Massachusetts offers over 400 golf courses to play, with 7 of the layouts featuring regularly in the Top 100 USA Rankings.
The variety on offer will surely find favor with those venturing into the territory.
Selecting the top 10 golf courses in Massachusetts is no easy task and is subject to debate.
This task has been eased with a collaboration with TheGrint, our favorite mobile app that helps golfers track their handicap and stats. They have collected golf course reviews from millions of real golf rounds from real golfers.
Contents
- Best Golf Courses in Massachusetts
- Ranking in order 1 to 10
- 1. Eastwood Ho! Country Club
- 2. Turner Hill Golf and Racquet Club | Turner Hill
- 3. The International Golf Club | Oaks
- 4. Farm Neck Golf Club
- 5. Renaissance Golf Club
- 6. TPC Boston
- 7. Miacomet Golf Club | Miacomet
- 8. Pinehills Golf Club | Nicklaus
- 9. Pinehills Golf Club | Jones
- 10. Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club | Ocean Edge
- Other Courses Outside The Top 10
Best Golf Courses in Massachusetts
Ranking in order 1 to 10
- Eastwood Ho! Country Club
- Turner Hill Golf and Racquet Club | Turner Hill
- The International Golf Club | Oaks
- Farm Neck Golf Club
- Renaissance Golf Club
- TPC Boston
- Miacomet Golf Club | Miacomet
- Pinehills Golf Club | Nicklaus
- Pinehills Golf Club | Jones
- Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club | Ocean Edge
1. Eastwood Ho! Country Club
- Site Link
- Location: Chatham, Massachusetts.
- Par: 71
- Length: 5,884 meters off the Tips and 4,084 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
5 tee options available.
Signature Hole – Wow what a signature hole! The 140-meter par 3 15th is stunning. The hole runs along the bay and wind plays an important factor in club selection.
Hit it long and a lightning-quick putt awaits. Play short and a tricky sand or flop-shot is required.
Don’t be mesmerized by the view from the tee.
A strategist golfers delight. Each hole offers options off the tee in playing for position or laying up to a perfect distance.
Risk and reward holes aplenty, and the elevation changes and the wind factor require thought before selecting a club.
The course plays longer than the scorecard suggests due to all these factors.
2. Turner Hill Golf and Racquet Club | Turner Hill
- Site Link
- Location: Ipswich, Massachusetts.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,431 meters off the Tips and 5,630 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 399-meter par 4 17th is my choice of the signature hole and what a challenge!
A long dogleg right with water and trees on both sides of the fairway landing area, the approach shot is nerve-wracking.
Played to an undulating green over a brook, club selection is key to scoring par.
A golf course with very few weak holes, it features wetlands, trees, sand, and undulating fairways and greens.
Driving accuracy and well-executed “target golf” shots are rewarded and playing with a strategy will make for a great scorecard.
The 19th hole will be welcome after completing this round of challenging golf.
3. The International Golf Club | Oaks
- Site Link
- Location: Bolton, Massachusetts.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,347 meters off the Tips and 5,388 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – Unable to establish the signature hole, but using the index rating as a yardstick, the 490-meter par 5 8th is my selection.
Accuracy off the tee will allow the bold golfer to attack the green for 2.
Overlooks the lush Nashua River Valley and is expertly sculptured into the natural topography, with plenty of waste bunkers incorporated, to add to the challenge.
A good variety of holes that play to firm, fast greens, the Oaks course is routed alongside the Pines course in this 36-hole complex.
Must play both.
4. Farm Neck Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,229 meters off the Tips and 5,356 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 369-meter par 4 12th is my choice of signature hole and requires precision from tee to green.
A slight dogleg right requires a straight tee shot and then decision time. Go for the green over the water or layup short at the entrance to the green.
The 2-tiered green that slopes from back to front will test the skill with the “flat stick”.
Set on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, the scenery and views are spectacular throughout the layout.
The terrain has tree-lined fairways and water comes into play more often on the back 9, but the variety of holes, requiring strategic play from the tees, will test all skill levels.
The location of the course ensures that the wind will have its say during the round, but adds to the enjoyment and challenge.
Don’t under-estimate the course!
5. Renaissance Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Haverhill, Massachusetts.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,546 meters off the Tips and 5,846 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 338-meter drivable par 4 10th is my choice for the signature hole.
The tree-lined fairway has sufficient width to attack the punchbowl green.
The layup tee shot requires a semi-blind approach to the green.
