Granite Links "Greatest" in America!
Apr 7, 2009
More Accolades for Granite Links:
Golf Digest Chairman and Editor in Chief, Jerry Tarde, notified Granite Links that it has been named to the publication's 2009-2010 list of America's 100 Greatest Public Courses - the only Massachusetts golf course to be included! 
Golf Digest has conducted America's 100 Greatest Golf Course rankings since 1966, making it the oldest and most respected ranking in the game. And because this list only includes 100% private courses that most readers do not have access to playing, in 2003 Golf Digest added a ranking of America's 100 Greatest Public Courses to showcase the tops in the nation that are open to all golfers.
The #1 spot for this year's private club list was awarded to Augusta National while the #1 spot for the public play list went to Pebble Beach. Other notable courses on the current public list included perennial awardees Whistling Straits (Straits), The Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, Bethpage State Park (Black), Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium Course) and now also, making its debut list appearance, Granite Links Golf Club at Quarry Hills.
"We're so proud to receive this national distinction and we congratulate our fellow Bay Staters, The Country Club (Brookline, MA) and Kittansett (Marion, MA), as the only other Massachusetts clubs recognized for distinction this year," said Granite Links' general manager, Walter Hannon, III. (They being named to the private club list.)
To determine rankings, Golf Digest's more than 900 panelists nationwide played and rated thousands of courses on seven criteria, each on a scale of 1 to 10:
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Shot Values,
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Resistance to Scoring,
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Design Variety,
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Memorability,
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Aesthetics,
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Conditioning and
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Ambience.
After panelists filed their evaluations, Golf Digest averaged the scores of the seven categories (scores in the Shot Values category count double) and totaled the averages to determine the overall rankings.
"It seems the hits just keep on coming," beamed director of golf, Chris Sleeper, in reference to Granite Links also being named recently to Golf Digest's "Four Star Best Places to Play" and "Top Fifty Best 19th Holes in America" along with the "Editor's Pick-Best Daily Fee Properties " by The Best of Northeast Golf Magazine and "Top 25 Al Fresco All Stars" by Boston Magazine. Two of these designations were for Granite Links' food and beverage offerings via the club's Tavern at Quarry Hills public restaurant and its private Members' Grille.
Categorically speaking, Granite Links is a private membership club that also allows a controlled level of public access. This unique dual approach has the benefit of keeping costs very reasonable for members' dues while simultaneously accomodating locals and visiting tourists who want to sample the best golf this area has to offer. Tee times may be requested by calling the golf shop at 617-689-1900 or via Granite Links' Online Tee Time Reservation System.
The same public/private benefit is seen with the club's restaurants whereby the Tavern's robust public dining business means Members are not burdened by food & beverage spending minimums which are the norm for most fully private clubs. Membership Director, Diane Brickley, pointed out that memberships for Individuals, Couples and Corporations are presently still being accepted at Granite Links, though the club reserves the right to close off any membership category without notice, including its very popular discounted Young Adult Membership exclusively for golfers age 21-30. Membership inquiries may be directed to her attention at [email protected].
The complete Golf Digest rankings, including the list of the Best Courses in Each State and a database of every course that has appeared on one or more of the publication's national rankings plus a detailed description of the scoring criteria, appears in the May 2009 issue of Golf Digest (on newsstands April 7). It will also be available online shortly at www.golfdigest.com. The magazine has additionally produced a handy "World's Greatest Golf" reference booklet that will be mailed to subscribers and which may also be purchased directly from the magazine's website.
Granite Links Golf Club at Quarry Hills
100 Quarry Hills Drive
Quincy, MA 02169
(Southeast Expressway- Exit 8 / Furnace Brook Pkwy)
617-689-1900
www.granitelinksgolfclub.com