A Reborn Ross Classic
After Metacomet closed and faced a bulldozer’s fate, a passionate local campaign saved and revived the front nine for public play. Today, Met Links stands as a living museum of Donald Ross strategy, open to all.
Recent Renovation
This course recently completed a major renovation. During this transition, course data may reflect a mix of pre- and post-renovation yardages, hole configurations, or routing. The Caddie Report monitors these changes and periodically reassesses the course as a reliable new baseline is established.
More at Met Links
The verdict
Classic Ross, Now Open to All
Met Links resurrects the historic Metacomet front nine as a vibrant public Ross restoration, blending seven vintage greens with a modern routing. It’s both a strategic test and a local triumph, offering accessible, memorable golf with historic roots.
Course DNA
Difficulty
60
Scenery67
Conditioning70
Shot Variety77
Walkability85
Green Complexity82
Wow Factor73
Design Quality83
At a glance
Quick facts
Original Donald Ross Greens Preserved
7 of 9 greens are 1924 Ross originals
Number of Holes
9 (re-routed from Metacomet front nine)
Restoration Opened
2024 after public advocacy
Shortest Blue Hole
149 yards (No. 7)
Longest Blue Hole
488 yards (No. 2)
Par 3 Count
4 (including finishing hole)
Affordable Public Rates
Starts at $42 for non-residents
The design
The architecture
Met Links is a model of thoughtful restoration, distilling a lost Donald Ross nine into a compact public gem. The new routing weaves through vintage corridors and modernized green complexes—seven originals and two sympathetic additions—highlighting the strategic intent of Ross's design while opening up vistas with major tree removals. Bunkers, fairways, and green surrounds recapture classic angles and demand approach precision, but with playability for all skill levels. The backbone is Ross: challenging greens, clever short par-4s, and a rhythm shaped by varied par 3s—all in a walker-friendly footprint.
Robert McNeil and Northeast Golf Company emphasized restoration over reinvention, reviving original Ross DNA for modern public play.
Defining features
- Seven original 1924 Ross greens
- Two new greens integrated for flow
- Restored classic bunkering and angles
- Tree removal for open sightlines
- Four par 3s of distinct lengths
- Short, strategic par-4s with risk/reward
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 2
Risk-Reward Bend
PAR
5
YARDAGE
488
The first par 5 offers a classic Ross decision: lay up and wedge in, or chase the green in two if you’ve hit the fairway. The green is guarded and demands a composed short game if you go for it.
Play it smart
Contemplate angle on the second shot—miss short side, and the restored bunkers punish over-aggressive plays.
Where it bites
A wild push left can bring out-of-bounds and difficult recovery shots into play.
Course management
Shots to think about
Laying up short of the green on No. 2
Leave yourself a full wedge rather than pushing close to the bunkers—a precise approach is the key to birdie.
Deciding on aggression at the drivable 5th
Smart position play beats the long ball; play for your best approach angle under the hole.
Club selection on the 6th in shifting winds
Assess wind on both tee and green—come up short and you’ll face a nervy chip.
Final hole par-3 tee shot (No. 9)
Forget adrenaline—take one more club and play for middle green to avoid trouble.
Approaches from sidehill lies on sloping fairways
Account for stance; balance and tempo are more important than power.
Recovery after missing long on short par 4s
Use the slope; a high soft pitch is safer than a low runner over trouble.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Freshly restored, improving public surfaces—growing firmer and more consistent as the turf matures.
Pace
Generally brisk due to nine-hole length and manageable yardage.
Vibe
Welcoming, local, and heritage-focused; relaxed dress expectations and low-key clubhouse ambiance.
Dress code
Standard golf attire recommended; no formal club code documented.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Bring a Rangefinder
Short holes make precise club selection critical—don’t rely on yardage markers alone.
02
Pack for All Weather
With open corridors, exposed holes can play windy and unpredictable—layers recommended.
03
Work on Chipping
The restored Ross greens demand creative, confident short-game shots—especially if you miss on the wrong side.
04
Carry a Water Bottle
Refreshment stops are limited—bring your own to stay cool and ready.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1919
Metacomet club moves to East Providence site
- 1924
Donald Ross redesigns the course
- 2020
Metacomet Country Club closes
- 2023
Restoration/construction begins on Met Links
- 2024
Met Links opens as public 9-hole course
Stories & legends
What makes it special
From Private to Public
Where once only members trod, Met Links now welcomes everyday golfers to its historic greens and restored features. The transformation is a civic win, reshaping urban golf opportunities in Rhode Island.
Strategic Greens, Modern Test
Seven original Ross greens survived development to anchor Met Links’ compact but demanding layout. Smart approaches and focus around the green remain just as meaningful as in the course’s heyday.
A Marathon Tradition Continues
Met Links hosts the Club9 Tour’s ‘Derby’ 45-hole marathon, keeping its competitive spirit alive in a new era for Rhode Island golf.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The course preserves seven original 1924 Donald Ross greens amid major rerouting.
2
Met Links was created after a community-led fight to save historic golf land from development.
3
It’s one of Rhode Island’s only public Ross-restoration experiences.
4
The Club9 Tour’s ‘Derby’ 45-hole event adds a marathon twist to the new layout.
Build the trip
If You’re Building a Rhode Island/Providence Loop
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Newport National Golf Club
Public
State’s best public course, championship-caliber links-inspired play
Wannamoisett Country Club
Private
Elite Donald Ross with major tournament history
Rhode Island Country Club
Private
Elite tradition and prime location on the bay
Potowomut Golf Club
Private
Distinct classic inland layout
Franklin Country Club
Private
Solid classic-era course just over the MA border
Providence or East Providence for easy access to Met Links and all the region’s classics
Course DNA
If You Like Met Links
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match6.9
Crane Creek Reserve Golf Course
Melbourne, FloridaWalkability
Why it matches: What links these two? Moves through the round with the same walkable flow — a familiar feeling, expressed in Crane Creek Reserve Golf Course's own setting.
Strong DNA Match8.7
Chechessee Creek Club
Okatie, South CarolinaWhy it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Chechessee Creek Club's own setting.
Strong DNA Match9.1
Yeamans Hall Club
Charleston, South CarolinaWhy it matches: There is real overlap here. Yeamans Hall Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Met Links.
Community Sentiment
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