Newton Commonwealth GC in Newton, MA, is located near Boston College. This course was once a beautiful Donald Ross design when Newton was known as the Garden City. However, there are only a few remaining unique features from the original design. These include a few greens but only one original hole, the par-3 7th hole.
Parts of the original course were sold off as land in Newton grew in value. The course was condensed to about half the original size. 18 holes were created in a space initially designed for nine holes. This redesign makes this course a bit dangerous to play. Bring a hard hat and keep your ears open for a "fore!" call. Most notably, when you are on the 5th tee box, which is set to the right downrange off the 8 hole tee box, you can feel like you are under attack from golfers behind you. I like to refer to this course as a "feel-good course" because after you play it, you feel good about your game. There are par 5s that are reachable in two, a couple of par 4s that are drivable for long hitters, and most of the par 3s play downhill. This course will challenge anyone not comfortable hitting from uneven lies. Also, if you do not account for the slope of the fairways correctly, you could end up two to three fairways over. However, if you do play the hill correct, you could end up another 25-50 yards farther.
This course is in the best condition I have seen from it in years. It appears that they have fixed most of the irrigation issues resulting in more grass coverage and better greens. The course is due to have the 10th tee re-grassed/seeded as soon as Newton passes the work order. While Sterling Management continues to manage the course for the city of Newton.
Try a round at "The Commy" today and have a feel-good day of golf.
Conditions: They are improving. This course does not drain water well, so make sure to stay clear of the course on rainy days or after rainy days. However, it is a great shape compared to previous years. Difficulty: The course is relatively easy. There are some challenging uneven lies throughout the 18 holes as some holes are laid out on the side of a hill. Practice Green: The practice green is an AstroTurf green, so there is no way to get a feel for the greens before playing. Value: There is good value here for the price, and it is one of the cheapest courses in the area. Range: There is no range at this golf course. Wear a hard-hat: Another definite, yes. Keep your head on a swivel and your ears open for a "fore" call. A ball is bound to zing past you or worse while you are playing.
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