Three Rounds in Rhode Island: Our Favorite Little Golf Getaway

Some couples have a favorite beach town. Some have a lake house they visit every summer. My husband and I have a little corner of southern Rhode Island, and we make the trip at least two times a year. We have a fall trip planned in the same region. I will share that itinerary soon. It is close enough to home that we do not need to take a week off, but far enough that it feels like a real escape. And the golf? We have it down to a science. Three rounds, three very different courses, and we never get tired of the rotation.

If you are looking for an easy golf trip that will not empty your wallet or require a plane ticket, let me walk you through our usual lineup.

Round One: Winnapaug Country Club

We usually start in Westerly at Winnapaug, and honestly, it is hard to imagine a better opening round. This is a Donald Ross design from 1922, which means the bones of the course are wonderful, and the setting along the coast gives you views of Winnapaug Pond and glimpses of the ocean as you play. There is something about salt air and a golf club in your hand that just resets your whole nervous system.

The course is a par 72 and plays fair for a range of skill levels, which matters when you are traveling as a couple with different games. It is open enough that a wayward drive is not the end of the world, but there is plenty to think about if you want to play seriously. We like to grab a tee time in the morning, play our round, and then reward ourselves with lunch. Vacation rules apply.

Winnapaug Country Club · 184 Shore Rd, Westerly, RI 02891 · (401) 600-1747 · winnapaug.com · 18 holes, par 72, public. Rates are dynamic and shift with demand and time of day, so book online in advance or aim for weekday and twilight times for the best deal.

Round Two: Richmond Country Club

Day two takes us inland to Richmond, and the change of scenery is part of the fun. Where Winnapaug feels breezy and coastal, Richmond feels like you have wandered into a pine forest that happens to have fairways running through it. The course is literally sculpted out of the trees, and those tall pines lining the holes give it a hushed, tucked-away feeling that I love.

Fair warning: those pines are not just scenery. If you spray the ball, you will get to know them personally. There are plenty of doglegs, so this is a course that rewards thinking your way around rather than just swinging away. The finishing hole is a beauty, with water in play and a footbridge that makes you feel very fancy as you walk to the green. Richmond consistently gets named among the better public courses in this part of the state, and after years of playing it, I understand why.

Richmond Country Club · 74 Sandy Pond Rd, Richmond, RI 02832 · Pro Shop (401) 364-9200 · richmondcountryclub.net · 18 holes, par 71, public. Expect roughly $45 to $55 for a peak 18, with afternoon rates around $35 to $45 and twilight lower still. Rates change seasonally, so check before you go.

Round Three: Wood River Golf

And now for something completely different.

Wood River in Hope Valley is the wildcard of our trip, and I mean that with genuine affection. This is a family-owned course where no tee times are required. You just show up and play. The front section rolls through open farmland, and yes, there are actual farm buildings out there. Consider them a hazard. Then you cross the road for a stretch of holes that feel like they were designed by someone with a great sense of humor, all hills and rocks and trees and shots you will not find anywhere else in the state.

Is it a championship layout? No. Is it one of the most fun and memorable rounds you can play in Rhode Island? Absolutely. My husband and I have laughed our way through this course more times than I can count. If you are the kind of golfer who needs everything pristine and predictable, it may not be for you. But if you like a challenge and a laugh, Wood River is worth every penny, and it will not cost you many pennies. Stick around for the restaurant afterward. It is a genuine local gem and half the reason we keep coming back.

Wood River Golf · 78A Woodville Alton Rd, Hope Valley, RI 02832 · (401) 364-0700 · woodrivergolf.com · 18 holes, public, family owned. One of the best golf bargains in Rhode Island. No tee times needed, just show up and play. Walking 18 typically costs less than dinner for two.

Why This Trip Works

Three rounds, three completely different personalities. A classic coastal Donald Ross, a pretty parkland test through the pines, and a quirky course that keeps you humble and smiling. That variety is what makes this little pocket of Rhode Island such a great repeat destination for us. Every trip feels familiar and fresh at the same time, which is exactly what you want from a standing golf date with your favorite playing partner.

We have made this drive in spring, summer, and fall, and it delivers every single time.

Do you have a go-to golf getaway that you return to again and again? Tell me about it (or post on my socials). I am always looking for the next spot to add to our rotation, and then I can share it with our community!

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