NORTON, Massachusetts (October 18, 2024) – In the midst of celebrating its 125th anniversary, Franklin Country Club has secured an agreement to host three Mass Golf championships over the remainder of the decade, including the 2025 Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship.
Located 30 miles southwest of Boston, the original Wayne Stiles-designed course offers 18 holes that demand precision and endurance, with natural terrain, deep gullies, ever-present streams, and unforgiving greens challenging golfers at every turn. In 2016, the club also added a top-shelf practice facility, showcasing a two-level practice tee, bunkered target greens, and an in-depth short game area consisting of greenside bunkers, a chipping/pitching area, and a putting green.
“Partnering up with Mass Golf to host these events is both an honor and a testament to our club’s legacy of excellence,” said Bob DeFlaminis, president of Franklin Country Club. “Mass Golf’s commitment to growing the game aligns perfectly with our club’s values, and it’s an honor to provide a venue where players of multiples ages and abilities can compete at the highest level.”
Online: Mass Golf Future Championship Sites | Franklin At 125 Story | Franklin Website
Along with its first-ever state Junior Amateur championship, Franklin will also host the 2027 Massachusetts Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship for the Keyes Cup and the 2030 Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship for the first time. The Junior Amateur Championship, one of Mass Golf’s longest-running championships, will consist of 120 golfers for stroke play on August 4-5, with 16 advancing to match play, which will take place August 6-7. The winner will earn exemption into 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship (if eligible).
In addition to several Mass Golf and USGA Qualifying, Franklin most recently has held the 2022 Massachusetts Women’s Four-Ball for the Townshend Cup, won by Shannon Johnson and Megan Buck, and the 2017 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship, won by Colin Brennan.
While Franklin’s membership has a lengthy roster of single-digit handicaps, senior standout Keith Smith has made waves on the statewide level. Smith, who most recently earned the 2023 New England Senior Amateur champion and 2023 Mass Golf Super Senior Player of the Year Award, has captured the Mass Senior Amateur four times (2013, 2016, 2017, 2021). He also won the 2023 Super Senior Amateur with a clutch putt on the 18th green at LeBaron Hills Country Club to seal the title.
Brian Higgins, who has belonged to Franklin CC most of his life, recently turned 50 and will be eligible for Mass Golf senior events by the time the Senior Amateur comes to Franklin in six years. Higgins played for the University of New Hampshire and had a brief pro stint before regaining his amateur status. He won consecutive Mass Mid-Amateur titles (2008 & 2009), the 2008 Mass Four-Ball with Brad Stewart and was Mass Golf’s 2008 Richard D. Haskell Player of the Year.
Future Mass Golf Championships at Franklin
Past Events at Franklin
Mass Golf is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to advancing golf in Massachusetts by building an engaged and inclusive community around the sport.
With a community made up of over 130,000 golf enthusiasts and over 360 member clubs, Mass Golf is one of the largest state golf associations in the country. Members enjoy the benefits of handicapping, engaging golf content, course rating and scoring services along with the opportunity to compete in an array of events for golfers of all ages and abilities.
At the forefront of junior development, Mass Golf is proud to offer programming to youth in the state through First Tee – Massachusetts and subsidized rounds of golf by way of Youth on Course.
