GolfNewsRI

On Sunday morning (very early), I got the opportunity to play the newly opened Met Links Golf Course in East Providence. 

Located on the property previously known as Metacomet, Met Links just opened on June 27. 

Over the last several years, GolfNewsRI has reported extensively on the Metacomet situation and the opening of Met Links, so I was excited to go play the new course. 

For me, I am not nostalgic about Metacomet, so if you’re hoping for a big nostalgia piece, sorry. 

I only played Metacomet one time and it was a couple of weeks before it closed, which was probably not a fair representation of the place. 

However, the guys I played with, my friend Jay Barrow, his dad, and buddy Travis Tucker, were big Metacomet guys and were nostalgic throughout the round. 

They even had the old Metacomet golf bags with them for the round. 

And I feel like that is going to be the case for a lot of players that go there to play, which is great. 

Without further ado, let’s play Met Links. 

Met Links 

Upon arrival at Met Links, you go into the trailer to check in for the round and pay. It was $35 for nine holes and with a cart it was just under $50. 

The trailer is equipped with snacks, Powerades, water and Met Links merch. 

There is also a big white tent set up outside the trailer, probably for outings or if folks just want to hang out after their round. 

Eventually, the clubhouse will be built into the rest of the development. 

So for the nostalgia folks, the first three holes are the original holes from Metacomet. 

I put my tee shot in the left rough on one and made bogey, the famous second hole, I put my tee shot in the water on the right and made a silly number and three, the par-4 up the hill, I hit a great drive, a second second shot just above the bunker on the left and then duffed a chip and ruined the hole. 

We went to the fourth hole, formerly the seventh, which is a cool par-3 that I remember liking when I played Metacomet. I put my tee shot in the right rough and had to chip up and I made bogey. 

I think the fifth hole is the best hole on the course, because it forces you to make a decision. 

The fifth hole is a 214 yard par-4 that if you hit a great tee shot you can get to the green in one, but if you miss you can end up in a world of trouble with bunkers and fescue. 

You can also lay up, but that’s not even a given with the bunker placement. 

Of course, I totally messed up off the tee and again made a silly number after digging my ball out of the fescue. 

The fact we found the ball was a miracle in and of itself. 

Six and seven are back-to-back par-3s, which upon initially hearing about that, I thought was kind of strange. 

BUT, the U.S. Senior Open at Newport CC had back-to-back par-3s and so my opinion has changed on it. 

I made my only par of the day on the seventh hole after finally hitting a good tee shot, I almost made birdie, but my putt hit the flagstick and rolled away. 

I was happy to make a par. 

The eighth hole is a par-5 up the hill where I hit one of my best drives of the day into the middle of the fairway. 

Second hot I hit up the hill and right next to a tree, so I had to punch out and made a mess of the hole. 

The closing hole is a tough uphill par-3 where I once again found the fescue and made a mess of the hole. 

Overall, the course was in great shape and it was fun to play. The greens were a little on the slow side which took some getting used to for all of us in the group. 

When I played Metacomet that one time, I found the course to be challenging, even in its last days.  

I thought Met Links was challenging, don’t be deceived by the par-3s. You still have to hit shots. 

That said, I am certainly no great player so challenging for me, might be different from challenging for you. 

The guys I played with were all round even par for the round, so put whatever stock you want into that. 

Good luck to Met Links going forward and looking forward to going back.