Ross Golf Trail · Trails · MA Heartland
Trail 03 · Donald Ross Golf Trail

Massachusetts Heartland

Through the rolling hills of Central & Western Massachusetts.

4
Courses
2–3
Days
~130
Miles
$30–95
Green Fees
The Heartland Trail

Four Ross courses, Worcester to the Berkshires.

The MA Heartland Loop heads inland from Boston into the rolling hills of Central and Western Massachusetts, connecting four public-access Donald Ross designs that showcase the quieter side of New England golf. Away from the coastal crowds, these courses offer exceptional value, rich history, and the kind of uncrowded playing conditions that let you truly savor Ross's architecture.

From the four-generation family operation at Wachusett CC, through the top-ranked nine-hole gem at Cohasse, to the Pioneer Valley charm of Tekoa and the Berkshire beauty of Greenock, this trail spans a century of Ross craftsmanship and some of the best green fee values on the entire Donald Ross Golf Trail.

The Courses

Four public Ross designs across Central & Western MA.

A century of Ross craftsmanship — presented in recommended play order.

Wachusett Country Club aerial view 1 Semi-Private
Course 01 · West Boylston

Wachusett Country Club

187 Prospect St, West Boylston, MA 01583 (508) 835-2264

Commissioned in 1927 by a group of Worcester businessmen, Wachusett was built on the former Frost Farm — a property Ross prized for its rolling terrain, sudden valleys, and winding brook. When the Depression hit, Joseph Marrone rescued the club in 1939, launching a family stewardship now in its fourth generation under Matthew, Cara, Michael, and Nicholas Marrone. The layout crosses Prospect Street mid-round, with holes 4–7 forming one of the finest stretches on the course. Two-time Massachusetts Open host (1949, 1954), Wachusett is widely regarded as one of the best public Ross experiences in New England.

Par
72
Yards
6,607
Year
1927
Green Fee
$55–95
  • Two-time Massachusetts Open host (1949, 1954) — annual Worcester County Am venue
  • Par-5 5th plunges downhill with creek and pond — compared to Augusta's 15th
  • Par-4 12th (459 yards) — Ross's finest hole here, a gorgeous uphill dogleg right
  • Unorthodox par-3 18th closer at 185 yards — finish your round chasing a 2
  • 4th-generation Marrone family ownership since 1939 — impeccable conditioning
Wachusett aerial Wachusett 11th tee Wachusett fairway Wachusett course map
Book Tee Time Directions Course Map
Cohasse Country Club green 2 Top 10 Nine-Hole
Course 02 · Southbridge

Cohasse Country Club

191 Main St, Southbridge, MA 01550 (508) 764-6290

Designed by Donald Ross in 1916 and opened in 1918, Cohasse is ranked the 8th-best nine-hole course in North America by Anthony Pioppi in The Finest Nines. New owner Kenneth Uracius — a restoration specialist by trade — has launched a historically informed revival with Tim Lewis (Tyler Rae & Associates) and superintendent Frank Kulig. The compact layout features Ross's rare back-to-back par-3s at holes 4 and 5, elevated greens with tight run-offs, and a routing that uses natural shelves and contours to create precise approach demands despite modest yardage.

Par
35
Yards
3,061
Year
1918
Green Fee
$30–51
  • Ranked #8 nine-hole course in North America (The Finest Nines)
  • Rare Ross back-to-back par-3s at holes 4 and 5
  • Phased historical restoration by Tim Lewis (2025)
  • New ownership under Kenneth Uracius revitalizing the club
  • Ross Tavern on-site — great post-round atmosphere
Cohasse green Cohasse clubhouse Cohasse bunkers Cohasse hole 6
Book Tee Time Directions Course Map
Tekoa Country Club aerial view 3 Semi-Private
Course 03 · Westfield

Tekoa Country Club

459 Russell Rd, Westfield, MA 01085 (413) 568-1064

One of western Massachusetts' first golf courses, Tekoa traces its origins to an 1890 four-hole layout on Western Avenue. The club formally organized in 1898, and Donald Ross designed a nine-hole course here in 1923. Five original Ross holes remain intact (the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 14th, and 15th), preserving his trademark false fronts, green contours, and strategic bunkering. Geoffrey Cornish expanded the layout to 18 holes in 1961, adding length and variety while respecting the Ross foundation. The result is a mature, tree-lined championship course in the scenic foothills of the Berkshire Hills.

