East Providence, Rhode Island
Met Links delivers a rare blend of Donald Ross heritage and modern public accessibility on nine soulful holes. Restoration of the historic Metacomet front side brings clever green sites, strategic bunkering, and brisk pace to a punchy, walkable routing. This is a pilgrimage for design aficionados—and a welcoming, memorable local round for all.
Met Links’ revival is both a tribute to Donald Ross and a model for civic golf. Nearly every green boasts wild internal movement, with bunkers well-placed for both aggression and safety. The routing uses every bit of the given land, mixing tight approach angles and enticing drive zones, while seven original Ross greens anchor the course’s Golden Age gravitas. The finish on nine—a lengthy par 3—makes sure you earn your walk to the clubhouse.
Robert McNeil and The Northeast Golf Company led a restoration blending Ross's signature style with a modern public-access mission, showcasing historic green sites in a compact loop.
A gentle downhill opener, mirroring the old Metacomet first but shorter in length. Precision off the tee is needed, as the fairway tightens and the green sits perched, ready to receive an aggressive approach.
Favor the left center; short irons on second shot reward bold placement.
Drifting right can catch bunker trouble and block the approach.
Pristine daily conditioning, brisk greens, and quick fairways highlight recent restoration efforts.
Typically a sub-two-hour nine, with few bottlenecks and smooth flow.
Heritage and accessibility—a welcoming, quietly reverent energy with a touch of Golden Age mystique.
Standard golf attire; collared shirts and proper shoes recommended, with public-course casual welcome.
Test your chipping and lag putting—those restored Ross greens can confound even confident hands.
Expect to plot tactics—par 4s and 5s reward smart layups and position, not just length.
The course was built for walkers—take in the subtle ground-game and historic sightlines the same way Ross intended.
Metacomet Golf Club opens at East Providence site
Donald Ross redesigns and re-routes 18 holes
Metacomet closes; property at risk for development
Restoration begins under Robert McNeil and The Northeast Golf Company
After a near-loss to development following Metacomet’s 2020 closure, the course ground found new life as Met Links—a public treasure. This is more than a rerouting; it’s a preservation of character and community access that almost vanished forever.
For nearly a century, this land hosted only club members; Met Links now welcomes everyday golfers to roll the same greens Ross shaped. The anticipation and nostalgia are palpable as local players finally walk fairways once off-limits.
Crisp strategic bunkers, perched greens, and the signature Ross use of short par 4s define the Met Links experience. Restoration went deep—preserving seven historic greens—for a golfing time-machine effect routed for a brisk modern loop.
Don’t be fooled by the sub-2,600-yard card. With water in play on two, a scrappy stretch of par 3s, and greens that demand imagination and touch, scratch handicaps and beginners alike will find plenty to puzzle over.
Seven of nine greens are original Donald Ross designs, rebuilt to historic specs.
Met Links is the first time anyone could play Metacomet’s ground without club membership.
Its restoration was triggered by near development; it was almost lost to condos.
The course’s wildest green is rumored to be the restored second—take a careful read.
Brad Faxon was part of the famed lore and ownership drama at the old Metacomet.
Affordable Ross muni with full-length routing and classic green sites
Value-driven inland play and wide fairways
Easy tee times and fun riverside holes
Once-in-a-lifetime Golden Age U.S. Open site—if you can get on
Famed Donald Ross short course, elite member ambiance
Downtown Providence or East Providence for easy access to Met Links and public options
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: Old Elm Golf Club is a natural next stop after Met Links: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Why it matches: If Met Links is your kind of course, Cape Arundel Golf Club is worth a look because it demands the same precision once you reach the putting surface.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. The Loop at Augusta Municipal Golf Course has a similarly satisfying rhythm on foot, making it a compelling counterpart to Met Links.
Community Sentiment
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