Course: Hickory Ridge Country Club

Location: Amherst, MA

Date Played: September 3 , 2007

Played By: Ross & Jason

Overall Rating: 67

Friendliness of Staff: 7
We chatted idly with the pro, who was very friendly. The starter offered plenty of info on how to play the first hole and let us know that greens were bumpy from being aerated. The girl tending the bar was fine, but she doubled as the waitress. Luckily, it wasn't packed that day. Otherwise, staffing was lean.

Facilities/Pro Shop: 7
The practice putting green was very large, with plenty of holes and lots of hills. They have a small practice range with half-a-dozen mats. The pro shop was pretty small and basic, but they do have some nice dry-fit mock turtle neck shirts, but overall they do not have a large selection. They have a fairly nice bar with a couple TV's and a large enclosed porch so you can eat outside while overlooking the 18th hole. They do have a mens and ladies locker room, that was fairly large, with a number of posting boards and a computer system for handicap tracking.

Quality/Value of Food/Snacks: 3
We had trouble finding a place to buy snacks after the turn. They had a section with coolers with drinks and snacks, but they were all locked, no one there to help you, and no hot dogs in site. We were surprised to not be able to get a hot dog and PowerAde at the turn, other than using the vending machines. We had the opportunity to get an appetizer and drink after the round, and we sampled the chicken wings, which were completely overcooked, seemed old, and were borderline terrible. Plus we only received 9 wings, instead of 10. Their pitchers of beer were the equivalent to 4 1/2 beers, which for $12 is reasonable.

Fairway Conditions: 8
Given the lack of rain, the fairways were in better shape than expected. There was not a lot of damage, other than some browning out. There was not in any weeds present. They seemed to be holding up pretty well, since we're experiencing drought conditions. They also tended to be a bit hard, and you can plan on getting a lot of role on your tee shots. With proper rain and irrigation, their fairways would probably normally be in mint condition.

Greens Conditions: 8
Other than the fact that they aerated the greens and didn't tell us when we booked our tee times, overall the greens were in good condition. There is not a lot of damage from divot marks and no weeds. Other than getting a bumpy role, their greens were very nice. Specifically, the 8th green, it's not only tough and beautiful, but what an intimidating hole to look at. I wouldn't want to play here when the greens are aerated, so be sure to ask if they've been aerated before playing your round here.

Scenery: 6
The reason why it's called Hickory Ridge is because of the hickory trees scattered throughout the course. They aren't any spectacular views, with the exception of the 8th hole. The course is fairly flat. They made a modest effort at gardening, with a few nice flower boxes on the bridge off the 1st tee. A little mulch in the beds, and the look of the flowers will jump out at you.

Difficulty of Course: 7
The course only plays 5,900 from the whites, so we tackled the blues, which were around 6,400 yards. While there are some tough holes, you start of pretty light, with a short par-5 and two short par-4's. Nearly all of their par-5's are reachable in two if you are a longer hitter. Some of the doglegs made the holes tougher, as you either needed to hit over trees or a precision iron and go 90 degrees in to the green. Specifically, 4, 6, and 7. Those are risk/reward holes if you are long and accurate. There is a fair amount of water and plenty of bunkers protecting the greens. This has the potential to be a very tough course.

Value Received: 8
$39 on a holiday for 18 holes with a cart surprised both of us. We were expecting greens fees in the $50 range. But after seeing some of the challenges they are experiencing, we see why. Any way you slice it, very reasonable. It's a nice course that is normally in very good condition. It won't blow you away, but $39 is bargain city, especially after paying the same to play Southwick CC, while Hickory Ridge is a course of a higher caliber.

Speed of Play/Design of Course: 6
Play seemed to move right along. We had no delays. The course is stretched out well, even between holes and tee boxes. The design is nice, with some of the holes have beautiful settings, specifically 6 and 7. We did have to question some of the parking spots for golf carts, as they were not near the greens or the next tee box. They need some significant architectural upgrades, that can be as simple as adding granite pilars with the hole number. The signs that they do have on the tee boxes do not correspond the yardage to the scorecard, which made gauging some tee shots tough. Additional landscaping on the course will definitely improve the look and feel of the course.

19th Hole: 7
Overall, it's a nice bar. They have a nice big screen TV. You will feel a little cramped because the room is narrow, but they do have a nice screen enclosed porch where you can catch a breeze and watch players come up the 18th. They offer Widmer, Steel Rail, and your standard Bud Light on tap. If they want to improve the 19th hole to make it a place you want to stop after the round, they need to step up the quality of their food.

There is not a beer cart on the course.

Comments:
The summer heat and lack of rain hasn't been too kind to this course. The spring and fall and fall seasons are probably a great time to play here. The open layout does not offer much shade, so you will bake on a hot day. Some simple landscaping and improving the quality of their food will certainly help this course come a long way. A good friend of ours is a member here, and has always had reasonably good things to say about it. At $39 for your round, absolutely worth playing, but don't expect to be blown away.