Belgrade Lakes Golf Club
A spectacular Clive Clark design carved through the granite ridges and lakes of central Maine, a former Golf Digest top public course and one of the most scenic rounds in New England.
Photo: Belgrade Lakes Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Belgrade Lakes is the round that surprises people who think Maine golf means modest nine holers. Clive Clark, the former Ryder Cup player turned architect, opened it in 1998 on a dramatic site of granite outcrops, elevation and water in the heart of Maine's lakes region, and the result earned a place on Golf Digest's list of the best public courses in America. A par 71 of about 6,600 yards, it plays far bigger than the card thanks to the terrain.
The course is a true mountain and lake layout: holes climb and plunge across rocky ridges, tee shots play out to fairways framed by exposed granite, and the long views over the lakes give the round a Highlands feel. It is walkable for the fit, demanding off the tee, and as photogenic as anything in the Northeast. For a traveling golfer, it is the headline of a central Maine golf trip and a course worth a detour.
Belgrade Lakes Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1998
- Designer
- Clive Clark
- Type
- Mountain and lake parkland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 6,629 yards
- Green fee
- From about 75 dollars
Designer and details verified June 2026: Belgrade Lakes was designed by Clive Clark and opened in 1998, a par 71 of roughly 6,629 yards in the lakes region of central Maine, and is a former member of Golf Digest's best public courses list. Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 75 dollars walking in spring to roughly 130 to 180 dollars riding at peak summer; fees change by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Belgrade Lakes is defined by its land. Clive Clark routed the holes through and over a ridge of exposed granite, so tee shots are framed by rock and the fairways rise and fall with the terrain in a way that is unusual for the Northeast. The premium is on positioning off the tee, because the ground is rarely flat and the angles into the greens reward a player who keeps the ball in the right half of the fairway.
The lake and mountain views are constant, and several holes use elevation to spectacular effect, dropping from high tees to fairways far below or climbing to greens set against the skyline. The greens are large and contoured to match the bold setting, and the round builds to a memorable finish with water and rock in play. It is a course that photographs as well as it plays.
For traveling golfers, Belgrade Lakes is the must play of central Maine: a dramatic Clive Clark design, fully public, and a round that feels a world away from the coastal courses to the south.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public; open to all daily fee golfers |
| Green fee | From about 75 dollars walking in spring to 130 to 180 dollars riding at peak, indicative 2026 |
| Booking | Book online or through the pro shop; summer weekends fill early |
| On the day | Walkable for the fit but hilly; carts available; standard golf dress |
| Getting there | In the Belgrade Lakes village of central Maine, about an hour north of Portland and 20 minutes from Augusta |
| Best months | Roughly May to October; summer and early fall foliage are prime |
Access and fees verified June 2026; daily fee pricing changes by season and day, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The Belgrade Lakes region is classic Maine vacation country, with lakeside inns, cottages and rentals near the course and a relaxed summer pace. Augusta is a short drive for hotels and services, and Portland, with the nearest major airport, is about an hour south.
For a wider Maine golf trip, Belgrade Lakes pairs with the historic coastal short course at Cape Arundel Golf Club in Kennebunkport, balancing a dramatic modern highland round with a Walter Travis classic by the sea.
Looking for a base nearby? See our recommended hotels and resorts.
Build a Maine golf trip
We arrange tee times at Belgrade Lakes, pair it with the best golf in the Maine lakes region and along the coast and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Belgrade Lakes questions
Who designed Belgrade Lakes Golf Club?
Belgrade Lakes was designed by Clive Clark, the former Ryder Cup player turned architect, and opened in 1998 in central Maine. It plays a par 71 of roughly 6,629 yards.
Is Belgrade Lakes open to the public?
Yes. Belgrade Lakes is a fully public daily fee course, booked online or through the pro shop. Summer weekends fill early, so book ahead.
How much does it cost to play Belgrade Lakes?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 75 dollars walking in spring to roughly 130 to 180 dollars riding at peak summer. Rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
What makes Belgrade Lakes special?
The dramatic terrain. Clive Clark routed the course through granite ridges and over elevation changes rare in the Northeast, with constant lake and mountain views. It is a former Golf Digest top public course and one of the most scenic rounds in New England.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year and ranking history verified June 2026; yardage and indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.