As Boston’s weather begins to transition to a more vernal climate, to the satisfaction of Bostonians and all New Englanders, despite one last ditch effort by Mother Nature to keep us in the throes of winter, so too are our collective mindsets, transitioning from the thought of hot toddies and heaps of blankets to outdoor activities. Lucky for us, Mayor Marty Walsh announced one upcoming beacon of warm weather hope.
On Monday, Mayor Walsh announced that Boston’s two golf courses will be fully open on Saturday, April 5 – assuming any bouts of bad weather don’t force a delayed opening.
Boston boasts two storied courses, the William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park in Dorchester and the George Wright Golf Course in Hyde Park. The former is the second oldest public golf course in the nation and the latter was funded by President Franklin Roosevelt’s Workers Project Administration (WAP) public works initiatives.
“Boston’s golfers are a determined bunch,” Mayor Walsh said in a statement.
Back in the 1970s a small group of dedicated players banded together to bring the William Devine Golf Course back to its former glory and the facility has grown better and better ever since. We now have an award-winning course in Franklin Park and the Donald Ross-designed George Wright in Hyde Park giving golfers two great municipal courses to choose from right in the city.
Both courses have also undergone renovations more recently than those of the 1970s which Mayor Walsh refers to. Just last year, according to the Boston Parks and Recreation Department press office, the George Wright course had its first and second tees expanded and received additional bunkers (course obstacles usually filled with sand, for all of you whose golf knowledge fails to extend past Happy Gilmore). Similarly, the William J. Devine course was given additional forward and rear trees as well as revamped greenside bunkers.
In 2009, the Wright course was named the best public golf course in Massachusetts by Golf Digest. It will also play host to the 2014 U.S. Amateur Qualifier for New England on July 8.
Membership information for both courses can be found here. Weather permitting, they’ll both kick off the season on April 5. There’s just something about hitting the course, beer in hand, puffing on a stogie, that exemplifies spring weather. It looks like we’re in for a few inches of snow tonight, though, so be sure to check back for updates or postponements regarding the opening of both courses.
