Cape Cod, Where Golf Never Ends

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Cape Cod, Massachusetts offers golfers a chance to enjoy the game near the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Temperatures on the peninsula say mild well into autumn and the courses are in great shape thanks to cooler nights.

From championship 18-hole layouts, resort courses and charming, old nine-hole tracks, The Cape offers myriad golf options. Rom sweet nine-hole layouts to 18-hole “championship” courses, Cape Cod has great golf located within an hour or so drive of one another. Plus, the Cape’s courses will remain open year-round weather permitting.

When not golfing, you can get away from it all on the beaches, hiking trails, and shopping in cozy villages. Check out the numerous seafood restaurants and lobster shanties, where you can sample freshly-caught seafood and enjoy a beverage while sitting on a picnic table and gazing out into a harbor or the rolling ocean waves.

The National Seashore that is located on the tip of the Cape features a very informative visitor’s center, as well as a number of wildlife sanctuaries for walking and biking and unfettered strolls along the beach. And it’s easy to find suitable accommodations, whether it is on the ocean or bay side of The Cape, a posh hotel in Chatham or a weathered cottage in the dunes in Wellfleet.

Thanks to Golfing Magazine’s comprehensive Course Play Stimulus Program, our subscribers can try out a number of courses on Cape Cod. Check out the details of this can’t miss offer in this issue. Call 860-563-1633, or visit www.FreeGolf.net to sign up.

Here are some courses to play on your Cape Cod road trip.

Blue Rock Golf Course in South Yarmouth, MA is a beautiful, well-manicured par-3 in the middle of the Cape. It will change your mind about how you feel about short courses because of the superb quality and challenges you experience when you play there.

Blue Rock Golf Course

The course has received local recognition over the past few years for its great experience, quality, and playability. Blue Rock has been voted “Best Golf Course on Cape Cod” five years in a row by readers of the Cape Cod Times. In 2024, it was voted best Mid-Cape golf course by the readers of Cape Cod Life, and was ranked as a top 5 par-3 course by www.golfspan.com.

The top handicap hole is number, playing at a robust 255 yards from the tips. Hole number 9 is rated one of the Cape’s Top 18 holes, playing 170 yards from the back markers. The hole requires the experienced player to navigate a well-placed tee shot over water to a large, undulating kidney shaped green. Par on this hole is a great score.

Blue Rock offers everything a golfer would want for a trip to the Cape: an all-grass driving range with multiple targets, two putting greens, a chipping green, and a quaint pro shop stocked with gear, equipment, drinks, and snacks. They also offer memberships, private lessons, clinics, golf schools, and leagues.

The course was designed by Geoffrey Cornish in 1962 and is locally owned by Davenport Companies. I had the pleasure of meeting the Director of Communication, Matt Pitta, who highlighted the course’s history and charm. From my pre-round range session and chipping practice to grabbing snacks/drinks at the turn, to finishing with a delicious meal on the patio,I had a great time, and this is why Blue Rock is a must-visit course for any New Englander.

The course is a typical Cornish design, utilizing the natural landscape to weave the course through hills, trees, and a long, narrow pond. Blue Rock has four sets of tees with the white tees playing at 2520 yards for a par of 54. Most of the holes range from 88-170, except for hole #5 which is a loooong 240 yards.

Dennis, Massachusetts boasts two championship-caliber courses that will challenge your game and your mental toughness. The Pines and The Highlands are more than just fairways and greens; they’re experiences crafted for golfers of all levels.

Both courses are meticulously manicured by a dedicated team. From the moment you tee off, you’ll be immersed in lush fairways that cradle your drives. The greens are cut tight, ensuring a consistent roll on every putt. And let’s not forget the breathtaking Cape Cod scenery that serves as the ultimate backdrop to your round at both courses.

