
#2
Ponkapoag Golf Club

About this course
Ponkapoag Golf Club operates two public courses on land owned by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation in Canton, about fifteen miles south of Boston. The second course, like its companion, was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1933 as part of a Depression-era public works project. The facility sits within the Blue Hills Reservation, a protected landscape of rolling woodlands and wetlands that provides the courses with a naturalistic setting uncommon for municipal golf in the Boston area. Ross routed the second course over terrain similar to the first, working with the property's gentle elevation changes and incorporating views of the surrounding forest. The layout moves through stands of pine and hardwood, with several holes playing alongside or near wetland areas that define strategic angles and add visual interest. The greens display characteristic Ross contouring, though decades of play and maintenance have softened some of the original features. As a public facility, Ponkapoag has served generations of Massachusetts golfers seeking accessible Ross design. The club has undergone various restoration and improvement efforts over the years to address drainage issues inherent to the low-lying site and to preserve elements of the original design intent. Both courses remain popular with local players and visitors interested in experiencing Ross's work in a public setting. The second course offers a quieter, less pressured alternative to the first eighteen, maintaining the architect's thoughtful use of the natural landscape.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in MA
Quick facts
- Location
- Canton, MA, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1936
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Donald Ross
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,195 yards
- Difficulty
- 70.3/113
- Course Vaults score
- 2.7
Getting there
Ponkapoag Golf Club sits within easy reach of Boston's two major commercial gateways - Boston Logan International (BOS) lies roughly thirty miles northeast, while Manchester Airport (MHT) in New Hampshire offers an alternative approach from the north, each roughly an hour's drive to the club's Canton address. The route from Logan traces south and west through the suburban spine of metropolitan Boston before settling into the quieter, pine-studded landscape of the Blue Hills region, where the club's modest but purposeful entrance emerges from tree-lined roads that feel deliberately removed from the city's bustle. For those with access to private aviation, nearby facilities such as Norwood Memorial (OWB) provide a more discreet arrival option, cutting travel time to mere minutes. The final approach to Ponkapoag Golf Club carries the understated character of New England's oldest public courses - a transition from modern convenience into the contemplative stillness of classic American golf.

FAQ
Common questions about #2 at Ponkapoag Golf Club
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
#2 at Ponkapoag Golf Club has a Course Vaults score of 2.7 out of 10 based on 40 logged golfers.
#2 was designed by Donald Ross.
Yes. #2 at Ponkapoag Golf Club is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at #2 is 71.
#2 plays 6,195 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at #2 is 113.





