greathorse-dev

Ouimet Memorial Tournament is taking place in Western Massachusetts for the first time at GreatHorse

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 12:19:00 GMT

HAMPDEN, Massachusetts – The goal of competitors at the Ouimet Memorial Tournament each year is to make it to the third and final round at Woodland Golf Club in the Newton neighborhood of Auburndale, and have a chance to win it there. On Wednesday, that journey to Woodland began farther away than ever before as GreatHorse became the first course in Western Massachusetts to host the first two stroke play rounds of the Ouimet Memorial Tournament.

In total, 107 players completed the first 18 holes of the 55th edition of the Ouimet, which is Mass Golf’s lone exemption-only stroke-play event on the schedule and is the only one to feature divisions for men, senior men, and women. The tournament began in 1968, one year after the death of Francis Ouimet, the Brookline native who shocked the world with his victory in the 1913 U.S. Open.

“I think it’s really cool to be the first course to be in Western Mass to host this,” said Guy Antonacci, the owner of GreatHorse. “I was talking to the Ouimet Fund back in 2014 about hosting a round or two of this, and I’ve played in the event five times now, so we definitely wanted to be able to host this one year.”

Read the full story at www.massgolf.org

GreatHorse wins best golf weekend resort by Boston Common Best of the City List 2022

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 12:47:00 GMT

We scoured the city and beyond to curate the ultimate guide to luxury living in Boston.

Read the full story at mlbostoncommon.com .

Feast in East draws crowd to GreatHorse

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 12:25:00 GMT

The East of the River 5 City Chamber of Commerce and The Starting Gate at GreatHorse hosted the Feast in East food and drink sampling.

Nearly 400 guests attended the 3½ hour event on Tuesday, April 26.

The chamber serves the towns of East Longmeadow, Hampden, Longmeadow, Ludlow and Wilbraham. Visitors sampled small batches of handcrafted beers and enjoyed their favorite wines while chefs from local establishments prepared food samples.

The evening provided businesses to network in a social environment with an estimated 40 vendors filling The Starting Gate and its outdoor patio area.

Bryan Smithwick, general manager of GreatHorse and board president of the chamber, thanked the Antonacci family for their generosity and hosting the event along with the generous sponsors, donors, and businesses that helped contribute to the success of the evening.

Smithwick also noted the outstanding work from the chamber board of directors and the members.

Read the full story at Masslive

GreatHorse makes winners list in the 2022 Amenity of the Year Private Clubs by Golf Inc.

Tue, 11 May 2021 12:41:00 GMT

Entries were judged on how well the addition achieved its goals, as well as on aesthetics and financial benefit. Judges for the event included Golf Inc. editors; Casey Paulson, president of sales and operations at Driftwood Golf and Ranch Club, 2015 Golf Inc. Development of the Year honoree; and Darryl Bartlett, senior project manager at NMP Golf Construction.

Read the full story at www.golfincmagazine.com

GreatHorse ranks one of the top-ranked courses in Massachusetts by Golf Digest

Tue, 11 May 2021 12:31:00 GMT

Here are the top-ranked courses for 2021-2022, as scored in our seven scoring criteria by Golf Digest’s course-ranking panelists. Read the full story at www.golfdigest.com

Riggs Vs GreatHorse, 12th Hole

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 18:52:00 GMT

We're at GreatHorse, GreatHorse was established 2015, came in, took an old track that used to be here. Brian Silva, architect who believes a lot in the templates and sort of the old school blended with the new school. Watch video at www.barstoolsports.com .

Top Innovators for 2019: Member Communications / Websites

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 20:04:00 GMT

C+RB’s inaugural Awards for Member Communications/Websites recognize Victory Ranch for creating a multi-pronged approach to keep its members up to speed on all things happening at the club; and GreatHorse for building a responsive and easy-to-navigate website and the GH Dashboard, a new private URL for members to access at their convenience.

The December 2019 issue of Club + Resort Business features the 2019 Innovation Awards, recognizing club and resort properties that have conceived and implemented concepts that have paid real dividends in the form of enduring member and guest satisfaction and loyalty. Click to read more .

Rob Gronkowski makes appearance at MGM Springfield and Hampden golf tournament

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 20:50:00 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski made a stop at MGM Springfield on Thursday.

“We’re happy to be a part of your retirement plan,” MGM Springfield stated on Facebook.This was not his first appearance at the Springfield casino. Back in May , Gronk celebrated his 30th birthday at MGM Springfield.

