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Courses
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Holly Ridge Golf Club Set within a residential community on some 90 acres, Holly Ridge is an 18-hole, 2952- yard, par 54 public course designed by Geoffrey Cornish. The signature hole here is the seventh, which has a pond to avoid on your tee shot. The course has a driving range, practice green, carts, and pro shop as well as a restaurant and lounge (the Holly Ridge Grill). Holly Ridge is open year-round and offers an extensive lessons program. Reservations are accepted up to seven days in advance for tee times. Greens fees are $27 for 18 holes, $17 for 9. After 4 PM the fee drops to $17 for 18 holes. Carts are $10.50 per person per 18 holes and $3.50 for pull carts. Sandwich Hollows Gold Club Formerly Round Hill Country Club, and now owned and operated by the town of Sandwich, this club offers an 18-hole, par 71 course that reaches 6190 yards and a slope of 124 from the back tees. The 100-acre setting features views of Cape Cod Bay, and facilities also include a driving range, two practice greens, a clubhouse, and pro shop. The 420-yard, par 4 ninth hole forces you to hit into the prevailing wind to an elevated green. Carts are required, and it's not such a bad idea to ride rather than walk around this hilly course (formed of hollows left by a receding glacier). You can reserve a tee time by calling up to seven days in advance. Off-season, the rates usually drop to about half of what they are during the summer. The course is open year-round. Resident rates Monday through Thursday are $25 for 18 holes October through March, and $30 for 18 holes in season, April to October. On Fridays, weekends and holidays the fee is $32 off-season and $37 in season. Nonresident rates are $35 Mondays through Thursdays off-season and $40 in season; Fridays, weekends and holidays it's $42 off-season and $47 in season. Golf carts are mandatory on Saturdays, Sundays, and designated holidays from April to October. Golf cart fees are $24 for 18 holes. Woodbriar Golf Club Woodbriar is an attractive nine-hole public course that is open year-round and features lots of water. For 18, the course plays to a par 56 of about 2600 yards. The longest hole, and only par 4, is the 215-yard fifth hole, which has a stream to cross. Greens fees are very reasonable at $20 for 18 holes in season, $15 for 18 holes in the off-season. It has a practice green and offers food and drink inside the clubhouse. The scenic course is situated right next to the Coonamesset Inn (see our Restaurants chapter). Tee times are on a first-come, first-served basis. Cape Cod Country Club The big question at Cape Cod Country Club is, who actually designed this beautiful course? Originally designed by Devereaux Emmet and Al Tull, designers of the posh Wee Burn Country Club in Connecticut, as well as the Congressional Country Club outside D.C., the course is rumored to have been redesigned by noted architect Donald Ross; however, no one can prove this rumor. Meanwhile, this course sets up for everyone, good players and beginners alike. From the tips, this par 71 course measures a moderate 6400 yards with a slope of 120. There are several elevated greens on this layout, including the par 4 14th hole, where you'll feel like you're trying to land your approach on a mountaintop. A few feet left or right turns into several yards with a kick off the side of the hill. Cape Cod Country Club offers rental carts and equipment, a pro shop, and lunch counter. There is a practice green, and lessons are available. Fees are $38 on weekdays and $45 weekends for 18 holes. After 3 PM, rates go down to $22 weekdays and $28 weekends. Carts are $13 per person or $26 for 18 holes. Tee times are taken up to a week in advance, but groups of 16 or more can book up to a year ahead. The course is open year-round. Ballymeade Country Club Ballymeade opened in 1987 and immediately became known as one of the toughest layouts on the Cape. This semiprivate 18-hole course plays to a 139 slope of more than 6900 yards from its back tees. Ballymeade is obviously not a beginners' course, but the front tees do knock the course down to size for most high- and mid-handicappers. Ballymeade has hilly, rocky terrain, and narrow, tree-lined fairways. The panoramic views are stunning, especially from the par 3 11th hole, which is one of the highest points on Cape Cod and offers fantastic views of Buzzards Bay. Ballymeade is a spikeless course. Reservations for tee times can be made up to seven days in advance, and groups of 16 or more can book up to a year in advance. Greens fees in the summer, including mandatory carts, are $110 weekends and $75 weekdays. Off-season fees drop to $90 on weekends and stay at $75 weekdays. The course is open year-round and has a driving range and a putting green complete with a bunker so you can practice those pesky sand shots. Ballymeade also has PGA teaching pros and a fully stocked pro shop. Falmouth Country Club Falmouth Country Club is a 6535-yard, par 72, 18-hole course. It is open year-round and features a beautiful par 4 fourth hole with a pond guarding the front of the green. The course itself is wide