Belgrade, Maine
Belgrade Lakes delivers a punchy, visual, shot-making test in the heart of Maine’s lakes region. Accessible yet polished, it asks golfers to balance strategy and admire the view—no surprise it stood atop Maine’s public golf scene for years. If you’re anywhere in the Northeast, it’s absolutely worth the detour.
Belgrade Lakes Country Club is a masterclass in using rugged, highland New England landforms, with fairways flowing between glacial outcrops, stands of pine, and the iconic Belgrade lakes on vivid display. Clive Clark harnessed natural elevation changes and granite outcroppings to force golfers to plot their path, often tempting them with panoramic water views and then demanding total focus on approach. Greens are beautifully contoured—accessible by air or ground, but fierce on placement—while the overall routing maximizes both drama and playability. Gentle meadows, steep drops, and even the club’s understated cart paths signal the course’s harmony with its wild locale.
Clark’s use of scale, elevation, and visual corridors defines Belgrade Lakes among his U.S. creations.
A broad, highland par 4 that introduces the course’s dramatic elevation and panoramic agenda right out of the gate. Strategic placement, not just power, is the theme—with the elevated fairway playing longer than it looks.
Favor placement right-of-center off the tee to avoid deep rough and maximize sightlines for the demanding approach.
Pushes left or overcook the drive and you’ll contend with difficult lies in thick rough or left-to-right slopes.
Meticulous for public play: firm fairways, true greens, and maintained natural surrounds.
Expect average-to-slow rounds, especially when soaking in the lakeside scenery.
Upscale-casual, unpretentious, serious golf in a vacation atmosphere.
Golf attire expected; collared shirts and proper shorts/pants.
Many scoring holes demand placement over power; tighten up your fairway finders before the round.
With a mix of long par 3s and sloping approaches, be ready to hit a variety of mid-to-long irons.
The elevation changes mean ball-above/below-feet and sidehill lies: practice these before you arrive.
Course opens, fulfilling Harold Alfond’s vision of accessible, top-quality public golf
Debuts on Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Public list
Clive Clark recognized for Belgrade Lakes’ standout use of terrain
Concludes first 8-year run as #1 in Maine (Golf Digest)
Hosts 10th consecutive Maine State Golf Association club team championship
Ranked #3 in Maine by Golf Digest
Belgrade Lakes was born from Harold Alfond’s belief that great golf shouldn’t be reserved for the few. He built a course that was inviting yet challenging, accessible yet memorable—his gift to Maine’s golfers endures as a welcoming, world-class facility.
Nearly every hole at Belgrade Lakes unveils a fresh lakeside vista or dramatic rise. With sweeping panoramas that merge forests and water, it delivers one of New England’s grandest settings with every step.
Racking up more than a decade as Golf Digest’s #1 public course in Maine, Belgrade Lakes established itself as the state’s measuring stick for public-access quality and challenge.
Founded by Harold Alfond as a gift to Maine’s golf community.
Clive Clark’s first U.S. course design.
Consistently ranked as Maine’s best public course for a decade.
Every hole boasts a distinct, elevated view.
Hosts annual Maine State Golf Association team events.
A strong regional classic with a private-club vibe.
Historic layout, well-conditioned, known for friendly access.
Versatile public facility, two full courses to mix up your trip.
Budget-friendly warm-up or extra loop close by.
Waterville/Belgrade/Augusta corridor—best lodging and central access.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: If Belgrade Lakes Country Club is your kind of course, The Water's Edge Country Club is worth a look because it makes the landscape part of the experience.
Why it matches: What links these two? Makes the landscape part of the experience — a familiar feeling, expressed in Teton Pines Country Club's own setting.
Why it matches: If Belgrade Lakes Country Club is your kind of course, Sutton Bay is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
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