
Sankaty Head Course
Sankaty Head Golf Club


About this course
Sankaty Head Golf Club occupies a dramatic bluff on the eastern shore of Nantucket, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean near the village of Siasconset. Phil Wogan designed the course in 1922, routing it across rolling terrain that features the island's characteristic moorland vegetation, coastal winds, and elevation changes uncommon for the region. The property sits approximately ninety feet above sea level at its highest points, providing expansive ocean views and exposing the layout to persistent maritime breezes that significantly influence play. The course measures relatively modest by contemporary standards but presents a stern test through its wind exposure, firm turf conditions, and strategic bunkering. Several holes play directly along or toward the ocean, with the clifftop setting creating both visual drama and tactical complexity. The layout incorporates natural contours and native grasses, maintaining a links-like character that reflects its coastal New England setting. Greens tend to be small and subtly contoured, rewarding precision in approach play. Sankaty Head operates as a private club with a membership drawn largely from seasonal residents and families with long ties to Nantucket. The club maintains traditional caddie programs and walking-only policies during peak periods, preserving the original character of Wogan's design. The clubhouse and facilities reflect the understated aesthetic common to established New England golf clubs, emphasizing the golf experience over elaborate amenities. The course has undergone periodic restoration work to address coastal erosion and maintain playing surfaces suited to the exposed seaside environment.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in MA
Quick facts
- Location
- Siasconset, MA, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1923
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Phil Wogan
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,625 yards
- Difficulty
- 72.6/126
- Course Vaults score
- 8.7
Getting there
Most arrivals to Sankaty Head Golf Club begin at Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK), a compact and well-appointed gateway that handles both commercial service from the mainland and a steady stream of private aircraft throughout the season. From the terminal, it's a twenty-minute drive east across the island's moors and gentle farmland, the landscape gradually opening toward the Atlantic as you approach the village of Siasconset. The final miles narrow into tree-canopied lanes and weathered shingle cottages, the air turning salt-laced and cool, before the road delivers you to the club's understated entrance - perched on the bluffs where Nantucket's civilized charm gives way to raw, windswept coast.

FAQ
Common questions about Sankaty Head
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Sankaty Head has a Course Vaults score of 8.7 out of 10 based on 46 logged golfers.
Sankaty Head was designed by Phil Wogan.
Sankaty Head is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Sankaty Head is 71.
Sankaty Head plays 6,625 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Sankaty Head is 126.