Gronk also made a visit to the Great Horse Country Club in Hampden on Thursday.The club told 22News Gronk was there as part of the Greg Hill celebrity golf tournament. The Greg Hill charity most recently has been raising money for the families and victims of the motorcycle accident in that killed seven in New Hampshire.

Click to read more.

Rob Gronkowski spends day in Western Massachusetts, visits MGM Springfield, has a push up contest at Greathorse

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 20:46:00 GMT

Rob Gronkowski seems to be enjoying retirement.

The former New England Patriots tight end visited Western Massachusetts this week to participate in the 27th annual WAAF Celebrity Golf Tournament organized by The Greg Hill Foundation at GreatHorse in Hampden.

The two-day event featured a kick-off party followed “by golf the next day filled with all of the on-course entertainment that you could dream of," organizers said. "More food and drinks follow the day of golf and finish off with an epic after party with an exciting VIP experience.”
Click to read more .

The Delicious Traveler

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 20:13:00 GMT

...the whole thing from start to finish from the moment I laid my eyes on it was delicious.

A Club Above

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 16:04:00 GMT

The stakes have always been set high for the Antonucci's, who first earned a name for themselves as multiaward-winning champions in the Hambletonian Stakes, as esteemed breeders and trainers. With an equestrian legacy in mind, Guy Antonacci and his family named their recently established private golf club in Hampden, Mass., GreatHorse (greathorse.com)... Click to read more.

The Front Runner: GreatHorse Earns #1 Private Club in MA

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 20:04:00 GMT

GreatHorse is a private club located in the small town of Hampden, Massachusetts where you and your family will feel completely at home in this opulent mountain retreat. Come relax, enjoy world-class golf, and take advantage of unparalleled clubhouse amenities such as the outdoor pool, private spa, fitness center, golf simulators, tennis and platform tennis courts, and the restaurant and bar. It's different at GreatHorse, VERY different.

Click to read more.

Boston Common Modern

Fri, 31 May 2019 15:29:00 GMT

Summer is here! And my to-dos is growing by the minute. A road trip around New England would just check all the boxes (although a few will require a boat).

Recently, I was fortunate to spend the day in Western Massachusetts viewing the spectacular property of GreatHorse. I was tempted to fill out the membership application on the spot. Click to read more.

The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) Announces Annual Awards Winners

Fri, 18 Jan 2019 15:57:00 GMT

Charleston, SC (January 17, 2019) - NGCOA is honored to announce the winners of the association’s annual awards. Each year, the NGCOA recognizes the most outstanding members of the past year, and the individuals and organizations that have helped preserve the tradition of the game while embracing the challenges and opportunities of the golf business.

“This year we are honoring some golf industry giants,“ says Jay Karen, NGCOA’s Chief Executive Officer. “In addition, we are excited to recognize some unsung people who have done giant things for golf. The awards ceremony is always NGCOA’s finest hour of the year.”

All award winners will be recognized at the Golf Business Conference 2019’s Celebration and Awards Dinner on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at the Grand Ballroom at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. Tickets are still available for the conference and/or the dinner; visit golfbusinessconference.com for more information.

Top Entrepreneur 2018 - A Breed Apart: Antonacci Family Continues to Bring Businesses to the Winner’s Circle

Fri, 18 Jan 2019 15:01:00 GMT

In the early 1950s, Guy ‘Sonny’ Antonacci started a sanitation business with a single truck. That venture has evolved into a diversified, multi-generational family business that includes a horse-racing farm, a family-entertainment facility known as Sonny’s Place , and a country club in Hampden known as GreatHorse . Each component of this conglomerate was the product of vision, entrepreneurial spirit, hard work (lots of that), and some luck. For their ability to breed winners — at the track and in business — the Antonacci family has been named BusinessWest’s Top Entrepreneurs for 2018.

Click here to read more.

Wild Apple wins international design award

Thu, 17 Jan 2019 19:05:00 GMT

WILBRAHAM - Out of more than 5,000 submissions from 24 countries, Wild Apple Design Group of Springfield was named a Silver winner in the 2018 Summit Creative Award competition for its work in designing and building the new website for GreatHorse golf and country club www. greathorse.com .

