Golfing on Cape Cod

Spring and summer provide never-ending days for hitting the links, and autumn reigns supreme for some Cape Cod golfers.

Picture this… the crisp sound of a club face contacting the golf ball with no grass in between. The muted “thunk” of a well-played bunker shot. The soft, little plunk heard from the fairway when an approach shot lands on the green. The clatter of clubs in the bag bumping along the fairway, a practiced cadence of leisure on the move. There is the silence that follows a shot from the woods, the audio proof that your ball escaped without striking a tree. There is the sound of surprised, astonished laughter when you sink a 60-foot putt over hill and dale. [12 Reasons Golf is the Greatest by Bill Pennington]

Here are our staff picks for 6 Golf Courses open to the public:

Chequessett Yacht & Country Club | Wellfleet

CYCC is a semi-private country club located in the fishing village of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, on picturesque Cape Cod. Our 9 hole golf course has two sets of tees for 18 hole play. Located on 105 acres adjacent to the Cape Cod National Seashore, the course delights players with its spectacular views of undeveloped woodlands, Wellfleet Harbor and the lovely Herring River. The golf course boasts numerous water hazards, small undulating greens and is well bunkered making it a unique Cape Cod experience! [Cape Cod Chamber]

Dennis Pines Golf Course |Dennis

(508) 385-8347 :: @GolfDennis

Dennis Pines Golf Course, an impeccably groomed muni, is one of two tracks owned by the town of Dennis and one of the longest golf courses on the cape at more than 7,000 yards. Designed by Henry C. Mitchell (1966), it is diabolically tight, cut through a forest of twisting scrub pines and oak. Nothing is slick or contrived. Fairways rise and fall over the natural contour of the terrain, while the medium-sized greens and bunkers are more subtle than dramatic. There are some blind drives along with lake-hugging fairways like the 11th hole, a dogleg right that snakes along a small lake down to the green. Bring your “A” target game for sure. [Katharine Dyson]

Captains Golf Course | Brewster

(508) 896-1716

Of the two Brian Silva-designed courses at The Captains Golf Course in Brewster, the Port Course is more challenging. The Port includes some unique features, including two kettle ponds guarding the eighth and 14th greens. Fairway bunkers are well placed to catch errant shots, and tree-lined fairways demand precision. The Port has one dogleg (no. 16), but for the most part the holes run straight back and forth through woods. You’ll encounter some tough par 3s like the 17th — just its sheer length is intimidating at 246 yards. Add a long narrow green book-ended by trees and bunkers, and you have a very harrowing hole. [Katharine Dyson]

Highland Links | Truro

(508) 487-9201

Listed in ” True Links ” (by George Peper and Malcolm Campbell) as one of just two courses in the U.S. that can be classified as a links layout, Highland Links in Truro is one of America’s most historic courses. Dated from 1892 and perched along the windswept bluffs on the eastern shores of the Atlantic, Highland Links is defined by deep natural rough, Scotch broom, dunes, grasses and craggy rocks. Shots require threading through narrow gauntlets flanked by Rosa Rugosas, a thorny hairy shrub that thrives in diabolical conditions. Wind is always a factor and disaster lurks should you stray off course. A small gray-shingled pro shop next to a tall lighthouse completes the picture — you almost expect a bagpiper to come striding over the hill. Katharine Dyson

Blue Rock Golf Course | South Yarmouth

(508) 398-9295 :: @BlueRockGolf

Blue Rock Golf Course at Blue Rock Resort is a course for all ages and abilities: it’s perfect for new golfers to learn the game, for junior golfers to feel welcome and advance their skills, and for veteran golfers to use every club in their bag. The course is open to the public and offers a practice range, two putting & chipping greens, and a full-service Pro Shop. Blue Rock’s Grill Room restaurant serves drinks and full meals daily in season. [Cape Cod Chamber]

Kings Way Golf Club | Yarmouthport

(508) 362-8870

At Kings Way Golf Club, we understand that the golf club should be a place of fun and enjoyment. Our goal is to provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere, a well-conditioned golf course, fun events and a relaxing social environment. We offer a variety of membership choices: Kings Way Resident Membership for singles or couples., nonresident single and couple membership, Super senior membership, afternoon membership and a family membership. [Cape Cod Chamber]

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