The state of Massachusetts is an excellent place to call home if you love golf. The state boasts some of the top-notch golf courses open to the public—from championship-level layouts to beginner-friendly tracks.
Let’s take a look at some of the best golf clubs in New England and what makes them special. So if you’re thinking about buying a home in Massachusetts and want to include golfing as one of your activities, check out our complete list below and get ready to tee off!
Tips for Choosing the Top Courses In Massachusetts
As a golfer, you want a course that challenges and entertains you in pristine condition. With the long list of private and public golf courses Massachusetts boasts of, narrowing down your search will help you find the best ones.
- Read reviews from other golfers. Some people care most about the quality of the greens and fairways, while others prioritize amenities like restaurants and driving ranges. Use these factors as your guide when doing your research and reading reviews.
- Consider the cost. Golf can be a costly sport, and some courses are more expensive than others. If you don’t have your own equipment, you should also factor in the cost of renting them.
- Consider the location. If you’re traveling from out of state, you’ll want to choose a course that’s close to your hotel. If you live in Massachusetts, choose a club that’s close to your home.
- Consider your skill level. Are you a beginner or an experienced golfer? If you’re a beginner, look for courses with shorter distances and fewer hazards. Experienced golfers might prefer more challenging courses with longer distances and greater obstacles
- Book in advance. Book your tee time at least a week in advance to get the time and day that you want. Many courses get booked up quickly, especially on weekends and during peak season.
Top 20 Best Golf Courses in Massachusetts
1. The Country Club – Clyde/Squirrel, Brookline
The Country Club in Clyde or Squirrel, Brookline is consistently ranked as one of the best golf courses in Massachusetts. The course has 18 holes and is 7,349 yards long. The course rating is 74.5 and the slope rating is 135.
The Country Club was founded in 1893 and has been host to many prestigious tournaments, including the U.S. Open, the Ryder Cup, and the PGA Championship. The club’s members have included some of the most famous names in golf, such as Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, and Arnold Palmer. In addition to its championship golf course, The Country Club also offers tennis, swimming, and dining facilities for its members.
2. Old Sandwich Golf Club – Plymouth
The course was designed by Coore-Crenshaw, and it consists of 18 holes. It has a length of 6908 yards and a slope of 139. The facility is private, but it is open to members and their guests. A challenging layout and beautiful scenery distinguish the Old Sandwich Golf Club. Located in Plymouth.
This course sits on a bluff overlooking Cape Cod Bay, providing stunning views of the water and nearby coastline. The Old Sandwich Golf Club is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and ospreys.
3. Myopia Hunt Club – South Hamilton
The Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, Massachusetts has a long and rich history, having hosted four U.S. Open championships. The club is renowned for its beautiful and challenging 18-hole course, which stretches for over 6500 yards. The course has a slope rating of 135, making it one of the most difficult courses in the state. Despite its challenges, the Myopia Hunt Club is consistently part of the top golf Massachusetts reviews.
The private facility club is consider as popular destination for both amateur and professional golfers. The club also offers guest passes for those who want to experience the Myopia Hunt for themselves.
4. Essex Country Club – Manchester-by-the-Sea
Located in Manchester-by-the-Sea, the Essex Country Club is the first and most intriguing Donald Ross design. The club was founded in 1893 and features an 18-hole course that is 6401 yards in length and has a course rating of 130.
The facility is private, so it’s perfect for those who want to enjoy a round of golf in peace and quiet. A scenic ocean view is part of the course’s appeal, as well as rolling hills and mature trees. It also features a full-service clubhouse with a pro shop, restaurant, and bar.
5. Kittansett Club – Marion
Kittansett Club in Marion has a driving range and a short game practice area, as well as two putting greens. The name “Kittansett” comes from the Native American words “near the sea,” and the course is located close to the shore. There are 18 holes, with a length of 6811 yards and a slope of 140.
Kittansett Club is a private facility, and membership is required to play. Members can bring guests, and the club also holds various tournaments throughout the year.
