Ryan Montgomery
Derek Duncan
Ryan Montgomery
Ryan Montgomery
Ryan Montgomery
Ryan Montgomery
Ryan Montgomery
The International: Pines Course
The International: Pines Course
159 Ballville Rd
Bolton, MA 01740-1227
United States
Overview
The Pines Course at this complex west of Boston was a novelty when it opened in the late 1950s because it measured over 8,000 yards, the longest course in the country. As part of their reconstruction in 2024 under new ownership, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw whittled over 1,000 yards off the scorecard and completely rerouted the design. What’s novel about the Pines now is a set of intensely contoured greens, some of the most severe in the Coore/Crenshaw portfolio, a few of them borderline outrageous. The 12th hole, by contrast, is refined. The wide dogleg pivots right through pines and drives that don’t hug the inside line will scamper left off a hogsback out of position. The hole feels as British (London, that is) as anything you’ll find in New England with the fairway sliding smoothly into a low green rippled at the edges and set in a heathland-like clearing of short grass, a lone fescue-covered hummock providing a light touch of strategic intrigue. Like a good links, the hole can be played in different ways and is unlikely to inflict serious damage to the score, but a four here requires strong driving and short game finesse. Bold and brash can be fun, but the confidence to be calm and speak softly is sometimes a golf hole’s most appealing quality.
About
Awards
100 Greatest: Ranked from 1969-'74. The course was also part of Golf Digest's original 200 Toughest Courses list from 1966-'68.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Fully reimagined Coore Crenshaw redesign of the longest routed course in the US. Holes were reconfigured and yardage was reduced so the majority of the course and routing has been reshaped in a very thought provoking way. Coore Crenshaw opened up corridors through the New England forests - fariways are generally large and receptive but finding the right side of the fariways are imperative to hit second shots requiring precision, Some greens have subtle movements and some like the formidable par 4 13th have severe undulations to conquer. The Par 3 10th is long and imposing with a large bunker fronting the right side. The green sits tuck behind it and runs from front to back which adds to the intimadating nature of the hole. The closing stretch is incredible. Beautiful elevated short par 3 hole with a small heavily bunkered green, solid uphill dogleg right par 4 17th to a two-tiered green and a nice risk reward par 5 18th with an opportunity to score. A must visit in the Boston area."
Read More2025
Review
“The Pines Course at The International is a newly (2025 opening) designed course from the tandem of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The course is a completely new course set on the site of the old Pines Course. The new Pines Course takes advantage of the mature landscape the prior course sat on to not feel new or forced, including adding new features such as the quarry left of #2 that feel as though the course had been there for decades. The course itself has very solid, if not spectacular, shot options that you would expect from a C&C design. Interestingly, though the fairways themselves are wide, some of the playing corridors (#2, #4, #7, etc.) are narrow to the extent that the placement of the tee and existing trees dictates only one shot shape for the tee ball. The conditioning of the course is outstanding and really highlights the severity of a number of greens, which adds to the challenge of the course. Candidly, I'm surprised that C&C built another original design so close to their highly regarded Old Sandwich course. The Pines and OS share many similarities in their design in places and their relative proximity to one another highlights the (relatively) minor shortcomings of each as well as the Pines Course having noticeably fewer world class holes than OS."
Read More2025
Review
“One of the few courses opened in MA in the last 20 years, the Pines is a beautiful and challenging addition to the re-growing International club. There is good variety here, and as the course matures, the course will only get better. The Pines has a great set of greens, with a few on the border of playability, so it remains to be seen if any of these greens are modified in the future."
Read More2025
Review
“One of the few courses opened in MA in the last 20 years, the Pines is a beautiful and challenging addition to the re-growing International club. There is good variety here, and as the course matures, the course will only get better. The Pines has a great set of greens, with a few on the border of playability, so it remains to be seen if any of these greens are modified in the future."
Read More2025
Review
“Coore and Crenshaw reworked this property into a fun flowing layout that is a pleasure to play and leaves you wanting more. The fairways are wide off the tee, setting you up for an approach shot that needs to be placed in the right area. Slopes and mounding will corral balls towards bunkers and collection areas if left in the wrong spot. On and around the greens are the teeth of this course. Missing a green leaves you with decisions on how to get the ball to the hole. The 13-18 stretch stands out. 15 has one of the most unique approaches on the property, kidney bean shaped green flowing hard right to left. The entire left side of the green is blinded by a mound in front. There is a lot of variety of holes and a great collection of par 3's. The course flows well through the land, and its a must play if you have the chance."
Read More2025
Review
“Great new layout, very typical of Coore/Crenshaw designs."
Read More2025
Review
“It takes a big effort and some big thinking to tear up a course known for being America's longest (at over 8,000 yds) in a world where many wish they could get bigger and longer and to replace it with a 7,000 yd edition that would really stand out. In many ways, Coore & Crenshaw did that with the re-development of The Pines course at the International. The changes quickly become apparent by Hole 2 as the routing of the course completely changes from the former layout and mirrors Coore & Crenshaw's usual focus on fostering a seemingly organic path through the New England woods with minimalistic features that makes a golfer wonder if the property has always been like this. In the case of The Pines, it hasn't, but the new routing feels right for the property. With firm and fast conditions challenges a golfer more than the sheer length of the past, The Pines is likely to delight more golfers as it repositions itself through the Coore & Crenshaw touch."
Read More2025
Review
“Wide fairways offer options off the tee but approach shots need to be played thoughtfully to the fast undulating greens. The 14th and 17th greens were particularly treacherous."
Read More2025
Review
“The Pines Course at The International is a stunning new addition that captures the signature Coore & Crenshaw style we've seen in their other great works. The course blends rugged, natural contours with a minimalist design approach that never feels overly manufactured. The routing winds gracefully through the forest of pines, creating an immersive and visually enticing walk that’s as enjoyable between shots as it is from tee to green. With its blend of strategy, beauty, and atmosphere, the course feels destined to become a modern classic in New England golf."
Read More2025
Review
“A fine specimen of a course. Offers unique features and attributes while also being recognizably Coore/Crenshaw. Maturity of the development should continue to improve overall aesthetics and conditioning. Fescue is coming in nicely as of summer 2025."
Read More2025
