New Hampshire Golf Courses & Resorts

The Mount Washington Course at Omni Bretton Woods Resort is consistently ranked as New Hampshire's #1 public golf course. This historic Donald Ross design from 1915 was meticulously restored by Brian Silva in 2008 and has been named NH's "Best Course You Can Play" by Golfweek every year since 2009. The par 72, 7,004-yard course features spectacular views of the Presidential Mountain Range and has hosted four New Hampshire Opens and the New England Open Championship.

For private clubs, Bald Peak Colony Club in Melvin Village leads GOLF Magazine's rankings, while Baker Hill Golf Club in Haverhill tops many public course rankings with its Rees Jones design featuring sweeping elevation changes near Lake Sunapee.

Late September through early October is widely considered the best time to golf in New Hampshire. This fall foliage period offers crisp autumn weather, lower humidity, excellent course conditions, and spectacular mountain views with peak colors. Peak foliage timing varies by region:

• White Mountains & Great North Woods: Late September to early October
• Lakes Region: Early to mid-October
• Seacoast & Southern NH: Mid to late October

The general golf season runs May through October, with peak summer season (June-August) offering the warmest weather but also the highest rates and most crowded courses. Book fall foliage tee times 2-4 weeks in advance as this is the most popular time to play.

Green fees in New Hampshire range from $30 to $150+ depending on the course, day of week, and time of season:

• Budget Municipal Courses: $30-45 for 18 holes with cart (Pembroke Pines ~$35, Rockingham Country Club, Nippo Lake)
• Mid-Range Public Courses: $40-70 (Canterbury Woods $40-50, various courses $52-62)
• Premium Public Courses: $70-100 (Breakfast Hill $37-63, Crotched Mountain $42-58, Lochmere $69)
• Resort Championship Courses: $100-150+ (Omni Mount Washington Resort, Owl's Nest, top-tier courses)

Many courses offer discounted rates for early morning tee times, twilight golf (after 3-4pm), and mid-week play. Season passes are available at some courses like Pease Golf Course (Full Week $2,200, Mid-Week $1,700, Senior Mid-Week $1,600).

New Hampshire is home to 10 historic Donald Ross golf courses, representing some of the finest traditional golf architecture in New England. The legendary Scottish architect designed approximately 400 courses during his lifetime, with these New Hampshire gems among his best work:

• Mount Washington Course - Bretton Woods (1915, restored 2008 by Brian Silva)
• Bethlehem Country Club - Bethlehem (1909, first Ross course in NH)
• Maplewood Golf Club - Bethlehem (1914, features rare 650+ yard par-6 hole)
• Manchester Country Club - Manchester (Classic Ross routing, 100+ years history)
• Bald Peak Colony Club - Melvin Village (Founded 1920, ranked #1 by GOLF Magazine)
• Wentworth By The Sea Country Club - Rye (18-hole championship course)
• The Balsams Grand Resort - Dixville Notch (1912, features brutal 560-yard uphill par-5 18th)

Ross designs are characterized by crowned greens, strategic bunkering, natural routing, and walking-friendly layouts that reward thoughtful play and remain challenging over a century later.

Omni Mount Washington Resort at Bretton Woods is the premier golf resort in New Hampshire. This historic luxury resort features two championship courses (Mount Washington 18-hole and Mount Pleasant 9-hole), a 25,000 sq ft spa, four restaurants, heated indoor pool, and spectacular Presidential Range views. The resort offers stay-and-play packages and hosted the famous 1944 Bretton Woods Conference that established the International Monetary Fund.

Owl's Nest Resort in Campton is another excellent option, featuring New Hampshire's only Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course set in the White Mountains foothills with water features and dramatic elevation changes. The resort offers lodging and vacation packages.

Other notable resort golf options include Eastman Golf Links in Grantham (resort community course), The Balsams Grand Resort in Dixville Notch (historic 1912 Donald Ross design), and various Lakes Region resorts near Winnipesaukee that combine golf with waterfront activities.

