In 2026, Maine is celebrating its history and culture as an avid golf destination. With a distinction as the “golfiest” state in the Northeast and a new historical exhibition, Maine's world-class golf courses and resorts are honored for their dedication to the sport from the mountains to the sea.

In its recently published 2025 Golf Scorecard, the United States Golf Association (USGA) awarded Maine the title of “Golfiest” State in the Northeast. This recognition is testament to the passion of Maine golfers and the visitors who travel to Maine each year to experience some of the best courses in the country.

Mainer's enthusiasm for golf began in the 1880s, as described in Maine Historical Society's “The Early Days of Maine Golf: A Visual History, 1888-1940". The Portland-based exhibit traces the history of Maine's clubs, players, and courses, which comprise several of the longest-surviving golf courses in the country. Visitors can enjoy playing a round on these storied courses across the state.

From seaside escapes to international play to jaw-dropping mountain vistas, Maine's more than 130 golf courses offer visitors an authentic opportunity to enjoy the state's natural beauty and active lifestyle alongside Mainers who share a love of the game.

Notably, several Maine golf courses have garnered critical acclaim for their design: Golf Digest ranked the Belgrade Lakes Country Club as one of the top 100 public golf courses in country, and the publication also recognized the Lucerne Golf Club, with a Phillips Lake overlook amid a cluster of mountain peaks, as one of the best nine-hole golf courses in America. Two ski resorts nestled in Maine's western Mountains, Sunday River and Sugarloaf, boast award-winning golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.

For a coastal getaway along Maine's midcoast, golfers can enjoy luxurious cottage accommodations steps from the green and the ocean. The Samoset Resort features a breakwater path to the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, the Sebasco Harbor Resort offers a marina and water recreation rentals, and accommodations at the Boothbay Harbor Summer Cottages include golfing at the Boothbay Habor Country Club, named one of the top resort golf courses in 2026 by Golfweek.

Unique inland experiences include Mount Kineo Golf Course, accessible only by a ferry shuttle on Moosehead Lake, and Aroostook Valley Country Club, where three holes border Canada.

Families will find welcoming golf courses for all skill abilities across the state. Hermon Meadow Golf Club and the Bangor Municipal Golf Course, both located in the heart of Maine, emphasize a family-friendly experience, and PGA youth camps in Freeport offer the opportunity to learn while enjoying a memorable Maine vacation.

For more information about golfing in Maine, please visit https://visitmaine.com/things-to-do/nature-outdoors/sports/golfing/.

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Media Contact:
Whitney Raymond and Elaine Theriault-Currier
tourism@marshallpr.com