Morning at Unicorn Golf Course
Morning at Unicorn Golf Course
This week I was fortunate enough to have a day off so I set out to play a quick 9-holes before doing anything else. I scanned local tee times and decided on the short course just north of Boston. I have played this course numerous times and wanted an easy drive and a layout that I was familiar with; enter Unicorn Golf Course.The Unicorn Golf Course, established in 1928 by the Boston Athletic Association, was a prestigious 18-hole private golf course. It was designed by the renowned architectural firm of Stiles and Van Kleek, spanning parts of Stoneham and Woburn. In 1972, the town of Stoneham acquired the Stoneham section and transformed it into a premier nine-hole course called Unicorn.
Nestled atop a picturesque hill, the course offers a diverse experience with some open holes and others framed by magnificent, sprawling oak trees along its beautiful fairways. From the blue tees, the course measures 3,234 yards and has a par of 35, with a slope rating of 126.0 and a course rating of 70.8. From the red tees, it stretches 2,902 yards, boasts a par of 37, and carries a slope rating of 129.0 and a course rating of 73.0.
The nine may not reflect a "premier" golf destination in the mind of an avid player, but that's not the only opinion you need to consider when seeking enjoyment in the game of golf. I took note of the youth in the parking lot prepping for the round, the middle school students on summer vacation warming up on the practice green, and the welcoming staff in the clubhouse.
What I really saw that morning at Unicorn, was a reflection of myself. I couldn't help but remember the rounds I played with my friends during middle school. Witnessing the youth struggle to pull a pushcart up an embankment, and drop a ball in the bunker when nobody (that mattered) was looking gave me hope for the future of golf. The reason? I saw myself in all of that. While this particular group may not have had a refined game yet, their passion was visible and that's all that matters. I thought, "I hope they keep at it.". Then remembered how many times I strayed away from the game in my youth. Whether that was to play football, or soccer, play guitar, pursue relationships, and obtain an education. So many things took my attention away from the game, but I always came back. Golf is my true north.
I could bore you all with details of how many fairways I hit (and missed), but the most important thing about this round for me was to see that the game is in good hands with kids who are just like I was. Give them time, and they will turn into refined players and better people. Every generation likes to doubt the generation beneath them to make it feel like things are different and easier for kids now, but we are in good hands.
Next time you're out playing 9 or 18 with your group, remember to embrace the youth on the course instead of shunning them. I was a youth on the course not too long ago, and I would not be typing this without having learned the things I did playing and working in golf.
The nine may not reflect a "premier" golf destination in the mind of an avid player, but that's not the only opinion you need to consider when seeking enjoyment in the game of golf. I took note of the youth in the parking lot prepping for the round, the middle school students on summer vacation warming up on the practice green, and the welcoming staff in the clubhouse.
What I really saw that morning at Unicorn, was a reflection of myself. I couldn't help but remember the rounds I played with my friends during middle school. Witnessing the youth struggle to pull a pushcart up an embankment, and drop a ball in the bunker when nobody (that mattered) was looking gave me hope for the future of golf. The reason? I saw myself in all of that. While this particular group may not have had a refined game yet, their passion was visible and that's all that matters. I thought, "I hope they keep at it.". Then remembered how many times I strayed away from the game in my youth. Whether that was to play football, or soccer, play guitar, pursue relationships, and obtain an education. So many things took my attention away from the game, but I always came back. Golf is my true north.
I could bore you all with details of how many fairways I hit (and missed), but the most important thing about this round for me was to see that the game is in good hands with kids who are just like I was. Give them time, and they will turn into refined players and better people. Every generation likes to doubt the generation beneath them to make it feel like things are different and easier for kids now, but we are in good hands.
Next time you're out playing 9 or 18 with your group, remember to embrace the youth on the course instead of shunning them. I was a youth on the course not too long ago, and I would not be typing this without having learned the things I did playing and working in golf.
Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for my next post!
- Matt Lynch (@mattlynchgolf , @addresstheball)
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