New Hampshire has over 100 golf courses throughout the state, including public, semi-private, and private facilities. The courses are distributed across all regions:

• White Mountains: Resort courses at Bretton Woods, Bethlehem, Campton, Jackson, and North Conway
• Lakes Region: Courses around Lake Winnipesaukee, Squam Lake, and Lake Sunapee
• Seacoast Region: 19 courses within 15 miles of Portsmouth (13 public, 6 private)
• Manchester/Concord Metro: Multiple courses serving the state's largest cities
• Southern NH: Nashua, Salem, and surrounding communities
• Monadnock Region: Southwest corner courses

The mix includes everything from affordable 9-hole municipal courses to championship resort layouts. Approximately 96 courses are regularly tracked in golf directories, with both 9-hole and 18-hole facilities available statewide.

The Lakes Region around Lake Winnipesaukee offers numerous excellent golf courses with water and mountain views:

• Lake Winnipesaukee Golf Club - New Durham (Private, 18-hole Clive Clark design on 700 mountain acres, ranked #3 in state)
• Birch Hill Country Club - Moultonborough (Scenic northern Winnipesaukee location, Ossipee Mountain views)
• Waukewan Golf Club - Center Harbor (18 holes, picturesque lake vistas)
• Kingswood Golf Club - Wolfeboro (Semi-private)
• White Mountain Country Club - Ashland (18 holes near Squam Lake)
• Laconia Country Club - Laconia (Established 1922)
• Indian Mound Golf Club - Center Ossipee (Par 70, one of NH's most popular)
• Pheasant Ridge Country Club - Gilford area
• Oak Hill Golf Course, Lochmere Golf & Country Club, Lakeview Golf Club

The Lakes Region is a popular summer vacation destination combining golf with boating, swimming, and other water activities. Many courses offer spectacular views combining lake waters with mountain backdrops.

Yes, the Portsmouth Seacoast region has excellent public golf options. There are 19 courses within a 15-mile radius of Portsmouth, with 13 being public courses:

• Pease Golf Course - Portsmouth (27 holes, only course in area with 27, built 1901, various season passes available)
• Breakfast Hill Golf Club - Greenland (Brian Silva design, par 71, ranked top-5 by Golf Week, $37-63)
• Sagamore-Hampton Golf Club - North Hampton (Minutes from Hampton Beach, top-50 golf range in America)
• Rockingham Country Club - Newmarket (Public 9-hole, par 35, budget-friendly since 1933)
• Nippo Lake Golf Club - Barrington (Affordable, short drive north from Boston)
• The Oaks - Somersworth (World class and affordable)

The Seacoast's coastal climate extends the golf season longer than mountain regions. The area also features top private courses like Portsmouth Country Club (Robert Trent Jones Sr. design with Great Bay views, founded 1904) and Wentworth By The Sea Country Club (Donald Ross design in Rye).

Owl's Nest Resort in Campton features New Hampshire's only Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. Located in the foothills of the White Mountains, this championship layout showcases the Golden Bear's signature design elements including water features, dramatic elevation changes, and strategic bunkering.

The resort offers stay-and-play packages combining golf with lodging and other amenities. The course provides a modern championship golf experience that contrasts with the state's many historic Donald Ross designs, giving golfers a taste of contemporary golf architecture from one of the game's greatest players.

Owl's Nest joins other notable New Hampshire courses designed by famous architects including Arnold Palmer (Golf Club of New England), Rees Jones (Baker Hill), and Robert Trent Jones Sr. (Portsmouth Country Club), but remains the only Nicklaus design in the Granite State.

New Hampshire golf courses offer excellent conditions during the May-October season, with some important considerations:

Seasonal Conditions:

• Spring (May): Courses may have soft/muddy conditions from snowmelt, cart restrictions possible, cooler temperatures (50s-60s°F)
• Summer (June-August): Peak conditions, courses at their firmest and fastest, higher temperatures (70s-80s°F), afternoon thunderstorms common
• Fall (September-October): Excellent firm conditions, cooler temperatures (50s-70s°F), stunning foliage views, best time to play

Regional Differences:

• Mountain Courses: 10-15°F cooler than seacoast, weather changes quickly, higher elevation courses close earlier in fall
• Seacoast Courses: Extended season, milder climate, flatter terrain, coastal winds can be a factor

Top-rated courses like Crotched Mountain and Breakfast Hill are praised for exceptional conditioning. Many courses maintain "firm-and-fast" conditions preferred by serious golfers. Historic Ross courses offer traditional tight lies that reward ball-striking. Call ahead for current conditions, especially in spring or after heavy rain.