6. Eastward Ho! Country Club – Chatham
Eastward Ho! Country Club was designed by Englishman William Herbert Fowler and opened for play on July 3, 1922. It is a links course, which means that it is located in coastal areas, Chatham. The course has 18 holes with a length of 6351 yards and the slope is 124. Eastward Ho! Country Club has a long history and is well known for its beautiful coastal location and challenging course.
7. Boston Golf Club – Hingham
Boston Golf Club is located in the south suburb of Hingham and is consistently considered one of the best golf courses in Massachusetts. It is a modern-day Pine Valley designed by Gil Hanse. The course has 18 holes, 415 yards, and par 72 for men and 5535 yards, par 73 for ladies. The Boston Golf Club is the perfect place to improve your game or just have a great time with friends. The course is challenging but fair, and the scenery is breathtaking.
8. Sankaty Head Golf Club – Siaconset
Sankaty Head Golf Club, located in Siaconset on Nantucket Island, is widely considered one of the best golf courses in Massachusetts. The course, which was built in 1923, features beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean, Sesachacha Pond, and the iconic Sankaty Light House. The Links-style course stretches 6625 yards and features 18 holes, making it a challenge for even the most experienced golfers.
For those looking for a shorter game, the club also offers a lady’s course that is 5535 yards long and features a par of 73. In addition to the golf course, Sankaty Head also offers excellent tennis and beach facilities, making it the perfect place to spend a day or two.
9. Salem Country Club – Peabody
Salem Country Club was built in 1925 and was designed by Donald Ross, located in Peabody. The club covers 350 acres. It has 18 holes and is a par 72. The length of the course is 6916 yards. For ladies, the course is 5535 yards and has a par of 73. The slope of the course is 135. Salem Country Club is a private club and members have to pay a yearly fee. The club also offers lessons and has a pro shop. There are locker rooms for men and women. Salem Country Club also has a bar and restaurant, an outdoor pool, and tennis courts.
10. Hyannisport Club – Hyannisport
The Hyannisport Club was built in 1903 and designed by Donald Ross. The course is located on Cape Cod with magnificent views of Nantucket Sound. The course is 18 holes and 6348 yards long. It has a slope of 131. It is a private golf and tennis club. The club also has a great pro shop. and sells all the latest golf equipment and apparel.
11. Vineyard Golf Club – Martha Vineyard
Nestled atop gentle hills and surrounded by lush forestry, Vineyard Golf Club is one of the best golf courses in Massachusetts. The 235-acre parcel is located three miles east of Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard, offering stunning views of both the rolling fairways and the picturesque coastline. Recently, the course has been in the spotlight as it was President Barack Obama’s preferred golfing venue during his annual summer vacations on the island.
12. Whitinsville Golf Club – Whitinsville
The course was designed by Donald Ross in the mid-1920’s, and is made up of one par-5, two par-3’s, and six par-4’s. It is a private course that is traditional in style, with a slope rating of 139 and a length of 6427 yards. The challenge is well worth it for those who are looking for an excellent golfing experience. The setting is simply beautiful, located in Blackstone Valley just 45 miles west of downtown Boston.
13. Nantucket Golf Club – Siasconset
Nantucket Golf Club is a world-class private golf club. The course was designed by world-renowned golf architect Rees Jones and opened in 1998. Nantucket Golf Club has a total of 18 holes, with 7,074 yards of golf and a 141-degree slope rating. The course features a variety of holes from wide-open fairways to narrow doglegs and even some water hazards.
14. TPC Boston – Norton
TPC Boston is the only PGA TOUR course in New England, and it has been a staple of the PGA TOUR for more than two decades. The course was first designed by Arnold Palmer. The course debuted in 2002 and was designed by Arnold Palmer, located in Norton. Five years later, it was redesigned by Gil Hanse which earned its honor of being “the best Private Remodel of 2007.” The course is 7,261 yards long with 14 holes (18 total) and has a slope rating of 154. The facility is private and only members can play.
