Wuddup? It sure is a good Friday. Right?

As courses open up (more on that below) and tournaments and outings get circled on the calendar (more on that below, too), I can’t help but thinking about golf trips. I’ve got one regional trip planned thus far this season and can’t wait. We’re heading on bachelor trip to Vermont to play Country Club of Vermont with a trip to Taconic en route and I can’t wait.

This got me thinking about ideal golf trips in and starting from the 413. While we may not be a certified destination, we have some damn good options for day trips, regional trips, and easy access to destinations via routes from BDL and New Haven.

Here are some trips to consider in each bucket:

Day Trip

You know what sounds like a damn good day? A morning round at Crumpin-Fox followed by lunch and beers at Treehouse in Deerfield? Ridiculously good golf followed by the world’s best craft beer and their amazing pizza?

TBH, I can’t think of a better day.

Regional Trip

Man, there are so many options here. You can take the under(ish) three-hour drive to Saratoga or the Catskills. You can head to southern Maine and play some sneaky good courses, or even try the White Mountains, Lake of Isles in CT, etc., etc., etc.

My take, though, is head to the Cape. With so many great courses in such a condensed area, you can have your pick of signatures and hidden gems.

For inspiration, check out the Cape Cod Golf Guys, good friends of 413 Golf.

Destination Trip

Looking to go wheels up? Consider these relatively easy routes with tons of opportunity from our area’s airports:

• Bradley to Tampa, and take in the golf at Streamsong or the new Cabot Citrus Farms.

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• Bradley to Orlando for legitimately countless options. My take? Championsgate and Orange County National for tons of tee times.

• New Haven to Nashville for rounds at Hermitage, Greystone, and the gorgeous Sweetens Cove.

• New Haven to Raleigh/Durham and try out one of the university courses (Lonnie Poole at NC State, Duke University’s course). If you’re up for it, you can also travel a little over an hour to the Pinehurst/Southern Pines area.

Others to consider:

• BDL to Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach

• BDL to Myrtle Beach via Breeze or Spirit

• New Haven to Charleston

Any way you look at it, there are some great golf trip options in and around the 413. Heading on a trip this year? Let me know where you’re heading!

In this weekend primer, we’ve got:

• Another look at the tournaments and outings you should get on your calendar ASAP

• A spotlight on Springfield College golf coach Joe Eadie!

• News and notes, including some upcoming course openings!

Hit ‘em long. Hit ‘em straight.

Tournaments & Outings

A look at the tournaments important to the 413 Golf community this week.

With the golf season still waiting to kick into full gear, here’s a look at the tournament schedules currently available along with a few key events open to registration. As we get deeper into the golf season, we’ll be highlighting the upcoming weekend’s events and outings across the region.

• Speaking of a trip to the Cape, registration opens soon (and it’ll be sure to sell out quickly) for the annual Cod’r Classic. If you’ve ever wanted to get on the beautiful Pocasset Golf Club, a Donald Ross original and the site where your’s truly played some of his high school golf, here’s your chance!

• Bay State Golf, a friend of 413 Golf, is partnering with FN3P on the Half Swing Golf Series. There are two events scheduled thus far: May 30 at Butter Brook GC in Westford and July 18 at Crosswinds in Plymouth Sign up for one of their 2-player team events here. 

• Country Club of Greenfield has released its 2024 schedule. First open event is May 11 and the annual Amateur Open Championship will be Aug. 24-25.

• Equal parts party and golf tournament, the Killington Classic at Killington Golf Course is a 27-hole four-man scramble, golf festival, concert, and brewfest. Signing up before April 1 gets additional value so be sure to grab three of your best golf buddies and register today!

• The schedule of events is available for the U.S. Am Tour’s New England series with The Ranch hosting on July 27. See the full schedule here.

• The Western Mass. Tee Party, honoring this year the Downes family, will be on May 9 at CC of Wilbraham. Learn more here.

• Here’s a reminder of the Mass Golf Association events open for registration:

  • Amateur Pub-Links

  • Ouimet Memorial

  • Mass. Four-Ball

  • Senior Four-Ball

  • 2024 Mass. Open 

  • MGA Member Day lotteries

  • Young Golfers' Amateur Championship

  • Mass. Junior Amateur

Got an event or outing you want to see here? Let me know by simply replying to this email!

413 Golf Community Member Spotlight

In each edition of the 413 Golf Newsletter, we’ll feature a member of the 413 Golf community making news or waves in the game. Today, get to know:

Joe Eadie

Joe Eadie is in his 31st season as the head coach of the men's golf team at Springfield College. Eadie also holds the position of head golf professional at Fenway Golf Range in East Longmeadow.

Born and raised in Springfield, Eadie is a proud graduate of Putnam High School. During his time there, he excelled in baseball, soccer, and wrestling.

As an accomplished competitor, Eadie has participated in numerous professional tournaments throughout his career. In September 1997, he won the Kinny Open Tournament in Hartford and has achieved top 10 finishes at the Boston Open Tournament on three separate occasions. In the past, Eadie has also competed on the Silver State Tour in Las Vegas, as well as the Golden State Tour in California. Notably, during the summer of 1998, Eadie had the opportunity to play golf alongside former President George Bush and 1997 PGA champion Davis Love III.

The reigning MASCAC champion Springfield College golf team will be back in action for the spring 2024 season April 6 at the Bill Detrick Invitational in Hartford.

News & Notes

• The Ranch is set to open Tuesday, April 2! The course will be aerating the greens and fairways April 15-18 with limited tee time availability that week.

• CC of Greenfield officially opened with carts ok for use. The driving range will open next week.

• Northampton Country Club is officially open for play!

• Chicopee Country Club is back open after the long winter!

• The weather looks ok for the Easter weekend. Get out and play if you can, and let us know where by tagging us on Instagram @413golfguide

Thanks so much for reading. If you like what you see, please consider giving this a share. Send it to all your golfing buddies and help grow the 413 Golf community!