The Pines is a true test of accuracy. Towering pines guard its narrow fairways, demanding precision from tee to green. There are a lot of trees but they are spread out so you can find your wayward tee shot and still be able to put it back in play. The front-9 has some subtle doglegs that create the need for some shot-shaping off the tee. The par-3s on the front are basic layouts with greens guarded by bunkers.

Dennis Pines
Dennis MA

The back-9 is where legends are made – prepare to navigate treacherous doglegs and a monster par-5 that will test your nerves. Their version of the ‘Amen Corner’ is holes 10, 11, and 12. These three holes can make or break your round if you’re not careful. Holes 10 and 11 are both doglegs right that form a ying-yang layout around a pond. Tee shots need to avoid the water on the right side of the fairways to have a chance at par. Hole 10 has a wide downhill fairway, but an uphill approach shot to the green. Hole 11 is the opposite as you make your way around the pond. This fairway is a little narrower and plays uphill so you need to give it some muscle. Then you have a downhill shot to the green. After those you get to #12. This is a boomerang shaped hole where the ideal landing area from the tee is around 180 yards. Oh ya…and the fairway is very narrow with a huge ridge running down the middle of it that tilts from right to left.The people in the pro shop told me to play this hole backwards. Hit iron off the tee then hybrid/wood for your second shot. If you make it through these three holes without ripping up your scorecard then you will coast to the finish line.

The Highlands offers a more open layout but don’t be fooled – its subtle slopes and elevation changes will keep you on your toes. Most of the fairways have undulations and tiers that can roll your ball right or left. What sets this course apart from others on the Cape is the greens. There are a variety of false-fronts, slopes, and tiers you must deal with once you make it on the dance floor so it’s tough to two-putt here confidently.

Dennis Highlands
Hole-2

Hole 6 is the #1 handicap, and for good reason. You hit your tee shot uphill to a bulge in the fairway at about 220 yards. Your approach shot is then 185 yards even more uphill to the green. The hill is so steep you can’t see the surface of the green and have to hope you hit it the right distance. Hole 7 is a nice par-3 after the treacherous 6th, but it has a steep ridge running through the middle of it, severing the green into two tiers. If you are not on the same tier as the pin you will have trouble making par. Hole 13 was a real challenge because the green slopes from back to front with a huge hump in the middle. It is also a false front so if you hit it short or put spin on it, it’s rolling back towards the fairway.

After conquering the course, reward yourself at the Par Bar (Pines) or The Eagles Nest (Highlands). Enjoy savory sandwiches and ice-cold beverages inside near the bar or outside on the patios. The restaurants are both run by Joel Finne, and offer similar menus with many high quality options for breakfast and lunch.

Due to the fact that winters are relatively mild on the Cape, both courses stay open year round for play.

The Captains Golf Course

The Captains Golf Course in Brewster, MA is home to two championship level courses in the heart of Cape Cod. The Port and The Starboard courses are 18-hole layouts that provide fantastic golf and beautiful scenery for golfers of all skill levels. The courses were designed by the iconic Cornish, Silva & Mungeam team, and the layouts on each showcase their creativity and ability to shape the holes around the natural habitat.

The Port Course plays to a yardage of 6,724 yards and has a slope of 131 and a rating above its posted par of 72, which gives an indication of the difficulty of some of the holes. One of the best holes is the 573-yard, par-five eighth. A pond guards the putting surface and there are several large fairway bunkers to complicate matters.

The Starboard Course plays around 6,800 yards and has a slope of 122. It’s a bit more “player friendly” than its sister layout, with wider fairways, large greens, and fewer bunkers than the Port Course, which makes it more suitable for mid- and higher handicap players. Number 18 is a great finishing hole, a 534-yard par-five that can be reached in two by big hitters.

Kings Way Golf Club in Yarmouth Port, MA is an amazing course located in the middle of Cape Cod. As an executive course situated within a community of townhomes, it offers golf, tennis and walking trails. The course is designed to provide a quick, challenging round for a memorable experience.