open without many trees and is relatively flat, making it perfect for walkers and beginners. It also has a nice practice range, putting green, and pro shop and offers rental equipment and carts. Greens fees are $30 Monday to Thursday, $45 on Fridays, and $50 on weekends. Off-season rates drop to $20 for weekdays and $30 for weekends. Golf carts rent for $22. Tee time reservations can be made up to seven days in advance. Paul Harney Golf Club Owned and operated by the former PGA pro Paul Harney, this 18-hole executive course offers outstanding play with five par 4 holes and 13 par 3s, totaling some 3600 yards (par 59 if you're counting). The 16th hole is a par 3 with an elevated tee and a pond protecting the green about 230 yards from the tee. Those who frequently play this course note that if you stray, you'll end up in the trees. There are plenty of ways to get into trouble here, so you'll want to hit your shots long and straight. Greens fees are $30. Carts are $24. Weekends are busy and the course does not take reservations; still, it's a good idea to call ahead to see how long the wait might be. This course is open year-round and has a practice green to putt on while you wait for your tee time. Quashnet Valley Country Club Be sure to pack plenty of golf balls when you play Quashnet Valley. Water hazards in the way of rivers, cranberry bogs, and even wetlands come into play on 15 of Quashnet Valley's 18 holes. Set among picturesque bogs, this semiprivate par 72 plays 6600 yards from the back tees to a slope of 132. The course is a nature-lover's bounty, but can be a hacker's nightmare. If you play conservatively around the water hazards, you'll find smooth sailing on large greens and wide fairways. The sixth is a particularly demanding 430-yard par 4 that calls for your best drive and approach to a two-tiered elevated green with water on the right and woods on the left. The facilities include a pro shop, driving range, carts, and a practice green. Memberships are available for $2000. Carts are $14 for 18 holes and required on weekends from 9:30 AM to 3 PM. Greens fees are $32 Monday through Thursday for 18 holes; $16 for 9 holes, and on Fridays $40 for 18 and $20 for 9 holes. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays it's $55 for 18 holes and $28 for 9 holes. There is also a twilight fee: For play after 2:30 PM it's $24 Monday through Thursday, $28 Fridays, and $32 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The course is open year-round. Tee times are taken up to a week in advance, but if you prepay for a foursome, you can book six months out. Country Club of New Seabury The domain of the New Seabury resort, the Country Club of New Seabury is distinguished by its renowned championship Blue Course overlooking Vineyard Sound. Blue has long been considered one of the top 100 golf courses in the United States. Since it and its tamer sister, the Green Course, were built in the early 1960s, New Seabury has hosted a number of national and regional professional and amateur tournaments. Green is a good layout for a warm-up round or for the less adventurous. The Blue Course? Well, let's look at the numbers: 7200 yards from the tips, a slope of 130, and a course rating of 75.3 for the par 72. And many think the Blue Course plays even harder than those numbers. Most of the front nine on the Blue Course run along the coast, offering spectacular views and a fierce ocean wind. The signature hole is the second, a par 4 overlooking Vineyard Sound. The back nine is wooded and hilly, as is the 5986-yard, par 70 Green Course. Even on these inland holes, the ocean wind can howl and force some creative club selection. It's no wonder many compare New Seabury to California's Pebble Beach. New Seabury offers different greens fees per course, so we recommend that you check greens fees when making your reservation. The course is only open Monday through Thursdays for the general public. Fees vary from course to course: $150 weekdays for the Blue Course, $90 for the Green Course. In the off-season, New Seabury offer 8 different rates for greens fees. The best bet for getting a tee time in season is a stay-and-play package at the resort. Otherwise, tee times are only taken two days in advance. |
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Cotuit High Ground Golf Course If you're looking for an inexpensive round of golf, then throw your clubs in the car and head for the Cotuit High Grounds. Greens fees are $15 (and just $10 after 4 PM). Seniors and juniors pay under $10. This is a semiprivate, nine-hole, par 54 course. The 2580-yard layout is known for its small greens and narrow fairways. On the par 3 fifth hole, you'll need to make sure your drive clears the swamp, otherwise you'll be knee-deep in trouble. Open year-round, reservations are not required during the week; for a weekend tee time, plan on calling ahead during the week. A putting green and small pro shop are available, as well as pull carts and three or four riding carts. Individual memberships are available for $350. Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds Golf
