Courses / Best in state
Best Public Golf Courses in Maine
Experts + Golfers + Story + Architect + Challenge + Access = the Total Score
- 1Cape Arundel Golf ClubKennebunkport · Semi-private · Est. 1896Walter J. Travis8.7Legendary★ 4.9Online Golfer Rating
7 reviews from GolfPass - 2Sugarloaf Golf ClubCarrabassett Valley · Resort · Est. 1985Robert Trent Jones Jr.8.6Legendary★ 4.9Online Golfer Rating
14 reviews from GolfPass - 3Belgrade Lakes Golf ClubBelgrade · Public · Est. 1998Clive Clark8.5Legendary★ 5.0Online Golfer Rating
6 reviews from GolfPass - 4Sunday River Golf ClubNewry · Resort · Est. 2005Robert Trent Jones Jr.8.1Destination★ 4.3Online Golfer Rating
92 reviews from GolfPass - 5Kebo Valley Golf ClubBar Harbor · Public · Est. 1888Herbert C. Leeds (with Waldron Bates and Shirley Liscomb); Donald Ross (1926, rebuilt 3rd hole)7.8Destination★ 3.8Online Golfer Rating
5 reviews from GolfPass - 6Samoset Resort Golf CourseRockport · Resort · Est. 1902Robert Elder (1974 eighteen-hole rebuild of a 1902 nine-hole course)6.8Memorable★ 4.3Online Golfer Rating
4 reviews from GolfPass - 7Martindale Country ClubAuburn · Semi-private · Est. 1921Alex Chisholm (front nine with brother Fred Chisholm, 1921); Philip A. Wogan (back nine, mid-1960s)6.7Memorable★ 4.6Online Golfer Rating
117 reviews from GolfPass - 8Wilson Lake Country ClubWilton · Public · Est. 1932Wayne Stiles6.7Memorable★ 4.4Online Golfer Rating
71 reviews from GolfPass - 9Riverside Golf CoursePortland · Municipal · Est. 1932Wayne Stiles (North Course)6.5Memorable★ 4.2Online Golfer Rating
117 reviews from GolfPass - 10Wawenock Golf ClubWalpole · Public · Est. 1926Wayne Stiles (with John Van Kleek)6.4Playable★ 4.4Online Golfer Rating
12 reviews from GolfPass
How we rank
Public courses only — anyone can book a tee time (public, municipal, resort, semi-private, university). Each course gets a Formula 18 Golf Total Score out of 10 with one word (Legendary, Destination, Memorable, Playable, Unsolved), cited on its page. Not enough to go on yet? It reads Uncharted. Expert lists, golfer stars, challenge, access and threads make the score. A notable architect and a real story add bonus points, and missing ones never count against a course. See the full formula →Editor’s picks are placed by the Formula 18 Golf team. Played one that belongs higher? Tell us.