There are good golf courses. There are great golf courses. And then there’s Crumpin-Fox Club—a course so good that people drive hours just to play it. Nestled in Bernardston, Massachusetts, Crumpin-Fox is widely regarded as one of New England’s best public golf courses.
It’s got everything you want in a bucket-list course: a challenging layout, perfect conditions, jaw-dropping scenery, and enough hazards to make you question every single club choice. Sound fun? Let’s break it down.
Crumpin-Fox isn’t just 18 holes of fairways and greens—it’s an experience. Designed with precision and strategy in mind, this course punishes mistakes but rewards smart play.
The front nine eases you in… sort of. It’s tight, tree-lined, and demands accuracy—so if you’re prone to wild tee shots, you better hope you packed extra balls.
The par-3 4th hole is a prime example of Crumpin-Fox’s personality. It looks innocent, but if you misread the wind or fail to stick the green, you’ll be chipping (or worse, re-teeing).
Make it to the back nine, and you’ll quickly realize why Crumpin-Fox has the reputation it does. It gets tougher, tighter, and way more dramatic.
Then there’s Hole 8—a 592-yard beast that might be the hardest par-5 in New England. It’s long. It’s mean. And if you don’t execute three perfect shots, you’re in trouble. The approach? Over water. No pressure.
By the time you reach 18, you’ll either be in love with the course or looking up golf lessons. Maybe both.
Crumpin-Fox is one of the best-maintained public courses in the Northeast—period.
It’s as good as public golf gets—and that’s why people keep coming back.
A great course needs great amenities, and Crumpin-Fox delivers.
It’s not the flashiest clubhouse in the world, but it’s got exactly what you need to enjoy the day.
Short answer? Yes. Absolutely. No question.
Long answer? If you love golf, appreciate a challenging layout, and want to play a course that rewards smart decision-making, Crumpin-Fox is a must-play. It’s got the difficulty, the beauty, and the conditioning of a private club, but it’s open to the public—which is rare for a course of this caliber.
Oh, and if you think you’ve mastered it after one round, think again. Crumpin-Fox is the kind of course that keeps pulling you back for more—even if it broke you the first time.
If you’ve tackled Crumpin-Fox, drop a comment with your best (or worst) hole—because we all know this course has humbled plenty of golfers.
Crumpin-Fox Club is widely regarded as one of the most challenging and prestigious public golf courses in New England. Here’s a breakdown of its difficulty:
With a slope rating of 147and a course rating of 75.1 from the back tees, this course is rated highly for its difficulty. These numbers indicate a very challenging course, especially for higher handicappers, but still rewarding for those who can handle its demands.
While Crumpin-Fox is a beautiful course, it’s not beginner-friendly. The long length, narrow fairways, and water hazards can be overwhelming for new golfers. Beginners will find themselves challenged, but with multiple tee boxes, there are options to make the round more enjoyable.
For low handicappers, Crumpin-Fox is a true test of skill. The course demands precision off the tee, strategy on approach shots, and exceptional short-game skills around the greens. It’s a course where you must manage both your distance and your course knowledge, making it a rewarding experience for those who can master it.
Crumpin-Fox Club is a highly challenging course, even for experienced players, offering a tough but fair test of golf. It is often compared to top private clubs in terms of layout, conditions, and difficulty. If you're up for a challenge and appreciate a course that requires both precision and strategy, Crumpin-Fox is one of the best in New England.
It's a high-difficulty course—rewarding for skilled golfers, but potentially frustrating for those who aren't ready for its rigorous challenges.
