Carved out of woodlands along the Massachusetts-Rhode Island border, New England Country Club is an 18-hole championship golf course located just south of Bellingham, Massachusetts. If you walk a few yards from the first green you will be in Rhode Island. Formerly the site of the 1903-vintage Woonsocket Country Club, New England Country Club was born in 1990 when Hall of Fame golfer Hale Irwin laid out the playing field amidst rolling hills. Over the years the course has hosted the New England Public Links Championship, U.S. Amateur and PGA Tour Champions qualifying, and the NCAA Division II Regionals. When you have a tee time at New England Country Club you are in for a scenic treat, especially during fall foliage season. Most of the holes enjoy their own secluded corridor amidst the trees. New England Country Club, which features four sets of tees that extend the par-71 layout from 4,927 yards to 6,483 yards, rambles on sloping, up and down terrain. Using a driver is often not advisable on this shotmaker's course where the key is keeping the ball out of the trees and the streams, wetlands and ponds that populate the playing field. Water enters the fray with a purpose on four holes. Rock outcroppings also pop up in strategic places. Because of the hilly, wooded terrain, there are a number of blind shots, so be cautious of the groups ahead of and behind you. While the greens at New England Country Club are rather large, the slopes and undulations aren t dramatic. In addition to the fabulous flora of the golf grounds, you may also encounter deer, fox and other wildlife. Because of the heaving terrain, walking isn t recommended. Practice facilities include a grass driving range, sand bunkers and chipping and putting greens. The clubhouse is home to a fully-stocked pro shop and a popular pub with an outdoor patio that is a great spot to watch the sunset. New England Country Club also makes use of a large "weatherproof" tent for special events. The length of the golf season in this part of New England is always weather dependent--there's no set close date. It s no wonder golfers come from all over Massachusetts and Rhode Island to play New England Country Club.