Grassroots Green – How Public Courses Are Redefining the Game (Part 2)
Public golf in Massachusetts has always had a scrappy spirit—accessible, community-focused,
and built on pride as much as pedigree. Now, it’s leading the charge in sustainability. While Part 1 explored the state’s growing environmental movement in broad strokes, Part 2 dives deeper into the towns and innovations behind that shift. Because what’s happening on the ground—on
modest budgets and municipally owned land—is reshaping the game in ways that even private clubs are starting to emulate.
Reimagining What a Golf Course Can Be
Let’s start in Bridgewater, where Olde Scotland Links has quietly established itself as one of the Commonwealth’s most committed examples of environmentally responsible public golf. The course has never been afraid to try something new—whether it’s experimenting with hybrid equipment, expanding pollinator habitats, or, for a brief but memorable stretch, letting goats handle the brush clearing. The goats didn’t stick around long (they were tough to care for and didn’t quite live up to the hype), but they’re still fondly remembered as a symbol of the course’s creativity and willingness to think outside the tee box.
Since earning its Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary status in 2004, Olde Scotland has steadily deepened its efforts to protect wildlife, reduce chemical use, and integrate sustainability into its daily operations.
At the center of that work is Golf Course Superintendent Tom Rioux, who has led the course’s environmental program for more than two decades. His approach blends long-term planning with hands-on management: installing low-maintenance turf varieties that require less water and fewer chemical inputs, expanding “no/low maintenance” zones that serve as habitat corridors, and conducting regular water quality testing to track runoff and protect nearby ecosystems.
Recent efforts include transitioning some maintenance equipment to electric or hybrid models and, this spring, installing a new round of bird nest boxes across the course to support cavity-nesting species. Assistant Superintendent Troy Hougasian now heads up the Audubon program and continues to explore new tools to track turf health and improve efficiency.
“Our environmental program is an important part of our maintenance operation,” Rioux shared. “We’re always looking at new ways to improve.”
What makes Olde Scotland Links stand out isn’t one flashy initiative—it’s the consistency. The team’s commitment to testing, adapting, and evolving over time has made this Bridgewater muni a model for how public golf can balance great play with genuine land stewardship.
Designed to Respect Nature: Widow’s Walk Golf Course
When Widow's Walk Golf Course opened in 1997 on the South Shore, it made national news as
“America’s first environmental demonstration course.” Built atop a reclaimed gravel pit, the course was designed with a light touch—routing holes around existing wetlands, incorporating native vegetation wherever possible, and minimizing total turf coverage.
That early vision remains largely intact. The course uses salt-tolerant, drought-resistant grasses and relies on naturalized areas to reduce mowing and chemical inputs. Integrated wetland zones
still buffer stormwater runoff, filtering it before it reaches local estuaries. What could have been a highly manicured parkland-style layout instead plays like a coastal heath—wild, wind-swept, and ecologically rich.
The course’s design, while visually distinct, is also pragmatic. It saves money on water, fuel, and inputs. And it has earned the trust of the surrounding community, which views the course as a
civic amenity as much as a golf facility.
Miacomet Golf Course: Sustainability by Design
On Nantucket, Miacomet Golf Course serves as a model for how public golf can integrate sustainability into every part of its operation. Originally a 9-hole course purchased by the Nantucket Land Bank in 1985, Miacomet expanded to 18 holes in 2003 and underwent further renovations in the years that followed. Today, it is the island’s only public 18-hole golf course—
and one of the state’s most environmentally progressive.In 2017, Miacomet earned certification through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program. Its course managers use advanced irrigation systems to conserve water and apply integrated pest management (IPM) techniques to reduce chemical inputs. Native vegetation buffers line the course, protecting Nantucket’s fragile coastal ecosystems while enhancing
wildlife habitat.
With support from the Land Bank, Miacomet exemplifies how sustainability can be built into both design and operations. It’s not just a place to play golf—it’s a public green space that reflects Nantucket’s environmental values. Players often encounter pollinators, seabirds, and native grasses as they make their way around the course—adding a sense of place to every round.
Quiet Innovation in Urban Spaces
In Boston, two of the city’s most historic courses are evolving to meet today’s environmental standards. George Wright Golf Course in Hyde Park—originally designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1938—has undergone a series of infrastructure improvements in recent years. According to project summaries by Gardner + Gerrish Landscape Architects, the course has
focused on repairing aging drainage systems, addressing erosion, and improving water management throughout the routing. The renovations have included rebuilding fairways, expanding greens, and rerouting cart paths to reduce turf compaction and improve playability. These practical upgrades double as environmental enhancements, helping manage stormwater more efficiently and maintain healthy root zones.
Meanwhile, William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park—Boston’s oldest public course and the second-oldest in the nation—benefits from its unique location within Boston’s largest green space. While the course itself hasn’t undergone recent sustainability-specific renovations, it’s embedded within Franklin Park, which is actively stewarded by the Franklin Park Coalition. The nonprofit organizes habitat restoration projects, native plantings, and community cleanups that support the broader health of the park’s ecosystems. Youth programs often use the park, including areas near the course, to connect kids to nature—sometimes before or after a round.
These urban courses show that even in dense neighborhoods, golf can provide green space that supports both recreation and ecological function.
Adaptive Approaches Across the State
Elsewhere in Massachusetts, courses are finding creative ways to stretch their resources. Falmouth Country Club, a town-owned facility on Cape Cod, earned Audubon certification after making significant upgrades to its irrigation system and turf care practices. By switching to
centralized irrigation controls and limiting watering to only the most necessary areas, the course significantly cut water use while maintaining excellent playing conditions.The course also added bluebird boxes, expanded pollinator-friendly wildflower plots, and created
no-mow zones that buffer nearby wetlands. These changes were small in scale but high in impact—supporting biodiversity and reducing maintenance costs over time. For players, it’s added character to the round. Wildlife sightings are common. The layout feels like part of the Cape landscape, not an intrusion on it.
Even smaller towns are stepping up. At Dennis Pines and Dennis Highlands, the town’s two public courses share equipment and staff to streamline operations. Both have taken steps toward more sustainable turf management, focusing on integrated pest management, native tree planting,
and strategic aeration that reduces reliance on fertilizers. Though not certified, the intent is clear: less waste, more resilience.
The Bigger Picture
Across all these examples, one theme emerges: public courses are finding ways to do more with less. They’re working with tight budgets, limited staff, and older infrastructure. And yet, they’re leading the way on sustainability—because necessity breeds innovation.
Courses are tapping into state and federal grants to upgrade irrigation and drainage. They’re partnering with local schools and nonprofits for data collection and habitat planting. They’re embracing Massachusetts’ Best Management Practices (BMPs) for golf, published by the Massachusetts Golf Association and state DEP—a free guidebook for superintendents looking to
reduce their environmental footprint.
And players are noticing. They’re seeing more native grasses around tee boxes. They’re learning why certain areas are roped off for habitat. They’re accepting firmer fairways and naturalized roughs as signs of smart course care—not neglect.
More importantly, they’re participating. Some courses report players volunteering on planting days. Others see community members using trails and greenways that border the course. The result? Public golf courses that are truly public—not just in ownership, but in purpose.
Looking Ahead
Massachusetts public golf has long stood for accessibility. Now, it's standing for accountability too. With climate pressures rising and public land under greater scrutiny, these courses are proving that golf can be part of the solution—not the problem.
They’re saving water. They’re protecting wildlife. And they’re doing it all while keeping the game fun, affordable, and open to all.
