Top Maine Public Golf Courses

🏌️‍♂️ Top Maine Public Golf Courses (According to Wikipedia & Course Profiles)

Maine’s public golf courses offer a refreshing blend of rugged coastal views, tranquil forests, and classic New England charm. From oceanside links to mountain retreats, the Pine Tree State delivers quality golf experiences with a scenic backdrop. Many courses were crafted by notable designers and offer both affordability and challenge for locals and travelers alike.

1. Belgrade Lakes Golf Club – Clive Clark
   📍 Belgrade Lakes, ME
   🏞️ Set atop a ridge with panoramic views of the Belgrade Lakes
   🛠️ Modern design with rolling fairways, granite outcroppings, and pristine conditioning
   🏆 Regularly ranked among the top public courses in New England
   💲 High-end daily fee course
   🗒️ Course site

2. Sunday River Golf Club – Robert Trent Jones Jr.
   📍 Newry, ME
   ⛰️ Mountain golf at its finest, with dramatic elevation changes and forested terrain
   💧 Natural features like streams and ravines shape play
   🌲 One of Maine’s most scenic and challenging layouts
   💲 Public resort course
   🗒️ Course site

3. Kebo Valley Golf Club – Alex Findlay
   📍 Bar Harbor, ME
   📅 Established in 1888 – one of the oldest courses in the U.S.
   🌊 Nestled beside Acadia National Park with mountain and coastal views
   🏛️ Historic charm with classic design elements
   💲 Public, semi-private with daily fee access
   🗒️ Wikipedia | Course site

4. Nonesuch River Golf Club – Thomas Walker
   📍 Scarborough, ME (near Portland)
   🛠️ Links-style layout with generous fairways and wetlands
   💧 Nonesuch River meanders through the course, shaping play
   🧱 Good blend of strategy and playability
   💲 Affordable public play
   🗒️ Course site

5. Sugarloaf Golf Club – Robert Trent Jones Jr.
   📍 Carrabassett Valley, ME
   ⛰️ Alpine design winding through mountains and valleys
   🛠️ Narrow fairways, elevation, and natural hazards
   🎿 Ski resort course known for dramatic beauty
   💲 Public resort course
   🗒️ Course site

6. Fox Ridge Golf Club – Carol Myshrall Jr.
   📍 Auburn, ME
   🌲 Wooded layout with wide-open stretches and stone walls
   🏌️‍♂️ Modern design with nods to Maine’s natural terrain
   💲 Daily fee course with practice facilities
   🗒️ Course site

7. Sable Oaks Golf Club (Now The Downs Golf Club) – Brian Silva
   📍 South Portland, ME
   🛠️ Previously a championship-caliber course, now being reimagined under new ownership
   🌿 Parkland layout with mature trees and water
   💲 Daily fee and community-focused
   🗒️ Course site

8. Old Marsh Country Club – Brian Silva
   📍 Wells, ME
   🌊 Just inland from the southern Maine coast
   🛠️ Strategic bunkering and subtle green complexes
   🌾 Great walking course with peaceful setting
   💲 Public daily fee course
   🗒️ Course site

9. Cape Arundel Golf Club – Walter Travis
   📍 Kennebunkport, ME
   📅 Est. 1896; Presidential favorite (frequented by George H.W. Bush)
   🌅 Coastal riverside course with rolling terrain and small greens
   💲 Semi-private with public tee times
   🗒️ Wikipedia | Course site

10. Boothbay Harbor Country Club – Bruce Hepner (renovation)
    📍 Boothbay, ME
    💎 Upscale experience with recent renovations and modern amenities
    🌲 Routed through woods with refined features and lush conditions
    💲 Public resort access with tee times for non-members
    🗒️ Course site

🧠 Why These Courses?

• Scenic diversity: From coastal cliffs to mountain valleys

• Historic gems: Courses dating back to the 1800s

• Modern designs: By top architects like Trent Jones Jr. and Brian Silva

• Public-friendly: Many are daily fee or part of resort access