Granite Links GC @ Quarry Hills
Quincy, MA (outside Boston)
T&L Golf Review:
Boston's infamous $14.6 billion Big Dig replaced the city's decrepit highways with sleek tunnels. It also helped build a wonderful course. Before the Dig, these 450 acres were a morass of landfills and quarries seven miles south of the city. Quarry Hills' developers needed fill; Big Dig contractors needed a place to put 13 million tons of earth. Now, more than 900,000 truckloads later, architect John Sanford has fashioned a work of art.
Although short by today's standards, Granite Links compensates with dense bluegrass, fescue and heather rough bordering bent-grass fairways and large, bone-white bunkers that look like the footprints of prehistoric beasts fleeing the nearby metropolis. (Although Boston's skyline comes into view from many spots, a hundred acres of adjoining conservation land lend the feel of a rural track.) Boston has long needed a nearby, first-rate public course. Now it has one—on its very own soil.
—Roland Merullo
Yardage/Par: 6,836/72. Greens Fees: $65-$85. Tee Times: 617-296-7600 or visit granitelinksgolfclub.com.
Recommended by Gil
Other Area Tracks To Play: Per www.travelgolf.com, the real gem in all of the New England area, and one to definitely check out before the blanket of snow hits in late fall, is Stow Acres Country Club. Roughly 45 minutes outside of Boston, the club’s North Course was recently named the best public course in the state by Golf Digest and hosted the 70th U.S. Amateur Championship. The 7,000-yard track winds through beautiful pine trees and golfers will encounter a piece of the property’s eight ponds all the way around. And the South Course isn’t too shabby either.
Best Bar Nearby: The on-site bar at Granite Links was named to Golf Digest's 2008 50 Best 19th Holes. "Picture the hit TV show Cheers (only Cliff and Norm play golf); "devoted Boston sports fans" drink next to local sports legends Bill Russell, Luis Tiant and Ray Bourque; impressive view of the city; be prepared to defend any statement you make about golf, sports or life in general to a complete stranger. "
Here's the full article on Granite Links Grillroom:
Boston Tee Party
By Ron Kaspriske
The guys in the members grillroom at Granite Links Golf Club will argue -- check that, "debate" -- just about any subject. On this day, the topics include the best course you've never heard of in Ireland (Woodbrook was the winner), whether Granite Links should install a big spotlight on the clubhouse to illuminate a green, and the latest time the guys ever left the bar. Tomorrow the subjects could easily be the best left-handed pitchers in Boston Red Sox history and who invented the Internet. It's as entertaining to listen to as any reality TV show, and if you're within earshot, be prepared to be dragged into the conversation. It's guys like Jack Gardner and Patrick Cross, and the throng of people in the adjacent Tavern restaurant and bar (which is open to the public) who make the 19th hole at Granite Links in Quincy, Mass., one of Golf Digest's 50 Best (See the complete list). But as good as the atmosphere is, it's not the first reason you'll want to visit again.
Outside the windows of the Tavern and the members grillroom (see accompanying story) is perhaps the best view of the Boston metropolitan area you can get without leaving the ground. Looking north through a wall of windows, you can see the entire downtown skyline, Boston Harbor, Logan International Airport, Bunker Hill, Fenway Park -- just about everything that makes the area famous. There's also a porch just beyond the windows where you can enjoy a vodka martini, smoke a cigar and stare at the city.
The course owes its existence to "the Big Dig," Boston's infamous downtown tunnel project. More than 90,000 trucks deposited roughly 13 million tons of dirt on the landfill site in five years, creating the terrain needed for Granite's rolling fairways and elevated greens. The ground rises as high as 298 feet above sea level, and when the three-story clubhouse was put on top, you can see why the place draws a crowd.
"People hear about this place because of the view we have, and we're pretty busy day and night because of it," says Brian Leonard, the food-and-beverage director. "But once they get here, they realize it's a fun place to hang."
In fact, on a cold and cloudy Tuesday in May, the Tavern was packed at 2 p.m., and Leonard said he was expecting an equally large crowd at happy hour. Just don't call it happy hour; Massachusetts state law prohibits bars from offering drink specials in the evening. The place has gotten so popular, it did more business from last November to March than it did in the summer.
