End of the season - Boston/Portland

Will be in town for a wedding at the end of October, flying into Boston and driving up to Portland. What is the percentage of courses still open? When do they close? Recommendations for best public course between Boston and Portland? Any suggestions would be awesome! Granite Links is on my list but not sure i'd be able to get a tee time/ or if it will be open. Thanks!!

Everything will be open. Your big issue is daylight availability at that time of year.

Meh on Granite Links. Very Nice course, conditions and views, but over priced imho. Cape Arundel Golf near Portland is good.

Fall golf in New England > * Which also means, you're just gonna miss it at the end of Oct. Peak is about to happen up there this/next weekish.

Granite Links is south of where you're heading to, wrong side of the city. Which means end of day, you have to then... drive through the city and out of the city, at rush hour (if it's a weekday). You'll be saying "FML" all night long as you try to get from there to Portland.

2nd, why In/Out of Boston? More of curiosity, as both Portland and Manchester are closer, and usually cheaper? And MUCH less traffic.

Most of my Northern New England golf is limited to inland NH/VT. Never played near 95.

--kC

> @Pearson10M said:

> Meh on Granite Links. Very Nice course, conditions and views, but over priced imho. Cape Arundel Golf near Portland is good.

>

Wow, never heard of that and it looks great. Added that to the list! Thanks

> @Imp said:

> Fall golf in New England > * Which also means, you're just gonna miss it at the end of Oct. Peak is about to happen up there this/next weekish.

>

> Granite Links is south of where you're heading to, wrong side of the city. Which means end of day, you have to then... drive through the city and out of the city, at rush hour (if it's a weekday). You'll be saying "FML" all night long as you try to get from there to Portland.

>

> 2nd, why In/Out of Boston? More of curiosity, as both Portland and Manchester are closer, and usually cheaper? And MUCH less traffic.

>

> Most of my Northern New England golf is limited to inland NH/VT. Never played near 95.

>

> --kC

Yeah weather permitting I guess it will be closer to winter golf haha

Flying from CA, only direct flights are to Boston. Quick trip Thursday to Monday so trying to save layover time. Friday is flexible so could stay in the Boston area and then drive up Saturday morning if I play in the area.

I'll second the opinion to skip Granite Links. Nice course, great conditions, but WAY overpriced. Not the most fun to play when you don't know the course, there's a TON of blind shots, bedrock sticking through the middle of the fairway, etc.

I've never played them myself, but a friend recommends Gorham Country Club or Dunegrass. Both fun tracks, reasonably priced, and within 20 or so minutes of the city, depending on where you're staying.

> @Sjewell94 said:

> > @Imp said:

> > Fall golf in New England > * Which also means, you're just gonna miss it at the end of Oct. Peak is about to happen up there this/next weekish.

> >

> > Granite Links is south of where you're heading to, wrong side of the city. Which means end of day, you have to then... drive through the city and out of the city, at rush hour (if it's a weekday). You'll be saying "FML" all night long as you try to get from there to Portland.

> >

> > 2nd, why In/Out of Boston? More of curiosity, as both Portland and Manchester are closer, and usually cheaper? And MUCH less traffic.

> >

> > Most of my Northern New England golf is limited to inland NH/VT. Never played near 95.

> >

> > --kC

>

> Yeah weather permitting I guess it will be closer to winter golf haha

>

> Flying from CA, only direct flights are to Boston. Quick trip Thursday to Monday so trying to save layover time. Friday is flexible so could stay in the Boston area and then drive up Saturday morning if I play in the area.

Oh, if you have that time, I would suggest something like Canterbury Woods just north of Concord in NH (if you have a day to play and get to Portland), or even Four Oaks or Green Meadow on the MA/NH line. Cheaper hotels out of the city too.

--kC

> @Sjewell94 said:

> > @Imp said:

> > Fall golf in New England > * Which also means, you're just gonna miss it at the end of Oct. Peak is about to happen up there this/next weekish.

> >

> > Granite Links is south of where you're heading to, wrong side of the city. Which means end of day, you have to then... drive through the city and out of the city, at rush hour (if it's a weekday). You'll be saying "FML" all night long as you try to get from there to Portland.

> >

> > 2nd, why In/Out of Boston? More of curiosity, as both Portland and Manchester are closer, and usually cheaper? And MUCH less traffic.

> >

> > Most of my Northern New England golf is limited to inland NH/VT. Never played near 95.

> >

> > --kC

>

> Yeah weather permitting I guess it will be closer to winter golf haha

>

> Flying from CA, only direct flights are to Boston. Quick trip Thursday to Monday so trying to save layover time. Friday is flexible so could stay in the Boston area and then drive up Saturday morning if I play in the area.

Not clear what your actual dates are or what flexibility you have...but there's a New England Series outing at Kittansett on Monday the 28th. That would be worth driving for.

I second Kittansett if the dates allow for it. That place is incredible.

I live in Quincy no on Granite Links if Im paying over a 100 for a round Im driving 45 minutes south and playing Pinehills

Unless it gets crazy cold I’d get out of Boston and go play in nh or Maine. Ledges would probably be my call.

second The Ledges. not far off of 95 just over the ME border. Another good one is Portsmouth CC in NH. Bit exposed though so will be tough and cold if its windy.

For info on Kittansett (Monday the 28th): https://neat.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/neat19/event/neat1917/index.htm

Honestly, it would be worth extending the trip by a day if you can... Heck, I'd do it, but I'm just getting back from 2 weeks away.

--kC

I recently moved up to Portland, there are a few decent public courses in the area (at least, that I have played since the move) - but I second the mentions of Cape Arundel and Ledges. Obviously, Kittansett is a whole nother story and I'm now thinking about registering for that round...

+1 on recommendations for The Ledges , Dunegrass, or Cape Arundel.

Daylight and frost delays come in to play at this time of year; good luck on whatever you choose and hit em straight!