The Ranch Golf Club

The Ranch Golf Club in Southwick, Ma. has gained a reputation as one of the elite daily fee clubs in the region for good reason. Management takes great efforts in making a visit an extremely pleasurable, stress-free experience offers some of the most sublime views of fall foliage in all of southern New England.

The golf course layout climbs up and down steeps hills as you amble your way along fairways lined by mature woodlands. And there are valley holes, where the fescue grows high in the warm weather months and foliage around wetlands turns various gorgeous hues during the fall.

.The Ranch is a thoroughly enjoyable routing, challenging yet playable for all golfers because of several sets of tees. The layout is a mix of open and woodland holes, plays 7,175 yards from the tips, and has a rating of 75.4 and a slope of 143 from the back markers.

While difficult, you can score at The Ranch, as long as you hit the ball straight off the tee and don’t get too greedy on approach shots to the undulating greens, which are usually well protected by sand, water or rough.

The 441-yard par-four fourth is one of the prettiest holes on the course. It starts with a carry across a small ravine to a fairway that flows up toward the green. The hole is framed by tall pines and guarded by fairway and greenside bunkers.

The 540-yard par-five ninth and 618-yard par-five 16th play dramatically downhill and afford those great views of the surrounding countryside. A well struck tee shot on the ninth will tumble down a hill and leave the player with a choice of either laying up for a short third shot or going for the green in two by challenging a wetlands area in front of the putting surface. www.TheRanchGolfClub.com