Course of the Year

Fri, 14 Dec 2018 14:54:00 GMT

At the 2018 NEGCOA Annual Meeting & Conference, it was announced that GreatHorse, Hampden, MA was our 2019 Course of the Year. GreatHorse has gone to to be one of the Final Four for National COY recognition. Congratulations to everyone at GreatHorse!

Click here to read more.

Huskies Win UConn Invitational At GreatHorse

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 02:14:00 GMT

HAMPDEN, Mass. --- The UConn golf team placed four players among the top 10 -- including senior Jimmy Hervol , who tied for first -- and five among the top 15 as it dominated the scoring on its way to a nine-stroke victory at the UConn Invitational at GreatHorse.
It marked the fourth time UConn has won the title in the 10-year history of the event, which was formerly known as the Connecticut Cup. It was the first time that the tournament has been held at GreatHorse, UConn led after each round of the three-round event.
Click here to read more.

US New England Division Best in State Ranking 2018

Tue, 28 Aug 2018 13:56:00 GMT

US New England Division Best in State Ranking 2018

Finally, the ninth and last divisional update of our biennial Best in State Listings for the United States of America is upon us. In this article, we revise the ranking charts for the six states located in the northeast corner of the nation, namely Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Click here to read more .

Think First

Tue, 10 Jul 2018 19:39:00 GMT

With a little thought, it can be easy to get out of a fairway bunker as it was getting in.

THE MASS OPEN competitors here at GreatHorse this year found their way into a number of fairway bunkers of various shapes and depths. To successfully escape, their great skills were tested... but a good bit of thought and patience was also involved. Read more...

A Cool Vibe Lifestyle Club

Wed, 04 Jul 2018 15:12:00 GMT

A FEW YEARS BACK, a brand new- and most curious- appellation for a Mass Golf Member Club began appearing in the media: GreatHorse. One word. A capital "H" standing at attention in its center. Neither 'Golf Course' or 'Country Club' to help categorize it further.

As it's turned out, GreatHorse - located in Hampden - has created a category of its own in the Bay State. The ownership group - the Antonacci family, led by the club's president Guy Antonacci (see page 23) - refers to it as a "lifestyle club" and there's a feeling of being on vacation somewhere exotic. Read more...

2018 Massachusetts Open tees off at GreatHorse

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 15:14:00 GMT

HAMPDEN — The 109th Massachusetts Open is returning to western Mass.
The top tournament of Mass Golf, formerly Massachusetts Golf Association, gets underway Monday at GreatHorse.

The three-day, 54-hole, stroke-play tournament is the first major tournament hosted by GreatHorse, which opened in 2016 after four years of rebuilding at the former Hampden Country Club.“To be able to host the state open is incredible,” said Guy Antonacci, president of GreatHorse. “I think we’re going to be the youngest facility to host a state open, so that means a lot.”

Antonacci’s family, which owns USA Hauling and Recycling in Connecticut and has been in the horse business for 60 years, had been looking to purchase a golf course for 10 or 15 years.
Read more...

Billy Downes speaks to chipping, pitching and bunker shots

Sat, 09 Jun 2018 19:17:00 GMT

Hi, my name is Billy Downs. I'm the head PGA professional here at Greathorse. Today, we're going to go over the basics of chipping. When chipping, we want to make it as simple as possible. If we can get you to set up to the ball correctly every time and use a simple method of getting the ball on the green as soon as possible, we can all be pretty successful. We will use a simple technique that can be applied with a lob wedge, sand wedge, nine iron, or eight iron. We will get you set up fundamentally solid every time and show you the different shots you can hit from one position.

First, we will cover the basic fundamentals of setting up for a chip shot. We like to set our body a little bit open to the target and play the ball back in our stance. We're not going to change our grip or the fundamentals of our full swing, but we will make it as easy as possible when setting up to the ball. So, the ball is back in the stance, shoulders and feet a little left of the target, and a tall posture without choking the golf club. Stay nice and loose, rock your shoulders, and let the club do the work. We aim to make chipping simple with less chance for error.

When chipping, we want to get the ball on the green as soon as possible while allowing some leeway for mistakes. For a short shot of about 25 feet, I aim for a spot three to four feet on the green to let the ball roll out to the hole. For this shot, I use the most lofted club in my bag to fly the ball a short distance and let it roll out. For a longer shot, I might use an 8-iron, landing the ball in the same spot for more roll with the same stroke.

