3. Overall a delightful experience, and I definitely plan to come back.

Based on ratings, reviews and word-of-mouth, our foursome expected an exceptional round of golf on a beautiful course. However, many factors ruined an otherwise beautiful, sunny day.

10th HOLE: This was our biggest issue. When we checked in with the starter he stated that the par four 10th hole was closed due to irrigation repairs so we were to skip 10 and go directly to 11. There were no signs on the 10th directing us so we stayed on the cart path until it ended then tried to cross the fairway to get to the 11th hole cart path, but the cart’s GPS would not allow fairway access. It just shut down. We asked a nearby repair crewmen what to do and he said “they were supposed to shut the GPS off.” They didn’t. Anyway, we actually had to back-up across the whole fairway, at a creep, until we reached the 11th hole cart path. It cost us 10 minutes not to play this hole. I feel that the group in front of us had similar problems and this is where a backup started. I firmly believe it is incumbent on any golf course that they notify you, when you make a reservation, that a portion of the course is closed. Had we known this we might not have driven 90 minutes to play that day.

TREE REMOVAL: From the moment we drove into the course parking lot we noticed something wrong. There were trees down everywhere. It looked like a tornado came through. Per an employee, the course hired a tree removal service this spring who would harvest the good trees and remove the dead, diseased, and unwanted trees. He said that thousands of trees were already removed. However, it appeared to be a haphazard clear-cut. While some trees along the fairways and parking lot were removed, tree stumps were all over the chewed up woods, partial trees still stood, large branches and ground cover were everywhere and wide swatches of trees were removed far back into the forest. It was ugly and I hope the tree removal company cleans up their mess. Had we been notified upon making our reservation we would not have driven 1.5 hours (one-way) to what we heard was once a beautiful course set into the deep woods. Otherwise, the course was in excellent condition and is quite scenic, however the mass cutting of trees along the fairway perimeters was not a pretty sight.

SLOW PLAY: We should have known we were in for a bad day when the starter informed us that we had an outing of 3 foursomes in front of us, so he delayed our start by 15 minutes to give them a head start. It didn’t help. By the back nine we were waiting 5-10 minutes at each tee for the slow group to get out of range or to leave the green. No ranger was ever seen so we ended up playing a 5 hour round (for 17 holes…see below) that should have been 4 max.

PUTTING GREENS: The course has two and both were being used for youth lessons. Glad to see young kids taking up golf, but no putting/chipping practice for us this time. They could have let us know or posted a sign.

CART PROBLEM: Things started to go bad on the first hole where my cart jerked, sputtered and ran slow when I was halfway to the green. I had to go back, very slowly, for another cart, which was fine.

CARTS: All the carts are GPS equipped and provide distance info as well as regulating where the carts can be driven on each hole. Due to rain the day before, we were restricted to cart path only, edge of fairway or full fairway depending on the hole. Sometimes the carts worked, as allowed on a hole, while on others we got us stuck and had to back out very slowly in reverse.

Anyway, it was a good day spoiled. We’ll be back, but defiantly not this year.

First time my son ever played here. He soon discovered how challenging the course can be. Everything was good, conditions, people weather. The only thing the club can do better is put a ranger out there just to keep pace moving

Great course in very good shape, the bedt Greens i played so far this year! Will come back from Germany and play again next year!

I've played here many times over the years. The management has done a remarkable job maintaining and upgrading the course. The staff has always been friendly and courteous. I bring friends up from Ct. every year and they enjoy the course very much.

Best conditioned course I've played this year, and only going to get better with all the tree work going on at the course. Pace of play was unreal- 18 holes in 3 hours and wasn't rushing. Amazing course.

One of the nicest courses i have ever played. Tap the cart GPS map and it will calculate distance to the spot (and then the distance from that spot the hole).

Played Crump with the Safari club last week. The pro and other staff go out of their way to make you feel welcome. The course is a tough challenge each time I play it, but worth the experience. Carts on the paths only, makes it even more challenging, but not the course's fault. They are cutting down lots of trees everywhere, at times distracting, but I like that they are constantly making improvements.

Golfnow/course really screwed the pooch. Drove an hr for a nice hot deal price only to find front 9 closed for aeration and only back 9 open. Those had been punched almost two weeks before but still arent close to being back to Crump greens. Neither were mentioned on golfnow as had they I wouldn't have made the drive to play 9 holes twice.

Although we have had record rain during the past month the course played pretty wet and the greens are still healing from being punched a week and half ago. However this is the sweetest course in Western Mass. The fairways are like carpets and when the greens are at their best it's like playing on a PGA course. The track is spectacular and the scenery is lit. This course is a true gem and if I lived closer, I would definately be a member. The staff is friendly and the new GM is making sure that the whole operation is running top notch and smoothly. This golf course should be experienced by all who have a passion for the game.

Myself and a friend played on Tuesday 10/24. The course was in immaculate condition. Before we could even get to enjoy the course we were greeted by one of the most friendly down to earth guys, Mike. Mike handled the starting duties and greeted us on a chilly morning in the parking lot with a smile. He had become a friend to us and it didn’t take long.

The condition of the course is second to none and the pace of play was great. To round out the day with a bite to eat at Zeke’s with a fire in the fireplace you can’t beat it.

Take the time to play here ASAP!!!!

A very enjoyable experieince. Beautiful course cut out of the woods. A very fair course. You have to think your way throug, and be pretty accurate with your shots. We played through a foursome that was spraying the ball, but they seemed to be having fun as well. I play at 30 or 40 courses a year, and the carts have the most comfortable seats ever. Finally the staff is friendly and helpful.

Usually this course is one of my favorites but last week was an exception. Course was wet (had to use cart path only) and was not in its usual good condition.

We had called previous to our departure because of our 1:45 hr drive. We were told the course was in great shape and confirmed the price of golf to the email we'd received early that week. When we arrived the pro shop would not honor that price and insisted the course was in excellent condition. When we were advised of the cart path only rule it should of sent off red flags but we didn't question it at the time.

Well course was wet and muddy and, the greens had not been cut for several days. It was a hot humid day in the mid-upper 90's and there was no cart service on the course. Traps were in need of grooming.

The golf carts with GPS were programmed to NOTallow you to drive the fairways (which was ok because it was cart path only); however, they would occasionally STOP in the middle of the paved cart paths for no known reason and require you to back up 20-50 yds at 1 mph in order to go forward again. This happened on about every other hole, sometimes twice a hole (even though you were in the middle of paved cart paths!). We mentioned this to the pro shop and their reaction was...yes, other people have had the same problems so there must be a problem with the GPS system. Ya think!

You'd think the pro would give us a discount or at least the lower price indicated in the previous email....but NO!

Beautiful course, in great shape. Looking forward to playing the course again!

The only issues was course was pretty soaked, which has nothing to do with Crumpin Fox. It's been raining alot this month, so really no roll on your drives mostly plugged balls....after a few days of nice weather the fairways will be rocking. Always great to golf at the Crump.

Absolutely top notch. Course, carts, range, staff. This place is as good as it gets.