The Maine Thing: Cape Arundel Golf Club in Kennebunkport Needs to Be Your Next Golf Trip

Maine has a rugged coast, delicious seafood, a quiet peaceful nature, and amazing golf. Cape Arundel Golf Club is a historic gem in picturesque Kennebunkport, Maine, a semi-private Walter Travis masterpiece from 1921 (roots back to 1896) along the tidal shores of the Kennebunk River. This short-but-sweet links-style layout (just under 5,900 yards, par 69) delivers quirky charm, clever strategy, audacious greens, rolling terrain, tidal creeks on 13 holes, bunkers everywhere, and stunning coastal beauty. Ranked #1 in Maine by Golf Digest, Golfweek, and GOLF Magazine (and in the Top 100 You Can Play nationally), it’s a shotmaker’s dream with pure New England vibes.

Quick Facts

  • Classic Walter Travis design: Redesigned in 1921, with ongoing restorations by Renaissance Golf Design/Bruce Hepner
  • Short & strategic: Par 69, 5,881 yards; emphasizes precision, creativity, and putting over power (small, undulating greens, water views, tidal influences)
  • Seasonal play: Open May-October/November; peak summer/fall for mild temps (60s-70s°F), ocean breezes, and golden-hour light
  • Public welcome: Private club that opens to public play (call 3 days ahead for tee times); greens fees premium ($200+ in peak)
  • Historic pedigree: Known as “the Bush family’s course” (Presidents Bush Sr. & Jr. members); fun, walkable (often under 4 hours), and highly acclaimed for memorable greens

It makes sense that the Bush family would love a course that is all about strategy. One needs a keen knowledge of strategy if they plan to start seemingly endless wars. Maybe you want to go have fun and play a very heady game of golf with your family and friends. Maybe you want to be the next George Bush. Either way Cape Arundel is perfect for you.

Perfect For…

  • Guys’ Trips: Quick, engaging rounds with high strategy and banter, post-golf craft beers or seafood in Kennebunkport’s Dock Square, easy multi-round potential by pairing with nearby courses
  • Families: Charming, walkable layout suits all levels; nearby beaches, shops, and inns for non-golfers; short length makes it approachable for juniors or relaxed play

Top Standout Courses

 

Cape Arundel Golf Club (Main 18-hole)

The star, Travis’ clever, quirky links-style beauty with tidal river holes, small yet wildly undulating greens (some of America’s most audacious), rolling fairways, strategic bunkers, and coastal drama. Short but tough; rewards shot-making and creativity, a “fun gun golf course” that’s eminently playable yet challenging. Bucket-list for Maine golf lovers.

Nearby standouts for multi-course trips (short drives)

Great Stay-and-Play Resorts & Spots

  • Nearby Kennebunkport inns/hotels: Cape Arundel Inn (packages with extras), Kennebunkport Inn, Hidden Pond, or White Barn Inn (luxury with spa/dining)
  • Vacation rentals/VRBO: Cottages/homes near the course for groups
  • No direct on-site stay-and-play (private club focus), but easy to book tee times + lodging packages via local inns or Maine Golf Trail resources; many hotels offer golf add-ons or proximity deals

All Key Cape Arundel Area Golf Courses at a Glance

  • Cape Arundel Golf Club (Walter Travis, Maine’s #1, coastal classic)
  • Webhannet Golf Club (semi-private nearby)
  • Dutch Elm Golf Club (public value play)
  • Merriland Farm Par 3 (short fun option)
  • Plus Southern Maine neighbors like Old Marsh or The Ledges for day trips

Pro Tips

  • Book public tee times 3 days in advance via the pro shop (207-967-3494), peak summer fills fast; consider walking for the full experience
  • Fly into Portland (PWM) -45 min drive, or Manchester (MHT) for scenic route
  • Pair golf with Kennebunkport classics: fresh lobster, Dock Square shopping, beaches, whale watching, or fall foliage drives
  • Embrace the short length, use it for strategy practice; forward tees available; caddies or local knowledge help navigate the tricky greens

Time to tee it up on Maine’s tidal shores, master those famous greens, and reset with classic coastal charm. Cape Arundel is calling your escape.

