Adjacent course.
That’s how the Brookline golf course has long been known. After all, its location cannot be ignored. The municipal appearance in the Massachusetts town of the same name stands next to a bright neighbor: The country cluba place with history that has hosted four US Opens.
A chain-link fence separates the two properties, but the distance between them runs much deeper than that—one is a private playground of immense prestige, the other a simple golf course with public access. During the opening of the 1988 and 2022 US Opens, Brookline Golf Course was put into service as a parking lot.
But the muni has an impressive pedigree of its own. Designed by Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleeck, it was the stomping ground Francis Ouimet. Best known for winning the 1913 US Open, Ouimet also played the course when it was called Putterham Meadows. A statue of him and his famous 10-year-old caddy from that Open victory, Eddie Lowery, stands outside the clubhouse today.
These days, however, one of the course’s biggest attractions is inside that clubhouse: the food.
Hemlock Grill has developed a following that extends beyond golfers, attracting locals who come strictly for the menu. And the undisputed star of the menu is the fried chicken sandwich — voted the best fried chicken in Boston by Boston Magazine. Not the best on a golf course. Best in town, period, beating traditional restaurants across the board.
The creation of chef Alex Saenz—who is of Peruvian descent but grew up steeped in the culinary traditions of the Carolinas—the sandwich begins with a quick dip in buttermilk. Not a long marinade, just enough to make the chicken tender. It’s then coated in a deliciously spiced spice blend, deep-fried for exactly seven minutes until deeply crisp, and served on a pillowy pickled potato bun.
The result is crispy, juicy and balanced, with enough heat to keep you reaching for another bite.
Watch the video above to see how Saenz does it. It turns out that the neighboring course also serves an irresistible main course.
