Pakachoag Golf Course (Auburn, MA)

Pakachoag is a nine hole municipal course in the town of Auburn. To say it’s ideal for beginners would be a falsehood. It’s on the side of a large hill, and has all the markings of a devilish design. Sloped fairways, sidehill lies, and severely pitched greens make any type of game here a particularly difficult one. Yet the people showing up here are juniors, women, seniors, and beginners. I’m not sure if it grows the game or demoralizes folks into giving up. It does however introduce good design principles, and while the conditioning is not ideal, the bones of interesting architecture still exists. 
(The sixth and third greens lie side by side to each other separated by a large grass bunker.)

Pakachoag has the unusual distinction of being on the National Historic Register. It was the site of Dr Goddard’s rocket launch and was the world’s first successful liquid fueled rocket. This was done in 1926, thirteen years before the land would become a golf course. A stone landmark commemorates the feat on the ninth hole. 
(The 189 yard eighth plays uphill over a valley. It’s very receptive in the front but the grass bunkers on both sides await the mishit. It was my favorite hole here.) 

Pakachoag opened in 1939. There’s no record of the architect. Looking at the grass bunkers, I would reckon that’s it’s someone with enough knowledge to build such fantastic hazards. The mounding is really cool. And they’re positioned in spots where the ideal drive needs to carry to take advantage of the topography. 
(The grass bunker in the hill...
...and the more prevalent bunker sunken in the mound.)

A few comments on some of the holes. The drop shot fourth is only 143 yards but the biarritz green presents a small target for front and rear pin placements. Then the 563 yard par five fifth tumbles downhill with a right to left slope all the way to the green. Both three and six are strong uphill par fours where a long iron is the club of choice. Pakachoag is a strong little nine holer. Unfortunately it’s a municipal for a small town, and is not high on the priority. It’s a solid 3 in my book. (Average)(worth 15-30 minute drive)