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Above Average Places to Be Below Par
By Cynthia Saunders
May 2008
With spring here at last, and those vibrant, young shades of green becoming more abundant with every day that passes, I find myself seeking out some friendly competition in one of the outdoors’ most casual, playful arenas: the miniature golf course.
Sure, a more serious golfer might look to some of the many other resorts around here that offer traditional, full sized courses, such as the Bas Ridge Golf Course, Cranwell Resort, Egremont Country Club, Greenock Country Club, Pontoosuc Lake Country Club, and the Skyline Country Club, just to name a few. One of these days—maybe later this summer after a lesson or two—you'll be reading about that kind of golf here in my corner, but these days, I've simply been savoring the pastime I grew up playing at places like Baker's Golf Center in Lanesborough, and the more recently built course at The Range in North Adams.
Each of the past couple of weekends my friends and I have taken a leisurely Sunday hour to try our skills at some of the courses. Our first foray was to The Range. This golf course has been around for only a few years, yet the character and charm of the place makes it seem much more familiar.
Built around a theme of local landmarks, one can enjoy driving one's ball through a person-sized 
Hoosac Tunnel (train sounds included!), or careening through the attractively rendered church steeples North Adams is so famous for. Beautifully landscaped, and spotted with wooden animal carvings, this course takes its players on a cleverly crafted, tightly woven path that culminates in a humorous final hole with a dilemma that many Berkshire residents enjoy debating—you are given the choice between taking your final shot towards either Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium (the wisdom of the course designers is apparent here—the two holes are equally difficult to make!) For continued recreation, The Range offers a few batting cages and a driving range, as well.
Our second golfing excursion brought us to Baker's Golf Center on Route 7 by the Berkshire Mall Access Road. This course, I have to admit, has a special place in my heart, reserved for the memories of many a Saturday morning with my dad and brothers.
Though many improvements and little changes have been made over the years, several of the course challenges remain the same. From the yellow metal loop to the spinning carousel, this course has a sweet, old fashioned sense of whimsy that I find delightful (and still just the right degree of difficult!) no matter how much older I get. Reasonably priced and sporting a driving range to boot, Baker's Golf is a local landmark that every visitor and native should try at least once this season.
Ultimately, mini golf is about many things. It is about testing your accuracy on a variety of charming obstructions while chatting with your friends, playfully distracting each other, and enjoying some picturesque flower gardens and waterfalls along the way.
I must admit that, unlike some of the other natural wonderlands we enjoy—the snowy mountains, the basketball courts, the meandering forest trails—we will probably not break a sweat here. (In one hour of mini golf, my sources tell me that I probably only burned about 200 calories. This is just slightly less than the number I consume afterwards in a milkshake, but that's okay with me.) This playful diversion has a way of gently luring you into lightening your spirit, and I'm always ready for that, especially on a Sunday afternoon in spring in the Berkshires.
About Cynthia Saunders
Cynthia Saunders is a freelance writer and the Director of Education for the Barrington Stage Company. A North Adams native and current resident, she is excited to live within walking distance of her favorite restaurants, yoga studio, and movie theatre. She can be contacted at cynthia.saunders@gmail.com.