Course Opened in 1992, this par 71 plays to 6503 yards and a slope of 123 from the tips. This is a generally flat course with difficult par 5s and tricky contoured greens. The 18th hole is a par 5 with a big holly tree in the middle that comes into play as you consider your second shot. Facilities include a fully stocked pro shop, a huge practice range, and putting green. Pull and motorized carts and rental clubs are available. Another nice feature is a full-service restaurant (Fairways Restaurant) where you can sit on the deck and watch biplanes and gliders take off and land at the small Cape Cod Airport across the street. The in-season fees are $45 during the week and $55 on the weekend in the summer, dropping to $32 and $35 respectively during the off-season. Carts are $26 for two. Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds is open year-round and reservations can be made anytime after January 1 for the calendar year if you plan on paying in advance, otherwise you can call up two days in advance. Hyannis Golf Club Hyannis Golf Club plays to a 6700-yard par 71 from its back tees, but wide fairways keep this course from turning into a monster. The second hole, a 420-yard par 4, is a local favorite that features a marsh before the elevated tee. (The marsh is particularly beautiful in autumn.) This fine course hosts the Cape Cod Open and the Canal Classic, two of the major golfing events on the Cape. Mickey Herron, the director of golf at the course, operates a golf school here. Amenities include a full pro shop, driving range, two putting greens, rental carts, and equipment. Greens fees range from $50 on weekdays and $60 on weekends, and carts are $15 for 18 holes. Reservations, which are accepted anytime, are recommended in the summer. On-site is the Iyanough Hills Food and Spirits restaurant. Sheraton-Hyannis Golf Course Golf Digest rated this course as the toughest par 54 on the Cape. The resort offers a picturesque 2621-yard, 18-hole course with five water holes. Play is excellent year-round. The third hole is considered the toughest on the course--the only way you'll ever make par is to hit straight as an arrow. The resort has two putting greens and a fully equipped pro shop with equipment and cart rentals. Greens fees range from $30 on weekdays to $33 on the weekends. After 3 PM rates drop to $17. Tee time reservations are advisable and can be accepted one month in advance. Memberships are available. Bayberry Hills Known as an excellent public course, this challenging, par 72 course has 18 holes, two practice greens, and a large driving range. Designed by Geoff Cornish and Brian Silva, Bayberry Hills goes from almost 7200 yards from the back "professional" tees to about 5300 yards from the front. Most players opt for the middle sets of tees, which feature a 125 slope and 119. Beware the par 4 fourth hole. Not only did Cornish and Silva hide the green below a hill, they also hid a water hazard! This course hosts about 45,000 rounds a year, even though it's closed December through March. Peak-season fees are $50 before 2 PM, $40 between 2 and 4 PM and $30 after 4 PM. Carts cost $27 for two people. Like Yarmouth's other town-owned course, Bayberry Hills accepts tee times no more than four days in advance unless you prepay, and you are strongly encouraged to prepay if you want a weekend morning time in the summer. Bass River Golf Course The signature hole on this appropriately named golf course is the sixth, a par 3 right on the tidal Bass River. In fact, if you are going west over the Bass River Bridge, look to your right and you can see the hole across the water. Views of scenic Bass River are just one of the nice things about this course, one of the busiest in Massachusetts. Playing to 6129 yards and a slope of 124 from the back, this par 72 hosts more than 65,000 rounds of golf a year. A fully stocked pro shop, snack bar, and practice green are additional amenities at this Donald Ross layout. This is a year-round course with summer rates in the area of $37 a round. Winter rates drop to about $30 from November through May ($17 after noontime--of course, the sun sets around 4:30 PM that time of year, so you may be able to squeeze in 18 if you move it along). Carts are $32. Bass River accepts tee times no more than four days in advance unless you prepay. Blue Rock A favorite of longtime Cape golfers, Blue Rock is rated one of the best par 3 golf courses in the Northeast. In fact, Golf Digest just honored Blue Rock as one of the top four par 3 courses in the country. Well designed and beautifully maintained, this public 18-hole, 2890-yard course is open year-round and has holes that range from 103 yards to 248 yards. There are a number of beautiful holes, many crossing a river that runs through the course. Both the 9th and the 18th require you to drive over the river to an elevated green. Facilities include two practice greens and a golf school run by award-winning PGA pro Bob Miller. The on-site Best Western Blue Rock Motor Inn (see our Hotels, Motels, and Resorts chapter), which is open from April to November, offers a number of play-and-stay packages. Summer greens fees are $35 on weekdays and $35 on weekends, with rates dropping to $24 after 4 PM. Only pull carts are available here, and tee times can be booked starting seven