When pitching the golf ball to fly it farther, we use this method when we can't easily get the ball on the green with a chip. For example, when chipping or pitching up an upslope or needing to carry the ball over a bunker, we set up a little open to the target, ball back in the stance, clubface square, a bigger swing, and good rhythm.

Next, we'll talk about bunker play at Greathorse, which is crucial due to our deep bunkers around the green. We'll provide a simple, aggressive method to get the ball out of the bunker every time. For a bunker shot, we want a nice wide base, a little open to the target, the ball slightly forward in the stance, and the clubface a bit open. The key to bunker shots is being aggressive. Get wider in your stance, dig into the sand a little, and keep the lower body stable throughout the swing.

8th Hole Guideline

Sat, 09 Jun 2018 19:08:00 GMT

Hi, my name is Billy Downs. I'm the head PGA professional here at Greathorse. On behalf of myself and my staff, we want to welcome the participants in the third annual member-guest tournament.

Today, we're out here on the eighth hole at Greathorse, and we're going to talk a little bit about the clubs we're going to use, from the driver to possibly a fairway wood and our iron into the green. Our other PGA professional, Kyle Hash, will be playing the hole together and stopping along the way to give some instruction as we go.

We're just going to talk a little bit today about setting up to the driver and what I like to think about when I do that. Now, we're going to take our normal grip, but what I like to do is play the ball off the inside of my left heel. Normally, with an iron, we'd have the ball farther back in our stance. So, when setting up, I want my left hand even with the front of the ball, the ball in the middle of my stance, and my posture to be as tall as possible. With the driver being the longest club in the bag, I want to create all that room to start so I can fully extend and get the most yardage. When swinging the driver, I'm thinking about making as good a full turn as I can and making solid contact.

Here we find ourselves in the middle of the fairway on the eighth hole, faced with a few options. Club choice is a big decision here. There are maybe 200-210 yards left to a bunker out there that I'm looking at, and from there, I'll be able to hit a wedge in. So, I'm going to lay up with a 5-iron to that bunker. When hitting an iron, the ball position is in the middle of your stance, unlike the driver, which is more forward. Take a good full turn.

I've had a good drive here and am kind of in between yardages. I can't really get it to the green, but if I want to be a little more aggressive and leave myself an easier shot into the green, I'm going to take my 3-wood or 5-wood and play it out to the right to leave me a better angle to the pin. With the fairway wood, think of it similar to the driver: tall, a little more forward in my stance, and make a nice rhythmic, easy swing to catch the ball first and stay level through the shot.

We are about 20 feet from the hole after our wedge shot. I pulled the shot a little bit, but we have a 20-25 foot birdie putt here. We're almost full high, so let's go through our putting routine. First, place the ball back in front of the marker. Align the ball to your target line, put the marker in your pocket, and get behind the putt to see which way the green may break. This one is a little uphill and will slide to our right, so I'm going to play it outside the left side about a foot .

Bill Doyle: GreatHorse owner Guy Antonacci takes shot at playing in Mass. Open

Sat, 09 Jun 2018 15:18:00 GMT

If Nick Antonelli of North Andover or Chris Houston of Gilford, New Hampshire, have any questions about the palatial clubhouse, the 207 bunkers or anything else about at GreatHorse when they play in the 109th Massachusetts Open Championship this week, they can simply ask the other member of the threesome, Guy Antonacci.

Antonacci, 30, is the president of the Hampden club and owns it with his family. He requested and was granted an exemption from Mass Golf to play in the event. GreatHorse head pro Billy Downes also will compete in the Mass. Open this week, and in the past assistant pros and superintendents from the host clubs also have played, but Antonacci is believed to be the first owner to take part. Read more...

GreatHorse ready to host Massachusetts Open June 11-13

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 15:24:00 GMT

By Russ Held, Special to The Republican Ten years have passed since a Western Massachusetts golf course has hosted the Massachusetts Open , and many of the region's top professional and amateur golfers are in for a special week.

GreatHorse in Hampden will host the highest profile championship of its four-year existence, continuing its upward trend since its post-auction reformation of the old Hampden Country Club.

"It's on a similar footprint, but nothing's the same anymore,'' said host pro Billy Downes, who grew up playing Hampden CC since its opening 45 years ago.

Guy Antonacci and family took care of those upgrades, to the tune of $55 million worth of investment as owners. Continue...

