Three Perfect Golf Days in Rhode Island

Fall is a great time to plan a golf trip to Rhode Island. The weather is cool and the changing color of the autumn foliage makes for a nice backdrop to your game. The long Labor Day and Columbus Day weekends draw visitors of all type to the state to attend popular fall fairs and festivals. And a number of activities are available throughout the season for rounding out your itinerary.

We’ve put together a sample itinerary to give you a few ideas. If you follow it to the letter, you’ll get a taste of what Rhode Island has to offer. And like any good long weekend, it will probably leave you wanting to return for more.

Arrive late afternoon or early evening in Providence. Check into your downtown hotel. What better way to prepare for an early morning on the greens than by feasting on some of the best Italian food on the East Coast? Take the Providence Green Line Trolley up to Federal Hill. Trolley info can be found at www.ripta.com. You can browse the menus along restaurant row to find the one that best suits your tastes and budget…or you can just follow your nose. If you’ve forgotten to pack anything you can purchase last minute supplies (from argyle socks to sunscreen) at the Providence Place Mall, located within walking distance of all downtown hotels. Be sure to take a stroll around Water Place Park located right outside of the mall, especially if the bonfires along the river are lit during the frequent Waterfire nights, see www.waterfire.org for schedules. The website for the Providence Convention and Visitors Bureau’s has plenty of information about lodging and tourist activities; www.pwcvb.com.

Day 1: Check out of your hotel. You are headed south, but don’t worry, you never have to drive very far in tiny Rhode Island. Your first day of golf will be at Montaup Country Club, located in Portsmouth, approximately 25 miles from Providence. If you find yourself visiting in the chillier fall months of November and December, this course is available year-round for you hardcore golfers. Montaup is a challenging course with some tough starting holes and tricky winds; the 16th hole provides gorgeous views of the Mt. Hope Bay and bridge. The course is semi-private, public play is scheduled after 1:30 pm on the weekends, so you might want to grab lunch at Kenny J’s Greenside Grille before you tee up. If this is your first time in the state, eat like the locals and try a stuffed quahog (especially since the quahog is Rhody Golf’s mascot!) Course information can be found at www.montaupcc.com.

From Montaup, you are headed to one of the oldest golfing towns in the country, Newport. Choose from a number of full service hotels, bed and breakfasts and historic inns for your lodging in the seaside city. See www.gonewport.com for a full list of accommodations as well as useful tourist information. If you are traveling with non-golfers, you may want to send them on to Newport ahead of time, because there is much to do and see. Touring the Newport Mansions, shopping on Thames street and exploring Fort Adams State Park are just a few of the many unique activities.

Once again, you will find yourself blessed with excellent restaurant options for your evening meal. For the seafood lover, everything from clam cakes and chowder to full lobster dinners can be found in and around the waterfront. If you can resist the temptations of the lively nightclub and bar scene along Thames St., then you might want to head back to your hotel right after dinner. A good night’s sleep will do you well because tomorrow’s visit is to one of the top new courses in the country, Newport National.

Day 2: The Orchard Course at Newport National Golf Club, designed by Arthur Hills and Drew Rogers, was ranked the #1 public access course in Rhode Island by Golf Week. This is what the New England Journal of Golf had to say about Newport National, “with all the swaying fescue grasses, and sparkling views of the Sakonnet Passage and Atlantic Ocean, Newport National is unquestionably situated in a beautiful corner of the world-and the best news of all is that the course more than measures up to its surroundings.” (New England Journal of Golf, Autumn 2002). Take a tour of the course at their website, www.newportnational.com. This site will allow you to book your tee times in advance and offers hotel packages in Newport as well.

If you are in an adventurous mood, unwind after a long day of golf by enjoying the smaller and more relaxed island of Jamestown which can be reached by a short drive across the Newport Bridge. Beavertail Lighthouse and Park is a windswept expanse of rocky cliff jutting out into the Atlantic. It’s a great place to explore, especially at sunset. Jamestown also has a number of fine restaurants in the center of town near the waterfront. Information can be found at www.jamestown-ri.info.

Day 3: Pack your bags and check out of your hotel early today. There’s only one more round to play before you head home. Today you will be visiting Exeter Country Club. This club is located inland about 20 miles from Newport. The scenic wooded location and country setting will give you a change of pace from the ocean views of Montaup and Newport National. Tee times begin at 6:00am and can be arranged by calling the pro-shop. See their web site for reservation information and directions, www.exetercc.com.

From the Exeter Country Club it is a quick drive to TF Green Airport if you arrived by plane. Interstate 95 is nearby if you arrived by car. And if you happened to take Amtrak, Kingston is your closest station.

By this point, we’re sure you are hooked on Rhody golf and you realize that three days of golfing here will not be enough. Stay tuned for our next itinerary that expands your stay to five days of golfing and sightseeing.


>>> Read more articles from Mikele Albanese-St. Germain