LC Lambrecht
Shelter Harbor Golf Club
Charlestown, RI • Private
Overview
Though the late club founder and northeastern financier Finn Caspersen was not an avid golfer, he was intrigued by the idea of building a club near his summer home in Rhode Island. But the property he had was challenging and quite severe in places, strewn with wetlands and studded with huge boulders. He ultimately determined that Hurdzan/Fry was the firm that had the environmental chops and creative juice to make the most of it. Though the holes were limited in where they could go, they achieve a desired “old New England” flavor that mixes well with the more historic courses in the neighborhood and possess a dynamic range of strategic lines, carry options and green sizes. The early 1900s bunkering, crafted by Coore & Crenshaw shaper Jeff Bradley, is icing on the cake.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked since 2019.
Previous ranking: 156th.
2025-'26 ranking (highest ranking): 153rd.
Best in State: Top 5 since 2007.
Previous ranking: 2nd.
2025-'26 ranking: 3rd.
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
“Very upscale private club with very good conditions on a neat piece of property. Worth the trip if you are fortunate enough to be invited."
Read More2025
Review
“Green complexes are the standout at Shelter Harbor. The 4th hole is an interesting Biarritz with a mound on the left side of the green. It's an awesome hole. The last three holes are beautiful and distinct. Fairway bunkering is also memorable , as some are shaped somewhat funky. Hurdzan/Fry always built solid courses with Calusa Pines being their finest."
Read More2025
Review
“Shelter Harbor is a phenomenal course that is excellently routed amongst a nearly 400 acre property. The land, molded by glaciers in the Ice Age, has beautiful undulations that bring intrigue and excitement to fairways and green approaches. The greens have fantastic intrigue and provide for a number of different types of approach shots. Variety is throughout the course with short and long 3's, 4's, and 5's, and there is drama on nearly every hole. An excellent course."
Read More2025
Review
“Shelter Harbor sits among the Ocean state’s classic golf venues and antique beach towns, writing its own history. Expansive fairways draw a player in while small greens molded into the hilly property ask difficult questions. Hurdzan and Fry delivered a layout at Shelter Harbor that feels like classic New England with a modern flare."
Read More2025
Review
“Shelter Harbor sits among the Ocean state’s classic golf venues and antique beach towns, writing its own history. Expansive fairways draw a player in while small greens molded into the hilly property ask difficult questions. Hurdzan and Fry delivered a layout at Shelter Harbor that feels like classic New England with a modern flare."
Read More2025
Review
“A very playable course that has all the characteristics of a top course."
Read More2023
Review
“beautiful layout nice improvements"
Read More2023
Review
“The best modern course by far in Rhode Island, Shelter Harbor is a beautiful course from Hurdzan and Fry. The practice facilities here are some of the best I've seen and conditions are excellent with firm, fast surfaces and velvet smooth greens. The bunkering is also really pleasing to the eyes with whispy fescue lining it. There are a number of great holes here such as the wild par 3 4th with its giant green and gorgeous risk-reward par 5 9th leading back to the clubhouse. Packing plenty of punch from the back tees, this is a really strong test for good players as well. Easily one of the top 4 courses in the state and well-worth a play."
Read More2022
Review
“Incredible distinctiveness of the holes. Great variety with lengths of holes. #11 is a great par 3. The rocky terrain made it very aesthetic along with all the lakes and water features. Just a wonderful experience and #18 is a great finishing hole."
Read More2021
Review
“A relative newcomer on the Rhode Island golf scene, Shelter Harbor is an upscale private club located on the southern coastline. This Club features some of the best practice facilities I've seen and is home to a beautiful and tranquil course carved from the nature. The conditioning is impeccable and I especially enjoyed the unique Velvet Bentgrass greens which ran extremely smoothly. I preferred the Front 9, which features some very memorable holes including the uphill double-dogleg par 5 9th running towards the clubhouse, and the par 3 4th which features a Biarritz-like green that's the largest in the state. Rock walls throughout give the course some New England charm and Jeff Bradley's bunkering work here is stellar. This is certainly one of the best courses in Rhode Island and will only gain more recognition as it matures."
Read More2021
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