Carrabassett Valley, ME
Big mountain golf deep in the Maine woods — river canyons, moose country and zero crowds.
Sugarloaf's golf course is the summer secret of a famous ski mountain: a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design that plunges through the Carrabassett Valley, headlined by the 'String of Pearls' — a run of holes dropping into the river gorge that ranks with the most dramatic golf in the Northeast. The remoteness is the feature: no traffic, no crowds, mountain air, and a ski-village base with condo lodging and a proper après bar. For crews that measure a trip by scenery-per-round and quiet, this is the sleeper pick of the list.
| Course | Designer | Notes | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugarloaf Golf Club | Robert Trent Jones Jr. | The mountain masterpiece — the 'String of Pearls' stretch along the Carrabassett River is the headline act. | resort |
| Belgrade Lakes Golf Club | Clive Clark | One of Maine's most celebrated public courses, about ninety minutes south — a worthy full-day away round. | public |
| Sunday River Golf Club | Robert Trent Jones Jr. | The sister ski-country stunner near Bethel — a smart add if you route home that way. | public |
The resort
The slopeside hotel at the heart of the village — walk to dinner and the après bar, with the golf course minutes down the access road.
◆ The private house
A big mountain house or trailside lodge in the Carrabassett Valley — hot tub, moose-watch deck, and a garage for the clubs. Off-season rates make the square footage cheap.
5-6 BR · sleeps 10-12 · ~$350–$1,200/nt
AM Fly into Portland, provision in town, then drive two-plus hours north into the valley.
PM Settle into the house, walk the village, burgers and drafts at the après bar.
AM First run at the mountain course — save the phone battery for the river holes.
PM Hot tub, horseshoes and a grill night at the house.
AM The away round at Belgrade Lakes, ninety minutes south.
PM Lakeside lunch, then back up the valley for cards and a bonfire.
AM The team match at Sugarloaf — the gorge stretch will pick the winner.
PM Trophy steaks, cigars on the deck, one last mountain sunset.
AM Big breakfast and an early start south — Sunday River detour for the diehards.
One of New England's most dramatic courses, hidden so deep in the Maine mountains that it never feels busy. The river holes are the stuff of golf-trip legend, and the après scene runs on a ski town's DNA.
Stay-and-play packages run through the mountain's lodging office — condo and hotel inventory is easy outside ski season. It is a genuine drive from any airport; treat the remoteness as part of the trip and stock the house before heading up the valley.