Cape Cod and the Islands have nearly three dozen public courses, offering a variety of options for every kind of player. There are scenic, seaside layouts and wooded, tree-lined courses; there are tough tests for the serious, single-digit golfer and more comfortable, playable places for weekend warriors, beginners or families.
The region is also rich in golf history, from one of the oldest courses in the country (Highland Golf Links in North Truro) to some of the most exclusive private clubs in the nation (John F. Kennedy called the Hyannisport Club home when he was president, and Thomas “Tip” O'Neill, the late speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, was a member at Eastward Ho! in Chatham.)
The player on a budget, or short on time, might want to consider the Par 3 courses at Blue Rock in South Yarmouth or Holly Ridge in South Sandwich. While every hole is a manageable par 3, you'll need to be accurate with your irons and have a steady putting stroke.
If you're looking for a championship challenge that will require shot-making with every club in your bag, Dennis Pines in South Dennis has been ranked among the best public courses in the state.
The islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket also have public treats worth savoring – Farm Neck on the Vineyard and Miacomet on Nantucket, to name two – and a leisurely ferry boat ride is a nice way to relax and prepare for a day on the links.
Because of the popularity of the game, it's advisable to plan ahead and call the local courses to arrange tee times. Many courses also offer reduced rates on weekdays or in the afternoon.
Local Golf Course Photo Galleries
Lower/outer cape: The Captains | Cranberry Valley | Highland Links
Midcape: Bass River | Bayberry Hills | Cotuit Highground | Dennis Highlands
Dennis Pines | Hyannis Golf Course | Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds
Upper cape: Ballymeade | Bay Pointe | Brookside | Cape Cod Country Club
Falmouth Country Club | Paul Harney | Quashnet Valley | Sandwich Hollows
CAPE COD & ISLANDS PUBLIC GOLF COURSES:
Length and slope rating from the white (or middle) tees
Gallery: Ballymeade Country Club
Ballymeade Country Club, semi-private, Route 151, North Falmouth, 508-540-4005
Par: 72; 6,055 yards
Course rating: 70.6
Slope: 131
Gallery: Bass River Golf Course
Bass River Golf Course, public, High Bank Road, South Yarmouth, 508-398-9079
Par: 72; 6,129 yards
Course rating: 69.7
Slope: 127
Gallery: Bayberry Hills Golf Club
Bayberry Hills Golf Course, public,635 West Yarmouth Road, West Yarmouth, 508-394-5597
Par: 72; 6,087 yards
Course Rating: 68.6
Slope: 115
Gallery: Bay Pointe
Bay Pointe Country Club, public, Onset Avenue, Onset, 508-759-8802
Par: 70; 5,720 yards
Course rating: 68.6
Slope: 120
Blue Rock Par 3 Golf Course, public, High Bank Road, South Yarmouth, 508-398-9295
Par: 54; 2,563 yards
Course rating: 56.4
Slope: 83
Gallery: Brookside Golf Club
The Brookside Club, public, Route 28, Bourne, 508-743-4653
Par: 70; 5,814 yards
Course rating: 68.1
Slope: 124
Gallery: Cape Cod Country Club
Cape Cod Country Club, public, Theatre Drive, Hatchville, 508-563-9842
Par: 71; 6,018 yards
Course rating: 69.6
Slope: 125
Gallery: The Captains Golf Course
The Captains Golf Course, public, Freeman's Way, Brewster, 508-896-5100
Starboard Course:
Par: 72; 6,198 yards
Course rating: 69.4
Slope: 123
The Captains Golf Course, public, Freeman's Way, Brewster, 508-896-5100
Port Course:
Par: 72; 6,164 yards
Course rating: 70.7
Slope: 128
Chatham Seaside Links, public, Seaview Avenue, Chatham, 508-945-4774