"I'm up here about five days a week," Cross says. "I'll be here tomorrow. How about you?"
THE HOUSE COCKTAIL Some might consider the "Granitini" a foo-foo drink. But on a steamy day, the combination of pomegranate-flavored Pearl vodka (two parts), pomegranate liqueur (one part), a splash of Cointreau liqueur and a splash of sour mix is refreshing."
Best Bar Nearby, Boston: My buddy Scott (a short-time Beantown resident) says it's not really worth it, but your first thought will be to go where everybody knows your name. "Cheers" aka The Bull & Finch on the north side of Boston Common, is not only Boston's most famous bar, but maybe the most famous bar in the world. Hit the Cheers at Quincy Market instead for a quick pint of 80's nostaglia on a replica of Naam's barstool. OR, nearby Bell In Hand claims to be among America's oldest taverns (although it's moved 4 times since it's inception). Other famous surroundings include Woody's L Street Tavern (658 E 8th St #A, S. Boston, 617-268-4335), put in the spotlight by Boston's own Matt and Ben when they filmed the bar scenes from Good Will Hunting there. Philly Metro likes Sevens Ale House (Charles St) as a typical Boston pub. For nightclubs, head to Lansdowne St, with 6 clubs of varying themes, Avalon being the largest.
Where To Grub: Start your tour at Quincy Market for street performers, shopping, and fresh foods of all kinds. Ray O' recommended the beer & oysters at the raw bar at Union Oyster House (41 Union St, 617-227-2750, www.unionoysterhouse.com), America's oldest continuously operated restaurant. So I checked it out. The bar is a great spot to belly up, but I wouldn't stray much past the raw bar. My meal here reminded me of the bland, overpriced tourist food at Bookbinder's, and the clam chowdah I got from a stand at Quincy Market was much better than Union's. For Italian on the North Side, hit 5 North Square (617-720-1050) for basic old school dishes. Try the homemade ravioli stuffed with cheesecake-like ricotta, or their veal parm ranks right up there with Philly's best at D'Angelo's. Scott's formidable beef palate likes the semi-reasonable steaks at Abe & Louie's (739 Boyleston Ave, 617-536-6300). Pat says the pricey steaks at Kansas City-based Plaza III's first satellite location (1 S Market St @ Quincy Market, 617-720-5570, www.plazaiii.com) are the best he's ever had in his wide travels in sales. Playboy named Grill 23 and Bar as one of the Top 10 Steakhouses in America. Jacket & tie required in the 75-year-old mahogany-walled, Corinthian-columned, former Salada Tea building. Start with chilled New England shellfish, or soft-shell crabs crusted with pumpkin seeds, then move to a Delmonico or filet, with sides of hash browns and mac & cheese with truffles. Don't overlook the wine list, rich with great reds. Philly Metro paper likes The Barking Crab (88 Sleeper St, Waterfront 617-426-2722, up to $35) serving simple seafood, known for it's New England clambake. OR Chau Chow (50 Beach St, Chinatown, 617-292-5166, up to $25) features Chinese seafood cuisine, try the clams in black bean sauce. OR Aura (Seaport Hotel, 1 Seaport Ln, Waterfront, 617-385-4300) does a menu featuring fresh seasonal produce. Forbes likes Anthony's Pier 4 Seafood, among Beantown's oldest and most venerable fish joints.
Where To Stay: OK, this is probably a stretch even for the blonde-obsessed-Maxim-subscriber in you, but the Onyx Hotel has a Britney Spears Suite, designed by her mom to look just like the diva's room back home. The minibar contains Britney's favorite snacks. Might be worth it if the wife/grrlfriend offers to dress up like Britney's schoolgirl video.
Other Touristy Stuff To Do: Of course, half the reason to come to Boston is to go to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park. Circa 1912 and way more atmosphere than any of the new breed of old-style parks. While there, be sure to hit Fenway tradition Cask N' Flagon, or newcomer Boston Brew Pub. Boston's Freedom Trail hits all the historical hightlights on an easy-to-follow walking tour, featuring Paul Revere's house and the Old North Church.