Leo J. Martin is a full 18-hole state course in Weston, but its greens are closed for all of 2026 while DCR completes construction and course improvements. The driving range remains open, and DCR says the course is expected back in 2027.
The course sits at 190 Park Rd in Weston, right in the knot of highways where the Mass Pike meets Route 128. It is run by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the same agency behind Ponkapoag in Canton. That means budget pricing, a short booking window, and a no-frills operation. It also means one of the most convenient tee times in MetroWest.
The course
Leo J. Martin plays to a par of 72 at roughly 6,100 yards. It is mostly flat, open parkland, which makes it an easy walk and a friendly layout for a mid-handicapper. There is no ocean view and no dramatic elevation. What there is: a real 18, close to the city, that almost anyone can get around without losing a sleeve of balls.
The openness is the appeal and the limit. Off the tee you have room, so a wayward drive usually stays in play. That makes it a good place to build confidence or work on your game during a round. Stronger players will find it more functional than thrilling. It is a solid, honest muni, not a championship test.
There is a large practice range on site, which is part of why Leo J. Martin is a hub for lessons and junior programs in the area. If you want to hit a bucket before you play, you can do it here in the same stop.
Conditions
DCR maintains its courses to a budget standard, and Leo J. Martin reflects that. The conditioning is fair for the price, not manicured. Expect the kind of turf you get on a busy state course that also spends its winter under ski traffic and snowmaking gear. At the rate you are paying, the tradeoff is easy to accept.
Because the terrain is flat and the land drains reasonably, it recovers well and stays playable through a wet spring. That is part of why it opens early and closes late in the golf calendar, before the ski season takes over.
Rates and booking
Leo J. Martin uses the DCR booking system at statemadcrgolf.com, the same platform as Ponkapoag. Tee times open 2 days in advance. That short window is actually good news. It means you can usually find a same-week slot instead of planning a week out, and prime times are not locked up by people booking far ahead.
None of which matters for 2026, because you cannot play it. DCR has closed Leo J. Martin for the entire 2026 season for construction and course improvements, and it is scheduled to reopen in 2027. The driving range stays open through the closure. If you want a cheap DCR round this year, Ponkapoag is the alternative at $27 Monday through Thursday and $30 Friday through Sunday.
When it does reopen, expect green fees in the same budget tier as the other DCR courses. Confirm the number on the booking site before you go, since DCR adjusts rates by season and day.
The winter thing
From roughly December through March, Leo J. Martin closes as a golf course and reopens as the Weston Ski Track. DCR runs snowmaking on the front holes so cross-country skiing and lessons happen even in a thin New England winter. It is one of the few lit, snowmaking Nordic tracks in eastern Massachusetts.
For golfers this mostly matters at the edges of the season. The course flips over once the cold sets in, so late-fall rounds have a hard stop. Plan your last round of the year accordingly.
How it fits
Leo J. Martin is the MetroWest version of what Ponkapoag is to the south: a cheap, accessible DCR 18 that gets you real golf without a premium bill. It is not trying to be Red Tail or Shaker Hills. It is trying to be easy, close, and affordable, and it succeeds at that.
If budget is the priority, the cheapest golf near Boston guide stacks it against the other low-cost options. If proximity is the priority, the closest courses to Boston guide shows how it compares on drive time from the city.
The honest take
Once the greens reopen, consider Leo J. Martin when you want a convenient, low-cost 18 and do not need it to be a championship test. In 2026, use the open range or play Ponkapoag instead; do not plan a round at Leo.
Skip it if you want conditioning or a course that challenges a low handicap. The flat, open layout and state-budget turf are exactly what the price buys. That is the deal, and for a lot of golfers it is a good one.
There is no Leo J. Martin tee sheet to chase in 2026. If you want a DCR round, text Carl your date and group; he can check current Ponkapoag options and send the direct booking link.
