Architect: Sam Mitchell, 1975.
Yardage: 6009 (gold) / 5651 (white) / 4982 (red).
Weekend Rates: $34. Cart + $15.
Best Deal: $10 (1-hour before sunset).
In my opinion, the best thing about Norwood Country Club is the crisp Sam Adams on tap in the clubhouse. The clubhouse is located attached to a strip mall, and the golf course appropriately fits the run-down scene. The first hole is a terrifying start, with a mucky stream paralleling the left side of the fairway, and the high driving range net paralleling the right side of the fairway. I've sliced my first drive off the net back into the fairway a couple times - but also found a hole in the ragged net and lost a ball before! Probably the worst-designed hole on the course is the short par four 2nd; it is also probably the most interesting, which is definitely saying something.
Google Earth illustrates the trees in line from tee to green on the 2nd.
Listed on the card as 261 yards, I've seen as little as a 5-iron reach the green at the 2nd. It is a glorified long par three, with the major problem being tall trees blocking the direct line to the putting surface. Strong players can go up and over the limbs without too much trouble, but weaker players are forced to play two short-irons around the meddlesome grove. Hey, at least the hole forces a decision and induces a thrill if the trees are carried! The best hole at Norwood is the 402-yard 4th: it gently doglegs left, and the approach shot is over a small creek to a medium-sized, rolling green. Nothing extraordinary, but this solid hole stands out among the plethora of back and forth tree-lined "hit it straight" holes throughout the course. The 5th hole is listed as 455-yard par five; however, if a high slice can be hit around the corner, as little as a sand wedge can be hit into the green. I find the best golf courses are relatively easy to remember on a hole-to-hole basis days or even weeks after a round. At Norwood, many of the holes on the back nine run together in my mind. With unremarkable land and few natural features other than the lines of trees separating parallel holes, Norwood's layout is forgettable to me. On the other hand, if you're looking for a cheap late-afternoon round of golf, maybe even preceded by a Sam Adams or two, "The Country Club of Norwood" (as its sign proclaims!) fits the bill nicely.
Too many boring parallel holes on Norwood's back nine at bottom.
Course Rating: 1 star out of 10
Bang for your $34 bucks: 3 stars out of 10
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