Sugarloaf Golf Club
A Robert Trent Jones Jr mountain epic in the western Maine highlands, long regarded as the best course in the state and home to the String of Pearls, the celebrated run of holes along the Carrabassett River.
Photo: Sugarloaf Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Sugarloaf is the course Maine golfers send you to first, and for good reason. Robert Trent Jones Jr opened it in 1986 on the flank of Sugarloaf mountain in Carrabassett Valley, and it has topped the state rankings almost ever since. A par 72 of about 6,956 yards, it is a genuine mountain layout: holes tumble through dense spruce and birch, tee shots play across ravines and rivers, and the elevation gives the better player a string of decisions on every hole.
What sets it apart is the middle of the round. After a tough but fair opening run on the high ground, the course plunges down to the Carrabassett River for the String of Pearls, a sequence of holes routed along and across the water that is the most photographed golf in Maine. It is target golf at its most dramatic, demanding on the card and unforgettable in the eye. For a traveling golfer, Sugarloaf is the anchor of any western Maine trip and a bucket list round in the Northeast.
Sugarloaf Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1986
- Designer
- Robert Trent Jones Jr
- Type
- Mountain parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,956 yards
- Green fee
- From about 100 dollars
Designer and details verified June 2026: Sugarloaf was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and opened in 1986, a par 72 of roughly 6,956 yards in Carrabassett Valley, western Maine, and is consistently ranked the top course in the state. Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 100 dollars in the shoulder season to roughly 175 to 215 dollars at peak summer and fall foliage, cart included; fees change by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The opening holes set the tone: narrow corridors cut through the forest, raised tees that demand a committed line, and greens defended by the slope of the mountain rather than by water. Accuracy off the tee is everything, because a pushed or pulled drive finds trees, not rough, and the recovery is rarely simple. Jones routed the high ground to test the long game while keeping the views of the surrounding peaks in front of the player the whole way round.
Then comes the String of Pearls. From roughly the 10th through the 15th the course drops to the valley floor and plays along the Carrabassett River, with the water in view or in play on hole after hole. These are the photographs you have seen of Maine golf: tee shots over the river, greens perched above the bank, mountain backdrops on every swing. It is target golf that rewards nerve and precise yardages, and it lifts an already strong course into something memorable.
For traveling golfers, Sugarloaf is the must play of inland Maine: a Robert Trent Jones Jr design at the top of the state rankings, a true mountain test, and a stretch of river holes that justify the drive on their own.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public resort course; open to all, with stay and play packages through the resort |
| Green fee | From about 100 dollars in the shoulder season to 175 to 215 dollars at peak, cart included, indicative 2026 |
| Booking | Book online or through the golf shop; summer and fall foliage weekends fill early |
| On the day | Carts recommended given the terrain and routing; standard golf dress |
| Getting there | In Carrabassett Valley, western Maine, about two hours north of Portland and a similar drive from the New Hampshire border |
| Best months | Roughly mid May to mid October; late September foliage is the showpiece |
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
Sugarloaf is a four season resort, so the simplest plan is to stay on the mountain in the slopeside hotel, condominiums or rentals and walk to the first tee. The village has restaurants and a relaxed base for a buddies trip, and the golf packages bundle rooms with rounds through the summer and fall.
For a wider Maine golf trip, Sugarloaf pairs naturally with the other great mountain round in the west at Sunday River Golf Club in Newry, and with the dramatic highland layout at Belgrade Lakes Golf Club to the south.
Looking for a base nearby? See our recommended hotels and resorts.
Build a Maine golf trip
We arrange tee times at Sugarloaf, pair it with the best golf in the western Maine mountains 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.
Sugarloaf questions
Who designed Sugarloaf Golf Club?
Sugarloaf was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and opened in 1986 in Carrabassett Valley, western Maine. It plays a par 72 of roughly 6,956 yards.
Is Sugarloaf open to the public?
Yes. Sugarloaf is a public resort course attached to the Sugarloaf mountain resort, booked online or through the golf shop. Summer and fall foliage weekends are busiest, so book ahead.
How much does it cost to play Sugarloaf?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 100 dollars in the shoulder season to roughly 175 to 215 dollars at peak summer and fall, cart included. Rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
What is the String of Pearls at Sugarloaf?
The String of Pearls is Sugarloaf's celebrated middle stretch, roughly the 10th through 15th holes, where the course drops down to play alongside and across the Carrabassett River through the mountains. It is the most photographed run of holes in Maine golf.
Related
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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.