Fresh Pond Golf Course
Fresh Pond Golf Course offers a compact yet engaging 9-hole experience in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Known for its well-maintained greens, smart use of natural terrain, and friendly staff, this municipal layout fits accessible play with moments of strategic challenge.
Course Overview
Fresh Pond Golf Course offers a distinctive urban golfing experience right in the heart of Cambridge, Massachusetts. This 9-hole layout weaves through a compact, thoughtfully designed track that balances accessible play with subtle strategic demands. Positioned on just under 3,000 yards from the blue tees, the course challenges players to carefully navigate its tight fairways, well-placed water hazards, and the occasional wooded section that punctuates the route. Compared to sprawling championship layouts, Fresh Pond’s shorter dimensions invite players of all skill levels to test their shot-making without feeling overwhelmed.
The design takes full advantage of the naturally varied terrain, including gentle elevation shifts that add interest and shot-shaping opportunities. Notably, the dog-leg left on the fourth hole rewards precision off the tee as the fairway slopes downhill to a narrow landing area. The quality of the course conditions stands out among municipal options in the Greater Boston area. Greens are consistently well-maintained, providing true and responsive putting surfaces, while bunkers feature fresh sand that offers a firm challenge rather than mere obstacles.
What separates Fresh Pond is the sense of immersion despite its urban setting. Golfers often remark on the surprise of encountering wildlife, such as the occasional deer seen quietly observing nearby from the cart path, emphasizing a connection to nature even amid city life. The friendly pro shop staff and attentive course rangers create an inviting atmosphere that supports both new golfers learning the game and veterans looking for a focused nine-hole round.
Walking the course is encouraged, as the layout’s compact footprint allows for comfortable pacing without long distances between holes. Players are advised to plan for weekend and seasonal peak times, as the course’s popularity can lead to slower play during busy periods. Fresh Pond Golf Course stands as a practical, well-run facility delivering quality golf with approachable playability, making it a valuable option for anyone seeking a convenient yet thoughtfully challenging round in Cambridge.
Course Highlights
Fresh Pond maximizes a compact urban setting with natural elevation changes and strategic water hazards. The dog-leg left fourth hole challenges precision and shot placement. The quality of the greens and bunkers stands out among local municipal courses, and sightings of local wildlife add unexpected moments of tranquility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Guest Reviews
Daniel Rego
I've been golfing here for 5 years, and it just gets better every year. The greens are in great shape! The pro shop is awesome and stocked with good prices. They recently helped me purchase a new set of irons, and it was a seamless process! I was even able to exchange some old clubs for credit. You really can't beat the value and proximity of this course. I find the staff to be really friendly unlike some of the reviews I've seen here. It's been the same crew since I started! Shout out to Andrew who helped me pick the clubs I was looking for. Absolutely love this place!
Patrick McKenna
Just golfed here for the first time last Friday, and now see why the tee times fill up! The staff was friendly and welcoming as soon as we walked up to the club house, even showing us the practice green and made sure we knew where the first tee was. The course makes you forget you're as close to the city as you are! Great views and challenging shots, this was a great course for me and my fiancé to enjoy together to help our game. Really looking forward to making this one of our regular courses!!!
Grant Patch
I played here well over a dozen times this summer and have nothing but good things to say about this 9 hole course right in the heart of Cambridge. Some reviews on here call this a "beginners course," and while I guess I get what they mean, I believe this course has enough going on to make play enjoyable for golfers of all skill levels. There's elevation change, water hazards, and the course maximizes use of the naturally occurring geography of Fresh Pond to keep play interesting. The lone tree sticking out from the left hand side woods on hole 4 will forever be the bane of my existence... It's also just a beautiful course, well maintained by their grounds team. For instance, other muni's in the area have pretty disappointing sand traps where the sand is basically dirt, but here the sand is of fair quality and makes getting out more of a challenge. Greens are in great shape. The staff here is friendly and courteous, and the rangers are actually really nice. One time the ranger saw I was stuck in my own head and struggling down a par 5, and he gave me a pep talk which completely turned the day around for me 😂. Thanks Bobby!! The location, quality, and price of this course can't be beat. If you haven't played a round here yet, I'd highly recommend it!
Noah Fine
Course is short and tight, usually in relatively good condition. My biggest gripe is that it often takes 2+ hours to play 9 holes, despite the course being under 3000 yards (from the blues). PLEASE employ a ranger. It’s completely unacceptable to have 4 separate groups waiting to tee off 6 holes into a round. I’ve never seen this at another course in 20+ years of playing.
Simon Watts
I have lived close to this course for the last fifteen years since moving here from England. I have been lucky enough to play some of the best golf courses in England and here in the US. Fresh Pond Golf Course is absolutely the best value round of golf in the Greater Boston area. It would still be good value at twice the price. Bob and Andy in the pro shop run a very tight ship - the course and greens are always in excellent shape. They are professionals, they care about the game and care about their course. Play there - get to know them - it will quickly become your favorite place for nine holes. The course is on the shorter side, designed to challenge the skilled golfer but accessible to the high handicapper. I aways find the dog-leg left fourth hole a worthy challenge. A well hit tee shot is rewarded by a down hill fairway at the landing zone. I always forget that I’m in the middle of a city - just this week a beautiful doe stood transfixed on the cart path as we hit our putts on the 6th.
Andrew Heim
Jiandong Sun
noha meho
Jannik D.
Matthew Jasie
Well maintained and well manicured little spot. Great place to squeeze 9 in before the workday starts. Great price too.
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Course Details
Access & Location
691 Huron Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Fresh Pond Pro Shop and Practice Facility
Walking encouraged due to course size; comfortable footwear recommended as elevation changes are moderate.
Open to the public with tee times available online and via phone reservation.
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