Butter Brook Golf Club

Detailed description of Butter Brook Golf Club

Butter Brook Golf Club, is a Semi-Private, 18 hole golf course located in Westford, Massachusetts.

Butter Brook opened the first nine holes for play on April 9, 2004. The front nine has the unique characteristics of three par 3 holes, three par 4 holes and 3 par 5 holes. The course features large bent grass tees and fairways and A4 & L93 grass greens for a superior putting surface. Construction of the back nine and practice facility was completed in October, 2006 and opened to the public on May 26, 2007.

There are four sets of tee markers per hole and great variation in green design. The greens have gentle rolls and changes in slope, to place a premium on putting. The bunkers, randomly spread through out the course define shot angles and entice aggressive play.

HOLE #1: SQUEEZE, 517 yards, The generous landing area and the open approach to the green offer a prelude to the upcoming course characteristics. Keep your tee shot to the right side of the fairway, tempting the bunker, if you want to go for the green in two. The firm approach and elevated right side provides all players the opportunity to roll their shots onto the putting surface.

HOLE #2: DARE, 316 yards, This short par-4 plays against the prevailing summer breeze and offers optional routes of play. Long hitters may choose to aim at the right fairway bunker and draw the ball into the reachable green. Those laying up must avoid the short right fairway bunker and deep ravine to the left. HOLE #3: SHELF, 136 yards, The first of three par-3’s on the front nine, this hole is daunting and will test ones nerves. Miss the tee shot left and watch your ball careen off the steep slope and disappear into the bunker. If you find the green with your tee shot, you will be rewarded with a relatively easy putt and possible birdie.

HOLE #4: FAITH, 403 yards, Use the right fairway bunker as the aiming point for tee shots to this partially blind fairway. The bunker can be easily carried and the right to left fairway slope will turn balls left. The green is undulating with a terrace separating the back section from the front. This green will not yield to long putts easily.

HOLE #5: LEDGE, 136 yards, Though the shortest hole at Butter Brook, the deep front left bunker and small undulating putting surface will challenge your club selection. A front, right pin placement may yield a birdie.

HOLE #6: KICK, 436 yards, Standing on the tee, players may feel indecisive as to how to play the longest of three par 4’s on the front nine. The best tee shot is a slight fade over the left fairway bunkers that use the back slope to kick shots forward. Other players may try to blast it down the right side, flirting with the pond. The green is guarded by a front right bunker and chipping areas to left and rear.

HOLE #7: PARTY BOWL, 554 yards, Pull your driver from your bas as a long tee shot is key to reaching the green in two. Players are faced with deciding the best approach to the low lying green with front bunker and adjacent wetlands. The safe shot is to the raised right fairway area. Smart players will aim right and utilize the approach to kick shots onto the “punch bowl” shaped putting surface.

HOLE #8: NORTHERN PALM, 171 yards, The longest par-3 on the front plays into the prevailing wind. Stay clear of the left greenside bunkers. A testing ridge juts into the green fro m the right edge, separating the rear position from the remaining green. Subtle green slopes and shade from the surrounding pines make putting a challenge.

HOLE #9: ETERNITY, 618 yards, Get ready to hit three solid shots to reach this green in regulation. No fairway bunkers and a kick slope in the landing area entices players to grip it and rip it. The preferred angle to the green is from the left side near the approach bunker, as a large ominous bunker closely guards the entire right side. The green is open to approaches from the front, but watch for the left side grass hollows that may capture one’s ball.

HOLE #10: CORRAL, 383 yards, The back nine opens with sensory overload. A pair of deep cross bunkers jut in from the left and tempt players to carry them. The safe play is played down the right side, flirting with the wood line. Shots short of the cross bunkers will leave a blind approach to the bunkerless putting surface which falls off sharply to the left and rear.

HOLE #11: SWALE, 249yards, Yes, the yardage marker is correct; 249 yards and par of 3. The approach is defined by a deep chipping area to the right front that ends as a “thumbprint” splitting the front half of the putting surface. Large trees frame both sides of this difficult hole.

HOLE #12: FREEDOM, 521 yards, After crossing a scenic bridge players reach the setting for #12, the first hole in the wide open former cattle yard. At the tee, the large waste bunker provides a striking contrast to the manicured green turf. Faiarway bunkers left and out of bounds right narrow the drive zone, putting accuracy at a premium. The boomerang shaped green is raised above rear grass hollows and waste bunkers to create a difficult target.

HOLE #13: BARN, 321 yards, This short par-4 reminiscent of the 17th at the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland has several options off the tee. One can play a blind tee shot over the barn to achieve the best approach angle to this segmented green or play left and risk hitting into the mammouth fairway bunker. The small putting surface is closely guarded to the front and left by deep sand bunkers.

HOLE #14: OASIS, 199 yards, Pass through the tunnel to reach the last par-3 , an oasis of verdant green between the large waste bunker and fescue covered mounds. This long green appears deceptively shallow from the low lying tees. A single sand bunker is nestled into the putting surface’s front right side, which will favor those playing a fade.

HOLE #15: OLD TOM, 447 yards, From the tee on #15, one is presented a pretty view of the sinuous fairway, glimmering pond, mass of sand bunkers and far distant green. The long par-4 provides optional routes of play. The smart player will favor the left side of the hole tempting the fairway bunkers. This lengthens the route, but takes the pond out of play. The shorter, aggressive route requires a well placed drive just short of the pond, and a long approach over water and bunkers.

HOLE #16: HIGHLANDS, 524 yards, The multiple tees set atop of the Highlands provide a great view of the last few holes. Risk the pond by playing to the fairway’s right side and you’ll be rewarded with visibility of the putting surface. The left fairway bunker extends into the landing area at 275 yards from the rear tee. Balls played short of this hazard will be faced with a blind approach and a gaping left front bunker. A waste bunker separates this hole from #12 and trouble lurks behind the green.

HOLE #17: BUTTER BROOK, 416 yards, The penultimate hole is a test of ones nerves. Tee shots must be played across an expanse of wetland and Butter Brook to a diagonal oriented fairway fronted by a fieldstone wall. Risk a long carry and be rewarded with a shorter approach to the well bunkered and elevated putting surface, which is shaped to funnel shots near the edge back toward the center.

HOLE #18: ANCIENT OAK, 355 yards, A few strides down the slope left of the 17th green is the home hole tee. It’s decision time again! Offset bunkers to the right and left of the landing area require careful tee shot placement. Playing short of the two sand pits will force a long approach over a wetland and right front bunker. Play long to a dramatically rolling and narrowing fairway to leave a short iron approach. The ancient oak framed putting surface is sited next to the old mill pond and Butter Brook Falls as depicted on the Club logo. The small undulating green is receptive to an accurate short iron shot.