Golf In 02818: Two Public Courses To Choose Between

There are two very pleasant places in 02818 where golfers may exercise their skills, their patience and their legs.

One course is located in Goddard Memorial State Park, and is reached after driving past several open playing fields, stands of trees, and barbecue grills. On the outside, the clubhouse, a Roosevelt WPA Project log cabin, looks like a model for the Little House on the Prairie. Inside is a modest snack bar that offers sandwiches, hot dogs & burgers. The same counter contains tees, balls, and gloves.

On a recent Saturday, Michael DeRobbio, a landscaper and cashier, noted that it has been a busy day, with people consistently playing on all 9 holes and that the course has been doing better business than this time last year.

“We were up and running 2 days after the heavy rains with all holes open while Potowomut (the private golf club next door) lost four holes to the floods,” he said.

The course is reasonably flat with no water hazards. There is one dogleg over which one may try to loft the ball over the 70 foot-tall pine trees. Recent facility and landscaping upgrades are part of an ongoing process of beautification and continuous improvement. This has ensured that the greens, tees, and traps are always in excellent condition even during the hot and dry summer months.

Bob D’Ercole, the course’s former manager for more than 20 years, still comes by regularly to hang out and talk with friends and golfers.  He is still noticeably very proud of the course.

“It’s a great asset for the state of Rhode Island,” he said. “There’s something for everyone. While mom or dad are golfing, the rest of the family can enjoy the beach, riding on the horse trails, picnicking in one of the newly built gazebos.”

The course is open to anyone of all ages who plays golf. D’Ercole added, “It’s a casual club, you need a shirt and shoes but it doesn’t matter whether you wear your cap forwards or backwards.”

There is a Senior League (Ages 65 and older) that has been in existence approximately 50 years that starts May 11.  Call the 884-9834 for details.

The other public golf course in 02818 is the East Greenwich Country Club, located on Division Street a mile west from Route 2. You will see a sign for Bistro9 on the road’s shoulder and a stranger may not realize it is also a golf course unless they peer deep into the parking lot for the golf course sign. The building has been painted beige and the brown awnings lend it some character.

John Dinwoodie, superintendent of the golf facilities for 16 years, keeps the course well-maintained with the assistance of his two Labrador retrievers, Barley (white) and Hops (black).

The course has a few challenging holes including: the second fairway doglegged sharply up a hill; the third tee off a 20-foot-high rock promontory; and the eighth green nestled by a daunting water hazard.

The course has memberships available, but is open to a very diverse public.

Dinwoodie pointed out, “Look in the parking lot, you’ll see everything from the Maserati to the Kia.”

There is league play on weekdays from 3-6 p.m. and special rates for the twilight hours after the leagues finish.

While returning to the parking lot from the ninth hole, one may become disoriented by the aromas Bistro9, the stylish yet casual restaurant in the clubhouse.

“When the golfers are done with the ninth hole, we like to lead them back to the restaurant by their noses,” said Ashley Mills, the general manager of Bistro9.

The restaurant originally opened last summer to serve the golfers. After upgrading the facilities and, under the direction of Chef Aaron Edwards, rewriting the menu with eclectic offerings, the Bistro9 re-opened in October to the general public.  Even in the non-golfing season, the restaurant has been in full swing.

The casual golf clothes worn on the course are welcome in the restaurant and one may find a mixture of blue blazers and pearls contrasting with madras shirts & sans-a-belt shorts in the dining room and bar.

In keeping with the interdependence of the restaurant and the golf course, there is a Bistro9 beverage cart that constantly runs a loop around the course dispensing drinks and snacks.