Last modified: Friday, June 12, 2009 12:12 PM EDT KIRBY: Revered Red Tail course one of best BY MIKE KIRBY / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF The United States Golf Association has a reputation for choosing America's most challenging golf courses for its tournaments. Just ask Tiger Woods and the rest of the world's best golfers who will be teeing it up in the U.S. Open June 18-21 at Bethpage Black, the legendary course on Long Island, N.Y., where average Joes sleep overnight in their cars in order to play. The very next day, the USGA will be holding another tournament an hour's drive from the Attleboros: the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links at Red Tail Golf Club in Devens, the former Fort Devens. The best part is that, like Bethpage Black, Red Tail is a public course, open to the average golfer (if they're willing to pay the relatively high price). I use the term "average golfer" not just because you don't have to a member to play Red Tail. While the course will no doubt play to roughly 7,000 yards for this month's USGA event, a broad range of tees allows it to be played from as short as 4,800 yards. But don't worry: There's plenty of challenge awaiting at whatever length you play. Rolling, tree-lined fairways, a plethora of bunkers and multi-tiered, subtly-contoured greens will leave all golfers spent after 18 holes. Red Tail, named for the majestic hawks that can be seen circling above, opened in 2002 at the former central Massachusetts military base. Designer Brian Silva, a Bay State native now based in Dover, N.H., called the property "wicked awesome," and it's easy to see why. Trees stretch to the sky, hills provide breathtaking views and there are just enough ponds to thrill golfers who manage to avoid a watery grave. It's little wonder that, when Red Tail debuted seven years ago, Golf magazine named it one of the Top 10 New Courses in America. Here are some of the other awards Red Tail has received: ** Top 50 Public Golf Courses in America, Golf World magazine, 2009. ** Best Conditioned and Best Overall, Northeast Golf magazine, 2007. ** Course of the Year, National Golf Course Owners Association, New England Chapter, 2006. Silva - who learned golf course design from Geoffrey Cornish, Foxboro Country Club's architect - left behind some remnants of the old Army base to make Red Tail unique. Former ammunition storage units are to the right of the 17th green, for instance, while the ride to the 18th tee features a lookout tower. One par-3 requires a long downhill shot past an enormous sand waste area. But once you get to the green, you realize you're standing in the former army base's gravel pit. The manicured fairways and numerous bunkers provide excellent targets all along the way. The short par-3 third hole was particular fun, with deep traps and a devilish green, where every putt seemed to turn in exactly the opposite direction one would assume. But Silva saves the best for last. On the tee to the par-4 17th hole, wind-blown fescue sways, bringing visions of "amber waves of grain." A narrow island of fairway tempts players to stick their drives as close as possible to the green while risking imprisonment in a massive sand waste area blocked by 10-foot mounds. The par-5 18th is a thing of beauty, both literally and strategically. A well-struck drive down the left side can roll downhill a long way, setting up a shot at the green in two - if you're bold enough to try to cross the massive pond. And the sight of the pond and green below with the white clubhouse above is enough to make you pause and appreciate why you love this sport. If you go...Red Tail Golf Club is an easy drive from the Attleboros to the old Fort Devens property. Take Interstate 495 north to Route 2 west. Take Exit 37 Jackson Road off Route 2. Take a right on to Patton (as in General) Road, then a left at the fork to Bulge (as in Battle of the) Road. While rewarding, golfing at Red Tail is not cheap. Greens fees Monday-Thursday are $105, rising to $115 Friday-Sundays and holidays. The rate drops to $75 after 2 p.m., and there are also off-season rates in April and early May and after Columbus Day. All fees include range balls and a cart (which you'll need because Red Tail would be a long, hilly walk). Tee times are accepted beginning at 7 a.m. by calling 978-772-3273. Call them at the same number if you're interested in volunteering at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links. To learn more, visit redtailgolf.net. Playing for lessThe New England Golf Course Owners Association, which is based near TPC Boston in Norton, offers golfers a way to extend their 2009 golf dollars while playing some of the best golf courses in New England. The Golden Passport to New England Golf allows to play at 25 participating courses for $249. Every course in the discount book offers free golf for two or better. Some courses offer free golf for four. The New England Golf Course Owners Association will sell only 200 of these books. Here's how it works: Purchasers redeem the coupon in the book by contacting the course directly. The book must be intact when presented for use. The purchaser must contact the course for availability and provide the book number when making a reservation. Courses may restrict the day/time of play and the number of passports accepted on a given day. This information is printed on the course coupon in the book. Golden Passport book coupons may not be used for tournaments, league play, group outings or other special offers or discounts. Passports will only be honored if presented intact. Course address and phone number is included on the coupon to assist purchasers making reservations. The participating courses are among the region's best: Blissful Meadows Golf Course, Bradford Country Club, Brookmeadow Country Club, Cyprian Keyes Golf Club, Dunegrass Golf Club, Easton Country Club, Essex Country Club, Fox Ridge Country Club, Hamden Country Club, Holly Ridge Golf Club, Juniper Hill Golf Club, Londonderry Country Club, Miacomet Country Club, Meadow Creek Golf Club, Middleton Golf Course, Newton Commonwealth Golf Course, Norwood Country Club, Owl's Nest Golf Club, Pine Oaks Golf Club, Poquoy Brook, Sagamore Hampton, Southers Marsh Golf Club, Stow Acres Golf Course, The Ranch Golf Club, The Shattuck Golf Club. Contact NEGCOA at 774-430-9030, or at execdir@negcoa.org. You will also find information at www.negcoa.org. Look who's buyingDonald A. Doubleday Jr. of Lowell bought a round of drinks for everyone at Wentworth Hills Golf Club in Plainville on June 3 after he used an eight iron on the 125-yard seventh hole to score a hole-in-one. Anyone with information on a recent hole-in-one can give me a call or send me an e-mail at the number or address below. And play well. MIKE KIRBY writes an occasional column on golf. He can be reached at 508-236-0344 or at mkirby@thesunchronicle.com.