Rhode Island

Map of Rhode Island

Rhode Island, the Ocean State, or Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, as the state is formally known, has the city of Providence as the state capital. Providence was so named by religious exile Roger Williams because he considered the area a heavenly place to settle way back in the early 17th century. Rhode Island is not only New England’s smallest state but also the most diminutive of the USA’s fifty states.

But, considering its modest size and cold climate, Rhode Island packs a powerful golfing punch. With nearly fifty clubs affiliated to the Rhode Island Golf Association and numerous Golden Age classics – many designed by Donald Ross – the travelling golf course aficionado should overlook Rhode Island at their peril.

In Rumford you’ll find one of Donald Ross’s favourite New England designs at Wannamoisett Country Club. Routed across a compact site with only one par five on the card, Wannamoisett is the quintessential classic. Arguably the best golf course Rhode Island can offer was inaugurated in 1894 at Newport. Newport Country Club was one of the original five founding member clubs of the United States Golf Association, but the modern upstart at Westerly, Shelter Harbor, takes our top honors.

Our Rhode Island Best In State Rankings were last updated in August 2018. Click the link to read the story.

Top 100 Golf Courses - Rhode Island

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Shelter Harbor

1^st

The Shelter Harbor Golf Club course was unveiled in 2005 and this modern layout is a Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry production that’s characterised by its rough-edged, bearded bunkers.

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Wannamoisett

2^nd

Wannamoisett Country Club is home to a classical Donald Ross jewel set in the middle of New England. Considered to be one of Ross’s favourite designs, the par 69 layout is routed across a meagre 104 acres.

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Newport Country Club

3^rd

Newport Country Club is private, exclusive and also one of the original five founding member clubs of the United States Golf Association.

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Rhode Island

4^th

Host to the 2011 US Women’s Amateur, Rhode Island Country Club is routed across a diverse landscape of parkland, woodland and wetlands, ending with four holes that wind around Narragansett Bay.

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Newport National

5^th

Arthur Hills and his associate Drew Rogers tamed close to 200 acres of trees and shrubs when routing the Orchard course at Newport National Golf Club through a former nursery.

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Sakonnet

6^th

The 18-hole layout at Sakonnet Golf Club dates back to 1922 when Donald Ross added nine new holes to nine that already existed. A Gil Hanse renovation in 2004 added more than 400 yards in length.

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Warwick

7^th

Established in 1924, Warwick Country Club lies on the shores of Narragansett Bay, with views of the estuary available from every single hole on the scorecard.

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Wanumetonomy

8^th

Founded in 1922 and designed by Seth Raynor, Wanumetonomy Golf & Country Club is set close to Narragansett Bay and it’s one of only a few courses in the US with a view of the ocean from every hole.

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Misquamicut

9^th

With several fairways routed close to tidal ponds next to the Atlantic shoreline, the 18 holes at The Misquamicut Club extend to only 6,214 yards, making this a short, but very sweet, Donald Ross golf course.

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Metacomet

10^th

Metacomet Country Club was founded in 1901 and Donald Ross routed the course across 105 acres of undulating terrain. Overlooking Narragansett Bay, its modest yardage belies its classic challenge.

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