A marvelous blend of championship courses, rugged links, and beginner-friendly layouts makes the Cape a great golf destination. In fact, only Florida, California, and Myrtle Beach have more golf courses per capita than Cape Cod. Additionally, golfers on the Cape can enjoy their sport in any season. The weather here--warm ocean temperatures moderate the climate--keeps many of the golf courses open all year.

The majority of the Cape's courses are located between the Cape Cod Canal and Brewster. Once you venture past Brewster, you will find only nine-hole offerings.reachThese are on the Cape's elbow: Chatham's Seaside Links, the course at Wellfleet's Chequessett Yacht and Country Club, and Truro's Highland Links. These short courses are great stops for families and beginners searching more for scenery than forced carries over water hazards, and all three of these nine-hole courses offer spectacular ocean views, especially Highland Links.

You'll encounter a full variety of conditions and hazards on the Cape. From the wide fairways of Falmouth Country Club to the tree-lined routing of Dennis Pines, and from the 64 pot-bunkers of Ocean Edge to the postage-stamp greens of Bass River Golf Course, golf course architects seem to have thrown a bit of everything at the golfer. Water hazards may include Vineyard Sound, Bass River, or even the Atlantic Ocean. A hook may land you in a conservation area; a slice may send you into a pine forest. You may even find yourself chipping out of a smallpox cemetery, as you may at Kings Way. Of course, the most prevalent hazard on the Cape is the wind. What might play as a seven-iron one day turns into a two-iron with a shift of the wind.

On paper, the back tees at Falmouth's Ballymeade Country Club appear to be the toughest public layout on the Cape, but most local players consider New Seabury's Blue Course the Cape's best challenge, in part because of the ocean wind on its front nine. Other courses that will satisfy golf masochists include Bayberry Hills, Quashnet Valley Country Club, Cranberry Valley, Dennis Pines, Ocean Edge, and The Captains' Course. All these tracts have USGA slopes of about 130 from the back tees. (The slope system reflects a course's difficulty, measuring from 55 for the easiest to 155 for the hardest, with a course of average difficulty scoring 113.) Most beginners and casual players won't want to venture too far into the 120s. But that's the beauty of Cape courses--they all offer tees of varying lengths and slope ratings. In many cases, there are more than 1200 yards (not to mention several slope rating points) difference between the front and back tees at these top-ranked tracks. No matter what your ability might be, both you and your playing partners can enjoy the same course.

The Cape's golf landscape varies greatly from course to course. From the manicured look of Ocean Edge to the unkempt and unirrigated cliff-top venue of Truro's Highland Links, the Cape golfer can experience a wide spectrum of conditions. You can play a different course every day and never face the same shot twice.

The best season for Cape golf is the fall when the crowds have cleared, leaving open tee times and uncrowded courses. Many layouts drop their rates after the summer season, and the temperatures dip to a more comfortable 60 to 70-degree range after the heat of the summer. New England golfers also recognize that fall is the prime time for course conditions as the turf springs back from the summer traffic. And don't forget the foliage, too--inland courses, such as Kings Way Golf Club, burst into color in mid- to late-October.

Eighteen of the Cape's courses are open year-round, and some of the smaller courses have "honor play" during the winter months, meaning that you can slip a five or ten dollar bill into a slot at the clubhouse and shoot as many holes as you're in the mood for.

While several golf course architects, including the renowned Donald Ross, have left their mark on the Cape, Geoffrey Cornish and his partner Brian Silva dominate the list of designers. But even though this duo, as individuals or as a team, are responsible for eight of the Cape's layouts--including that of the new Cape Cod National Golf Club (see our Golf Vacation Close-up)--there has been no cookie-cutter approach here.

State and national amateur and professional championships, as well as regional tournaments, are held on Cape Cod. Mashpee's Willowbend Country Club, a private course, sponsors the annual Children's Charity Pro-Am, attracting such pros as Greg Norman, John Daly, Brad Faxon, Nick Faldo, and Vicki Goetze (see our Annual Events and Sports and Recreation chapters for more details on the event).

While the Cape might not enjoy the same reputation as the West Coast or the South, it nonetheless has made its mark on the golf world. Cape Codders Paul Harney, Carri Wood, Sally Quinlan, Jim Hallet, and John Curley have all played on the professional tours. The Cape is also home to some great local golf schools. The best time to take advantage of these packages is in the shoulder season, especially in the spring when the courses and resorts are looking for business and you'll be looking to get your game in shape.

Driving ranges can be found at about half the Cape's courses and at dedicated facilities such as the Longest Drive in Dennis or T-Time in Eastham (see individual Driving Range listings in this chapter). Town-owned courses such as Cranberry Valley in Harwich and Bass River and Bayberry Hills in Yarmouth offer relatively inexpensive memberships to town residents, and many courses feature free or inexpensive golf clinics during the summer.

And if you yearn for a view of the first tee from your own backyard, the Cape is home to several golfing communities where luxury homes and condominiums line the fairways and greens (see our Real Estate chapter).

Since its beginnings more than a century ago on the oceanside links of Truro, the game of golf on Cape Cod and the Islands has become a way of life for most Cape Codders. No longer a game just for the country club wealthy, golf is for everyone, and the nearest thing on the Cape to a year-round sport. In the sections that follow, we describe some of Cape's best golf courses open to the public. Most of the courses are available for year-round play, and each offers its own unique personality. Each of the courses offers full pro shops and lessons. Make sure that you plan ahead, though. In-season tee times can be a rare commodity, and many golf courses only take tee times a few days in advance. But if you are willing to prepay, several courses will take tee times many months ahead.

One thing we can't overlook. Though we have done our best to give you the most up-to-date greens fees for 18 holes, 9 holes, and the charge for a cart, fees are subject to change. We advise you to confirm the fee when making a reservation.

Enjoy yourself, and never forget the fundamental rule of a golf vacation--a lousy day of golf is always better than a great day at work!