New England Golf Guide
Championship courses and hidden gems across six states — from ocean-view links on the Maine coast to mountain layouts in the Green and White Mountains, with fall foliage rounds that sell out months in advance.
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New England golf doesn't get the attention it deserves. People think of Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, or Bandon Dunes — and they should. But there's something about teeing off with the Atlantic crashing below you in Maine, or playing a Donald Ross course in the shadow of Mount Washington, or standing on a fairway in Vermont in October when the mountains are on fire with color. These courses don't have the marketing budget of the big destinations, but the golf — and especially the settings — rival anything in the country. I've played most of these courses multiple times, and I keep coming back.
— Scott
We've organized New England's best courses into three categories — Championship & Destination courses for serious golf trips, Coastal & Links-Style layouts along the Atlantic, and Mountain & Foliage courses where fall colors transform every round into something unforgettable. Each listing includes green fee ranges, par and yardage, and the details you need to plan.
Championship & Destination Courses
PGA-caliber layouts and bucket-list resort courses worth a weekend trip
6 courses
Championship TPC Boston
$175–$275Norton, MA
Par 71 · 7,241 yards
PGA Tour venue and former FedEx Cup host. Gil Hanse redesign with exceptional conditioning year-round. Strategic bunkering and fast greens reward precision over power. Located 45 minutes south of Boston — the most tournament-tested course in New England.
Championship Pinehills Golf Club – Jones & Nicklaus
$90–$160Plymouth, MA
Par 72 · Two 18-hole courses
Two championship courses designed by Rees Jones and Jack Nicklaus, rolling through pine-covered terrain in historic Plymouth. Among the best public golf in New England, with distinct personalities — Jones is tighter and more strategic, Nicklaus is longer and more forgiving.
Ocean Views Samoset Resort Golf Course
$95–$175Rockport, ME
Par 70 · 6,534 yards
Seven holes along Penobscot Bay with jaw-dropping ocean views, especially the signature 7th hole perched above the Atlantic. Par 70 that plays shorter than it looks thanks to ocean breezes. Resort amenities included — stay-and-play packages are the best way to experience it.
Championship Sunday River Golf Club
$85–$145Newry, ME
Par 72 · 7,124 yards
Robert Trent Jones Jr. design carved into the western Maine mountains with dramatic elevation changes and panoramic mountain views from every hole. At 7,124 yards from the tips, it plays long — but the ball flies in thin mountain air. Open June through October.
Best Value Lake Morey Resort
$65–$110Fairlee, VT
Par 70
Geoffrey Cornish design on the shores of Lake Morey — one of Vermont's oldest continuously operating courses. Classic New England charm with lake views, mature trees, and a layout that rewards shot-making over distance. The kind of course that gets better every time you play it.
Championship Crumpin-Fox Club
$85–$140Bernardston, MA
Par 72 · 7,007 yards
Roger Rulewich design ranked among the best public courses in Massachusetts. Rolling Western Massachusetts terrain with a covered-bridge crossing that feels straight out of a postcard. 7,007 yards of honest golf through hardwood forest and open meadows.
Coastal & Links-Style
Ocean breezes, sandy soil, and seaside layouts from Cape Cod to Narragansett Bay
5 courses
Cape Cod National Golf Club
$75–$130Brewster, MA
Par 72 · 27 holes
27 holes winding through Cape Cod pine forest and cranberry bog landscape. The Old Course plays to par 72 with sandy soil that provides excellent drainage — playable even after heavy rain. One of the most natural-feeling courses on the Cape, with minimal forced carries.
Best Value Cranberry Valley Golf Course
$65–$95Harwich, MA
Par 72 · 6,745 yards
Mid-Cape gem winding through cranberry bogs and pine forest. Par 72 at 6,745 yards with well-maintained greens and a layout that's challenging but fair for all skill levels. One of the best values on Cape Cod — locals book tee times weeks in advance during peak season.
Best Value Montaup Country Club
$60–$90Portsmouth, RI
Par 71
Rhode Island gem with Narragansett Bay views and ocean breezes that affect play on multiple holes. Par 71 that rewards local knowledge — club selection changes dramatically depending on wind direction. An underrated coastal course that deserves more attention.
Ocean Views Ocean Edge Resort
$80–$155Brewster, MA
Par 72
Jack Nicklaus Signature design on Cape Cod Bay with links-style layout, ocean views, and resort amenities. The Nicklaus pedigree shows in the strategic bunkering and undulating greens. Stay-and-play packages combine beach time with golf — the best of Cape Cod in one trip.
Foxwoods Golf Course
Check current pricingMashantucket, CT
Par 72
Casino resort course designed by Rees Jones. A well-conditioned layout that makes a natural add-on to a Foxwoods casino weekend. The course benefits from resort-level maintenance and offers a surprisingly serene contrast to the gaming floor.
