BOSTON may well have been the centre of the golfing world in September when the Ryder Cup circus rolled into town - but the region is rich enough in courses to attract golfers at any time.

And now that Christmas and the New Year is out of the way, holidays are the next expense on the agenda.

What's more, the American state of Massachusetts can be treated as something of a home from home - as part of New England, the state is similar to parts of the Mother Land with the added bonus of having all the trimmings we have come to expect from the US of A.

Cape Cod was our destination for a short golfing break and what they had to offer was impressive - the area is home to 32 public and 12 private courses.

The Cape sweeps 70 miles into the Atlantic Ocean from southeastern Massachusetts and is surrounded by the warm salt waters of Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic. It's a golfer's paradise.

The region has some of the most scenic and diverse layouts found anywhere in the US and enhanced by the natural beauty and renowned charm of the Cape, each course offers a unique and memorable round. Rolling hills, salt water marshes, cranberry bogs and spectacular ocean views only confirm the theory that "a bad day on the golf course beats a good one in the office"!

Staying at the Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club at Brewster, the course with the same name was our first port of call.

Designed by Geoffrey Cornish and Brian Silva, Ocean Edge winds its way through an array of villas and apartments. This well conditioned tree-lined 18-hole PGA championship course, complete with creatively undulating greens and 64 Scottish-style "pot" bunkers is, as were all the courses we played, a test for all levels. Cleverly placed tees made it as much a match for the professional as the Sunday morning amateur.

The signature hole, the short 17th, could be a card-wrecker though. A full mid-iron is needed over a bracken pond to a green tucked into a wooded hillside. Bail out left and you're left with a tricky up and down.

The Ballymeade Country Club at North Falmouth offers some of the best views from a golf course on the Cape. Often described as the jewel in the Cape's crown, the highest of the region's courses is well-manicured and recently redesigned by Chi Chi Rodriguez, one of the characters on the US Seniors PGA Tour.

A buggy is recommended as the holes climb and dip severely in places but that takes nothing away from the layout. The course boasts every conceivable hazard - trees, water, rough and sand and some of the views are spectacular. The 164-yard 11th is the highest point on the course and it's difficult not to let the beauty of Buzzards Bay distract you.

The snack bar on the 10th tee is a welcome sight just before you take on the challenge of a stunning back nine, finishing with a magnificent 500-yard par five over a green-front pond and underneath a highly impressive clubhouse and country club.

A short ferry ride from Hyannis Port or Falmouth lies the unmistakable island of Martha's Vineyard and the Farm Neck Golf Club.

Used by President Clinton when he takes his holidays on the island, this public course is a must. It meanders its way through a host of very desirable real estate, not to mention a haven for wildlife. Water plays a big part on this mainly tree-lined course.

We finished our short golfing break in the region at Bay Pointe Golf Club at Onsett Beach, a stone's throw outside the Cape. This par 71 18-hole championship golf course didn't quite match up to the others but nevertheless was a very acceptable venue.

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