Samoset Resort Golf Club
A par 70 set on the rocky shore of Penobscot Bay, with seven oceanside holes and Atlantic views from most of the round, the course many call the Pebble Beach of the East.
Photo: Samoset Resort Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Samoset earns its nickname. Set on the mid coast of Maine in Rockport, the course runs along the edge of Penobscot Bay, and the sea is in view from most of the round and directly in play on a string of holes. Golf has been played on the site since 1902; the present par 70 of about 6,548 yards was built as 18 holes in 1974 by Robert Elder, polished by Geoffrey Cornish in the early 1990s and given more teeth by Brad Booth around 2000. The result is a resort course that is as scenic as anything in New England and a genuinely enjoyable test.
It is not long by modern standards, and that is part of the appeal: this is a round to savor rather than to grind, with wide ocean panoramas, sea breezes that change the calculus, and several holes that golfers remember long after they leave. Paired with the Samoset hotel above the bay, it makes one of the most relaxed and beautiful golf bases on the Maine coast.
Samoset Resort Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1974, golf since 1902
- Designer
- Robert Elder, later Cornish and Booth
- Type
- Oceanside resort
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- About 6,548 yards
- Green fee
- From about 100 dollars
Details verified June 2026: golf has been played at Samoset since 1902; the current 18 hole layout was built in 1974 by Robert Elder, improved by Geoffrey Cornish in the early 1990s and renovated by Brad Booth around 2000, a par 70 of roughly 6,548 yards on Penobscot Bay in Rockport, Maine, with seven oceanside holes. Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 100 dollars in the shoulder season to roughly 160 to 200 dollars at peak summer, cart included; fees change by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The ocean is the star. Samoset has seven holes that play along or beside the water and views of the bay from most of the rest, so the round has a coastal drama that few inland resorts can match. The par 3 third hugs the shoreline and plays uphill, and the par 5 fourth is the hole everyone talks about, doglegging along the rocks in a way that openly recalls the closing hole at Pebble Beach. These are the photographs that draw golfers to the mid coast.
The course is not overly long, but the wind off Penobscot Bay can stiffen the test on any given day, and the renovations by Cornish and Booth added strategic bite to several greens and bunkers. The peninsula green and the shoreline holes demand commitment, while the inland holes give the player a breather and frame the sea beyond. It is a course that flatters a good ball striker and rewards anyone who simply wants to enjoy the setting.
For traveling golfers, Samoset is the coastal anchor of a Maine trip: scenic, walkable in spirit, and an easy course to love, paired with a resort hotel right on the bay.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public resort course; open to all, with stay and play packages through the resort hotel |
| Green fee | From about 100 dollars in the shoulder season to 160 to 200 dollars at peak, cart included, indicative 2026 |
| Booking | Book online or through the golf shop; summer weekends fill early |
| On the day | Walkable but breezy on the shore; carts available; standard golf dress |
| Getting there | In Rockport on the mid coast of Maine, near Camden and Rockland, about two hours north of Portland |
| Best months | Roughly May to October; summer is prime, with cool sea breezes |
Access and fees verified June 2026; resort pricing changes by season and day, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The simplest plan is to stay at the Samoset Resort itself, the oceanfront hotel that sits above the golf course on Penobscot Bay, with golf packages through the summer. The neighboring harbor towns of Camden and Rockland add classic Maine inns, restaurants and galleries, and Portland, with the nearest major airport, is about two hours south.
For a wider Maine golf trip, Samoset pairs the coast with the dramatic mountain golf inland at Sugarloaf Golf Club and Sunday River Golf Club, and with the lakeside drama of Belgrade Lakes Golf Club.
Looking for a base nearby? See our recommended hotels and resorts.
Build a Maine golf trip
We arrange tee times at Samoset, pair the mid coast with the best golf in Maine 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.
Samoset questions
Where is Samoset Resort Golf Club?
Samoset is in Rockport on the mid coast of Maine, set on Penobscot Bay next to the resort hotel, about a two hour drive north of Portland.
Why is Samoset called the Pebble Beach of the East?
Because so much of the round plays along the Atlantic. Samoset has seven oceanside holes and ocean views from most of the course, with a par 5 fourth that hugs the shoreline in the style of Pebble Beach's closing hole.
How much does it cost to play Samoset?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 100 dollars in the shoulder season to roughly 160 to 200 dollars at peak summer, cart included. Rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
Who designed Samoset Resort Golf Club?
Golf has been played on the site since 1902. The current 18 hole layout was built in 1974 by Robert Elder, improved by Geoffrey Cornish in the early 1990s and renovated by Brad Booth around 2000. It plays a par 70 of roughly 6,548 yards.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Design history and course details verified June 2026; yardage and indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.