After years of renovations, GreatHorse in Hampden rewarded as host of 2018 Massachusetts Open Championship

Fri, 25 May 2018 15:26:00 GMT

HAMPDEN -- After purchasing the Hampden Country Club for $1.4 million back in January 2012 , the Antonacci family knew that a few cosmetic adjustments were in order.
But Guy Antonacci didn't expect it to change this much. What started as a few simple bunker renovations and similar tweaks in July 2012 quickly snowballed into a complete overhaul and total rebrand, amounting to a $55 million facelift that transformed the country club into GreatHorse -- the state-of-the-art facility that it is today. Continue...

Saddle Up, New England Golf Club Boasts Western Theme

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 15:29:00 GMT

Nature provided the beautiful terrain for the hilly course. A winding, steep driveway leads up to the new clubhouse where the west-facing terrace overlooks the fantastic views of the Berkshire Mountains. From its vantage point, the clubhouse can be seen from almost every hole on the 18-hole course.

Luxurious Style

The primary design objective, explains Jason Bailey of TMS Architects, was to create a family-oriented club grounded in a style of a New England farmhouse and the owner’s fascination with western arts and crafts. Objectives were achieved, he continues, through the use of ‘worn-in’ woodwork and furniture in... Continue

A Perfect Fit Awaits

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 15:32:00 GMT

The owners of GreatHorse decided to build the club around the idea of like-minded members enjoying a lifestyle club without the stuffiness of traditional clubs. GreatHorse is a private club located in a small town where you and your family will feel completely at home in their opulent mountain retreat.

New England Golf & Leisure: In The Winner's Circle

Tue, 15 Aug 2017 15:36:00 GMT

Harness racing family turns to golf with opening of GreatHorse

The name, GreatHorse, is an allusion to the iconic Leonardo da Vinci statue, “Gran Cavallo,” a work that was not completed until five centuries after his death. According to owner Guy Antonacci, “The name evokes a spirit of innovation and excellence in design and also speaks to our family’s long and storied history in the harness racing industry.”

The Antonacci family has been in the harness racing business since 1965 and has one of the most respected breeding farms in the sport. Headquartered in Somers, Connecticut, the stable has won the Hambletonian Stakes five times, which is the harness racing equivalent to the Kentucky Derby. Continue

2017 Business West: Community Pride Plays into Hampden's Growth

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 15:40:00 GMT

Kathleen Mitchell on July 26, 2016 in Community Spotlight John Flynn is extremely proud of Hampden — so proud he can’t help talking at length about the close-knit atmosphere he claims pervades every section of town.

“The word that best describes Hampden is ‘community’; it’s a place where people care about their neighbors,” said the chair of the Board of Selectmen. “I talk to people all the time who tell me they were surprised to find their neighbors went out of their way to meet them and bring them food when they moved to our town. It still happens here because we are all about community.”

Flynn added that the selectmen feel the same way about Hampden. “We can’t solve everyone’s problems, but each person is treated with respect,” he told BusinessWest.
Doug Boyd agrees. “Hampden is a great community with a lot of small businesses and self-employed people. The governance is very responsive to issues, and since everyone knows everyone else, communication is very easy,” said the co-chair of the Advisory Committee and member of the Community Preservation Committee.

“It’s what makes Hampden different from other cities and towns,” he continued, explaining that, although there has been a fair amount of development and a significant increase in the number of new homes in Hampden over the past 40 years, the town’s population has increased only slightly, and everyone has an equal voice in determining how tax dollars are spent. Continue

John Flynn says Hampden’s new, $3 million police station will be finished next month.

Boston Business Journal: Toughest 18- Hole Golf Courses in Massachusetts

Fri, 21 Apr 2017 15:48:00 GMT

Toughest 18 Holes (PDF)

Locally Researched by: Joe Halpern and Sean McFadden, Boston Business Journal

Boston Business Journal: The List: Slew of newcomers score among toughest 18-hole courses in Mass.

Fri, 21 Apr 2017 15:45:00 GMT

If the Boston Business Journal’s list of the Toughest 18-Hole Golf Courses in Massachusetts looks a little less familiar this year, there is good reason for that.

“Courses are re-rated on a regular basis. Because of that you’re likely going to see a lot of movement in the rankings from year to year,” explained Mark Gagne, the director of member services at the Massachusetts Golf Association, which ranked the courses for the BBJ based on the United States Golf Association’s men’s course ratings.