Designed by renowned golf architect Brian Silva, golfers can see his characteristic layout patterns throughout. You can expect to make intriguing shot selections, see cleverly placed bunkers, and enjoy a course that encourages you to play strategically. It plays at just under 4000 yards and is a par 60, and designed for efficiency and fun. The course has three par-4s and one par-5 and the rest are par-3s. It is a great opportunity to play a full round of golf that won’t take up half of your day. It is located just off route 6, right before the major traffic backs up when going to the Outer Cape.

King’s Way Golf Club

Despite being an executive course, Kings Way has some teeth! It is full of short holes that present a lot of challenges. The sand bunkers are huge, and the greens are lightning fast. If you think you can get out of there under par because it is so short, think again. This collection of par-3s will test your golf shot and your mental toughness. There is no letting up as you deal with huge elevation changes from tee to green.

You will use every club in your bag as the par-3s range from 145-200 yards. The par-4s and reachable par-5 will likely require a driver off the tee. The true test of this course, and any par 3, is that you have little margin for error. If you miss a green, then you must chip it close to save par. You don’t have the luxury of correcting an errant tee shot with a great approach. I played the course right at my handicap of +11 for a 71. There were some shots that I left out there and a few lost balls, but I had a great time trying to navigate the natural contours of this classic Cape Cod layout.

It is a shorter course that provides a fast round, but the draw of Kings Way is its variety. You could play there two days in a row and shoot completely different scores. The sloped greens, huge bunkers, and drastic elevation changes will present a new challenge each time you play. The complexities combined with the overall quality of the course are why you should take the trip to Yarmouth Port.

Looking for lodging during your stay? The Aiden by Best Western hotel, managed by Brenda Smith, is conveniently located in Yarmouth on Route 28. Rates are very reasonable and include a continental breakfast for their guests. The rooms are spacious and clean. Stay and Play golf packages are available. Check their website (https://www.bestwestern.com/aiden/west-yarmouth) for more information.

Want lunch or dinner at a true Cape Cod local landmark? Try Captain Parker’s Pub (www.captainparkers.com) in West Yarmouth. They are known for their creamy New England style clam chowder and fish sandwiches. The fish and chips were outstanding as well. They offer a full bar menu and local craft beers for the thirsty traveler.

The Red Cottage Restaurant is an award-winning spot nearby that has smalltown diner vibes but a huge selection of authentic flavor. Recently named it the best breakfast restaurant in Cape Cod in 2024 by Tastingtable.com, The Red Cottage Restaurant serves up classic favorites as well as creative combinations. It’s a great spot to enjoy a hearty breakfast of thick bacon, eggs, and hand cut home fries. Or if you didn’t have enough lobster at Blue Rock, you can try their lobster benedict. Either way, grab a seat at the counter and enjoy this unique throwback diner.

Skipper Chowder House is another spot for local seafood and American cuisine. Yes, this is the Cape so of course I am going to highlight where you can get the freshest seafood. They have traditional seafood dishes like steamers, fried clams, and stuffies but what you really need to try is the “Fried” Clam Chowder. Or chowdah as they say on the Cape. It is six mini chowder cakes deep fried in a panko breadcrumb crust served with breadcrumbs on the side.

The Summer Shanty is located at the Bass River Marina. This is the place to go for waterfront dining after a day on the golf course. They have signature cocktails to enjoy with your locally sourced meal. The menu includes raw bar options, tons of fresh seafood, lobster 5 different ways, appetizers, sandwiches, and even rice bowls. They also claim to have the best view for sunsets and a great music scene. The Summer Shanty combines everything you want on a summer night on the Cape.

Thanks to Golfing Magazine’s comprehensive Course Play Stimulus Program, our subscribers can try out a number of courses on Cape Cod. Check out the details of this can’t miss offer in this issue. Call 860-563-1633, or visit www.FreeGolf.net to sign up.