Chemawa Golf Course Review by Jim Raftus, Golf Editor

Two on course restrooms (both with Men’s and Lady’s facilities) which from the outside look like small, stone chapels and inside are tile and wallpaper with framed golf photos. Extensive floral plantings throughout the course, changed from season to season. Bird houses on tall posts act as 150 yard markers.

Where are we, Augusta or Pinehurst?

Well,…no. We are at Chemawa Golf Course in Attleboro, Mass., perhaps the
most quixotic public golf course in the area. This short, and we do mean short, eighteen
hole course caters to working guys and women, seniors and beginners, yet it has
amenities not found at some of the most expensive private country clubs in the
country.

Most seasons, just try to find bare spots on this course, even the grass in non-playing
areas is green. This summer, of 2005, has been one of the driest on record, so while
there are bare spots where the extensive sprinkler system can’t reach, Chemawa’s
playing area is still a verdant green. If you point out a bare spot on course, no doubt
course Superintendent Jeff Lefebvre will rush out to rectify the problem.

The 155 yard par three thirteenth hole has two small ponds framing the green, each pond has a beautiful spraying fountain. There is a direct line phone box on the ninth tee so you may pre-order your lunch and have it ready as you make the turn for the back side.

Why such slavish attention to extra detail? The answer lies with the ownership and
management. Glen Bourque, whose family has owned Chemawa for almost three
decades, is course President and the driving force behind its uniqueness.

Amazingly a non-golfer, Bourque, a Hartwick College graduate in Political Science,
spent two years in a comprehensive Turf Management program at Rutgers University.
His educational background shows in his understanding of soil and people.

In addition to how well he treats the grounds, Bourque is always mindful of his
clientele. On particularly hot, humid days he has been known to send his staff out
onto the course with free water, watermelon and popsicles.

“People come here to forget their troubles”, says Bourque “ I have a great staff and
we try to treat people like Kings.”

So what’s the downside? Where’s the chink in the Chemawa armor?

Well, first of all the tightness of the layout leads to some serious “hard hat” golf.
Several narrow, contiguous fairways means the slogan for Chemawa could well
be, “Fore!”.

Also, again because of space constraints, several of the greens are very small
targets, but, hey, most holes are short enough that you’re not using long irons
for approach shots.

And finally, because of the stress on aesthetics, the greens tend to be somewhat
slow as appearance takes precedents over speed.

Now for the odd statistics of Chemawa. From the “tips” the course measures a
mere 5,267 yards and plays to a par 68. The front nine has one par 5 and one par
3 and plays to a par 36 while the back nine features four par 3’s, all intriguing, and
five par 4’s for a 32 stroke total.

A couple of the shortest par 4’s can be driven by long hitters, but the real low
handicappers are not Chemawa’s demographics. Yet, while it appears to be a
place to go to stroke your ego by bettering your lowest score by a number of
strokes, don’t sell short Chemawa short. It can surprisingly bite back. The
Attleboro Senior Open has been held at Chemawa and no one comes in under par.
I’ve played Chemawa a couple of times with a single digit player from
Wannamoisett and his score is only about five to six strokes better than on his
home course and he loves the place!

Highlights of several holes; the short 312 yard par 4 sixth hole demands that
you stay left on your drive. In fact you should land your tee ball about a third
of the way up a steep hill and the ball will trickle down onto the left side of
the fairway. Careful though, pull it too far left and your drive will stay on
the hill and present you with a classic “billy goat” lie with the ball severely
below your feet. Conversely, any drive which lands right of center will kick
right with a good chance of clearing the fence which marks a hazard area the
entire length of the hole. It’s the type of hole where a six is as likely as a three!

The 14th is a 205 yard par 3. From an elevated tee you look down on a small narrow
green in the distance. Traps guard both sides of the green which makes the shot look
even more perilous. A par is a pleasure on 14, which gives up few birdies.

The same holds true for the finishing hole. Number 18 is a 420 yard uphill par 4
which makes my Wannamoisett friend feel at home. With a solid drive you are Pg.3
still left with a long iron, or fairway metal to reach the green. John Daly wannabe's
beware, there is a stream, which you can’t see from the tee, crossing the fairway which
requires a 260 yard carry. A par on number 18 can make your week.

A full service bar and restaurant, capably run by Linda Faria, Club House Manager, serves up far better than your ordinary pub food. Several televisions and a relaxing patio all make for an extremely enjoyable 19th hole. So, if you don’t mind some course “oddities” and your ego is not tied to booming drives, Chemawa provides a truly unique day of golf.

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