Many golfers find value and benefits on Cyprian Keyes’ par-3 course
What if you could play nine holes of golf in about an hour and a half for just $16?
If that sounds good to you, head to Cyprian Keyes Golf Club in Boylston to play the par-3 course.
“It’s a great place to play if you don’t have time to play for four hours,” Head Pro Shawn Durocher said. “If you have an hour and a half, boom, go ahead and play and you’re done.”
Durocher said individual golfers have completed the par-3 course in under an hour when it was not busy. My team of three completed it last week in an hour and 37 minutes.
Chief Executive Officer David Frem said the number of rounds played on the par-3 course doubled in 2020 during the pandemic, even though it was closed for seven weeks along with all courses at the start of the season by order of the state, and that the course is still nearly as busy now.
The par-3 course is 1,100 meters long from the white tees, and about 8 meters less per hole from the red tees. The nine holes are between 79 and 145 meters long. The greens are in top condition and protected by bunkers.
“It’s such a nice mix of people,” Frem said. “It’s not just kids. It’s not just older people or beginners. It’s people of all ages and all skill levels. It’s really fun to see.”
Frem said the par 3 represents the future of the game in training new golfers.
Do golfers learn the game on the par 3 and move up to the championship course?
“Not as much as you might think,” Frem said. “We see a lot of people who just enjoy the par 3. That’s definitely a subset. Most of them just enjoy the par 3.”
Dave Falcucci shot 5 under par 22, setting the par-3 course record, and his twin brother Dan shot a 9-under 63, setting the record for the 18-hole championship course. Rick Karbowski scored a 64, setting the 18-hole record from the no longer used black tees.
The length of the 18-hole course is between 4,500 and 6,000 meters. Over the years, trees have been removed, but mistakes are still penalized.
“It’s a good test for people,” Durocher said. “Definitely goal-oriented golf, which scares people. There are a lot of penalty areas, so people don’t want to lose a lot of golf balls, which can happen. But I think it’s a really good test of someone’s golf game.”
Cyprian Keyes has many low handicap golfers who tend to play well in Mass Golf events.
“If you can play here, you can play anywhere,” Durocher said.
For over 25 years, Cyprian Keyes was the only public golf course in Central Mass. with an 18-hole championship course and a 9-hole par-3 course. That’s about to change, as Shining Rock Golf Club in Northbridge will open a par-3 course this summer in addition to its 18-hole championship course.
“I think that’s the trend now,” Durocher said. “Go back to the present. Some people don’t have the time to play a whole day of golf and then hang out in the clubhouse like they used to.”
Pinehurst, North Carolina, opened a nine-hole par-3 course called The Cradle in 2017. PGA National opened a nine-hole par-3 course called The Staple in 2021.
“To learn to play golf, you have to get on the golf course,” Durocher said. “It’s not just about taking lessons on the driving range. We have to actually get people on the courses. That’s how you’re going to improve.”
Starting this year, the USGA allows par-3 courses that are at least 1,500 yards long for 18 holes and at least 750 yards long for nine holes for course and slope evaluation. Mass Golf rated Cyprian’s par-3 course this year, so golfers can now build handicaps by playing par-3 courses.
Cyprian Keyes runs junior golf courses for young people aged 7 to 14 during the April holiday week and eight weeks in the summer. Last week 48 young people took part, but in the coming weeks numbers are limited to 36 young people due to a shortage of teachers. Jim Fenner, Jack Gale And Jim Bruce are the main teachers. Durocher and her husband, RickCyprian’s assistant professional, sometimes helps out.
Zach MagarianAssistant professional at TPC Boston, and his brother Seanwho will play golf for the University of Rhode Island this fall as a graduate student after playing for Assumption for four years, both learned to play golf at Cyprian’s elementary schools. Brett Malboeuf also started in the junior program and later became club champion.
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—Contact Bill Doyle at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @BillDoyle15.
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