18 wicked-good public golf courses in New England

Connecticut

Great River GC
Milford
greatrivergolfclub.com

A wooded, parkland outward nine morphs into a links-style inward nine with water (including the Housatonic River) coming into play on every hole.

Lake of Isles (North)
North Stonington
lakeofisles.com

One of two Rees Jones–designed 18s here, the North can stretch to 7,300 yards, with a slope of 147—it’s rugged but fair from all five sets of tees.

Wintonbury Hills GC
Bloomfield
wintonburyhillsgolf.com

Fifteen minutes from Hartford, this pristine par-70 Pete Dye design from 2005 winningly mixes links-style and tree-lined golf.

Maine

Belgrade Lakes GC
Belgrade Lakes
belgradelakesgolf.com

A beautiful course from British architect Clive Clark in a beautiful place—On Golden Pond was filmed here.

The Ledges GC
York
ledgesgolf.com

Local architect Brad Booth’s hilly layout moved minimal earth and sports seriously fast and undulating greens.

Sunday River GC
Newry
sundayriver.com

Dramatic and photogenic, this challenging Robert Trent Jones Jr. design makes the most of its mountain setting.

Massachusetts

Pinehills GC (Nicklaus)
Plymouth
pinehillsgolf.com

This tree-lined Nicklaus Design-team layout is classically featured, with subtle fairways leading to bold green complexes.

Crumpin-Fox Club
Bernardston
golfthefox.com

Crumpin-Fox Club gives golfers a hint of autumnal bliss.

Taconic Golf Club
Williamstown
taconicgolf.com

Taconic Golf Club oozes old-world New England charm.

New Hampshire

Breakfast Hill GC
Greenland
breakfasthill.com

Opened in 2000, this former farmland, transformed by New England architect Brian Silva, wends through 170 acres of majestic pines.

Hanover CC
Hanover
golf.dartmouth.edu

Home to Dartmouth College’s golf teams, this semiprivate club was reinvigorated by a 2001 renovation enhancing its Donald Ross-style character.

Omni Mount Washington
Bretton Woods
omnihotels.com

Step back in time at this 1915 Donald Ross gem, which is backdropped by the Presidential Range and the classic hotel, and which will test any short game.

Rhode Island

Meadow Brook GC
Richmond
meadowbrookgolfri.com

Roger Rulewich and Dave Fleury transformed a short, flat 1929 course into a 7,400-yard test with elevation changes, big greens and water often lurking.

Newport National
Newport
newportnational.com

This links-style Arthur Hills course, opened in 2002, provides Atlantic Ocean vistas and fescue-lined fairways that demand accurate driving.

Triggs Memorial
Providence
triggs.us

Minutes from downtown, Triggs is the only public Donald Ross course in the state where he also designed Wannamoisett and Rhode Island CC.

Vermont

Jay Peak
Jay
jaypeakresort.com

Wending gracefully through the Northern Vermont woods, Graham Cooke’s layout features significant elevation changes throughout.

Okemo Valley GC
Ludlow
okemo.com

The rippling fairways on this rare New England heathland-style, par-70 course provide a true U.K. feel.

The Golf Club at Equinox
Manchester
playequinox.com

An elegant 1927 Walter Travis design that tips out at 6,400 yards, the Equinox features undulating greens that maintain plenty of challenge into the 21st century.

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