(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont)
I’m including New York and New Jersey in this list, so it’s more of the northeast corner of the country until I can play more states along the Eastern Seaboard. Still, everything I have played in this region has been pretty great. The prices are up there, but I picked some of the best courses to play in each state.
I might get shot for not ranking Bethpage Black number one. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an amazing course and an absolute must-play bucket list experience to take on that beast. Yet, it’s not a course I’d want to play every day, whereas Lake of Isles North is just one that I really connected with on a personal level. So, it gets my top spot. That said, there isn’t such a thing as a “bad” course on this list. They are all pretty great in their own ways.
These are based on my impressions of the overall design, scenery and relative value combined with more measurable elements such as conditioning, facilities and customer service (taking into account my personal experience(s) at the course and general word-of-mouth).
- Lake of Isles (North Course) • North Stonington, CT
- Bethpage State Park (Black Course) • Old Bethpage, NY
- Okemo Valley Golf Club • Ludlow, VT
- Portsmouth Country Club • Greenland, NH
- Newport National Golf Club (The Orchard Course) • Middletown, RI
- Taconic Golf Club • Williamstown, MA
- Sable Oaks Golf Club • Portland, ME
- Neshanic Valley Golf Course • Neshanic Station, NJ