Situated in Western Massachusetts, the Crumpin-Fox Club is considered one of the last “hidden gems” in New England. The premier club has a great practice facility, an amazing restaurant, and an 18-hole championship golf course. The venue is great for a daily round or for taking a golf trip for a couple of days.
The course was designed by Roger Rulewich from the famous golf architect team of Robert Trent Jones Sr. Inc. It opened in 1990 and has been a staple of New England golf ever since. The practice facility has a double-sided driving range conveniently located right next to the first tee box. There are two putting greens on opposite sides of the clubhouse to help get you dialed in reading the speeds of your putts.
5th Hole
The course is in immaculate shape and provides natural and manmade scenery throughout. The grounds crew have adapted to the changing New England seasons to provide green, smooth, and healthy playing surfaces year-round. The flowers and landscaping throughout the course provide nice features that you don’t see on many public courses. I met the course historian, Hugo, during my round and learned from his wonderful stories how Crumpin-Fox has evolved over the years. Hugo has been a member for over 40 years and is currently the florist for the course, doing a wonderful job while also being a ranger on the course.
When playing Crumpin be prepared for a mental battle with the course. The variety of the hole designs will force you to think through every shot you take. Each shot has options, but there is usually no easy or straightforward approach. You must choose a path to the green and hopefully be within a few yards of your target after each shot.
8th Hole
The course does not reward the aggressive players because the fairways are narrow, and most greens have some sort of hazard in front. There is water, sand, fescue, and natural ravines protecting the greens, so you don’t want to be short.
The natural beauty of the course is as New England as it gets, but the real prize from the layout is the isolation of each hole. Most public courses have fairways clogged together and it can feel suffocating. Crumpin-Fox’s layout has dense forest separating most holes, so each one is its own little piece of the course. You can enjoy the modern layout of the course with just your playing partners, and not be distracted by other golfers or sounds from nearby roads.
The course has elevation changes and tricky greens that put you to the test. If you like to shape your shots, then you will have a fun time. If you are like me and HOPE to shape your shots, then it can be tough. You can start your round with some pars because the first three holes are basic layouts. 1 has a dog leg right, 2 is straightaway, and 3 is a 160-yd par 3. After that you are going to have some fun navigating the shapes of the fairways and avoiding the natural hazards that come into play. The elevation changes go up and down, so you must choose your clubs wisely. There are water and sand hazards, but also natural rock ledges and formations that should be avoided. The surface of the course is very soft because of the natural run-off from nearby hills so your shots won’t roll out as much. The greens are on the smaller side with some subtle breaks that roll true. They do run fast but if you pick the right line and pace then it will be right on the hole.
16th Hole
A bonus when playing at Crumpin is their effort to maintain the pace of play and take care of the course. When I played, I saw the ranger Hugo at least four different times, so I know that he was making sure no groups were playing slow. There are also signs along the course that tell you what the expected pace is based on what hole you are on.
Another unique thing to help with the course is the sign in the cart that asks players to repair ball marks, fill divots, and rake bunkers. There are also instructions with pictures for how to properly use a divot tool. I love the fact that the course is putting these tasks on the golfers, as they should, to help maintain the quality for everyone playing. Every hole has a sign on fairways reminding golfers to fill divots and a sign near greens asking golfers to repair ball marks as well. This is a big reason why the course is in such excellent shape year-round.
FOOD
Located next to the clubhouse is Zeke’s Bar and Grill for all of your food and drink needs. The menu is loaded with pub favorites along with a huge selection of beers, wines, and cocktails. The restaurant stays open year round, offers takeout, and is a great local spot even if you aren’t a golfer.
The inside has a modern pub vibe with seats at the bar or at high and low-tops tables. They also have a huge outdoor patio with seating and a view of the 18th green. This is one of the best decks at any golf course in Massachusetts because of the views and atmosphere. There are awnings for sunny days, and fire pits for cooler ones.
Zeke’s is named after a stray dog that showed up at the golf course one day and decided not to leave. You will feel the same way after you enjoy the food, drinks, and atmosphere here. There are plenty of beer selections to quench your thirst, and the food menu has a little bit of everything.
The appetizers and salads are a good way to start your meal while not getting too full. The nachos are piled high with toppings, the wings are crispy, and the taco salad is full of flavor. They have twelve different types of sandwiches, each bursting with fresh ingredients on a toasted bun. My favorite is the Philly Fox which has tender sirloin tips covered in onions, peppers, mushrooms, and cheese. My wife loves the Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich which has fried chicken, caramelized onions, cheddar, bacon, and honey mustard.
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Zeke’s also has great entree options for dinner. You can create your own pasta dish by picking the protein, pasta, and sauce. Or you can have one of the classics from the menu like Shepherd’s Pie, Maple Balsamic Salmon, or Chicken Parm. No matter what you choose to eat you will be satisfied with the quality of the ingredients and the size of the portions.
HOTEL
But wait, there’s more…just down the street is the Inn at Crumpin Fox where you can spend the night before, during, or after your rounds of golf. They have amazing stay-and-play packages that include lodging, golf, and even restaurant credits. You can combine these offers for multiple rounds, multiple rooms, and multiple people. This is what my wife and I did when we played at Crumpin, and it was so convenient to have the hotel so close to the course. The quaint Inn offers standard rooms that are clean, spacious, and fully equipped for any golfers’ needs. The Inn is only a mile away from the course so even if you have an early tee time you only need to take a short ride.