Hit the “Big Dog” and smile.
The renaissance golf course is set in Merrimack Valley, and the many tree-lined fairways, with strategically placed bunkers, provide a true test of accuracy off the tee.
Some very tough, long par 4s will test all the clubs in the bag, and a few carries over water increase the challenge.
If the mid-irons and wedges are working a good score is possible.
6. TPC Boston
- Site Link
- Location: Norton, Massachusetts.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,637 meters off the Tips and 5,591 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 171-meter par 3 16th is the signature hole and one of the most difficult on the course.
Water runs down the left side off the tee and short of the green. A small green-side bunker protects the right.
Get the distance correct.
The revamped design in 2007 enhanced the overall challenge of the layout, with water cleverly brought into play.
Different strategies can be applied to the closing holes and birdie opportunities created.
An eagle on the last is not out of the question, but the greens are tough throughout the course and only the well-executed approach shots are rewarded.
7. Miacomet Golf Club | Miacomet
- Site Link
- Location: Nantucket, Massachusetts.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,298 meters off the Tips and 5,419 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 399-meter par 4 7th is the stroke 1 index and my choice as the signature hole.
It plays straight off the tee to a fairway that has sets of bunkers on both sides.
The hole then doglegs right for the approach shot to the well-protected bunkered green.
Good hole.
The course has undergone a few changes and a total revamp was completed in 2008 and it is the only public 18-hole course in Nantucket.
The playing conditions are reminiscent of any Scottish Links, with tall fescue, plenty of sand, and firm rolling fairways.
The bunkering configuration is magnificent.
The contoured greens allow for different approach shots to counter the wind.
8. Pinehills Golf Club | Nicklaus
- Site Link
- Location: Plymouth, Massachusetts.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,621 meters off the Tips and 5,602 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 159-meter par 3 7th hole is my signature hole and plays to a slightly raised green surrounded by tall trees.
Bunkers protect the green on both the left and right side and the tree shadows can make it difficult to judge the correct distance to the pin.
AS part of a 36-hole complex at Pinehills, the Nicklaus 18, with its fairly wide fairways, will be appreciated by the golfer who enjoys hitting the driver and attacking the course.
Shot variety is called for and rewarded when executed well.
Hazards are not too penal and water is not a dominant feature.
The green complexes are large and receptive.
9. Pinehills Golf Club | Jones
- Site Link
- Location: Plymouth, Massachusetts.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,559 meters off the Tips and 5,668 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – Unable to establish the signature hole, but the 408-meter par 4 3rd hole is my choice. It plays straight off the tee and the fairway is flanked by trees on either side and a bunker on the left. The 2nd is played downhill to a smallish green, protected by 2 bunkers on the right.
Fantastic hole.
The Jones course is fairly tough, but you get the feeling that it will not “beat you up”.
Undulating fairways, and left and right doglegs, offer some risk and reward challenges, but can also set up birdie opportunities.
A course that will reward accuracy.
10. Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club | Ocean Edge
- Site Link
- Location: Brewster, Massachusetts.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,409 meters off the Tips and 5,251 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
5 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 548-meter par 5 17th is the signature hole. Playing uphill the hole doglegs to the left and avoid the bunkers on the left side to set up the 2nd shot.
Whether attacking the green for 2 or laying up, the false front must be taken into the distance calculation.
A private course for members and their guests only or if you are staying on the premises.
A Jack Nicklaus revamp has improved the layout and the added bunkers and swails increase the challenge.
No gimmicky holes and the tricky greens add value to your round.
Other Courses Outside The Top 10
1. Taconic Golf Club | Taconic
- Site Link
- Location: Williamstown, Massachusetts.
PLAYER RATING
The front 9 is short and pretty and the golfer must capitalize to get a good score going.
The back 9 is longer and finishes with a memorable par 3.
2. Indian Pond Country Club
- Site Link
- Location: Kingston, Massachusetts.
PLAYER RATING
The course is set within a densely forested landscape and expect to play a variety of uphill and downhill shots.
3. Granite Links Golf Club at Quarry Hills | Granite / Milton
- Site Link
- Location: Quincy, Massachusetts.
PLAYER RATING
Built on an old granite quarry the 27-hole complex has some great holes.
The Granite/ Milton combination is the better layout.
Final Thoughts
Touring and playing the outstanding golf courses in Massachusetts is a golfer’s dream.
Expect to play within scenery that will make concentration through the round tough.
Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