Par
71
Yards
6,438
Year
1923
Green Fee
$55–65
  • Five original Donald Ross holes preserved from the 1923 design
  • Geoffrey Cornish expansion (1961) blends seamlessly with Ross originals
  • Ross-style greens with false fronts, ridges, and dramatic fall-offs
  • Mature tree-lined fairways in the scenic Pioneer Valley foothills
  • Full banquet facility and restaurant on-site
Tekoa CC bunkers with Berkshire foothills Tekoa CC tree-lined fairway Tekoa CC signature pine tree-lined approach Tekoa CC aerial view
Book Tee Time Directions
Greenock Country Club aerial view 4 Public
Course 04 · Lee (Berkshires)

Greenock Country Club

Lee, MA 01238 (413) 243-3323

Established in 1895 as one of America's earliest golf courses, Greenock was redesigned by Donald Ross in 1927 — and his work has stood the test of time remarkably well. This nine-hole Berkshires gem sits just off I-90, minutes from the historic town of Stockbridge and a few miles from Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The compact layout features Ross's masterful use of natural terrain, bent grass greens, and rye grass fairways that reward precision over power. Open to the public seven days a week from April through October, Greenock offers a genuine step back in time to golf's earliest American roots.

Par
35
Yards
3,080
Year
1927
Green Fee
~$60
  • Founded 1895 — one of America's earliest golf courses
  • Full Donald Ross redesign in 1927 preserved beautifully
  • Berkshires setting near Stockbridge, Lenox, and Tanglewood
  • Open to the public 7 days a week (April 15 - October 15)
  • Just 1 mile from I-90, Exit 2 — easy to reach
Greenock CC fall foliage with Berkshire mountains Greenock CC aerial with Berkshire panorama Greenock CC fairway with fall colors Greenock CC aerial view
Book Tee Time Directions
Trail Map

The Heartland Trail, mapped.

Click any marker to view that course. The trail spans from West Boylston to the Berkshires.

Plan your trip

Suggested Itineraries

Two ways to play the loop — from a full Heartland tour to a focused Western MA weekend.

Option 01

The Full Heartland (2–3 Days)

2–3 Days4 Courses
Day 01

Wachusett CC + Cohasse CC

Start with 18 at Wachusett, the 4th-generation family course with stunning reservoir views. After lunch, drive south to Cohasse for a quick nine — one of the trail's best values at $30-51. Stay in Worcester or Sturbridge.

Day 02

Tekoa CC — Westfield

Head west on the Mass Pike to Westfield for 18 holes at Tekoa — five original Ross holes blended with Cornish's 1961 expansion. Continue west to Lee or Lenox for the night.

Day 03

Greenock CC — Lee (Berkshires)

Morning nine (or eighteen playing it twice) at one of America's oldest courses. Spend the afternoon at Tanglewood, Norman Rockwell Museum, or the charming town of Stockbridge.

Option 02

Western MA Weekend (2 Days)

2 Days2–3 Courses
Day 01

Tekoa CC (Westfield) + Greenock CC (Lee)

Perfect for visitors coming from Springfield, Hartford, or Albany. Morning 18 at Tekoa, then a scenic hour west on I-90 to nine holes at Greenock in the Berkshires. Stay in Lee or Lenox.

Day 02

Wachusett CC (West Boylston) or Cohasse CC (Southbridge)

Head east for a round at Wachusett's championship layout, or south to Cohasse's acclaimed nine-hole Ross design. Pair either with Old Sturbridge Village or the Worcester dining scene.

Local intel

Tips & Recommendations

What we've learned from playing the loop.

⏰

Best Time to Play

May through October for prime conditions. Note that Greenock is open April 15 - October 15. September and October bring spectacular foliage from Worcester to the Berkshires.

🚗

Getting There

From Boston: Wachusett is ~50 min via I-90/I-190. From Springfield: Tekoa is ~20 min. The full trail runs ~130 miles along I-90 from West Boylston to Lee. All courses are near major highways.

🏨

Where to Stay

Worcester (central, near Wachusett/Cohasse), Sturbridge (charming inns), Springfield (near Tekoa), or Lee/Lenox in the Berkshires (near Greenock, great dining and culture).

🎯

Beyond Golf

Old Sturbridge Village. Wachusett Mountain. Worcester Art Museum. Tanglewood (BSO summer home). Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. The Berkshires cultural scene.

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