As a result of the new ratings by the USGA this year, several courses that were not on the 2016 list have now cracked the BBJ’s top 25, including GreatHorse, the former Hampden Country Club which reopened under its new name in 2015 following a $50 million renovation. With a men’s course rating of 77.2, GreatHorse earns the distinction of being the second toughest 18-hole course in the Bay State.

“We hired Brian Silva to redesign our course,” said GreatHorse President Guy Antonacci, “and we told him to make it a fair course but at the same time totally challenging. The course that is long (nearly 7,600 yards) with a lot of bunkers (205 of them) and angles that takes a lot of strategy to play.”

Despite the debut of GreatHorse on this year’s BBJ list, the 8,133-yard International Golf Club in Boston easily retains its crown as the state’s most difficult course with an 81.7 course rating from the Gold tees.

The other newcomers to the BBJ list of the toughest golf courses this year include: No. 8-ranked Pinehills Golf Club’s Nicklaus Course in Plymouth, The Ranch Golf Club in Southwick at No. 12, No. 14-ranked TGC Sacconnesset in East Falmouth, The Kittansett Club in Marion at No. 17, Crestview Country Club in Agawam at No. 24 and Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton at No. 25.

With the Jones Course taking up the No. 5 spot, Pinehills scores a double appearance on this year’s list. Read the full story

MassLive: Life is good as GreatHorse turns 3

Fri, 07 Apr 2017 15:51:00 GMT

By Russ Held, Special to The Republican

HAMPDEN - Life is just ... great at GreatHorse these days.

The private club on Wilbraham Road opens for a third season this month with a healthy membership and an impressive list of additions and refinements to its 232-acre property.

"We're feeling really good,'' club president Guy Antonacci said. "Our membership is at 250 after two years and if you had told me that the first year, I would have taken that all day long.

"And we don't know what a good number is, whether it's 350 or 600. When it feels full, we'll know. The last thing we want is to have people wait to eat dinner here or have to make a tee time. We'll know.'' Antonacci, part of the Somers, Conn., family ownership group, also knows that the accolades and awe of the mountain-side property are second to none in the region.

Continue

2017 The A Position: GreatHorse, A Stunning Transformation

Tue, 03 Jan 2017 17:04:00 GMT

To call what Brian Silva did to the former site of the Hampden (Mass.) Country Club a “renovation” nowhere near approaches the breadth, width and depth of what want on there.
What started off as a reworking of the bunkers at an abysmal Al Zikorus design (even by his standards) turned into a reported $30 million re-imagining that produced one of the finest golf courses not just in Western Massachusetts but in all of New England. It will send reverberations in the private golf facility world all the way to Hartford, Conn., Worcester, Mass. and southern Vermont. GreatHorse is that good.The extraordinary facilities of the club accentuate the Silva design. Continue

Bill Doyle: GreatHorse 'more of a lifestyle place than it is a country club'

Sat, 08 Oct 2016 16:09:00 GMT

By Bill Doyle
Telegram & Gazette Staff

When you enter the driveway to GreatHorse in Hampden, you’re greeted by a sign which reads: “Now leaving Western Massachusetts. Welcome to GreatHorse.”On the way out, another sign reads: “Now entering Western Massachusetts. Thank you for visiting GreatHorse.”
“The significance of that is we’re different,” GreatHorse head golf pro Billy Downes said. “It’s like leaving your home out there and you’re here for the day. It’s almost like a resort. It’s kind of get away from your everyday life and come up here and enjoy it.”

“It’s its own little entity here in our corner of the world,” said assistant pro Joshua Moses, who played golf at Nichols College in the late 1990s.

GreatHorse certainly is different than most golf clubs and not just because of its unusual name. Continue

2016 Business West: The Starting Gate Is Already Turning Some Heads

Tue, 04 Oct 2016 16:13:00 GMT

Just over a year ago, the Starting Gate , the banquet component of the GreatHorse golf and lifestyle club, was merely studs on a foundation. But weddings were already being booked for the facility, said GreatHorse General Manager Bryan Smithwick, because those who saw what was done with the course and clubhouse understood that the same attention to detail would prevail in the banquet hall. And the view from the top of the mountain didn’t hurt, either.
As he talked about the Starting Gate, the banquet-facility component of GreatHorse, the exclusive golf and lifestyle club in Hampden opened in 2015, Bryan Smithwick drew a straight line to Disney. Well … maybe it wasn’t a straight line, but he nonetheless got his point across.
“Disney World is out in the middle of a swamp, the middle of nowhere; yes, there are 10,000 interstates that lead there, but it’s still the middle of nowhere,” he explained, referring to the Orlando area that the entertainment giant chose for its massive developments a half-century ago. “But it’s a destination, a place people want to come to, and then come back to.”
And it is, or will be, like that with the Starting Gate, he predicts, acknowledging that this analogy is far from perfect, but for the purposes of this discussion, it works.

