MIDDLETON, Mass. -- Ferncroft Country Club, one of the Boston area's most acclaimed golf courses, recently celebrated its grand reopening. The 27-hole private course, formerly affiliated with the nearby Sheraton Hotel, is now operated as a private club by Affinity Management.
Located on the North Shore, just 18 miles from Boston at the rotary of Routes 1 and 95, Ferncroft includes a championship course and nine-hole executive course and represents the first design collaboration between famed designer Rees Jones and his legendary father, Robert Trent Jones. It has hosted numerous high-profile golf events, including serving as the home of the LPGA Boston Five Classic for 10 years.
Before the facility reopened, it underwent a renovation project that included improvements to the course drainage systems and the club's pool, and was highlighted by an extensive redesign of the "19th Hole" facility, which includes a restaurant, function space and golf.
"This is a big transformation in 70 days. We started the morning after they closed," said CBC Construction owner and Ferncroft member Ed Harrison, who oversaw the work. "They were cost conscious but didn't cut any corners. The kitchen hadn't been operable for years, so there were plenty of surprises -- and none of them were good surprises."
"The 19th Hole makeover was critical," said Affinity Managing Director Damon DeVito. "The more we heard about members not being able to have a beer and a sandwich after golf for 10 years, we realized this first phase needed to show potential members what we're all about."
The makeover was handled by Bill Atwood of Atwood Architects, who has worked on the famed Hershey Country Club in Pennsylvania and prestigious West Bay in Naples, Fla., and also consulted on Augusta National's bar renovation.
Copyright 2006 PGA.com. All rights reserved.
