Best Bar Harbor Golf Courses

A golf course near Bar Harbor, Maine

But, ironically, it is partly due to the coastal geography (it’s actually on an island) of Bar Harbor that this is not the case; the limited real estate simply doesn’t lend itself to multiple parcels of wide swaths of rolling greens and fairways.

There is only one course in town—but if you are amenable to a commute, you’ll have plenty of other options. There is one private country club on this list—and is noted as such—and drive times are included in the address field.

Map of Bar Harbor Area Golf Courses

Hike your way to these Bar Harbor area golf courses with the help of this handy map.

Kebo Valley Golf Club

This seasonal, 18-hole, regulation course opened in Bar Harbor in 1888, making it the oldest establishment on this list—and the 8th oldest in the U.S.A. From the longest tees, this semi-private course offers 6,131 yards of par-70 play and was originally designed by Herbert C. Leeds and Donald J. Ross.

Named as the third-best course to play by Golf Week, Kebo Valley features fast, well-tended greens and breathtaking views. There is a clubhouse where you can rent carts and clubs as well as a full-service pub; Kebo Valley also has a teaching pro, a chipping/pitching area, and a putting green.

Location: 136 Eagle Lake Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Website: Kebo Valley Golf Club

Northeast Harbor Golf Club

Northeast Harbor is another semi-private (and open to members only between July 1-September 6), seasonal establishment on this list; just 15 minutes from the center of Bar Harbor, the club features an 18-hole, combination parkland and links-style course offering 5,602 yards of par-70 golf (from the longest tees).

Just a few years younger than Kebo, Northeast Harbor’s golf course was designed by Arthur Lockwood and Herbert Strong and offers club and cart rentals, a driving range, a teaching pro, a pro shop, and a golf school academy.

Location: 15 Golf Club Ln, Northeast Harbor, ME 04662
Website: Northeast Harbor Golf Club

Causeway Club

Built in 1920, this 9-hole, public course is just over 20 minutes from Bar Harbor and offers seasonal, links-style play and spectacular views. Designed by Alonzo Yates, the Causeway Club has multiple tees per hole; the front 9 offers 2,266 yards and plays to 32 par, while the back nine provides 2,410 yards of 33-par play.

There are numerous water hazards and plenty of elevation changes—and while the course isn’t long, players cite the need to use all of the clubs in their bag to meet the course’s challenges. Hand carts and clubs are rented on-site, and there is an academy, a teaching pro, and a putting green as well as a restaurant.

Location: 10 Fernald Point Rd, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679
Website: Causeway Club

Blink Bonnie Golf Links

This public, year-round course offers 9 holes of par-36 golf with 2,840 yards of play. Fondly described by players as an old school, diamond-in-the-rough, Blink Bonnie was established in 1916 and features beautiful bay views, tricky elevation changes, and well-maintained greens and fairways.

Located 45 minutes from Bar Harbor, this affordable course may not be abundant with amenities, but according to reviews, it is a true hidden gem and never disappoints.

Location: 89 East Side Rd, Sorrento, ME 04677
Website: Blink Bonnie Golf Links

Lucerne Golf Course

Designed by Donald Ross in 1926, this seasonal, par-36 course is open to the public and has appeared on Golf Digest’s list of best 9-hole courses in the country.

Featuring 3,270 yards of play from the longest tees and located 50 minutes from Bar Harbor’s hustle and bustle, Lucerne also offers a driving range, a chipping/putting area, a putting green, and cart/club rentals.

As with most Bar Harbor area courses, the views are amazing; you’ll also enjoy meticulously maintained greens and interesting play challenges. Proper golf attire is required; snacks and beverages are also available on-site.

Location: 16 Sunset Rd, Dedham, ME 04429
Website: Lucerne Golf Course

Blue Hill Country Club

This private, executive-style course was designed by William Bradley Booth in 1906 and offers members 9 holes of 30-par play. With 1,693 yards of play from the longest tee, Blue Hill is 52 minutes from downtown Bar Harbor and features a clubhouse with a fully-stocked pro shop and cart rentals; there is also a driving range and on-site teaching pro, as well as 5 tennis courts, a café, and a beach.

Location: 23 Pecunit St, Canton, MA 02021
Website: Blue Hill Country Club

Bucksport Golf Club

Claiming to be Maine’s longest 9-hole course, Bucksport offers 3,348 yards of par-37, seasonal play from the longest tee, and was designed by Phil Wogan in 1969.

This quirky public course is just under an hour’s drive from Bar Harbor and provides interesting hazards and obstacles, making for a delightfully challenging game. Often described as surprisingly tricky and a fantastic value, Bucksport is family-owned and features an expansive practice center and a full-service bar & grille.

Cart rentals are available, there is a driving range and pitching/chipping area, and proper golf attire is required.

Location: 397 ME-46, Bucksport, ME 04416
Website: Bucksport Golf Club

Grindstone Neck Golf Course

Located an hour away from Bar Harbor, Grindstone Neck Golf Course is open to the public and offers breathtaking harbor or bay views from each of its 9 holes.

This parkland and links-style, 36-par course is 3,095 yards from the longest tee and was designed by Alex Findlay in 1891. Clubs and carts can be rented at the clubhouse, and there are food and beverages available on-site.

Location: 106 Grindstone Ave, Winter Harbor, ME 04693
Website: Grindstone Neck Golf Course

Traditions Golf Club & Learning Center

A fast and fun 9-hole, par-35 layout. A 275-yard long driving range featuring 20 stations. An expansive, short-range practice facility. Two state-of-the-art Full Swing golf simulators for year-round play.

All this and much more (putting green, pitching/chipping area, bunkers, teaching pro) can be found at the semi-private Traditions Golf Club & Learning Center, which is one hour from Bar Harbor’s center. Offering 2,619 yards of play from the longest tees, this seasonal course was designed in 1998 by Robert Sparks and Wendell Russell and is often described as a surprising, affordable, well-maintained gem.

Inside the 10,000-square-foot clubhouse, you’ll find a pro shop as well as food and beverages (Pat’s Pizza and Gifford’s Ice Cream); this is also where you can rent clubs and carts.

Location: 1 Main Rd, Holden, ME 04429
Website: Traditions Golf Club & Learning Center

Sawmill Woods Golf Course

Just over an hour from Bar Harbor, the public Sawmill Woods Golf course is another 9-hole spot that’s more than worth the commute. The rolling, tight fairways follow the natural topography of the land through vast stands of Maine forest, creating the 2,874 yards (from the longest tees) of natural, undulating corridors of scrupulously maintained greens.

Offering affordable and challenging 36-par play, cart and club rentals, a driving range, a teaching pro, a pitching/chipping area, and a putting green, Sawmill Woods, which opened in 2004, also has a pro shop and snack bar.

Location: 800 Airline Rd, Clifton, ME 04428
Website: Sawmill Woods Golf Course