Golf Courses Near Westerly, RI

Westerly, located in the far southwest corner of Rhode Island, is a historic seaside town of 23,000 that sees its population nearly double in summer. This part of the Ocean State, which sits across the Pawcatuck River from Connecticut and is also close to Long Island, New York, is a prime spot for world-class private golf. Misquamicut Club, Shelter Harbor Golf Club, and the 9-hole Weekapaug Golf Club are all ranked among Rhode Island’s very best courses, while Fishers Island Golf Club in New York is rated 12th in the entire U.S. by Golf Magazine. Although tee times for public golfers are scarce in southern Rhode Island, you do have some convenient options when you are in Westerly. Winnapaug Golf Course in Westerly itself is a varied Donald Ross design from 1922 with a back nine that plays by salt ponds located very close to the ocean. Nearby Hope Valley, Rhode Island boasts two layouts that locals regard highly–Wood River Golf Course and Richmond Country Club. Extending over 250 acres on an old dairy farm in Pawcatuck, Connecticut, the 27-hole Elmridge Golf Club is a favorite choice among Westerly residents. Stonington, CT is also home to two notable layouts: Pequot Golf Club, a hilly, links-style layout with a lot of movement in the ground; and the North Course at Lake of Isles, a tough Rees Jones design in North Stonington that will put anyone’s game to the test.

Westerly is regarded as one of New England’s best beach towns. In all, the town boasts seven miles of broad sand beaches. Misquamicut, Watch Hill, and Atlantic Beach Park, which features a historic carousel, are Westerly’s most famous beaches. Tourism thrives in the area, especially in summer when Westerly is an alternative to Cape Cod. Westerly, which is made up of many villages, has been a magnet for celebrities, most notably Taylor Swift and Conan O’Brien have had homes here, as did Clark Gable back in the day. Shops, trendy bars, restaurants, and galleries populate Westerly’s revitalized historic downtown. Many buildings feature locally quarried and cut Westerly granite, a favorite material for statues. Just across the state line in Connecticut, the town of Mystic is full of attractions, including the Mystic Aquarium, the Mystic Seaport Museum, and a downtown that is one of New England’s classic charmers. Connecticut casino resorts such as Foxwoods and the Mohegan Sun are also just a few miles from Westerly if you want an alternative to the more low-key nightlife that characterizes the Rhode Island side of the state line.