15. Taconic Golf Club – Williamstown
Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown is an easy drive from New York City. The course is owned by Williams College and designed by Gil Hanse. It’s a 6,808-yard par-71 course that plays along the Connecticut River. It was originally built as a nine-hole course but expanded to 18 holes in 1925.
Taconic is known for its scenic views and challenging terrain. The course also features a driving range and practice green, as well as a putting green and chipping area. This historic course has hosted several U.S. Open qualifiers since it was established in 1896.
16. Winchester Country Club – Winchester
Winchester Country Club is one of the best golf courses in Massachusetts. The course was designed by Ed Ault and built in 1923. The course is located in Winchester, Massachusetts, and features a par-72 layout of 6,367 yards from the championship tees. The course has a rating of 71.4 with a slope of 135 on Bermuda grass fairways and bent grass greens.
Amenities include: an indoor putting green, driving range, pro shop and restaurant. The clubhouse includes an elegant dining room with panoramic views of the surrounding property, along with an attractive lounge area where guests can relax while they wait for their turn to tee off at one of Winchester’s many championship golf courses.
17. Worcester Country Club – Worcester
Worcester Country Club has a reputation for being an extremely challenging golf course. Donald Ross designed its 6,711-yard layout and it has been around for more than 100 years. The course is home to several championship events throughout the year, including the U.S. Open, PGA Championship and Ryder Cup.
The signature hole on Worcester Country Club is the par-5 18th hole that plays over water and features a large green surrounded by bunkers. You can also play this hole as an alternate tee shot or use it as a risk/reward strategy.
18. Charles River Country Club – Newton
If you’re looking for a good private golf course, then Charles River Country Club in Newton should be on your list. The course has been around since the 1930s and it’s one of the oldest clubs in Massachusetts.
The course was designed by Donald Ross and opened to play in 1921. At a par of 72 for regular member play, the layout contains two challenging par fives; however, those holes revert back to being fours during competitive events because players use carts on them as opposed to walking or riding.
The clubhouse has plenty of amenities including food service and pro shop services, as well as an indoor hitting area with multiple hitting bays. There are also two swimming pools that are open year-round.
19. Cape Cod National Golf Club – Brewster
Located at the National Seashore in Brewster, Cape Cod National Golf Club is a Geoffrey Cornish and Brian Silva design that offers players of all levels and skill levels an outstanding golfing experience.
This 18-hole course was built on one of the few remaining undeveloped sand dunes in New England. The 6,954-yard course has a wide variety of holes, from short par 4s to long par 5s. It is well maintained and has been renovated several times since it opened in 1998.
It’s also home to a driving range and two putting greens, which provide plenty of options for those who want to practice their shots before heading out onto the course.
20. Concord Country Club – Concord
Concord Country Club in Concord is an experience that golfers shouldn’t miss out on. The private 6,702-yard course is considered one of the most beautiful golf clubs in New England because of its location on a lake, which adds to its appeal.
Being the last course to be designed by Donald Ross on our list, it is home to one of the most challenging par 3s on tour: Hole 13. This hole features a blind tee shot into a narrow fairway lined with trees, followed by a long iron approach to a small green protected on both sides by banks of sand bunkers. This hole is widely regarded as one of the most difficult par 3s on tour, due to its length and elevation changes from tee to green.
Conclusion
Although there are many different beautiful golf courses in Massachusetts, the ones we listed above stand out as being both especially challenging and picturesque. Be sure to give one of these courses a visit if you’re looking for a new place to play golf, or just want to try out a championship course. And if you’re interested in finding property near any of these locations, our experts would be glad to assist you. Consult with us today and we’ll help you find your dream home or real estate investment in Massachusetts.
In her 25-year career, Steph Wilkinson has been involved in the acquisition, marketing and sales of over $3 Billion dollars of residential real estate. A number of years ago, Steph transitioned into Brokerage Leadership for National real estate brands and tech start-ups. She has served as a Business Strategist for real estate agents and brokerages alike and is also a real estate coach and trainer. In her new role with the Iconic Team, Steph will be responsible for the growth of the team and will be working with all of our agents to increase their productivity and bottom line.
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