Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Newport Country Club
Newport, RI • Private
Newport Country Club
280 Harrison Ave
Newport, RI 02840-3708
United States
Overview
History was made here in 1894 when the nine-hole Newport Country Club, one of five founding members of the USGA, became America’s first championship venue, hosting both the inaugural U.S. Amateur and, in the fall of 1895, the inaugural stroke-play U.S. Open Championship. In 1899, Davis added the club's second nine on the property's lower section, stretching it out to the Atlantic shoreline. A.W. Tillinghast remodeled the course in the 1920s, resulting in the most authentic links experience Tilly ever created, or perhaps, more accurately, co-created. Over the past 20 years, consulting architect Ron Forse has faithfully restored many Tillinghast greens and bunkers lost over time. Newport is the rare nationally-ranked course that’s never had a fairway irrigation system. The weather dictates how firm and fast it plays.
About
Awards
ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked since 2015.
Highest ranking: 116th, 2017-'18.
Previous ranking: 126th.
2025-'26 ranking: 145th.
100 Greatest: Ranked on "America's 200 Toughest Courses," 1966-1968.
Best in State: Ranked inside top 5 since 1977.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 1st.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“The course was fairly wide open, with few trees and light rough. Many options to bump and run shots into greens, but I don't remember a lot of risk-reward shots. Wind would be the biggest challenge to scoring at Newport, but it was fairly light when we played. Firm conditions could also accentuate challenge. Not a lot of memorable holes except for the ones heading back up to the clubhouse. The course is dominated by views of the unique clubhouse. Despite being by the ocean, it did not come into view that often. The course was firm and fast, and the greens rolled true. Very old school. No irrigation of fairways — nice brown coloration. Fun to experience golf as it was played a hundred years ago."
Read More2025
Review
“If a player is seeking bright green turf and pretty white bunker sand, they will not find their match at Newport. Much like the beautiful homes that dot the nearby cliff walk, the course feels old but refined and classic. Native fescue grasses provide wonderful texture and the beautiful clubhouse evocative of the gilded age is not only visible throughout the round but often is the only structure in sight. The rough is wiry and thick and the sand is coarse and treacherous."
Read More2024
Review
“Playing Newport is like stepping back in time. With a terrific historic clubhouse and old-school layout directly on the Atlantic Ocean, Newport is an easy course without wind but gets more difficult with gusty winds. The par 3 14th is one of my favorite holes anywhere and Newport is my pick for best course in Rhode Island."
Read More2022
Review
“The history just oozes here. The big clubhouse sits like a sentinel on the hill. Golf course is good with all of the history. #18 is an awesome finishing hole with a great false front. Firm and fast."
Read More2021
Review
“Great old links style club set right on the water. Incredible prestige and tradition surrounds everything at this club. Conditioning is off the charts."
Read More2018
Review
“Amazing course. Front nine is world class and holes #5 and #9 are all world par 4s. Back nine not quite as solid, but holes #11, #13, #14, #15, and #18 are all very, very good. Wonderful atmosphere and caddies. Fast, firm and fun!"
Read More2018
Review
“Great history, great ambiance, great clubhouse. A great lesson in the potential for minimum irrigation. Great golden summer hues and views of the ocean cap the experience."
Read More2018
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