Mark Twain felt golf is only a way to spoil a good walk. For a lot of links lovers, golf is a way to spice up a perfect Cape Cod vacation. Here are a few public courses where you can tee it up on the lower and mid-Cape.
Cranberry Valley, Oak Street, Harwich
18 holes and well maintained, this is a moderately challenging course of average to above-average length, depending on your choice of tee boxes. It’s a fairly tight course, so it pays to hit it straight. You’ll know you’re playing on the Cape, with the trademark stubby Cape pines lining almost every fairway.
Reservations are a must in-season. $50 for 18 holes. More information.
Captains Course. Freeman’s Way, Brewster
Better call at least two days in advance for a tee time at this popular public course. There’s an easy-to-use telephone reservation system. Fairways, tees and greens are very well cared for by the Town of Brewster. The two nine-hole courses are very similar in character, length and degree of difficulty, which is about average. Surprisingly hilly for a Cape course.
For that reason and the fact that it is often a good distance from the green to the next tee, you might want to rent a cart here. Unless you really like to walk. $50 to play 18. More Information.
Bass River, Highbank Road, Yarmouth
This is an older and more challenging course. Lots of hills and tricky side hill lies. Some holes have terrific views of scenic Bass River. The fairways range in difficulty from very tight to rather wide open. Call the day before to be sure of a tee time.
If you call early enough in the day, you might get that same day. $50 for 18 holes, several of which are bound to be frustrating! More Information.
Dennis Pines, Golf Course Road, Dennis
This is quite a long and challenging course with very tight fairways. One of the most unforgiving public courses on the Cape, it’s truly a shot maker’s delight. Beautifully landscaped and maintained by the Town of Dennis. Call a day ahead to get a reservation. You can try calling early in the morning for a same-day tee time, but no guarantees! Around $50 for 18. More Information.
Dennis Highlands, Old Bass River Road, Dennis
Similar to Dennis Pines in that the holes are quite long and the grounds are meticulously groomed. But most of the fairways are more open and a bit more forgiving of less than perfect shots. Call a day or so ahead for a tee time. Around $50 for 18. More Information
Seaside Links, Seaview Street, Chatham
Only a nine hole course – very short, no par 5’s -- and not always terribly well kept up. But for $20, it’s a good way to get in a few swings and not take all day to do it. Then you can check out the nifty shops and restaurants in Chatham Center, just a five-iron away. Chatham Bars Inn is right nearby, too. No advance reservations at Seaside Links. Just show up. Although as the name implies, it’s very near Pleasant Bay, you can see water only from the green on #7 and the tee box on #8. More Information.
