Granite Links sits just a 15-minute drive from downtown Boston, making it an easy escape from the city. From the course and the clubhouse — which features a well-regarded restaurant — you get sweeping views of Boston, the Harbor Islands and the Blue Hills Reservation. We visited on a crystal-clear blue-sky day, perfect for three colleagues taking a break from a conference.
When it opened, Granite Links earned a spot in Golf Digest’s Top 10 Best New Upscale Golf Courses in the Country and later appeared on a list of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses. The facility offers 27 holes of links-style golf arranged in three nines — Quincy, Milton and Granite — laid out through a former granite quarry and surrounding terrain. Designed by John Sanford of Sanford Golf Design, the property sits on stone once quarried for many notable national monuments.
Hole 1 | 551 yards, par 5 (Quincy)
We deliberately started on the No. 1 handicap, and all three of us launched solid drives down the fairway. The hole runs almost straight to a green tucked to the left with woodland behind it. The smart play is to favor the left side; I aimed slightly right and ended up in heavy rough. Although our approach shots were decent, the green is tricky and all three balls rolled off the back. One ball traveled so far it briefly crossed out of bounds, creating some debate about the scorecard.
Hole 2 | 242 yards, par 3 (Quincy)
This long par 3 requires more club than you might think, and the pro advises favoring the right side. The hole features a sizeable pond to carry and a large bunker left of the putting surface. One of us drove the green, proving the point, while another came up short but managed a bogey.
Hole 3 | 515 yards, par 5 (Quincy)
An uphill par 5 that rewards good drives, this hole asks you to navigate fairway bunkers and a prominent sand trap in front of the green. From a left-side position off the tee you can aim toward the right fairway bunker to gain an attacking line. One of our group cleared the front bunker with a lob wedge and reached the putting surface, while another was foiled by the trap. Watch for a false front on the green.
Hole 7 | 327 yards, par 4 (Quincy)
This dogleg right is a classic risk/reward hole. Big hitters can attempt to cut the corner and possibly reach the green from the tee; others will play safer to the fairway. My drive left me just short of the green, and although I chipped close, I missed the birdie putt. My partners experienced the hazards — deep rough and a fairway bunker — illustrating the hole’s challenge.
Hole 1 | 483 yards, par 4 (Milton)
After turning onto the Milton nine and grabbing a couple of craft beers at the halfway house, we teed off with solid drives aimed toward the left fairway bunker and warned to avoid the right side. Each of our tee shots set up long approaches to a receptive but difficult green; none of us held it, and we settled for bogeys.
Hole 3 | 457 yards, par 4 (Milton)
Local knowledge pays here because a pond on the right of the fairway is hidden from the tee. One player found the water after his ball rolled unexpectedly, while the others avoided trouble: one landed center and played a wet shot to the raised green, another took a safer left route. Be mindful of that unseen hazard when choosing your tee shot direction.
Hole 6 | 219 yards, par 3 (Milton)
This long par 3 demands a straight, confident tee shot. Fescue and heavy rough guard the right side, and a sloping hill to the left can send shots careening away from the green. The putting surface is three-tiered and can produce tricky, unpredictable putts.
Hole 9 | 521 yards, par 5 (Milton)
A strong finishing hole, this uphill par 5 leads toward the clubhouse and the outside bar — a great spot to celebrate or commiserate after your round. The left side falls away into penal rough while the right carries out-of-bounds risk. The ideal line is near a large fairway bunker on the right, aiming to leave a clear second shot. Several bunkers protect the green, so taking an extra club on your approach to clear the hazards is wise.
Granite Links Golf Club at Quarry Hills
100 Quarry Hills Drive
Quincy, MA 02169
tel 617 689 1900