days in advance. You can book them further out if you pay a 50 percent deposit. Kings Way Golf Club A 4100-yard, well-trapped, 18-hole, par 59 executive course, Kings Way features an unlucky 13th hole--unlucky because the right side of the green is flanked by a smallpox cemetery bearing the stones of two 19th-century Yarmouth men who died of the disease. The 12-year-old semiprivate course is well maintained with flat fairways and rolling greens. The club offers a practice green, pro shop, lessons, equipment rentals, and a restaurant. Greens fees and carts are $45 in season and $40 off-season for 18 holes. Tee times are taken three days in advance. Kings Way, which offers 13 par 3 holes and five par 4s, is closed December 1 through March 15. Dennis Pines From the back tees, Dennis Pines is a tournament-caliber 7029 yards with a slope of 127. Don't fret though; the front tees chop off more than 1200 yards, making this par 71 suitable for many tastes. The narrow fairways at this year-round course emphasize accuracy off the tee. The 12th is a devilish par 5 dogleg left that can be tamed with a precise tee shot. Expect to use every club in your bag here, as the holes are a good mix of lengths. Water only comes into play on four holes. A giant pond sits between holes 10 and 11 and most would be advised to play a conservative iron off the tee on these holes. As Dennis Pines is one of the busiest Cape courses, you'll need to reserve tee times in season: The course takes them four days in advance, or six months in advance with prepayment. In the summer season, greens fees are $45. In the spring, fees Monday through Thursday dip to $35 and stay at $45 for the weekend. The fees drop further to $28 during the fall. You can play nine holes any time of the year after 3 PM for $25. Dennis Highlands Opened in mid-1984, Dennis Highlands has become a favorite among locals and tourists. Besides a solid 6464-yard layout from the back tees, this 18-hole par 71 offers a large two-tier practice range, a putting green, and a full pro shop. The 175 rolling acres are dotted with stands of pine and oak. The sixth hole, a tricky par 4, has a very difficult two-tiered green. Reservations are suggested during the summer/fall season; they are accepted up to four days in advance, or up to six months in advance if you are prepaying. In the summer, greens fees are $45. In the spring, fees for Monday through Thursday dip to $35 and stay at $45 for the weekend. They offer a 9-hole rate of $25 after 3 PM. Dennis Pines (see previous entry) and Dennis Highlands are both owned and run by the town of Dennis. Although the Pines is open year-round, the Highlands is closed from December through March.
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Cranberry Valley After 17 holes, you are faced with an interesting 18th at Cranberry Valley--a par 5 double dogleg right that looks like a bent-open horseshoe. This 18-hole championship layout, spread over rolling fairways fringed with pines and cranberry bogs, is the centerpiece of many golf vacations. The first three holes on the back side have water. Cranberry Valley features 6745 yards and a 129 slope from the back tees. But, like Dennis Pines, this course loses more than 1200 yards when you move to the front tees, making it suitable for many skill levels. On site are a driving range, putting green, and pro shop. Tee times are required in season and can be made up to 10 days in advance. Those who prepay can reserve a tee time after March 1 for the rest of the year. Clubs and cart rentals are available. Greens fees are $60 in season and $26 for a cart. Off-season greens fees for 18 holes drop to $45 weekdays and $55 weekends. The course is open year-round, but temporary greens are in effect from December through the beginning of March. Harwichport Golf Club This pocket-size course is a real charmer. Two laps around these nine holes will get you about 5076 yards and a par 68. It may be small, but it's not easy. There's plenty here to challenge you. For instance, the eighth hole is a par 4 dogleg left to a small green. Harwichport offers relatively flat terrain, and a flat greens fee structure as well. Fees are $25 for 18 holes and $15 for 9 during both summer and fall. This public course closes December 1 and reopens "sometime in the spring." Reservations are not needed; it's first come, first served. There are no riding carts here (they're not necessary), but there are plenty of pull carts available. There's a putting green and the most quaint clubhouse you'll ever lace up your golf shoes in. By the way, a membership costs $315. The Captain's Golf Course When The Captain's course opened in 1986, it immediately drew national praise when Golf Digest named it the best new public course. Open year-round, this par 72 features 6794 yards and a slope of 130 from the back tees. But The Captains drops 1300 yards when played from the front tees. Yet another challenging but accommodating course, the layout is well bunkered, and all the holes are named for Brewster sea captains. The 14th hole is a very difficult par 5 and is the only hole on the course with water, which must make its namesake Captain Myrick very happy. In season, greens fees are $40 