If a quiet round of golf in central Massachusetts is what you’re seeking, look no further than Bedrock Golf Club. Located in the idyllic town of Rutland, the course is just 10 miles from Worcester on Rte. 122, and about an hour west of Boston. Bedrock Golf Club is a 9-hole, Par-36 course that presents a cerebral and vigorous challenge amid the quaint woodlands of Worcester County. The vistas may be harmonious, but be prepared to summons your A-game for this lovely rolling course that runs 6,318 yards for a full round from the men’s tees. From the ladies tees, the course offers 5,355 yards of zealous challenges.
Owned and operated by the Carr family, the course features a comprehensive pro shop fully stocked with all the products a player would want or need. Bedrock’s practice green is a great place to sharpen your short game. If you want a professional’s opinion about how to tweak your swing, feel free to contact the golf pros to schedule an engaging and fun tutorial. Hooking? Slicing? Duffing? No matter what ails you, you’ll be in good hands with Joe Carr, a local to the area who has lived, breathed and slept golf for more than two decades. A former PGA Tour Professional and current PGA of America member, Carr is the club’s pro and manages the course, a role he has occupied since the club’s inception 18 years ago.
You’ll need all the help you can get on the course’s two outstanding Par-3s that stretch over glistening bodies of water. Bedrock’s notable signature holes include the Par-4 9th, which runs 422 yards. This finishing hole has ruined many a day for even the most experienced golfer. The Par-4 3rd, a 415-yard dogleg that features a second shot over a small pond, presents a string of challenges early in the round.
The club offers full and limited membership and can handle corporate outings and social functions. It hosts a slate of tournaments and a gamut of evening leagues for both men and women during the week. Both motorized and pull carts are available. The back deck of the clubhouse overlooks the last hole, the ideal spot to unwind after a round and watch fellow golfers finish their day. The Back Nine Pub, a full-service bar and grille, offers a wide panache of grub and spirits to quench any thirst and stave off any hunger.
About 20 years ago, Bedrock’s golf course, designed by Carr and Bill Greene, was carved into a thick forest dominated by pine, although flecks of foliage from birch and oak trees could be seen dotting the landscape during the New England autumn. Since the course’s inception in May 1992, meticulously maintaining Mother Nature’s natural assets has remained top priority. And what hard work it is, accentuating the natural gifts of these clusters of groves. The work is no doubt laborious and the dedication shows. While the club’s name evokes prehistoric imagery, there’s nothing outdated, primitive or passé about the course’s play. Well-coifed fairways, strongly defined hazards and sublimely well-kept greens help brand the Bedrock experience a pleasurable one. Understated contours and nuanced undulations define the course.
The Bedrock experience is a testament to the Carr’s continual commitment to excellence. In many respects, this is their life’s work, a labor of love that perpetually culminates with enjoyable round after enjoyable round. Their goal? Simply put, they want to offer an escape from the daily grind. Mission accomplished. Bedrock’s thick stands of timber offer a shelter from the hectic pace of the work week in both a figurative and literal sense. The sea of wildwood that the course is adrift in defines Bedrock. The gentle New England breeze brings with it hints of pine needles and oak leaves on many of the holes. Healthy wealds of tall trees fill nearly each panorama. Lines of hardwood buffer seemingly every hole, some of which weave and wind their way through the forest swath. Rutland, a rural hamlet of 6,000 known for a defunct but gritty gristmill and a buffalo farm, offers an existential backdrop for the course. The town’s state forest, a well-known playground for swimmers, bikers, anglers and hikers, is less than a 10-minute drive away. Bedrock is located a few miles from the “central tree” that denotes the exact geographic center of the state of Massachusetts.
You can book a tee time at the club’s website, bedrockclub.com. Visit soon for reduced rates, some online deals feature a 49 percent price reduction. Course rates do vary. Check the website for more information. Register with the club online and receive a free round of golf on your birthday.