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Sunday River in Newry, Maine
New England is simply magical with its colonial roots, architecture, and customs. This is where you’ll find a Dunkin’ on every corner, and it’s also where you can enjoy a great mix of classic golf and more modern designs. And yes, while some of the courses might command premium green fees, there are some great values as well.
So if you’re planning a trip to Massachusetts, northern Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine, check out our suggestions. What follows is a list of some of the best public golf options in New England. We think you’ll enjoy all of these courses if you get a chance to play them.
There’s great reverence in Massachusetts for Crumpin-Fox, which has an 18-hole layout that was two decades in the making. Highly respected architect Roger Rulewich, who is based in northwestern Mass and used to work for Robert Trent Jones Sr., designed the first nine holes in 1977, but didn’t get to complete the other nine until 1990. While both nines are scenic, memorable and challenging, the original nine is considered one of the best back nines of any course in New England. Elevated tees, lakes, streams, ponds and a variety of doglegs keep your attention throughout the experience.
Crumpin-Fox Club
One of the most unique golf experiences you’ll find in New England is Granite Links Golf Club. Located just outside of Boston, Granite Links, as the name clearly suggests, features 27 links-like holes that architect John Sanford crafted out of an old quarry and landfill. Nearly a million truckloads from Boston’s “Big Dig” tunneling project were used to construct the course. There are a few blind shots, a biarritz green, elevated tees and incredible views. Playing conditions are generally immaculate, and the facility has multiple restaurants and outstanding practice facilities, so you’ll want to make a day out of it.
Granite Links
One of two golf courses at Foxwoods Casino Resort, the North Course is the one open to the public. Both courses (the South is private) are designed by Rees Jones, both work their way around a large lake, and both boast outstanding course conditions. Elevated tees, doglegs, water, bunkers, and beautiful greens complexes are among the highlights. Signature holes abound, including the par-3 second that plays over water to a peninsula green. The finishing stretch, which includes the par-4 17th’s intimidating tee shot over water, is particularly impressive.
Lake of Isles North Course
It started out as four holes in 1898, but by 1914 it was 18, then redesigned five years later by none other than Donald Ross. Architect Mark Mungeam redid holes 15-17 as well as the ninth a few years ago, and they blend in well. What you have today is a seaside municipal gem that’s one of the best values in New England. The course has plenty of old-school character with railroad tracks and roads crossing parts of the course, ocean views, and firm playing conditions, bringing in a variety of shots. The golf shop is as old school as it gets, but best of all, so are the green fees.
Shennecossett Golf Course
Built on an old nursery farm, Newport National is certainly the best daily fee golf course in the state. Designed by Arthur Hills and Drew Rogers, the course has both links golf elements and target golf traits as it traverses through wetlands and environmental areas (Newport National is a Certified Audubon Sanctuary course) with Atlantic Ocean and Sakonnet Passage in the background. Fescue grass surrounding the bentgrass fairways and bunkers give it a beautiful windswept look. At 7,200 yards it will challenge good players, especially when the wind is up, which is most of the time. Signature holes include the par-3 13th, which has a green that juts out over the water.
Newport National
Located just below the Canadian border at the Jay Peak Resort, this is one that most golfers don’t know about, but if they have the chance to get that far north, should check it out. Playing at just under 7,000 yards from the tips, it’s a difficult, but fair mountain golf test, with amazing, immaculate greens, deep bunkers, and lots of uphill and downhill holes. Designed by Canadian architect and top level amateur Graham Cooke, the course opened in 2006. This is a wonderful spot to book a stay-and-play package and play all the golf you want over two or three days.
Jay Peak
This wonderful Gene Bates design, immersed in the famous Green Mountains, was the first municipal golf course in the state when it opened in 1997. Operated by the town of Killington, the course features tree-lined fairways with elevation changes on pretty much every hole. Laid out on more than 230 acres, the course has lots of memorable holes including the par-3 seventh, which has a pronounced ridge in the middle of the green. The course measures nearly 6,700 yards from the tips, so it’s a good test. But it’s an even better value, with green fees well under $100 for what many consider the best public course in the state.
Green Mountain National
A rollercoaster of a golf experience, Sunday River’s 18-hole course winds through the woods in a stunning mountain setting that will have you hitting shots around corners and into elevation changes that can be three- or four-club differences. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the course overlooks the Sunday River Valley and Mahoosuc Mountain Range. There are four sets of tees, ranging from around 5,000 yards to more than 7,100. There are no gimme holes here, really, so your complete attention is required at all times. First-timers should probably throw out their expectations for scoring, but not their expectations for enjoyment.
Sunday River
Although it has a bit of a quirky layout, there’s no debating that the Samoset Golf Course at Samoset Resort is located on the most beautiful spots in America. Originally nine holes when it opened in 1902, the course has evolved over the years. Nine holes were added in 1974 by architect Robert Elder, who also modified the existing holes as well. In the early 1990s, Geoffrey Cornish came in and improved many of the holes, and a few years later, more work was done by architect Bradley Booth, who re-routed the finishing hole. There are ocean views on more than half the holes, but two of the most notable are the dogleg left, par-five fourth hole that bends toward historic Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse; and the 14th, a par-5 that opens up to the Atlantic on its downhill approach shot.
Samoset
Perennially ranked as New Hampshire’s top public course, the 18-hole Mount Washington Course at the Omni Mount Washington Resort (known for its skiing) is one for the ages. Designed in 1915 by Donald Ross, it was meticulously restored in 2007-’08 by architect Brian Silva, who used Ross’ original drawings to bring out forgotten and hidden features that have been lost over the years. The result is a step back in time to a course that certainly challenges today, especially if you play it at 7,000 yards. While you’re there, be sure to play the other nine holes, the Mount Pleasant Course, which opened in 1895. Laid out alongside the Ammonoosuc River, it’s challenging but also family friendly.
Omni Mount Washington
