Thorny Lea

Thorny Lea Golf Club lives up to its name...despite being an unremarkable, prickly area of ground, the sting has been felt by many who compete against members. The club has provided at least six Massachusetts amateur champions, probably due to the stiff competition just winning the club championship (Thorny Lea boasts more single-digit handicappers than any other in the state).

That’s a testament to the kind of skill required to get around this Wayne Stiles and John van Kleek route, despite it measuring just under 6,500 yards. Although most of the course is relatively low on bunkers (three holes have no sand whatsoever), the small putting surfaces still demand the utmost accuracy on approach for those looking to score.

Those greens that do feature additional defenses, however, are certainly armed to the teeth. Nos. 9 and 10 provide back-to-back thorns in the sides of the inaccurate golfer. The former is a 165-yard carry over a pearl necklace of bunkers, and the latter is surrounded by five sizable traps. Whatever Stiles had left in the bag, he dropped at No. 18, a 420-yard par four that will be a tough make for anyone attempting to run it up.