Golf Course Review: Butterbrook Golf Club
This round wasn’t my typical 18 hole excursion. Getting out of work early on Wednesday was my excuse for playing Butterbrook Golf Club in Westford this day. My usually scheduled weekend round was put on the back burner; replaced by my sisters wedding up in York, ME. Playing a round midweek and last minute at that, it’s tough to scrounge up 3 others so when Pat was the only taker we took off for Westford.
The first time I played here a few years back Butterbrook was only a 9 hole facility. It was a very nice 9 but still only 9. They are now almost able to offer a “complete” golf experience with the only holdout being the clubhouse. They have yet to build the 19th hole that I look forward to enjoying as much as the round itself.
The golf course is the real reason to come here though. The condition of the fairways and greens are all kept in excellent condition. There’s just something about playing on fine fairways that almost makes you golf better. Good lies lead to good shots. They make you strike the ball better which produces better results which then leads to more confidence. You need that because the mental aspect of this game is such a big part of being successful.
I loved the front 9 from back when I played it in 05’. It’s divided evenly between par 3’s, 4’s, and 5’s. Each hole was distinctively different. Not overly difficult but challenging enough to make you think in between shots. The 9th hole was a monster, pushing 600 yards and being nearly impossible to reach in 2.
The back 9 is like a totally different golf course. It takes on the characteristics of a links style course. It was still in very good condition but I was a little disappointed with the layout. I expected so much more after playing the front. I got the feeling that the architects were limited with the amount of space they had to build on; like the holes were all squashed together. And that could have been the case because I remember hearing rumors that the back 9 was taking so long to build because the wetlands had some endangered species living there and the conservation department was giving them a hard time.
I usually like to comment on the ladies driving the beverage carts and how frequently you see them but today was not that kind of day for us. She did come by a few times but we weren’t in beer drinking mode so she had no reason to linger around the area. It’s tough to explain a buzz when the wife thinks I worked a full day.
With our golf season being so short up here in New England, combined with the unpredictable weather we can have, there are only so many good weekends to get out and take your hacks. When you spend $100+ on a day of golf and drinks you want to make sure you get your moneys worth.
Bottom line here is… If you are like myself, a golfer that likes to play different courses and don’t mind traveling to play them, this is a course that you would definitely enjoy. But I won’t stand here and tell you have to put this place on your calendar. It’s just not that kind of place. Maybe in the near future if they ever build a clubhouse and have a decent menu in the restaurant this could be a place to plan a day but right now it doesn’t have everything that I look for in a country “club”.
Butterbrook Golf Club is located at 157 Carlisle Road
Westford, MA
For Tee Times: 978.692.6560
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