It may be the smallest state in New England, but Rhode Island takes a back seat to none of its five state-siblings when it comes to delving out big-league golf courses.
NEG’s list of the Top 10 Courses You Can Play in Rhode Island offers ten extraordinary tracts, including one which may be the very best in all of New England (more on that at a later date).
If you’re a fan of classic New England golf course architecture, Rhode Island’s got plenty of ’em, headlined by the Donald Ross-designed Triggs Memorial in Providence.
And how’s this for a diversified timeline? Starting in the 1920s, for six straight decades, into the 1970s, we have a course representing each decade – half of which were designed by legendary architect Geoffrey Cornish.
Now if you prefer the newer and more modern layouts, Rhode Island has those as well, starting with Newport National Golf Club, a Arthur Hills design that offers magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean and Sakonnet Passage.
Meadow Brook Golf Club (2010) is another recent design, and in fact is the newest on the list. Montaup Country Club, located in Portsmouth, is the oldest (1923).
Because our list is dominated by older, New England-style layouts, there are only two courses stretching over 7,000 yards – both designed after the turn of the century: Newport National (7,242) and Meadow Brook (7,468).
The much-improved Laurel Lane and the vastly-underrated North Kingstown Municipal Golf Club are the shortest tracts on the list, both measuring under 6,200 yards.
Weekend Golf Trip Tip
Montaup, Green Valley, and Newport National are three uniquely magnificent golf courses, all located within a 10-15 minute drive of each other on Aquidneck Island.
Book a couple of nights at one of the island’s many historic inns, and schedule a tee time at each (or a pair) of the championship courses, while enjoying the island’s many historic sights (Newport Mansions) and award-winning restaurants.
THE BEST YOU CAN PLAY IN RHODE ISLAND
Newport National Golf Club
324 Mitchells Ln, Middletown, Rhode Island 028042
Vitals: 18/72/7244
Designer: Arthur Hills, Drew Rogers (2002)
Web: NewportNational.com
Crystal Lake Golf Club
100 Broncos Highway, Mapleville, RI 02839
Vitals: 18/71/6349
Designer: Haward Morary (2003)
Web: CrystalLakeGolfClub.com
Triggs Memorial Golf Course
1533 Chalkstone Ave, Providence, Rhode Island 02909
Vitals: 18/72/6522
Designer: Donald Ross (1932)
Web: Triggs.us
Laurel Lane Country Club
309 Laurel Ln, West Kingston, Rhode Island 02892
Vitals: 18/71/6177
Designer: Unknown
Web: LaurelLaneCountryClub.com
Meadow Brook Golf Course
163 Kingstown Rd, Wyoming, RI 02898
Vitals: 18/72/7468
Designer: Rob Roy Rawlings (2010)
Web: MeadowBrookGolfRI.com
Green Valley Country Club
371 Union St, Portsmouth, Rhode Island 02871
Vitals: 18/71/6830
Designer: Manual Raposa (1957)
Web: GVCCRI.com
Exeter Country Club
320 Ten Rod Rd, Exeter, Rhode Island 02822
Vitals: 18/72/6921
Designer(s): Geoffrey Cornish (1964)
Web: ExeterCC.com
North Kingstown Municipal Golf Club
615 Callahan Rd, North Kingstown, Rhode Island
Vitals: 18/70/6161
Designer(s): Geoffrey Cornish (1946)
Web: NKGC.com
Cranston Country Club
69 Burlingame Rd, Cranston, Rhode Island 02921
Vitals: 18/71/6914
Designer: Geoffrey Cornish, Bill Robinson (1974)
Web: CranstonCC.com
Montaup Country Club
500 Anthony Rd, Portsmouth, Rhode Island 02871
Vitals: 18/71/6321
Designer: Unknown (1923), Roger Turcotte (1966)
Web: Montaupcc.com