and after 3 PM drop to $25. Off-season fees drop to $25 for 18 holes. Carts are $24. Tee times are required during holidays and weekends, and can be booked two days in advance or, with prepayment, two weeks or more. You can make tee time reservations and get course conditions by calling the automated message board at the above number. The course has a driving range, putting green, and pro shop. The Captains is closed during January and February. Ocean Edge Golf Club Avid golfers will relish the Ocean Edge Golf Club, which features a championship-style, 18-hole course sporting five ponds and 64 pot bunkers. Open all year long, the par 72 boasts 6665 yards and a slope of 129 from the back tees. The eighth is a 601-yard monster par 5 (don't leave anything in the bag off the tee on this one!). Ocean Edge is a spikeless course. Guests of Ocean Edge Resort can book a time up to a year in advance, otherwise Ocean Edge takes reservations a week in advance for Monday through Thursday play, and only two days in advance for weekends. The spectacular Ocean Edge Resort (see our Hotels, Motels, and Resorts chapter), which spans both the north and south sides of Mass. 6A in Brewster, features a driving range, two putting greens, and a fully stocked pro shop. Although the course is open to the public, resort guests receive preferred tee times. Greens fees (which include a cart) From October 16 to April 14, are $59.75 for 18 holes. April 15 to May 15 and September 15 to October 15, the cost is $59.75 Monday through Thursday and $79.75 on the weekend. During the peak season you'll pay $79.75 any day of the week for a round of 18 holes. Their four-day golf school is a great way to stay here and learn to play. Chatham Seaside Links Nestled among Chatham's beautiful oceanside community of historic houses and summer homes, the nine-hole Chatham Seaside Links offers an intimate golfing experience, as well as a great view of the Atlantic Ocean from the seventh green. At about 4800 yards for 18 holes, this par 34 hides its challenge in its tiny greens and strong ocean wind. The pro shop is open from April 1 to December 1, but the course itself remains open throughout the winter on the honor system--just slip $5 into the box and tee off for as many holes as you like. The course sits next door to the magnificent Chatham Bars Inn (see our Hotels, Motels, and Resorts chapter) and is often packed with guests. Greens fees are $15 for 9 holes, $24 for 18. Tee times are determined on a first come, first-served basis. There is a practice green at the course. Chequessett Yacht and Country Club Chequessett is a nine-hole gem hidden away in the charming town of Wellfleet on the Lower Cape. Bring a camera for the fourth tee's view of Wellfleet Harbor and Cape Cod Bay. The par 70 reaches 5168 yards for 18 from its back set of tees. Over the past few years, the club has put a lot into the course by creating new tees for a more interesting back nine and installing irrigation. Chequessett is a short, pretty course. On-site are a pro shop, putting green, and a clubhouse with a grill and snack bar. The course is open to the public from the second week of March through the end of November, and for the remainder of the year is available on the honor system ($10). Greens fees during the summer season are $27 for 9 holes and $40 for 18. Off-season rates go as low as $21 for 9 holes ($15 after 3 PM), and $34 for 18 holes. Tee times can be reserved up to three days in advance by phone between 4 and 7 PM. Highland Golf Links This is the granddaddy of all Cape courses, where winds offer as much challenge as the wild rough that accents the fairways. Founded in 1892, Highland is the oldest course on the Cape and one of the oldest in America. It takes 5299 yards to go around this nine-hole layout twice from the back set of tees. Highland has a modest difficulty rating with a slope of 103. But it's not the challenge that has earned this course a spot on golf itineraries for more than a century--it's the appeal of playing one of the few courses in this country that mirrors the rustic charm of the great links of Great Britain. Perched high along windswept bluffs overlooking the Atlantic, Highland is as natural as golf gets on this side of the ocean. The open fairways, deep natural rough and moorlands, wild cranberry, beach plum, and thicket, are reminiscent of the unkempt look of the Scottish links. At this truly special course, it is not uncommon to spot whales spouting in the Atlantic or fishing vessels fighting the waves as they make their way up and down the coast. From the course you can also view Provincetown's Pilgrim Monument. Standing tall between the seventh and eighth holes is Cape Cod Lighthouse (see our Attractions chapter's Close-up for more information on these landmarks), further adding to the unique environment of Highland. It's almost impossible to walk onto the course in the summer, but Highland has no limit as to how far in advance you can book a tee time. Greens fees are $16 for 9 holes and $32 for 18 holes. Carts are $22 for two golfers for 18 holes. Highland is open from April 1 to November 1, and club rentals are available. |
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