GreatHorse and its banquet facility are, indeed, off the beaten path. The road in front of the picturesque club has two lanes with a solid yellow line in the middle, and if you’re starting from virtually anywhere but Hampden, Wilbraham, East Longmeadow, or Somers, Conn., it takes a while to get to that road.

But when you get there… Continue

GolfWeek: Saddle Up

Mon, 08 Aug 2016 16:16:00 GMT

Among the most impressive skills of a premier course architect is the ability to envision what’s not yet there in the land. It’s difficult enough to puzzle out a new routing from raw terrain. But in many ways, the greater achievement is taking what has been in place for decades as mundane golf ground and reimagining it into something exhilarating.
Read the full article

Golf Business: From Good to Greathorse

Wed, 01 Jun 2016 16:20:00 GMT

By Kyle Darbyson
www.golfbusiness.com

With a unique vision and deep pockets, the Antonacci family has transformed the bankrupt Hampden Country Club into an elite facility.

When Guy Antonacci and his family purchased Hampden Country Club at auction, they knew the southern Massachusetts facility needed some work to get up to their exacting standards. First were renovations to 44 of the course’s bunkers. Then, all stakeholders agreed the newly minted bunkers accentuated the shortcomings of the 40-year-old greens, so they were replaced. That created an opportunity to reroute a few holes, and so on. Now, nearly five years and $45 million later, the club has been completely transformed and reopened under the name GreatHorse. Continue

greathorse-dev

Ouimet Memorial Tournament is taking place in Western Massachusetts for the first time at GreatHorse

GreatHorse wins best golf weekend resort by Boston Common Best of the City List 2022

Feast in East draws crowd to GreatHorse

GreatHorse makes winners list in the 2022 Amenity of the Year Private Clubs by Golf Inc.

GreatHorse ranks one of the top-ranked courses in Massachusetts by Golf Digest

Riggs Vs GreatHorse, 12th Hole

Top Innovators for 2019: Member Communications / Websites

Rob Gronkowski makes appearance at MGM Springfield and Hampden golf tournament

Rob Gronkowski spends day in Western Massachusetts, visits MGM Springfield, has a push up contest at Greathorse

The Delicious Traveler

A Club Above

The Front Runner: GreatHorse Earns #1 Private Club in MA

Boston Common Modern

The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) Announces Annual Awards Winners

Top Entrepreneur 2018 - A Breed Apart: Antonacci Family Continues to Bring Businesses to the Winner’s Circle

Wild Apple wins international design award

Course of the Year

Huskies Win UConn Invitational At GreatHorse

US New England Division Best in State Ranking 2018

Think First

A Cool Vibe Lifestyle Club

2018 Massachusetts Open tees off at GreatHorse

Billy Downes speaks to chipping, pitching and bunker shots

8th Hole Guideline

Bill Doyle: GreatHorse owner Guy Antonacci takes shot at playing in Mass. Open

GreatHorse ready to host Massachusetts Open June 11-13

After years of renovations, GreatHorse in Hampden rewarded as host of 2018 Massachusetts Open Championship

Saddle Up, New England Golf Club Boasts Western Theme

A Perfect Fit Awaits

New England Golf & Leisure: In The Winner's Circle

2017 Business West: Community Pride Plays into Hampden's Growth

Boston Business Journal: Toughest 18- Hole Golf Courses in Massachusetts

Boston Business Journal: The List: Slew of newcomers score among toughest 18-hole courses in Mass.

MassLive: Life is good as GreatHorse turns 3

2017 The A Position: GreatHorse, A Stunning Transformation

Bill Doyle: GreatHorse 'more of a lifestyle place than it is a country club'

2016 Business West: The Starting Gate Is Already Turning Some Heads

GolfWeek: Saddle Up

Golf Business: From Good to Greathorse

By Kyle Darbyson www.golfbusiness.com

By Kyle Darbyson
www.golfbusiness.com