Course: Heritage Country Club

Location: Charlton, MA

Date Played: April 23, 2008

Played By: Ross

Overall Rating: 68

Friendliness of Staff: 6
Overall, the only staff we encountered all day was the older gentleman in the pro shop and the bartender/waitress. The guy in the pro shop was a nice enough guy as was the bartender but nothing spectacular. I was surprised I didn't see anyone else the entire day. So, with that, there is no course ranger and nobody helping you with your bag but this course wouldn't be considered a higher-end course either. Nothing about this category moved me.

Facilities/Pro Shop: 6
If I could sum it up in one word it would be deceiving. The pro shop and clubhouse don't appear to be much driving up to it but you'll be pleasantly surprised when you enter. Upon walking into the pro shop you'll be shocked at its size and selection. I definitely was not expecting it. Their bar area is not like your normal bar. Actually it's pretty distinct. It's set up in a horseshoe shape with a good-size seating area to accommodate small tourneys or dinners, with an elevated platform for live bands or to use for dancing at a wedding. They do have a driving range and putting green but they both are just average. Their driving range is pretty much entirely sand and their putting green is the weirdest I may have ever seen. It's basically a long, narrow, straight line from one hole to the next. You can't really fit many players on it. Their facilities are okay. I wasn't too impressed with their bar though. It could use some updating. It's kind of similar to a diner counter from out of a 50's diner.

Quality/Value of Food/Snacks: 9
While we didn't have a big lunch or sit down for dinner or anything, if you even can, we did stop for some drinks and lunch at the turn and took them to go. Have we mentioned we're big fans of steamed hot dogs in the past? Well we are….and they have them here! As far as I'm concerned every course should go to steamed dogs unless they're already amazing. Absolutely delicious! We got 3 large cokes and 4 hot dogs for $7...how do you beat that? Wow!

Fairway Conditions: 7
They were pretty good for this early. Some were soggy and some were bare but expect that in April. I would imagine after the rain we've had recently they should really start to green up nice. To tell you the truth, for the price we paid I wasn't expecting much but was very happy with the course conditions.

Greens Conditions: 7
Our group was commenting pretty much all day about how in good of shape their greens were in considered all the facts. They rolled very true, held nicely on your approach shots and were starting to get their color back. Overall this year I've been pretty impressed with how nice the area courses' greens are. There really wasn't much damage to report. You'll be very happy.

Scenery: 6
It's okay. The nicest thing about it is it's tucked back in the woods with some rolling hills and streams. It's not in the middle of a development or by a busy road so you feel protected and it's nice and quiet. There aren't any great views or anything but it's your average, typical New England course. Good enough but not great.

Difficulty of Course: 7
The only real way this course will be all you can handle is if you play from the back tees, which we did. It measures about 6,700 yards and there are some very tough par 4's from the tips. While I wouldn't call the course a piece of cake, it's not very hard other than a few holes. There are a couple par 5's that go almost 600 yards from the tips but there's also one that only left 2 of us with an 8-iron into the green on our second shot. Needless to say a very easy birdie hole for the better golfer. There isn't a lot of water on the course and you can't get into a ton of trouble. If you want a challenge coming to this course then play the back tees and you'll have a blast.

Value Received: 8
Even though you don't get a lot of intangibles at this course, you do get great value. You get a nice course with a big bar and good food that only costs $40 for 18 holes with a cart on a Friday afternoon! If I arrived 5 minutes earlier it would been only $37, because they offer a deal before 11:00. For Central Mass I'm not sure you're going to find a better value or deal, or at least we haven't yet. The only reason they don't get a 9 here is because of the yardage on the course and card. The yardage you walk off from the marker on the course, the yardage on the score card, and the yardage on the hole sign all don't match...actually it's not even close. I'm not sure if they recently added a new set of tees or what it is but they need to deal with it because it can be frustrating to the better golfer to have to worry about what the yardage is going to play. It basically kept me guessing all day.

Speed of Play/Design of Course: 5
Well I'm not sure I can be a good judge of the speed of the round because we played in the middle of the day on a Friday. Granted we had nice weather, our schedules provide us the flexibility to play in the middle of the day when most people have to work. As far as the design goes it probably is the category that needs the most work. There isn't anything good about the landscaping and their cart paths need the "paddles" if you know what I mean. They need revival big-time. My sides and kidneys were hurting after the round. Every cart path needs to be like the 11th hole. From what I understand from some of the local golfers that I chatted with, this course is starting to put some money back into the course and they have completely re-paved a few of the cart paths, including the 11th. They also need new hole signs for most of the entire course, as they are getting old with the paint pealing and the wood cracking. The overall look of the course and facilities is kind of "old". With some TLC this course can improve quite a bit.

19th Hole: 7
Size-wise it's great. Very big bar area similar to a counter at a diner that you sit at. Plenty of room with a good area for tables with a big screen TV. They have a charcoal grille out back that wasn't fired up that day but in the height of the season it has burgers, dogs and other yummy grill food to choose from. Pretty much your standard selection of beer, but please take my word for it either at the turn or after your round, grab a couple hot dogs! Have the Critics ever steered you wrong? All that being said, I just don't warm up to the bar. It's old or at least looks it, it's not appealing to look at and I think with some updating it could go a long way. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one...maybe I'm missing something.

There is not a beer cart on the course.

Comments:
That phrase I heard twice prior to coming out to rate it was the same from both people almost word for word, "it's a nice little track" I couldn't have summed it up better myself. It can give you some challenging holes, great hot dogs, amazing value with a quiet feel to it. At $40 you can't go wrong. I would absolutely return in the summer or fall if they want us there. Hearing from multiples sources that they are dumping some money into it, I'll be very interested to play it later this fall or even next year.