Course: Red Tail Golf Club

Location: Devens, MA

Date Played: 2005 [Updated June 26, 2008]

Played By: Ross

Overall Rating: 84

Friendliness of Staff: 8
Things have improved at this course. They have bag attendants to take your clubs to your cart and even staff to wash your clubs for you. For the cost to play, I’d even expect a bit more.
Update: Overall, their staff does a great job, including the wait staff. I can't say I was blown away, but was pleased. No change to the rating.

Facilities/Pro Shop: 8
Considering 4 years ago, they didn’t have any facilities and their pro shop was a trailer, they’ve come a long way. With a nice brand new club house, and nice facilities in general, it has improved ten-fold. The putting green was so far away from the clubhouse that you had to take a cart to get to it, so it’s inconvenient.
Update: We forgot to mention their driving range, which is just above the parking lot with the clubhouse now, they have a lot more to offer. No change to the rating.

Quality/Value of Food/Snacks: 8
The pro shop is brand new, and I haven’t had the chance to sit down for a beer or a meal since they’ve built it. However, several people I’ve talked to said you could get a nice meal and they had a decent selection of beer on draft.
Update: So I got the chance to sit down for dinner and we were all very happy. They have a great bar and full menu. You'll find it a bit more expensive, but you expect that from a high-end course.

Fairway Conditions: 9
What you would expect to find at a nice course and they’ve come a long way. Keeping in mind this is a relatively newer course, which only opened in 2002, they’re fairway conditions are in good shape.
Update: This course is in tip-top shape all around. Their fairways for the most part are similar to the field at Fenway Park...gorgeous. They play host to a big tournament in 2009, so I'm sure extra hard work has been put in.

Greens Conditions: 9
Good condition and repair extremely well. Because it’s also a pretty hilly course, they tend to be softer and you can hold the green pretty well. There are a lot of holes that have downhill shots in to the green.
Update: Similar to the fairways, their greens are fantastic as well, but man are they fast! They're still soft enough because of the soil structure but lightning fast for us!

Scenery: 10
Absolutely breathtaking, with gorgeous layouts. Set in a pretty hilly location, it’s a nice combination of woods, water, and nice views. One of the more beautiful courses in all of Massachusetts.

Difficulty of Course: 8
Very forgiving off the tee, you can’t get in to much trouble. Fairly short course, with holes #12 &13 being particularly easy, short par-4’s. Compare to Cyprian Keyes, this is a course where you can score very well and not have to hit the ball extremely good.
Update: It is a totally different course from the back tees, which we experienced this day. I fired a 74, but it was probably the best golf I've played in a long time. You have to be on fire to score well. It's a lot tougher with longer approach shots and your putter better be working.

Value Received: 8
While it’s a beautiful course, with great scenery, it’s still only four years old and it costs $80 to play. A bit pricey and I’m not sure I’d play more than once a year. They still have some work to do, but it’s improved dramatically since it opened.
Update: Granted the cost is up to $95 during the week and $105 on the weekend, you don't feel bad paying it because of how nice the course is. I was very happy with what I got. I hope more courses catch on to what we first experienced at Blackstone and now at Red Tail, with staff washing your clubs after your round. Truly a nice touch.

Speed of Play/Design of Course: 8
Becoming more and more popular with all levels of golfers playing here. The setting of the course is absolutely gorgeous and the design is outstanding. You might find your round lasting much longer than four hours, so be prepared to have some waiting.

19th Hole: 8
Nice bar with three or four pretty good beers on tap. Huge porch overlooking the 18th hole.
Update: While it's not a huge 19th hole, it is beautiful. They offer good food and beer and you can find some nice conversation as well. No change to the rating.

There is no beer cart on the course.

Comments:
Beautiful setting and is definitely one of the nicer courses in Mass. If you are willing to invest $80 in to a round of golf, I highly recommend playing here. While you will certainly find some imperfections, as it’s only four years old, the course in general should become one of the premier courses in New England in the next four years.
Update: It's funny, Ross went back and read the first rating he wrote on Red Tail and one line sticks out: "in general, should become ne of the premier courses in New England in the next four years." Well, that's exactly what has happened. A lot of great buzz about the course and it is now one of CCC's preferred courses in Massachusetts. Keep up the good work.