Top 20 Favorite Courses in New England

At the time of this post, I have played 72 golf courses in New England.  Some have been very nice, others not much.  I wanted to put together a list of the courses I liked the most.  Below is a list of my FAVORITE courses in New England, not necessary the best or the hardest I have played.  There is not really any rhyme or reason to this list, just my personal preference on the layout, and enjoy-ability.

1. Newport National, Middletown, RI

Great layout, great course conditions, great location.

2. The International – Oaks Course, Bolton, MA

TOUGH track, awesome elevation changes.  Impeccable course conditions.

3. Butter Brook, Westford, MA

The tale of two nines – front is regular parkland golf, back is links. $78 bucks on a weekend beats the other 4-5 star courses in the area.

4. Golf Club of Cape Cod, East Falmouth, MA

Amazing layout, clubhouse and service.  Some very cool holes here.  Top of the line.

5. Meadow Brook, Richmond, RI

Pound for pound, could be the top public course in New England.

6. Cape Arundel, Kennebunkport, ME

Links style, home course of George H.W. Bush.

7. TPC Boston, Norton, MA

Play where the pros play!

8. Shaker Hills, Harvard, MA

Great overall golf experience.

9. Thomson Country Club, North Reading, MA

My home track; course management and precise shots are king here due to the tight fairways and tricky greens.  Don’t let the houses and OB scare you!

10. Granite Links, Quincy, MA

Excellent 19^th hole – amazing views of Boston.

11. Belgrade Lakes, Belgrade, ME

Wish I played it on a non-rainy day.  Great views of the Belgrade Lakes.

12. Farm Neck, Oaks Bluff, MA

Again, wish it wasn’t a tsunami when I played here.  Some very cool holes and beautiful ocean views.

13. Acushnet River Valley, Acushnet, MA

Totally a hidden gem; similar to Butter Brook with the two different nines.  Absolute steal at $63 for 18/cart on a weekend.

14. Equinox Country Club, Manchester, VT

Very scenic views of the green mountains.  Nice layout.

15. New England Country Club, Bellingham, MA

Old reliable.  Tricky greens and uneven lies can make it frustrating to most.

16. Franklin Country Club, Franklin, MA

With more familiarity, would most likely move up this list.  Caddies are now available.

17. The Ledges Golf Club, York, ME

This could also move up on this list with more rounds here.  18^th hole is a beast.

18. Red Tail, Devens, MA

Always in great conditions whenever I’ve played here.  Nice clubhouse overlooking 18^th green.

19. Norton Country Club, Norton, MA

Often overlooked by the other course in Norton, this is a golfer’s golf course.  Tight fairways and small greens.  Bring your A game.

20. Olde Scotland Links, Bridgewater, MA

Nice and wide open.  Very good value.

There you have it.  What did I miss?  What are your favorite courses?  Give me your thoughts in the comments.