Blackstone National Golf Course
Michael Gordon, owner of Blackstone National Golf Course in Sutton, Massachusetts, has been around golf all his life. His father, "Ted" Gordon published the Golf Course News for many years, traveling around the world covering the game's top courses and most important tournaments.
After ten years working on Wall Street and developing real estate, Michael knew he wanted to come back to the family tradition - golf. During a trip to Massachusetts, he saw a need for a high-quality, public course in the Blackstone Valley and set the wheels in motion to turn his idea into reality.
In 1994, Michael teamed up with well-known golf course architect Rees Jones. Together, they reviewed a number of possible sites in the Valley and selected the Putnam farm off Old Farm Road. "The topography was ideal," says Michael. "The rolling hills, gentle landscape, and the beauty of the surroundings made it the perfect location."
In 1995, Gordon purchased the 275-acre property and began developing the course, breaking ground in November, 1996 and finished up in the spring of 1999. The Blackstone National Golf Club officially opened in June, 1999. The careful site selection and planning have given the Blackstone Valley one of the finest courses in New England. Blackstone National is ranked in the top ten public courses in Massachusetts, and in the top twenty in New England. Its rolling woodland gives the National a unique beauty, but also adds a degree of difficulty to the golfer.
While Blackstone National is a public course, it also offers memberships to golf enthusiasts. "For our members, we mix competitive tournaments with social events - clambakes, wine tastings - all aimed at providing positive and unique experiences throughout the season," says Gordon.
Blackstone National is also home to the National Grille restaurant, which is open to the public seven days a week from May through October.
In August, 2005 Blackstone National brings competitive play back to the Valley hosting its first annual Blackstone Open sanctioned by the New England PGA which will benefit multiple sclerosis research.