Par: 34; 2,190 yards (nine holes)
Course rating: 65.6
Slope: 107
Chequessett Yacht and Country Club, semi-private, Chequessett Neck Road, Wellfleet, 508-349-3704
Par: 70; 5,288 yards
Course rating: 66.1
Slope: 107
The Club at Yarmouthport (formerly Kings Way Golf Club), private, off Route 6A, Yarmouthport, 508-362-8870
Par: 60; 3,629 yards
Course rating: NA
Slope: 94
Gallery: Cotuit Highground Country Club
Cotuit Highground Golf Course, public, Crockers Neck Road, Cotuit, 508-428-9863 Par: 28; 2,490 yards (nine holes)
Course rating and slope: NA
Gallery: Cranberry Valley Golf Course
Cranberry Valley Golf Course, public, Oak Street, Harwich, 508-430-7560
Par: 72; 6,142 yards
Course rating: 70.1
Slope: 128
Gallery: Dennis Highlands
Dennis Highlands Golf Course, public, Old Bass River Road, Dennis, 508-385-1554
Par: 71; 6,076 yards
Course rating: 68.5
Slope: 117
Gallery: Dennis Pines Golf Course
Dennis Pines Golf Course, public, Route 134, East Dennis, 508-385-8347
Par: 72; 6,157 yards
Course rating: 71.0
Slope: 127
Falcon Golf Course (formerly Otis Golf Club), open to anyone with a pass that confirms active or retired military status, Air Station Cape Cod, 508-968-6453
Par: 72; 6,012
Course rating: NA
Slope: 113
Gallery: Falmouth Country Club
Falmouth Country Club, public, 630 Carriage Shop Road, East Falmouth, 508-548-3211
Par: 72; 6,227 yards
Course rating: 70.9
Slope: 124
Farm Neck Golf Club, semi-private, County Road, Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, 508-693-3057
Par: 72; 6,301
Course rating: 70.5
Slope: 133
Gallery: Paul Harney Golf Club
Paul Harney Golf Club, public, Route 151, East Falmouth, 508-563-3454
Par: 60/61; 3,586 yards
Course rating: 58.9
Slope: 91
Harwich Port Golf Club, public, Forest Street, Harwich Port, 508-432-0250
Par: 34; 2,533 yards (nine holes)
Course rating and slope: NA
Gallery: Highland Links Golf Course
Highland Links, public, Highland Light Road, North Truro, 508-487-9201
Par: 70; 5,299 yards
Course rating: NA
Slope: 109
Holly Ridge Golf Club, Country Club Road, South Sandwich, 508-428-5577
Par: 54; 2,952 yards
Course rating and slope: NA
Gallery: Hyannis Golf Course
Hyannis Golf Club, public, Route 132, Hyannis, 508-362-4551
Par: 71; 6,002 yards
Course rating: 70.1
Slope: 124
Miacomet Golf Club, public, 12 W. Miacomet Ave., Nantucket, 508-325-0333
Par: 72; 6,167 yards
Course rating: 69.5
Slope: 118
Mink Meadows Golf Club, semi-private, Franklin Street, Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard, 508-693-0600
Par: 71; 6,217 yards
Course rating: NA
Slope: 126
Gallery: Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds
Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds Golf Course, public, Route 149, Marstons Mills, 508-420-1141
Par: 71; 6,113 yards
Course rating: 69.7
Slope: 124
Gallery: Quashnet Valley Country Club
Quashnet Valley Country Club, public, Old Barnstable Road, Mashpee, 508-477-4412
Par: 72; 6,159 yards
Course rating: 69.8
Slope: 129
Gallery: Sandwich Hollows Golf Club
Sandwich Hollows Golf Club, public, Round Hill Road, East Sandwich, 508-888-3384
Par: 71; 5,915 yards
Course rating: 68.8
Slope: 120
Siasconset Golf Club, private, Milestone Road, Nantucket, 508-257-6596
Par: 70; 5,086 yards
Course rating: 68.2
Slope: 113
Twin Brooks Golf Course (at the Resort & Conference Center at Hyannis), resort course, West End Circle, 508-862-6980
Par: 54; 2,621 yards
Course rating: NA
Slope: 82
Read Walter Bingham's weekly golf column and view photo galleries of Cape Cod golf courses at www.capecodonline.com/golf