Top 5 Public Golf Courses Within an Hour of Boston (Our Favorites)
Intro
New England is home to some of the most scenic public golf courses in the country. With over 300 public courses in Massachusetts alone, we set out to play and review the best public golf courses within an hour of Boston. Along the way, we felt a bit like Goldilocks—each course had its strengths and quirks...
🏌️♂️ What Makes a Great Public Golf Course?
We rated each course based on:
Course design and maintenance
Pace of play and player etiquette
Driving range or warm-up area
Helpful, knowledgeable staff
Travel time and traffic patterns
🥇 1. Waverly Oaks Golf Club – Plymouth, MA
Designer: Brian Silva | Par: 72 | Greens fee: ~$140
This beautifully maintained long course (7100 yards) offers a variety of holes and consistently high-quality play. Staff is exceptional—from the friendly starter Dan to the team cleaning your clubs at the end. Snack bar is easily accessible during your round.
Pro tip: Leave early to avoid Cape-bound traffic on your return.
🥈 2. Blackstone National Golf Club – Sutton, MA
Designer: Rees Jones | Par: 72 | Greens fee: Reasonable
Built into the natural surroundings, Blackstone is scenic and thoughtfully designed. It’s a solid 55-minute drive from Boston but worth it for a well-paced, etiquette-friendly round on a nicely maintained 6734 yard course.
🥉 3. Wachusett Country Club – West Boylston, MA
Designer: Donald Ross | Par: 72 | Greens fee: Budget-friendly
A classic Ross 6554 yard course with spectacular views and rolling blind shots. Fall is the best season here for foliage and faster play. The range and staff are less impressive, but the layout is memorable.
🏅 4. Kettle Brook – Paxton, MA
Designer: Brian Silva | Par: 72 | Greens fee: Budget-friendly
Challenging and long at 6912 yards, Kettle Brook is well worth the one-hour drive. You’ll find excellent staff and a great snack bar setup. The only downside: no driving range.
⭐ 5. Pine Hills Golf Club – Plymouth, MA
Designers: Rees Jones & Jack Nicklaus | Par: 72
Green fee: ~$165 (semi-private)
A premier experience. Two top-tier courses, Jones (7175 yards) and Nicklaus (7243 yards), full amenities, and excellent service. The only major con is the high price and the difficulty of getting early tee times as a non-member.
Make it a weekend: Consider staying at Miramar Hotel and dining at Rustic.
⛳️ What’s Next
In our next post, we’ll share our favorite public courses closer to downtown Boston, ideal for after-work rounds or early weekday tee times.