Life moves slower on the island, and this is your perfect time to get down there and reset. Kiawah Island is a world-class golf paradise off South Carolina’s coast, a private barrier island with 10 miles of pristine beaches, maritime forests, marshes, and five championship resort courses at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Designed by legends like Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Clyde Johnston. It’s bucket-list territory: oceanfront drama, wind-swept links-style play, wildlife (alligators included\!), and that perfect Lowcountry mix of challenge and beauty. Home to the 1991 Ryder Cup (“War by the Shore”) and multiple PGA Championships. It’s a place of Legends

Quick Facts

  • Five championship courses, all public/resort-accessible, recently renovated with Paspalum greens for superior play
  • Coastal challenge: Wind, water, bunkers, and ocean views on many holes; elevation subtle but strategic
  • Year-round play: Mild winters (great escape), best shoulder seasons (spring/fall) for calmer winds and temps (60s-80s°F); summer mornings beat the heat
  • Luxury access: Stay-and-play packages at The Sanctuary Hotel or villas/cottages; priority tees, caddies available
  • Top-ranked: Ocean Course consistently \#1 in SC (Golf Digest/Golfweek); others in top resort/public list

This is a good time to remind everyone that Alligators are dinosaurs. Dinosaurs that live among us. Apex predators in our backyard\! Terrifying and beautiful. Don’t get too close.

Perfect For…

  • Guys’ Trips: Epic multi-course days (Ocean for bragging rights, others for variety), post-round cocktails at the clubhouse or Sanctuary, beach bonfires, and Charleston nightlife nearby
  • Families: Resort beaches, pools, spa, kids’ programs; more playable courses like Cougar/Osprey; non-golfers enjoy biking, kayaking, or wildlife tours

Top Standout Courses

The Ocean Course (Pete Dye)

The undisputed legend, host of Ryder Cup 1991, PGA Championships 2012 & 2021. Seaside links masterpiece with 10 holes along the Atlantic (most in Northern Hemisphere), massive waste areas, wind as a major factor, and diabolical greens. Often called one of America’s toughest and most beautiful.

Turtle Point (Jack Nicklaus)

Nicklaus redesign (2016) with narrow corridors, strategic water, and a thrilling three-hole ocean stretch (14-16) through dunes along the Atlantic. Challenging accuracy test with hidden hazards; beautiful finishing holes and ocean breezes make it memorable.

Osprey Point (Tom Fazio)

A Fazio masterpiece, blending natural lakes, marshes, and maritime forest, playable variety with stunning landscapes, large greens, and wildlife sightings (ospreys, alligators). Ranked highly for women and groups; serene yet engaging.

Cougar Point (Gary Player, renovated)

Dramatic marshland layout along the Kiawah River, generous fairways, risk-reward par-5s, vast greens, and water everywhere. Playable for all levels with gator sightings and scenic river views; great for confidence-building rounds.

Oak Point (Clyde Johnston)

Lowcountry gem meandering through ancient oaks, undulating fairways, and river/creek views, strategic and scenic, demanding thoughtful play over power. Underrated beauty with 4.5-star acclaim.

Great Stay-and-Play Resorts & Spots

  • The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort: Forbes Five-Star luxury oceanfront hotel with spa, pools, dining
  • Villas & Cottages: Spacious private options (including Ocean Course Cottages); ideal for groups
  • Packages bundle lodging, rounds (Ocean upgrades), breakfast, carts. Book direct for best access

All Key Kiawah Island Golf Highlights at a Glance

  • The Ocean Course (Pete Dye, iconic seaside beast)
  • Turtle Point (Jack Nicklaus, ocean stretch drama)
  • Osprey Point (Tom Fazio, marsh & forest beauty)
  • Cougar Point (Gary Player, river marsh playability)
  • Oak Point (Clyde Johnston, Lowcountry classic)

Pro Tips

  • Book stay-and-play packages early via kiawahresort.com, or specialists (Premier Golf, etc.) Ocean Course tee times competitive, especially peak seasons
  • Fly into Charleston (CHS), 45-minute drive; easy access
  • Pair golf with Lowcountry classics: fresh seafood, Charleston historic tours, beaches, or wildlife spotting
  • Respect the wind (play mornings); use caddies for local tips; forward tees make Ocean manageable for mortals

Get yourself a slice of that Southern charm on Kiawah Island,