Published in the September 3, 2015 edition
ALTHOUGH THE THOMSON CLUB is surrounded by condos, each hole is by itself and the surroundings are very peaceful. (Bob Turosz Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — It has been a good season at Thomson County Club this year. The private golf club opened on April 20 due to the record snowfall but business had been very steady ever since.
“Our numbers have gone up this year,” pointed out sixth-year club pro Chris Young. “We now have 370 members.”
Young grew up in Melrose and played at Melrose High (Class of 1998). He then went to Coastal Carolina where he got his degree in golf course management.
He managed courses in Oregon and Hawaii before returning home several years ago to be back with family and friends.
Thomson features four different individual membership types. The young adult (21–26 years old) is $1,400 a year. The Intermediate membership (27–33) is $2,100 a year.
When you turn 34, you can get a limited membership for $3,000 while a full membership is $3,800.
What is nice about Thomson, as opposed to other private clubs, is that there is no initiation fee or no monthly minimum social requirement.
The course also has family membership rates as well.
“We really try to get the family involved,” said Young, who also worked at Bellevue Gold Club in Melrose. “We have a very good junior program with kids ranging from 6–13 years old and we also have a junior league on Tuesday during the summer where they play against different clubs.”
Thomson also had an introduction to golf for ladies as well.
The course is in outstanding shape and Young gives superintendent Tedd Perry, a lot of credit.
“Tedd and his staff have done an amazing job,” stated Young, knowing how tough the winter was.
Thomson, which was founded in 1963, has five sets of tees to accommodate players with different skill levels. The blue tees are the longest measuring 6,514 yards and has a slope of 132. The black-white combo tees are 6,311 yards and have a slope of 129.
The middle tees are the white ones which are 6,170 yards with a slope of 127. The gold tees measures 5,598 yards with a slope of 124 while the red tees are the front ones at 5,541 yards with a women’s slope of 129.
The signature holes on the back nine, according to Young, are the par 3 12th–hole which measures just over 200 yards from the back tees, the par 4 15th–hole which is over 400 yards and the final hole coming back to the clubhouse which is also a little over 400 yards and is also a par 4.
Although the course is surrounded by condos, each hole is by itself and the surroundings are very peaceful. The condo members get to play for free for 36 holes a month.
Thomson, which will host the Wakefield High golf team again this season, also runs tournaments that take place mostly on Mondays.
“We sold the property three years