Mountain & Foliage Courses
Elevation changes, mountain panoramas, and fall foliage rounds that sell out months ahead
5 courses
Foliage Must-Play Stowe Country Club
$70–$120Stowe, VT
Par 72
Par 72 with Mount Mansfield — Vermont's highest peak — as the backdrop from every hole. Fall foliage rounds in late September through mid-October are bucket-list golf, with Green Mountain views painted in crimson, orange, and gold. Book foliage tee times months in advance.
Foliage Must-Play Stratton Mountain Golf Course
$80–$135Stratton, VT
Par 72 · 6,602 yards
Geoffrey Cornish design at 2,000+ feet elevation where the thin mountain air makes the ball fly noticeably farther. Par 72 through a corridor of hardwoods with long views to surrounding peaks. Open June through October — the short season makes it feel special every round.
Championship Mount Washington Resort Golf Course
$80–$150Bretton Woods, NH
Par 71
Donald Ross design from 1915 in a White Mountains setting with Presidential Range views. The most photographed course in New England — and for good reason. Ross's original routing takes advantage of the natural terrain, with subtle green complexes that reward precision approach shots.
Foliage Must-Play Sugarloaf Golf Club
$70–$120Carrabassett Valley, ME
Par 72 · 6,922 yards
Robert Trent Jones Jr. design with the Carrabassett River winding through the course. Remote but stunning — the drive in is half the experience. Peak foliage here, surrounded by Maine's western mountains, is some of the most dramatic scenery you'll find on any golf course in America.
Foliage Must-Play Woodstock Country Club
$65–$100Woodstock, VT
Par 69
Robert Trent Jones Sr. design in what may be the most quintessential Vermont village setting imaginable. Par 69 with covered bridges, stone walls, and autumn colors framing every hole. Shorter than most, but the charm and setting more than compensate. A New England golf experience you won't find anywhere else.
Pro Tips for New England Golf
What we've learned from playing these courses — season after season
Best Season
June through October. Peak foliage golf (late September through mid-October) is spectacular but books up months ahead — reserve tee times by July for the best courses.
Weather
Bring layers — mountain courses can be 10-15°F cooler than coastal. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. A rain jacket and an extra layer belong in your bag.
Twilight Rates
Most courses offer 40-60% off after 2-3pm. Great for long summer evenings when sunset runs as late as 8:30pm — plenty of time for a full round.
Stay-and-Play
Resort packages at Samoset, Sunday River, Stowe, and Mt. Washington are the best value for destination golf. Multi-night stays often include two or more rounds.
Walking
Most New England courses are walkable and actively encourage walking. Carts are required at a few hilly courses — check when booking. Walking is the best way to appreciate the scenery.
Cape Cod
The best concentration of public golf in New England — 25+ courses within a 30-mile stretch. You could play a different course every day for a week and barely scratch the surface.
Plan Your Golf Trip
Tell our AI planner which courses interest you and it will build a multi-day itinerary — with tee time suggestions, nearby restaurants, and where to stay between rounds.
Start Planning →Frequently Asked Questions
The golf season runs from late April through October, but the sweet spot is June through early October. Summer offers the longest days and warmest weather — sunset as late as 8:30pm means plenty of time for an afternoon round. Fall foliage season (late September through mid-October) is the most spectacular time to play, with mountainside courses surrounded by crimson and gold. The trade-off: foliage tee times book up months in advance, especially at Stowe, Sugarloaf, and Woodstock.
Green fees range widely. Municipal and value courses run $40-70. Mid-tier public courses (Cranberry Valley, Montaup, Woodstock) charge $60-120. Premium destination courses (TPC Boston, Samoset, Sunday River) run $85-275. Twilight rates — typically after 2-3pm — offer 40-60% savings at most courses. Stay-and-play resort packages can bring per-round costs down significantly for multi-day trips.
Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine has seven holes directly along Penobscot Bay — the signature 7th hole is as dramatic as any coastal hole in America. Ocean Edge Resort on Cape Cod offers links-style golf with Cape Cod Bay views. Montaup Country Club in Portsmouth, Rhode Island overlooks Narragansett Bay. For ocean proximity without direct water views, the Cape Cod courses (Cape Cod National, Cranberry Valley) have a coastal feel thanks to sandy soil, sea air, and pine-scrub landscape.
Vermont and western Maine are the top choices. Stowe Country Club with Mount Mansfield in the background is the iconic foliage golf image. Sugarloaf Golf Club in Carrabassett Valley, Maine is remote but the surrounding mountain foliage is staggering. Woodstock Country Club offers a quintessential Vermont village setting with covered bridges and stone walls. Stratton Mountain plays at 2,000+ feet with long views of autumn color. Book foliage tee times by mid-summer — peak dates sell out fast.
Yes — most New England courses are walkable and actively encourage it. The terrain at courses like Woodstock, Lake Morey, and the Cape Cod courses is gentle enough for comfortable walking. A few mountain courses with steep elevation changes (Sunday River, Sugarloaf) may require or strongly recommend carts. Always check when booking. Walking is the best way to appreciate the scenery, and many courses offer reduced fees for walkers.